ANCIENT RITES: North American Tour Cancelled

ANCIENT RITES mainman Gunther Theys has issued the following update:

"ANCIENT RITES were approached to tour the USA/Canada during winter. We agreed on the terms. Many dates were booked. The word was spread. The band kept the dates free and prepared for the tour.

"One day we received a mail from the original promoter, who said he would hand the tour over to someone with more contacts. We received this mail from the new promoter who stepped in, terms were changed. Understandable from their point of view:

'The problem is, the promises that John made to you will not be possible, as we will not be receiving enough money from the venues to secure those arrangements. Most bands who tour in the U.S. for the first time will lose money — they pay for their own plane tickets (or get tour support from their label to cover them),and the guarantee money per night is used for vehicle rental and gas.

'I would like ANCIENT RITES to remain a part of this package, and here is what I am able to offer. Most importantly, I cannot pay for plane tickets. There are no booking agents in this country who offer to pay for flights — and generally the labels are responsible for supporting their bands with this cost, otherwise the members pay for their own flights.'

"Since we have no management, and the label doesn't pay tour support and we don't have the money ourselves, we cannot come over.

"That's the tragedy of underground bands. There is no $$$ to support bands like us. We all had taken unpaid leave from work but if we now also must pay to play we cannot afford it. The world belongs to acts with business men behind them who invest cash. That is the reality, also in metal. It won't keep us from fighting, though.

"Sorry to bring you this bad news. We don't point finger at anyone, these are the simple facts. The original promoter was guided by idealism but the plan failed, the second one was realistic. It is a pity our American and Canadian fans now will not have a chance to see us and we regret first steps were taken by the tour agency creating a hope in our minds. That is why I always state that all in this music industry, be it MADONNA or metal, comes down to money. Hopefully one day we can make it but we are not willing to change our style or lyrics to attract business men willing to invest. ANCIENT RITES never has been about that. This battle is lost but the war is never over.

"From the trenches I greet you all, with unbroken spirit."

ANCIENT RITES's latest album, "Rubicon", was released in May 2006 via Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2001's "Dim Carcosa" was recorded at the Spacelab Studio in Germany under the watchful eye of veteran ANCIENT RITES producers Oliver Phillips and Christian Moos.