A representative for the Swedish club where FILTER was scheduled to perform last night has called into question the band's claim that it was forced to cancel the concert after receiving death threats. FILTER was scheduled to play at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg Monday night (June 13) as part of a European tour with COMBICHRIST, but called off the performance just hours before taking the stage. A FILTER spokesperson told TMZ that last week's shooting death of Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on NBC's "The Voice", during a post-show meet-and-greet and the mass shooting in Orlando played a role in FILTER's decision to scrap the Gothenburg concert. "Threats were made to FILTER's well being that were not taken lightly," frontman Richard Patrick said in a statement. "We felt it necessary to cancel and are so sorry to our fans. "After an extremely violent weekend in the United States, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the innocent victims in Orlando as well as Christina Grimmie's friends and family." The FILTER spokesperson told TMZ the threats were sent electronically, mentioned specific members and listed the venue. But now, a representative for the club says that he believes FILTER called off the concert after one of the bandmembers was caught smoking inside the venue. According to Andreas Leijon of Sticky Fingers, an employee of the club told the musician to put out the cigarette and jokingly added "or the owners will kill us." This caused the group to "overreact" and cancel the performance, fully knowing that such a move would make headlines back home in the United States. "Had there been any danger [to the people inside the club or any of the musicians], we would have closed the club immediately and not allowed any of the other bands [on the bill] to perform," Leijon told Aftonbladet. Police spokesperson Ulla Brehm said that a threat was reported at Sticky Fingers at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday night. "I can confirm that we sent a police car [to the club], interviewed the involved parties and took the complaint," she said. The threat is alleged to have been made by a man in his 40s. "It was a threat made inside the venue and it was perceived to be serious enough that the police was called," Brehm said. FILTER is scheduled to perform in Stockholm tonight (Tuesday, June 14). The band is continuing to tour in support of its seventh album, "Crazy Eyes", which was released on April 8 via Wind-Up Records.
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
