DESTRUCTION Frontman Defends Band's Decision To Cancel Ecuador Gig

April 17, 2006

DESTRUCTION frontman Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer has issued another comment on the band's ill-fated April 15 concert in Ecuador which was called off after the group announced that they would not play the show due to insufficient lighting inside Quito's Miami Rock Concert venue.

According to a report published in Monday's (April 17) edition of the Quito-based daily newspaper El Comercio, about 60 of the 600 fans in attendance reportedly began destroying the venue after hearing that the band would not be going ahead with the concert. Concerned about the damage being caused to the equipment at the Miami Rock Concert hall, the promoter allegedly offered to pay DESTRUCTION an additional $1,000 above their previously agreed-upon fee in order for them to reconsider and proceed with the show. However, according to a source cited by El Comercio, Schmier refused the offer and the gig did not go ahead.

In a message sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier today, Schmier said the following:

"Hey, this ain't funny. To avoid more rumours, here are the plain facts that led to the the cancellation of the show in Quito/Ecuador on [April 15].

"Ecuador disaster part three — the facts:

"To finish the discussion about the Ecuador show problems, here are the straight facts that led to the cancellation:

* The promoter didn't provide a proper workin' visa for the band and their crew. So
playing the show would have been illegal by Ecuadorian law!

* The promoter has agreed on 'so-called' technical riders and signed contracts but ignored those facts when the band was in the country. Breach of contract!

* The promoter has tried to blackmail the band to play the gig by threatening them with enraged fans — an unprofessional and [unacceptable] behaviour!

* The [lack of security] of the rammed up venue, crowded with far too much people, (there was hundreds outside that wanted to enter the venue!) was a big risk for everyone involved.

"Under those circumstances, the tour manger was forced by law to postpone or to cancel the event. The promoter did NOT react to pull the show to the next day, or finding solutions. The ONLY logical consequence was to cancel the gig!"

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