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Shining - Show Cancelled Amid Accusations Of Racism, Groping Women


Shining's Niklas Kvarforth is facing some controversy yet again. According to reports, the band's show in Portland was cancelled by the venue after the frontman was accused of using racist and homophobic slurs, slapping an audience member, and threatening to stab employees, as well as other alleged actions when they played at Boise, Idaho at The Shredder. Tonic Lounge, a venue in Portland, found out about Kvarforth's behavior and cancelled the show.

On Facebook, the venue posted about the incident: "Tonic Lounge has decided to cancel the Shining show that was scheduled for this Wednesday, May 17th. All tickets will be refunded. We regret having not researched this band more before approving their show. After booking them, it was brought to our attention that Shining's singer has done and said many things that could be considered offensive, dangerous, or destructive. While we were learning about and considering these issues, the list continued to grow, including a recent report that the he may have been involved in the drugging of someone's drink. This morning we received a call from a trusted friend in Boise Idaho, detailing the events that took place while Shining were there on Sunday. We were told that the singer of Shining went to the local punk bar Mulligans before their concert, and was groping women and threatening to stab employees, and had to be removed. We were also told that later, while performing at The Shredder, he used many blatant racist and homophobic slurs on stage, threatened audience members with rape, slapped audience members in the face, and was sieg heil saluting repeatedly throughout their performance. Sometimes words and allegations on the internet can be difficult to navigate, but a story like this coming from a friend is not. The above types of behavior are simply not acceptable at Tonic Lounge. This isn't about censorship. This is about protecting our venue, our staff, and our patrons. This decision was not made under pressure by any individuals or political groups. We believe in freedom of expression and are not quick to pull the plug on any band booked at our club. However, we are not going to invite someone into our space to spout hate speech on our stage, and/or put our staff and patrons in harm's way. We are still in full support of Famine Fest Presents, the other bands who were on the bill, and all of our friends and customers who planned on attending. We hope you all can respect our decision to do what's best for our club and those within it."

Following up on Tonic Lounge's post, The Shredder had this to say: "Big ups to Chris and the Tonic Lounge in Portland for making a choice decision! No need to put up with bigotry and childish bullshit. Especially from an individual that only preys on the weaker people in attendance."

Security footage:



Source: toiletovhell.com
Band profile: Shining
Posted: 18.05.2017 by BloodTears


Comments

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Comments: 23   [ 2 ignored ]   Visited by: 209 users
18.05.2017 - 13:36
cossaisVendeurs
He needs to finally start a fight with the wrong person and have his face kicked in severely. I like his music, but I hate him as a person.
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18.05.2017 - 14:28
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
Looks like GG Alin wouldn't have a lot of shows, if he lived today...
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My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


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18.05.2017 - 14:30
Slyfang
Everything they're describing is stuff he has ALWAYS been doing in his live shows. The guy is a nihilist, he isn't going to stop provoking people just because it might make him look homophobic or some other buzzword. Did the Portland folks really expect something different? But then again, using a slur is the equivalent of a physical assault for those snowflakes.
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18.05.2017 - 16:30
IBlackened
I would be surprised if this was coming from Mikael Akerfeldt, but Niklas has been doing this since forever.
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Their old stuff is better.
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18.05.2017 - 17:00
corrupt
With a lowercase c
Admin
Clear, respectable stance on the matter. corrupt likes this.
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18.05.2017 - 17:08
Windrider
Raureif
Quote:
After booking them, it was brought to our attention that Shining's singer has done and said many things that could be considered offensive, dangerous, or destructive.

And this does not apply to most other black metal bands or maybe even rappers, in the lyrics of their songs all the time? I mean do these guys actually listen to who they book?
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18.05.2017 - 18:43
Jiri
I didn't know Trump played in Shining!
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18.05.2017 - 20:46
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
It can be over for band to tour USA, if cops came and he has booking, he might be refuse enter visa next year
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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18.05.2017 - 21:16
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
I found this article and this line intoxicatingly funny. "We believe in freedom of expression and are not quick to pull the plug on any band booked at our club. However, we are not going to invite someone into our space to spout hate speech on our stage".

