Testament - Apologize For Incident At Indonesian Festival
Legendary thrashers Testament have received a lot of backlash after their headlining performance at Kukar Rockin' Fest 2014 in Tenggarong, Indonesia on March 9th. There was an incident involving Testament and the Indonesian band Power Metal, who performed before them. According to a report, Testament's stage crew pulled the plug on Power Metal's cables from their amps during their third song. Chuck Billy appeared on stage and the Indonesian band stepped down. The crowd was upset and sat down during Testament's performance that ended up being cut short. They left the stage and Power Metal later returned to perform. Testament have now released a statement about this justifying the situation with miscommunication and urgency to catch a flight, apologizing to the fans.
Statement from the band: "As Testament returns from our first trip to Indonesia, a country we've looked forward to visiting for many years, it is with deep disappointment that our performance didn't turn out as planned. While our experience in this great land had been nothing but wonderful from the time our first plane first touched down - from the warm hospitality of our fans, local staff and others to whom we are grateful, to being honored by the mayor and the press shortly before appearing in front of 50,000 fans at Kukar Rockin' Fest 2014, things went awry only at the moment we were scheduled to hit the stage.
"That's when the support act directly before us began their set. Normally this would not be a big issue - rock'n'roll shows don't always run on time as everyone knows - but in this case, there was a serious problem: we had a flight to catch in just a few hours. The flight was from Balikpapan Airport, several hours from Tengarrong (the location of the concert) which required several hours driving over rugged terrain. Making matters worse, several pieces of luggage had never arrived and these needed to picked up in Jakarta before we could board our connecting flights. Missing our connecting flights in Jarkata would have caused the entire band and crew to miss our further connecting flights home (after nearly a month on tour) followed by a trip to Mexico City's Hell And Heaven Fest within three days of arrival back to the US.
"So in order to play our full set and be sure we made this flight, an attempt was made to play our set on time, with the support act following us. The local stage managers, while well intentioned, did not seem to grasp the urgency of the situation as the support act (Power Metal) continued to play and we watched our set time disappearing. When our singer, Chuck Billy, came out and attempted to address the support band and audience, he was not understood. Regretfully, this led to a minor confrontation with the support act who only stopped playing once their gear was finally turned off by our crew (for which they responded by dousing water on one of our own amplifiers). While this situation was interpreted as the headliner being disrespectful to the local band, that was not the intention.
"Not helping these miscommunications was the language barrier for which no one can be blamed - our concern wasn't understood and nobody in our entourage speaks Indonesian. We were also short of our full crew, some of whom hadn't been available when this show was added to our tour at the last minute. Regardless, the result was a crowd that was visibly unhappy during our set and for that we accept responsibility.
"To our Kukar Rockin' Fest audience: we deeply apologize for any hurt that was caused. While we would have appreciated the support act being more accommodating, we nonetheless apologize to them as well and meant no disrespect. In hindsight, it might have been a better decision to just let them continue and cut much of our own set. But in the heat of the moment, a judgment call was made that backfired. We regret this turn of events, which does not represent what Testament is all about, nor what we'd travelled all that way for.
"Testament deeply appreciates the fans of Indonesia and hopes they find it within their hearts to understand what has happened and forgive. We truly hope to return to this region one day amidst deeper understanding and better circumstances."
Video of the incident:
Statement from the band: "As Testament returns from our first trip to Indonesia, a country we've looked forward to visiting for many years, it is with deep disappointment that our performance didn't turn out as planned. While our experience in this great land had been nothing but wonderful from the time our first plane first touched down - from the warm hospitality of our fans, local staff and others to whom we are grateful, to being honored by the mayor and the press shortly before appearing in front of 50,000 fans at Kukar Rockin' Fest 2014, things went awry only at the moment we were scheduled to hit the stage.
"That's when the support act directly before us began their set. Normally this would not be a big issue - rock'n'roll shows don't always run on time as everyone knows - but in this case, there was a serious problem: we had a flight to catch in just a few hours. The flight was from Balikpapan Airport, several hours from Tengarrong (the location of the concert) which required several hours driving over rugged terrain. Making matters worse, several pieces of luggage had never arrived and these needed to picked up in Jakarta before we could board our connecting flights. Missing our connecting flights in Jarkata would have caused the entire band and crew to miss our further connecting flights home (after nearly a month on tour) followed by a trip to Mexico City's Hell And Heaven Fest within three days of arrival back to the US.
