Finnish Rock Band SANTA CRUZ Implodes In Middle Of U.S. Tour With FOZZY

[MetalAges]

Finnish rockers SANTA CRUZ appear to have imploded in the middle of their tour of the United States of America as the support act for FOZZY. The quartet kicked off its first U.S. tour in support of the "Bad Blood Rising" album earlier in the month in Houston and was scheduled to perform two dozen shows alongside FOZZY, THROUGH FIRE and DARK SKY CHOIR. However, those plans have now been derailed, with SANTA CRUZ announcing over the weekend that it was canceling the remaining dates on the trek. In an Instagram post explaining why the rest of the tour was called off, SANTA CRUZ frontman Arttu "Archie Cruz" Kuosmanen claimed that his bandmates — guitarist Joonas "Johnny Cruz" Parkkonen, bassist Mitja "Middy Cruz" Toivonen and drummer Tapani "Tazzy Cruz" Fagerström — kicked him "out of the bus on the street like a pariah" and told him they were no longer members of the group. "I would've loved to do [the rest of the tour], but what can you do," he wrote. For his part, Parkkonen said that he, Toivonen and Fagerström were "leaving SANTA CRUZ" after facing "issues that they could not "solve even though we tried everything that we could to make this tour and band happen." He added: "I can't stay in a situation anymore where I have to be scared if somebody does irreversible harm to themselves or somebody else. That's why I'm leaving. I never thought I'd be in this situation, but I have no more options to use. I'm sorry." In a separate social media post, Toivonen confirmed his exit from the band, saying that "it is impossible for me to continue as a member of SANTA CRUZ." SANTA CRUZ was previously described in a press release as "a Scandinavian modern hard rock band inspired initially by the likes of MÖTLEY CRÜE and GUNS N' ROSES." The group released two well-received albums on Spinefarm Records, before signing with M-Theory Audio and issuing "Bad Blood Rising". A music video for "Bad Blood Rising"'s anthemic opening track, "Young Blood Rising", can be seen below.

To all ya’ll wondering why the rest of the US gigs got cancelled, the guys kicked me out of the bus on the street like a pariah and told me they’re in Santa Cruz no more. I would’ve loved to do ’em, but what can you do. And as far as I know, I am alive & well atm, so all good. Love to all ya’ll

A post shared by archiecruz? (@archiecruzz) on Mar 18, 2018 at 2:53pm PDT​

I'm very sorry to inform that I'm leaving Santa Cruz and so are Middy and Taz. We faced issues that we cannot solve even thou we tried everything that we could to make this tour and band happen. I can't stay in a situation anymore where I have to be scared if somebody does irreversible harm to themselves or somebody else. That's why I'm leaving. I never thought I'd be in this situation, but I have no more options to use. I'm sorry. Peace and Love -Johnny

A post shared by Johnny (@johnnycruzified) on Mar 18, 2018 at 4:16pm PDT​

I am sorry to inform but from this day on it is impossible for me to continue as a member of Santa Cruz. I wanna thank everyone who has been there for me during But most of all I wanna thank all the fans and great people along the way. Life goes on. -Middy

A post shared by Mitja Toivonen (@middycruz) on Mar 18, 2018 at 4:53pm PDT​

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