Big Day Out promoter AJ Maddah has only just finished sorting the timetables and fall-out from the high-profile Blur cancellation, but he may have to call in some more favours to sort out a replacement for his other major summer festival, Soundwave.
A third Soundwave 2014 lineup announcement is still on the way, but one of the big-name bands on the equally big-name bill has pulled out just five weeks ahead of the festival kick-off.
Sevendust, who were announced as part of the massive second Soundwave 2014 lineup announcement, have pulled out the hard and heavy festival.
The American metal five-piece announced their cancellation over Facebook and Twitter just hours ago confirming that they would no longer be touring Australia, their first since visiting as part of Soundwave 2011 and releasing last year’s Black Out The Sun album.
Due to issues out of our control, we regrettably must pull out of Soundwave 2014. Apologies to our Australian fans, we hope to see you soon.
— SEVENDUST (@Sevendust) January 9, 2014
An additional comment on the band’s Facebook page, which is administered by Lori Connolly – the wife of Sevendust guitarist John Connolly – responds to upset fans about pulling out of the festival.
“To all the 7dust fans you are amazing loyal & understanding,” she writes. “It is what they posted, ‘Beyond their control’. My husband is one of the hardest working people I know and lives for this band and the fans he calls family. Sorry this happened.”
An additional post takes on a slightly more agitated tone, Lori Connolly writing: “Why would they say yes let’s play and then say nah … Come on it’s not their choice can’t say it enough …. All John ever said was show amazing OZ was and I’m sad I have never seen it ….I’m sure if they could personally apologize to each person they would !!!!! I am personally saddened by the anger but understand disappointment !!!!”
The cancellation is regrettably familiar to Australia Sevendust fans. The five-piece were set to open for Avenged Sevenfold (who are coincidentally headlining Soundwave 2014) for their Australian tour in July 2011, but cancelled with a statement that simply noted: “Unfortunately we will not be making the trip to Australia this time with A7X.”
UPDATE: Following Sevendust’s announcement, AJ Maddah has followed up with some words of his own, calling the band’s withdrawal “Pissweak”. The outspoken promoter indicated that the band’s demand for “more money” could be behind the band’s decision to pull out of the Soundwave 2014 lineup, the “3rd time they have cancelled Aus tour” as he pointed out. (Sevendust also canned a tour with Creed back in 2002.)
Sevendust have pulled out of Soundwave. Pissweak. #SW14
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) January 10, 2014
“They contacted us yesterday asking for more money again and we had to draw the line somewhere,” Maddah tweeted, no doubt souring any future relations between the two parties given his follow-up comment. “Honestly, I can’t be bothered to work with them again. As they say, you don’t negotiate w terrorists.”
Hopefully Sevendust’s withdrawal from Soundwave 2014 is an isolated incident; last year’s edition of the festival was characterised by a trend of musicians and bands pulling out of the event at the 11th hour.
The long list included Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker succumbing to his flying phobia, Anthrax losing not one, but two members ahead of their arrival, and the cancellation of ‘disco punk’ duo Blood On The Dancefloor, a result that promoter AJ Maddah was “super pleased” about while slamming the band’s fanbase.
As for this year’s edition, a third Soundwave 2014 lineup is still expected to land before the event’s kick-off next month, as Maddah tweeted.
@HANGER1995 3rd announce next week. Sidewaves are being rolled out heavily from next week. Times table late this month
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) January 9, 2014
Originally expected to land sometime “before Christmas”, the additions are set to include a third festival headliner, the award-winning thrash group King Parrot (all but confirmed in September) and self-described “Psychedelic Reggae Ska Doom Metal Punk Rock From Hell,” The Bennies, as well as polarising metal outfit Falling In Reverse… as long as their frontman can get his visa sorted in time.
Soundwave 2014 Lineup
A Day To Remember
Mastodon
HIM
Pennywise
Glassjaw
Panic! At The Disco
Eagles Of Death Metal
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Less Than Jake
Mayday ParadeSevendust
Crosses
Suicide Silence
The Porkers
Gojira
Black Veil Brides
Zebrahead
Satyricon
Dream On Dreamer
Mutemath
Desparecidos
Stiff Little Fingers
Thy Art Is Murder
Graveyard
Dir En Grey
Deez Nuts
In Hearts Wake
Breathe Carolina
Defiler
I Call Fives
Hacktivist
Devil You Know
Soil
The Boss Hoss
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
Nostalghia
Upon A Burning Body
Joining the already announced lineup of:
Green Day
Avenged Sevenfold
Stone Temple Pilots (with Chester Bennington)
Megadeth
Alice In Chains
Rob Zombie
Megadeth
Placebo
AFI
KoRn
Alterbridge
Trivium
Down
DevilDriver
Newsted
Biffy Clyro
Rocket From The Crypt
Asking Alexandria
Clutch
Alkaline Trio
Baroness
Five Finger Death Punch
August Burns Red
Testament
Living Color
Letlive
Motionless In White
Gwar
Black Dahlia Murder
MushroomHead
Finch
Pulled Apart By Horses
Ill Nino
Nancy Vandal
Bowling For Soup
Trash Talk
Skindred
Volbeat
Amon Amarth
Terror
Whitechapel
TesseracT
The Story So Far
Hardcore Superstar
10 Years
Walking Papers
Our Last Night
Coliseum
Your Demise
Heaven’s Basement
Real Friends
+ more to be announced.
Soundwave 2014 Dates & Tickets
Tickets on sale Thrusday 9th September at 9am
via: soundwavefestival.com, oztix.com.au & other outlets
Saturday 22nd February – Brisbane, RNA Showgrounds
Sunday 23rd February – Sydney, Olympic Park
Friday 28th February – Melbourne, Flemington Racecourse
Saturday 1st March – Adelaide, Bonython Park
Monday 3rd March – Perth, Claremont Showgrounds