"So in order to play our full set and be sure we made this flight, an attempt was made to play our set on time, with the support act following us. The local stage managers, while well intentioned, did not seem to grasp the urgency of the situation as the support act (Power Metal) continued to play and we watched our set time disappearing. When our singer, Chuck Billy, came out and attempted to address the support band and audience, he was not understood. Regretfully, this led to a minor confrontation with the support act who only stopped playing once their gear was finally turned off by our crew (for which they responded by dousing water on one of our own amplifiers). While this situation was interpreted as the headliner being disrespectful to the local band, that was not the intention.
"Not helping these miscommunications was the language barrier for which no one can be blamed - our concern wasn't understood and nobody in our entourage speaks Indonesian. We were also short of our full crew, some of whom hadn't been available when this show was added to our tour at the last minute. Regardless, the result was a crowd that was visibly unhappy during our set and for that we accept responsibility.
"To our Kukar Rockin' Fest audience: we deeply apologize for any hurt that was caused. While we would have appreciated the support act being more accommodating, we nonetheless apologize to them as well and meant no disrespect. In hindsight, it might have been a better decision to just let them continue and cut much of our own set. But in the heat of the moment, a judgment call was made that backfired. We regret this turn of events, which does not represent what Testament is all about, nor what we'd travelled all that way for.
"Testament deeply appreciates the fans of Indonesia and hopes they find it within their hearts to understand what has happened and forgive. We truly hope to return to this region one day amidst deeper understanding and better circumstances."
Video of the incident:
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| Spirit Molecule spirit molecule Posts: 1918  |
Written by D.T. Metal on 13.03.2014 at 22:19 I heard it was a free show :/ Honestly I just think it was bad management on both sides. I mean, Testament weren't flying out for another show, but just back home. Why book flights without a proper buffer. And honestly if Testament played a shorter set coz of time constraints, I doubt they would have gotten flak for it. Like here in India, whenever an artists plays a shorter set coz of bad time management, the promoter is the one who usually takes the blame. Whatever happened, I think getting onstage and unplugging support bands equipment is the shittiest thing you can do, no matter who you are.
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15287  |
Written by angel. on 14.03.2014 at 08:58 Next time you go to a gig, imagine the headliners cutting short after three songs. How would you feel? That likely wouldn't go over well at all either. Riots have started for similar. I saw Morrissey play Tucson for 30 minutes one night. Paid arena prices for the ticket, for the shirt, and got less time than a standard opener. if a bunch of sober vegan peacemongers were getting pissed, imagine metal fans. Oh, wait, didn't some Canadian venue and city get trashed after GNR blew 'em off? It wouldn't go well. As far as refunding the money... not even an option. It's a fest, not a Testament gig. How would they go about in doing it? It would likely exceed their take in the first place? How would people pissed about this react if there were discrepancies in who got paid back, who didn't? Why would Testament, or any other band, ever return to a place way out in the middle of nowhere ever again? Whoever was running the fest should take the brunt of the blame. Testament for the dick move, but partially countered by at least wanting to play a full set for their fans... And Testament's tour manager deserves some as well for not better communicating concerns or planning on a little more time in country before leaving.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15287 |
I stand corrected... if Spirit Molecule says a three song set works in out fo the way places, I guess that should have been the way to go. so everyone flame Testament.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| Cynic Metalhead Ambrish Saxena Posts: 7561  |
People pissed about Testament's behavior to support act. Apart that incident, Testament have just played two songs and left the party, people would have gone back to home with a smile. I remember when Metallica screwed up with PA while Machine Head was live, same happened with Trivium's lead singer in London when they were in supporting act for Iron Maiden(even bottle of piss was thrown on him) for the first time. Now, pulling the plug and walking like motherfuckers and started playing has made them cool or what? Nothing. It's disrespectful for Power Metal band by any means. Quote: Why the fuck people care about your petty issues? They paid you for performance not dragging up your stupid issues and screwing up fest. Why people should care if you fucking get shot moment you left the arena? Why people should care if you reached home on your dead bodies and your family receiving and crying? Why? It's very simple. Testament failed to do the job at the end of day. Now blaming promoter, cutting short act or whatever is all issues attested with Testament.
