US denies Winehouse visa for concert spectacular

Amy Winehouse’s legal troubles looked today to have scuppered a potentially lucrative performance at a major American concert.

The 25-year-old singer – who was charged with common assault last week – has been denied a US work visa and will no longer appear at next month’s massive Coachella festival, the Daily Mirror said.

She had been lined up to do a headline performance along the likes of The Killers, Paul McCartney and Morrissey at the California spectacular which is attended by around 75,000 fans.

Her spokesman told the Mirror: “She is not appearing at Coachella this year in the light of current legal issues.”

The singer was said to be “absolutely gutted” at the development.

As well the thousands of fans, legions of top record executives are expected to visit Coachella. It would have been her biggest US show to date.

Winehouse – whose 'Back To Black' album is a multi-million seller – was last week charged with assaulting a woman in Berkeley Square, Westminster, on September 26.

She will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on March 17.

It is not the first time US visa problems have stopped her performing.

Last year a delay in finalising via paperwork forced her to perform for the US Grammy awards ceremony live via satellite from London.