Rock Legends Attack 'Sausage-Fest' After Being Kicked Off Festival

Yesterday's announcement that '80s icon Billy Idol would be joining the A Day On The Green festival tour has led to allegations that the tour is male-heavy after the removal of two iconic female-fronted Australian rock bands. 

In a post on Facebook, Sarah McLeod, of The Superjesus, revealed that her recently reunited outfit and legendary '90s West Australian ensemble the Baby Animals had both been removed from the A Day On The Green tour to make room for Idol before labelling it a "sausage fest".

"Guys, I'm sorry to say this and we do not know why this has happened but The Superjesus and the Baby Animals have been booted off A Day On The Green in favour of adding Billy Idol," McLeod wrote in the post. "So it's now Billy, Cheap Trick, The Angels and The Choirboys. They will refund your tickets if you are no longer interested in attending this sausage fest."

"They will refund your tickets if you are no longer interested in attending this sausage fest."

The members of the Baby Animals were succinctly supportive of McLeod's post, simply writing "What Sarah McLeod said" on their wall.

The festival did announce the change yesterday, blaming "unforeseen circumstances", and saying in a statement: "It is with regret that promoter Roundhouse Entertainment advises that the a day on the green February 2015 tour with The Angels, Cheap Trick, Baby Animals, Superjesus and the Choirboys will not be going ahead due to unforeseen circumstances.

"But not all is lost as several of the bands will be joining original punk rocker turned global superstar Billy Idol on his Australian tour in March … Idol, Cheap Trick, The Angels and Choirboys will now all perform expanded a day on the green shows nationally, offering patrons a huge concert experience."

A Day On The Green promoter Michael Newton said that gender was not a consideration in making the decision to reschedule the shows.

"It was nothing to do with gender," he told theMusic.com.au today. "The Angels and the Cheap Trick tour was about The Angels and Cheap Trick ... they were the double-headlining artists. For them to go onto the Billy tour ... that made sense.

"I did not even think about it being a gender issue."

"From there, the Choirboys were also playing ... so we just did it. I did not even think about it being a gender issue. It's bullshit, to be honest." 

With an office staffed primarily by women and a history of working with artists such as Lisa Mitchell, Adalita, Alicia Keys, The Pretenders, Blondie, Sarah Blasko, Washington and several other renowned chanteuses, Newton said making the change on the basis of gender "never even entered [his] head", and that the move was based solely in the best of intentions.

"We didn't want it to turn out this way, but it has," he said. "Promotion is not an actual science where you know what is going to happen. Things happen... it happens all the time.

"We thought this was the best result for everyone, rather than just cancelling the tour. This was the best result. I thought up until now we'd really done the right thing by everyone, given the circumstances."

The 18+ winery tour is set to commence on Saturday, March 14, at Perth's Kings Park. If you are indeed heading along, or need to suss your refund options, check the Gig Guide or see The Music App for a full rundown of event information.