Aus Promoter Axes US Band From Tour Over 'Complete Incompetency'

Local promotions company Soundworks Touring has announced that US extreme metal outfit The Faceless will not be a part of the Australian tour on which they were scheduled to appear that began in Perth two nights ago.

The company confirmed the band's absence in a scathing statement posted to their Facebook page this afternoon, in which they attributed the situation to apparent "complete incompetency" on the part of The Faceless and their management, and said that they have been "continuously lied to, misled and left in the dark" as to the band's whereabouts for the duration of the tour, which also features fellow Americans The Black Dahlia Murder and Putrid Pile along with Aussie outfits Whoretopsy and Unravel.

The Faceless have actually been missing in action since last Sunday's Hammersonic Festival in Jakarta — a 22,000-head event which this year featured metal legends Megadeth atop the bill — in which Soundworks co-founder Brad Wesson is also a partner.

Having "extended the budget a little bit" to provide The Faceless with a spot on the festival, Wesson told The Music, "The day before, on their arrival day, I'm on the phone to their manager and he just said, 'Oh, OK, [guitarist/vocalist] Michael [Keene]'s just having a few issues, it doesn't look like they're going to make their flight.'

"So, we pulled the pin on the festival, and we were told there was a re-booking that was going to happen, which did actually take place — and then there was a cancelled flight out of LAX. So they went back home to their houses, then they rescheduled their flights and turned up 10 minutes late to the departure gate. That was the second cancelled flight.

"Then they went and did it again, and just didn't turn up for a flight," he continued. "And then the fourth time — by that time, they had missed the Perth date because of those cancelled flights, so we put out a small release saying that the band would be in Adelaide, as that's what we were told, and then there was another call saying, 'They're not going to make Adelaide, shall we meet you in Brisbane?'

"[We said] yes, let's do this, let's build the band back up as they're copping a lot of heat through the press due to Michael's issues, so we said, 'All right, let's make this happen — we want to get behind him, we want to get the band back on track,' and then late last night we were told it's not going to happen; they're not going to leave the US."

It was at this point that Wesson and his partner in Soundworks, Glenn Dyson, made the call to release their statement on social media.

They expected some backlash, though the response has overwhelmingly been in their favour, and Wesson says that "over the last two shows we've had maybe a handful, literally, of people — five or six people — walk away saying, 'Oh, I only came to see The Faceless,' so it's good in that way".

"But we're very protective of the actual fans who support our shows, so that's been at the forefront of our minds," he cotninued. "So, yeah, we're in a situation where we were like, 'We'll put this out, we want fans to know they're gonna be looked after where we can.'

"And I also informed their manager, 'When we do put the press release out, we'll be sending fans direct contacts, we are going to hand over email addresses, phone numbers, all of that,' and he just goes, 'Well, do what you've gotta do.' That was his response. It was so flaky it wasn't funny."

Soundworks' statement indeed provides fans with the option to contact the company to obtain those details, saying they are "more than willing to put you in direct contact with the band and their management so they can address your questions".

"We've had to sort of wash our hands of it and protect our interests and, again, let the fans in because they deserve to know," Wesson said.

However, those keen to still get out and enjoy some quality metal shows are more than welcome to do just that; the tour continues in Brisbane tonight, with Sydney and Melbourne following on Friday and Saturday. (See theGuide for more information.)

Wesson praises the remaining bands on the tour for being "totally professional and smashing shows every night and doing what they do best".

"But it is what it is now," he said. "We've always been a transparent touring company, and we've always respected the fans of the bands and who support our shows, so it's only fair that we deliver it back and say, hey, look guys, you get to know what we know."

The Faceless have not spoken publicly on their absence from any of the shows — here or in Indonesia — this week. The Music has been in contact with band management for comment.