Metal tour coronavirus cancellations: RATM, Tool, KISS, Deafheaven, Decibel, more
Things are hectic in the live entertainment world right now due to coronavirus fears — Live Nation paused its arena tours, venues are temporarily closing, festivals are being postponed/cancelled — and the metal world is no exception. Here’s a roundup of some of the many metal tours that have been impacted by COVID-19.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Following the Coachella postponement, Coachella headliners Rage Against the Machine have postponed the first part of their reunion tour with Run The Jewels. Dates from March 26 to May 20 are affected. The band writes:
TOOL
Tool are “taking a day-to-day approach” with their ongoing tour, and as of now Saturday’s (3/14) show in Boise has been cancelled (their last March show) but nothing after that yet (their tour resumes April 16th in Miami). Read more here and stay tuned for updates.
KISS
First KISS just cancelled meet and greets, but now they’ve rescheduled their three remaining March dates for October. Updated dates here.
CODE ORANGE
Code Orange cancelled Saturday’s (3/14) Underneath album release show, but instead they’re playing an empty room and streaming it live. More info here.
DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR & PHILLY FESTIVAL
The 2020 Decibel Magazine Tour with Mayhem, Abbath, Gatecreeper and Idle Hands and the magazine’s Philly festival (with those four bands plus Converge, Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer, Satan, and several others) have both been entirely cancelled. Read more here.
DEAFHEAVEN / INTER ARMA / GREET DEATH / ALL YOUR SISTERS
From Deafheaven:
Due to COVID19, city ordinances, recommended quarantines, and public health, our upcoming tour with INTER ARMA, Greet Death, and ALL YOUR SISTERS has been postponed until further notice. Our miracle team has been working diligently to reschedule and honor this tour and we will update everyone with new information as soon as possible. Like so many other hard working people in the touring world being affected by the virus, we appreciate your patience and understanding while we all work through this.
No updates yet on the status of any of our future tour dates we still have listed at deafheaven.com
Lamb Of God, Kreator & Power Trip
ROTTING CHRIST/BORKNAGAR/WOLFHEART/ABIGAIL WILLIAMS/IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT
The 2020 Devastation on the Nation tour has been postponed until 2021. Here’s the statement from Metal Festival Tours and Continental Touring:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are numerous states and cities on the Devastation On The Nation Tour that are putting bans on gatherings anywhere between 100-1000 people. On top of that, the President of the United States of America has put a travel ban in place for anyone coming from Europe to America for the next 30 days which starts Friday. Three out of the five bands on this tour are from Europe which are Rotting Christ, Borknagar, and Wolfheart. They were scheduled to fly here on March 18th. Unfortunately, as you can see, our hands are tied and we have no other choice than to postpone the Devastation On The Nation Tour.
The tour will now be rescheduled to February 11th – March 14th, 2021 and will have the same route in place. The tour will still feature Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Wolfheart, Abigail Williams, and IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT
To everyone who has purchased tickets already. If you would like a refund, you are able to get one by contacting the company you purchased it from. If you would like to hold onto your current ticket, it will be honored at the rescheduled date. We hope many of you will keep your tickets and join us in February/March of 2021.
Please stay tuned for our next announcement which will come very soon
INSOMNIUM
from Insomnium:
With heavy hearts we inform you that we are forced to cancel this North American tour after just one show. All these government actions, bans and restrictions to fight the Corona virus are basically cancelling our shows and shutting down the country so there is nothing we can do.
We came all the way here and really tried to make this tour happen. But the situation has quickly gotten a lot worse during the last 48 hours. This is very sad and frustrating for us but also a huge financial disaster for both Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum. Right now we don’t know how we can continue.
All tickets will be refunded. Please contact the place where you bought your ticket.
Once we get home we will think about how we can salvage the financial situation of both bands. We will try to come up with some sort of fundraising campaign or something. We are going to need the help of our fans. If we can get past these difficult times we will try to make this same tour happen again in the future.
Stay safe, wash your hands, stay calm.
Insomnium & Omnium Gatherum
DEVIN TOWNSEND
Devin Townsend’s North American tour supporting his new album Empath was scheduled to wrap up at the end of the month, but it’s getting cut short, with remaining dates being postponed. “It is with immense disappointment that I have been put in the position to announce the postponement of the remaining dates on my Empath Vol. 1 North American Tour due to Corona Virus,” he writes. “With the travel ban In effect from Europe and the consequent chaos that has brought to travel plans, as well as the increasing social unrest, combined with the fact that half of this crew is either European or from the UK, it put us in a tenuous position. Several of the dates have been cancelled by the state, and I suspect many more to come. This is a postponement, not a cancellation. And your support has been tremendous thus far. The best it’s been in North America. Thank you and immense apologies to those who were looking forward to it. Also, apologies to our fantastic crew and incredible band for the loss of income. Thank you for your patience and sorry for the short notice. This came up overnight in a chaotic flurry of new information. Much love, till next time, Dev.”
KING DIAMOND
King Diamond cancelled his set at this weekend’s Hell and Heaven Fest in Mexico, following a recent surgery. ”My healing is slower than anticipated, and I’ve been advised to ‘forego air travel until his healing stablizes and additional risks are minimized,’” he writes.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
SEPULTURA / SACRED REICH / CROWBAR
Reposted from @sepultura Sepulnation, due to the development of the Coronavirus situation, we have been forced to postpone our North America tour until the fall. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon, stay tuned. Thank you for your understanding and listen to "Quadra"! pic.twitter.com/gs07uoSaB4
— Sacred Reich (@SacredReich) March 13, 2020
YOB
YOB rescheduled their March tour for July:
It is with a heavy heart and concern for friends, family and everyone we get to work with, that we've decided to reschedule our upcoming March US shows for July except for @treefortfest which has rescheduled for September 23 – 27, and SLC which we will reschedule for September. pic.twitter.com/A7PYiVTDcb
— YOB (@quantumyob) March 13, 2020
GWAR and RAWG
Fragile humans! The Phoenix show has been canceled. "Is this what they mean by Cancel Culture? Are you gonna finish that sandwich?" – @ThisIsBlothar
The Freeman Promotions 10th Anniversary Party in New York on March 29th (where RAWG was supposed to play) is postponed. #GWAR pic.twitter.com/sCrDkyCEkx— GWAR (@gwar) March 13, 2020
SHIN GUARD
https://twitter.com/shinguardpgh/status/1238503282718449665
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS
UK group Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs were to play Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus on March 13 and LA’s Moroccan Lounge on 3/15, in addition to a trip to Austin for SXSW. When SXSW got canceled, Pigs x7 canceled the NYC and LA shows. “We’re very sorry to not be heading out and we’ll be back as soon as we’re able,” they write.
THE ACACIA STRAIN, Rotting Out, Creeping Death, Chamber and Fuming Mouth
We are unfortunately forced to cancel our shows in Portland, Berkeley, and Los Angeles. Anaheim and all other shows are still on!
— The Acacia Strain (@theacaciastrain) March 13, 2020
— The Acacia Strain (@theacaciastrain) March 13, 2020
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