Rotting Christ - To Change Name For South Africa Shows
Rotting Christ will be changing their name temporarily for their shows in South Africa in July to appease religious protestors, it has just been revealed. According to Witchdoctor Productions, who were behind the country's Witchfest event which last year was also the target of protests, the name is changed on the digital poster, Facebook event and mass marketing, but they will use their normal backdrop and the tickets are still labelled as Rotting Christ. There is no word about what name the band will take for the South Africa dates as of yet. Hopefully, it will be something creative.
Promoter Shaughn Pieterse told Metalhammer: "What we're going through is what the metal scene dealt with in the late 80s and early 90s, with religious folks challenging them and trying to stop the shows because they disagreed with the opinions and messages of the bands. It started early last year with Witchfest 2015. In order to host an event you've got to get certain certificates from the council. Every time we made a move to do everything by the book, the councils were getting shot down by so-called Christians and religious protesters.
"Every time we had to move venue we lost the deposit and you keep haemorrhaging money. But you have to make the show happen because if you don't then they've won. You have to take quite a knock to show that they can't stop you.
"It's started again with Behemoth and more so with Rotting Christ. But we even accommodated that and spoke to the band and they will be playing in South Africa under an alternative name so as not to offend people in that sense. Rotting Christ was maybe a little bit too far for some people, it's really in your face."
He adds: "I believe we live in a democratic society and art is art. You can't censor it. Art is designed to provoke emotions from people. Once you start getting offended by art and start censoring it, where does it end? People are buying the tickets to see these bands and they have every right to see them. As long as the fans buy tickets we will bring these bands for them. We're not doing anything wrong."
The Greek metallers released their latest album Rituals in February.
Promoter Shaughn Pieterse told Metalhammer: "What we're going through is what the metal scene dealt with in the late 80s and early 90s, with religious folks challenging them and trying to stop the shows because they disagreed with the opinions and messages of the bands. It started early last year with Witchfest 2015. In order to host an event you've got to get certain certificates from the council. Every time we made a move to do everything by the book, the councils were getting shot down by so-called Christians and religious protesters.
"Every time we had to move venue we lost the deposit and you keep haemorrhaging money. But you have to make the show happen because if you don't then they've won. You have to take quite a knock to show that they can't stop you.
"It's started again with Behemoth and more so with Rotting Christ. But we even accommodated that and spoke to the band and they will be playing in South Africa under an alternative name so as not to offend people in that sense. Rotting Christ was maybe a little bit too far for some people, it's really in your face."
He adds: "I believe we live in a democratic society and art is art. You can't censor it. Art is designed to provoke emotions from people. Once you start getting offended by art and start censoring it, where does it end? People are buying the tickets to see these bands and they have every right to see them. As long as the fans buy tickets we will bring these bands for them. We're not doing anything wrong."
The Greek metallers released their latest album Rituals in February.
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| Band profile: | Rotting Christ |
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| roeder Posts: 149 From: Ireland  |
Rooting christ, rating christ, rolling christ so many options to choose from
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Electes Posts: 159 From: USA |
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| Reaper_Redeemer Posts: 743 From: Greece  |
Written by roeder on 10.03.2016 at 21:19  
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| Karlabos Meat and Potatos Posts: 5658 From: Brazil  |
I think they should change it to Rotting Intolerants
---- "Aah! The cat turned into a cat!" - Reimu Hakurei
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| Taravilyaion Posts: 172 From: Germany  |
I personally would refuse to change my band name for religious purposes.. Accept it or just f'**** off.. If not accepted just cancel any performances in the whole damn country..
---- "The best violence against one is the violence no one ever forgets.."
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| Uilli Anderson Posts: 1 From: USA  |
If their 'faith' is threatened by a band's name then it isn't very strong. Plus these religious types are supposed to love their enemies and all the other crap in the bible that they ignore, I'd cancel ,and keep the name intact fuck these religious hypocrites!!
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| Vombatus Potorro Posts: 2354 From: Spain  |
Written by Irritable Ted on 10.03.2016 at 23:17  They chose "Χ Ξ Σ" (= 666) btw. Meh. Non Serviam would be better and fitting for the band. Or Fresh Satan for the lulz.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands  |
What a bunch of Wannabee total pussies...
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Netzach Planewalker Posts: 1611 From: Sweden  |
Intolerant Rotting Cunts? Such bullshit. Fuck religious intolerance. Also, pretty lame move to change the name in the first place.
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| YourRequiem Posts: 106 From: Canada |
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| Shankao Posts: 29 From: Spain  |
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Posts: 11835 From: Portugal  |
Written by Shankao on 11.03.2016 at 10:16 It would but it would also be ironic because that's the opposite of what they are doing.
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| Shankao Posts: 29 From: Spain |
Written by BloodTears on 11.03.2016 at 12:14 Yes, you're right!
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| CrowKiller Posts: 37 From: UK |
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| Andreas Posts: 330 From: Germany |
Written by Uilli Anderson on 10.03.2016 at 23:08 As a christian, I have to concur. Believing in a resurrected Christ means that a band name like "Rotting Christ" is nothing more but fantasy. But well, the band members must be glad they can still shock groups of people with their band name Anyway, I'm curious if these religious movements have websites explaining themselves. It's one thing for non-christians to consider christianity a religion, but if christians themselves put christianity in practice as a religion, they have some catching up to do.
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| Koen Smits Posts: 1331 From: Belgium  |
Written by CrowKiller on 11.03.2016 at 15:49 +1
---- RIP: Frank Vandenbroucke (6 nov 1974 - 12 oct 2009) Written by Bad English on 05.04.2014 at 15:05 but spoil thius film is like spoil porn and say porn ends whit cum shot ...
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| M C Vice ex-polydactyl Posts: 3346 From: Australia  |
Could they use Rotting Brian?
---- "Another day, another Doug." "I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples." " 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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| Hex_Omega Gem Seeker Posts: 1178 From: Poland |
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| barnesy Posts: 133 From: USA  |
Written by Karlabos on 10.03.2016 at 22:23 I second this one.
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| Jaeryd Nihil's Maw Posts: 1062 From: USA  |
Written by CrowKiller on 11.03.2016 at 15:49 This. While I think changing the name temporarily is lame, I can totally understand why they'd do it. It's certainly not the metal fans' fault; they don't deserve to have the show they want to go to cancelled just because a bunch of dickturds don't like the band's name. I think it's somewhat noble that Rotting Christ would do something like this for the sake of their fans--something that they must know will make them lose the respect of some of their other fans. It's an oddly paradoxical display of sacrificing a bit of the band's integrity to display a sense of integrity, haha.
---- 
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| Constantine Posts: 197 From: Czech Republic  |
Faith +1 imo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU1taFr17QU
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| crucifiedjesus Posts: 122 From: Canada |
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