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| Reverend X Posts: 60  |
Written by [user id=146829] on 13.03.2014 at 16:56 The only thing I agree with you is that it's a lame name for a band.
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| Reverend X Posts: 60 |
There is no such thing as a miscommunication here. When you see a band still playing that would be rude to just unplugged them in the middle of the song. It's a simple case of bullying. This Power Metal band still deserve respect. If you think the schedule was tight then why not cancel it.
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| Angelic Storm Melodious Posts: 6675  |
I'm with Bittercold on this one. I find it very hard to believe that had Testament played a set of 2 or 3 songs, that the crowd wouldn't have reacted negatively. I don't really agree with the method Testament used to try and rectify the situation, but I think Bittercold is right, that Testament were in a no-win situation, and would have been vilified no matter what they did. And I dunno why everyone's making a big deal because of a band called Power Metal, when there was another band on the bill called Burgerkill... 
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| Spirit Molecule spirit molecule Posts: 1918 |
Written by BitterCOld on 14.03.2014 at 17:34 Holy wanker banter Batman, my sarcasm meter is through the roof.
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15287 |
Written by Spirit Molecule on 16.03.2014 at 23:33 it actually wasn't. you are in a band in a part of the world that doesn't get a lot of gigs, have played with those guys before. although i still think Testamant is getting too much flak and hte folks running the gig not enough.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9156  |
Written by Spirit Molecule on 13.03.2014 at 14:21 I disagree with this, especially given the circumstances with testament. If you play too long locally, you get cut off. Doesn't matter if you're in the middle of a song.
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| Spirit Molecule spirit molecule Posts: 1918 |
Written by BitterCOld on 16.03.2014 at 23:59 Haha, my bad. Actually I think Testament are definitely getting too much flak for it. I think the promoter should definitely be taking part of the blame. Plus again, I'm speculating here, I actually have no clue what happened, it's just what I read online. Like I said before Testament seemed like really chilled dudes, especially Alex and the Christian( who I apparently got really baked before I sent him onstage) not sure about Chuck as I didn't interact with him, but he didn't seem in too good a mood. Also I never really said a 3 song set would be fine. As a promoter, I would make sure that my gig runs smooth, and make sure everything is on time. I've noticed here (not just from being in a band, but also promoting a bit) that no matter who the headliner is, if they play a short set, the organiser usually takes the blame (most of the time coz they've fucked up) Also the promoter would never let a headliner, that they've probably spent quite a bit of money on, play a short set. They usually cut the sets of the local openers/support acts, which is fine to a certain extent. I've played headline sets where we've played 20 mins when the opener played 30 mins, coz of bad time management and bad calls on the promoters part. The venue/promoter were pretty much the ones that got shit for it, not us. Written by Boxcar Willy on 17.03.2014 at 00:05 This was in response to someone saying that it was Chuck Billy and he can do whatever he wants. Also, this again is something the promoter needs to sort out. He needs to tell the band that they have time for just one last song or their time is up. If the band is being a dick and fucking around by not getting offstage, then I would agree with cutting them off.
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| Dr. Strawberry Posts: 698  |
Written by [user id=146829] on 13.03.2014 at 16:56 Power Metal, who gives a shit ? I don't know, but you're a piece of SHIT undoubtedly ! It's a let-down to see A Big Band didn't know how to show respect to others. Indonesians teached Testament a good lession !
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| Dr. Strawberry Posts: 698 |
Quote:Quote:Written by [user id=17278] on 19.03.2014 at 16:58 "Misunderstanding" & "Miscommunication" are always the most beautiful remedy (or excuses) under any negative circumstances. Don't tell me they didn't see (or realize) there's a band was performing on the stage before they unplugged the audio equipment unless they're blind or deaf. This could be a more beautiful world if Intentional misconduct can be cured by saying sorry
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| Migtanteot Posts: 92  |
They just chose the easier way, unplug the supporting band then do their job. that is the main reason to go there anyway. they were paid so let´s avoid a demand. damn! they want to return home so fuck everything and everyone, we´re TESTAMENT. at the end, an apologize softens everything. Good choise at the moment, at least for them. I don´t know how indonesian people act after a thing like this(actually, sitting down was a very diplomatic act) but as PhantomLord21 wrote: Written by Nemo Atkins on 13.03.2014 at 15:01
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