American punk band Death By Stereo, who toured Australia as part of the Hits & Pits festival earlier this year, have used a Californian crowd to deliver a “fuck you” to the promoter.
In May theMusic.com.au revealed that Hits & Pits promoter Ben Neilson allegedly owned thousands and left crew out of pocket following this year's event, the third edition of the festival.
Neilson did not return theMusic.com.au's call this afternoon and has yet to reply to questions sent over email.
Performing at California's Observatory venue last week, Death By Stereo appear to have vented their frustration at the situation.
“This goes out to Ben in Australia,” frontman Efrem Schulz told the crowd. “Everyone when I count to three, go 'fuck you Ben'.”
Just before the band launched into No Shirt No Shoes No Salvation he added, “California fucking hates you son of a bitch, let's party.”
They were sharing the bill with fellow American bands Strung Out, Heartsounds and Implants – all of whom were in Australia on the same Hits & Pits tour.
The future of the festival, the next leg of which was due to take place in November/December, is now in doubt. A crowdfunding campaign to finance the event's expansion raised $9,515 of its $50,000 goal, including for 'Golden Laminate' passes – valued at $1,250 each – which amounted to access all areas passes for every Hits & Pits show ever. The 'flexible funding' model the festival adopted means that despite not reaching the target, all money pledged goes to the festival.
Watch Death By Stereo's on-stage message below:
