US Band Accused Of Overreacting To Death Threats After Cancelling Gig

A representative from a Swedish club has accused US band Filter of overreacting to death threats the group were sent and claims they cancelled their show because they knew it would make headlines. 

According to Blabbermouth, the veteran group were scheduled to perform at Sticky Fingers on Monday night but called the show off just hours before they were to take to the stage, claiming death threats they received electronically in the wake of the death of The Voice singer Christina Grimmie forced them to cancel the gig.

"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."

However, a representative from Sticky Fingers has alleged the band actually cancelled the gig because one of the band members was caught smoking in the venue. 

An employee of the venue, Andreas Leijon, reportedly asked the musician to put out the cigarette and jokingly added "or the owners will kill us".

Leijon said the band overreacted to the joke and cancelled the gig, knowing that the news would spread back to the US.

"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 confirmed that a threat was reported at the venue on the same night.

"I can confirm that we sent a police car [to the club], interviewed the involved parties and took the complaint," Brehm said.

"It was a threat made inside the venue and it was perceived to be serious enough that the police was called."