Today the musical world was shocked by the news that five piece Aussie rock sensation, Closure in Moscow, had been unceremoniously dumped from the Soundwave line-up just one day before they were due to start touring. The news has upset festival-goers; with discussions and debates being held in forums, on social networking sites, and blogs. Even youth radio station, Triple J, devoted this evening’s Hack segment to a spin-off topic surrounding the Soundwave media storm. The controversy continued to fire up, when a member of the Soundwave management team, publicly slandered the band on the official Soundwave forum early this morning.
‘It is amazing how the one band you book on the festival only as a favour to their manager; whom you are paying 10 times what they are worth as a gesture of goodwill; and you bill way above their station, turn out to be the only demanding and rude people amongst a star-studded line up.’
The band has hit back, posting their version of the story on the band’s blog and Myspace page.
‘We have been absolutely devastated since being told that we couldn't perform at Soundwave this year,’ The post reads, ‘It's impossible to entertain the thought that we offended someone so deeply by asking logistical touring questions... Obviously we were and still are confused over what happened.’ So is everyone else.
The devastation felt by fans is apparent on the band’s social networking sites. Facebook and Myspace have been outlets for fans to voice their disappointment.
‘it absolutely [sic] SUCKS what happened to you guys with all that Soundwave business’ Writes a fan on the band’s Myspace page, ‘one of the main reasons I am going [to Soundwave] was to see you play. i'm devastated.’
From recent memory, no other band has been so ludicrously dropped from a festival line-up, mere days before they set to play. Yes, some musicians can be complete idiots – A prime example of this would be the Gallagher brothers of Oasis fame – but organisers have retained their integrity and professionalism by continuing to work with them. Why? Because it has to be done. Take – for example – the Gallagher brothers. Elton John, Michael Jackson, Lady GaGa – All complete douche bags, but all phenomenal entertainers in their own right. Even IF the lads from Closure in Moscow are a pentuplet of arse holes there is absolutely NO reason why they should have been ‘relieved’ of their Soundwave duties. A musician’s personality does NOT reflet his ability to entertain. Further still; no organiser, member of a management team, or public figure of a festival team, has ever made a comment to the detriment of the performer/s and their reputation. It is both unprofessional and childish. Closure in Moscow have been wronged, as have their fans, by being robbed of an opportunity to see their beloved band play.
‘All we ever wanted from day one is to play our music for people... We're grateful to have so many supportive friends and fans that know how absolutely childish and absurd this is. It's sad that this type of behavior exists and is tolerated in an industry designed to promote positivity, creativity and artistic expression through music. Let's not allow one person's negativity keep us from remembering that music is meant to be a catalyst for good; to uplift and encourage. If there's ever a time to remember that, it's now.’
To read the festival management’s side of the story:
http://www.soundwavefestival.com/forum/sw2010-waves-not-so-fond-farewell-closure-moscow
To read the full blog posted by Closure in Moscow:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=48876901&blogId=529466504
To support the boys:
http://www.facebook.com/closureinmoscow
http://www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow
http://twitter.com/ClosureInMoscow
Other links:
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2824597.htm
I would also like you hear your opinion on this topic. Post a comment in the box for me to have a gander at. Cheers, E x.
Oh i forgot to comment this. I don't really know enough to comment properly but from what i have read i am on the Soundwave management side.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't there so i will prob never know the truth, but the business woman in me is thinking they must have done something major for the company to decided it was better for them to be dropped. And yes they are entertainers, but if they are getting moody before they even get to the stage the management is going ot mark them as potential trouble. More and more often these days musicians will stop their gigs and have a go at the audience ( i have seen it from 3 different artists at soundwave and other situtations). Yes the audience did something dickish, but in this case the musicians have tended to get big heads.
anyhoo just my 0.02
Yes, I could understand that POV, also.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have heard, though, the management team are very disorganised and it is one of the worst run events ever. I also did not think the personal attack on the boys was fair. As I said, they may be douche bags, but I don't think organisers did the right thing by dumping them. But I can definitely see both sides of the story.
There is a lot of 'he said, she said' going on with it, so what the true story is: I doubt we will ever know.
Great post. Documenting both sides of the story.
ReplyDeleteI know the band personally and they are all very easy going, nice guys. They all just can't believe what has happened and all they can think is Soundwave must not have wanted them on the tour in the first place. They have been dumped and left in confusion. But hey, bring on the free shows. Hopefully everyone can get behind them!
Dave
Secrets in Scale
www.myspace.com/secretsinscale
Cheers for the comment, Dave.
ReplyDeleteMuchly appreciated.
Yeah, I think it sucks that they got dumped like that. Even if they are nasty (which I highly doubt), it's not fair. Especially not to the fans.
But anyway! It's done. Nothing us mere mortals can do about it. Unfortunately.