Knowing briefly abit about Portland's scene its quite amusing that they would pull out of all the places in the US. Not that I care anywho I'll never see them again after learning from seeing them recently in London (not on my volition) that was the most actrociously shite weak show I think I've ever seen and certainly not in a good way.
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I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

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18.05.2017 - 21:30
DreadfulYgg
I can't believe the "this is normal for him, so no big deal" comments. Apparently if someone is misogynistic, homophobic, and a racist asshole for long enough, it should be accepted and ignored. I like a couple of Shining albums, but this guy should not be allowed to play anywhere.
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18.05.2017 - 22:04
Slyfang
Written by DreadfulYgg on 18.05.2017 at 21:30

I can't believe the "this is normal for him, so no big deal" comments. Apparently if someone is misogynistic, homophobic, and a racist asshole for long enough, it should be accepted and ignored. I like a couple of Shining albums, but this guy should not be allowed to play anywhere.

Please cut the SJW speak. The guy is a provocative, nihilistic asshole, simple as that. He's not the kind to give a fuck what "category" you belong to. To attribute his usual behavour to premeditated discrimination, as in hate crime or hate speech has to assume that he's some sort of radical idealist. Also, I find hate speech and hate crime to both be utterly idiotic terms, because calling someone a faggot isn't automatically hateful, and the severity of the crime itself doesn't change when you find out whether or not the perpetrator was motivated by hate.

Furthermore, banning someone from performing somewhere because it might hurt someone's sensibilities is censorship. If some venue decides to not allow him in, fine, it's their business, but censorship on a broader scale has no place in a free democratic society. You have boycotts for that. Censorship belong in dictatorships.
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19.05.2017 - 06:00
Malignar
I do like that he is trying to offend people...I just wish he could put out some good music. Not shocking this happened in Portland, though. The club has the right to snowflake out and he has the right to find another place to offend and play at.
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19.05.2017 - 12:07
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Written by Slyfang on 18.05.2017 at 14:30

Did the Portland folks really expect something different?

The other Shining, maybe?
----
"I'm here to nunchuck and not wear helmets. And I'm all out of helmets."
"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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19.05.2017 - 12:31
no one
Account deleted
He's just such a bad guy, I really like how he offends people, its just so cool and edgie. Let the guy do what he he wants. Who cares about the people he offends or hurts, it's just part of his evil nihilist attitude. It's a free world anyway isn't it? God I love him
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20.05.2017 - 02:08
SoUnDs LiKe PoP
This dude is - and always has been - a gigantic sh*tbag. If the guy doesn't want to live anymore and wants to sing about suicide all of the time, he should just do it already. Waste of flesh.
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I lift weights and listen to metal
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20.05.2017 - 05:57
Lord Slothrop
Written by cossaisVendeurs on 18.05.2017 at 13:36

He needs to finally start a fight with the wrong person and have his face kicked in severely. I like his music, but I hate him as a person.

I agree 100%. I love a lot of his music, but can't stand reading or hearing about him. Seems like the offspring of a drama queen and douchebag.
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20.05.2017 - 09:00
Cynic Metalhead
Ambrish Saxena
Written by Slyfang on 18.05.2017 at 14:30


The guy is a nihilist, he isn't going to stop provoking people just because it might make him look homophobic or some other buzzword. Did the Portland folks really expect something different?

Niklas acts like a dick. On every show he does something childish to pull some pranks and eyeballs on him, get away with his childish act and move on. What authorities did was absolutely right. They don't fucking care whether he's nihilistic or outrageous crazy bald headed motherfucker who will try to whip with his indecent acts on public. They will obviously terminate any sort of indecency.

I love Shining. Big fan of V - Halmstad and VII - Född Förlorare but that doesn't mean you going to act like a dick.

On all grounds, Tonic Lounge's actions well deserved.
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21.05.2017 - 01:17
Slyfang
Written by Cynic Metalhead on 20.05.2017 at 09:00

Written by Slyfang on 18.05.2017 at 14:30


The guy is a nihilist, he isn't going to stop provoking people just because it might make him look homophobic or some other buzzword. Did the Portland folks really expect something different?

Niklas acts like a dick. On every show he does something childish to pull some pranks and eyeballs on him, get away with his childish act and move on. What authorities did was absolutely right. They don't fucking care whether he's nihilistic or outrageous crazy bald headed motherfucker who will try to whip with his indecent acts on public. They will obviously terminate any sort of indecency.

I love Shining. Big fan of V - Halmstad and VII - Född Förlorare but that doesn't mean you going to act like a dick.

On all grounds, Tonic Lounge's actions well deserved.

My point is, if they don't tolerate his usual drunken shenanigans, they should never have booked him in the first place. Also the people going to see Shining live should know what to expect, and decency and respect have no part in his performance. It seems utterly illogical to me to ban him because someone might get offended. It's not like he's giving a sermon in a church.
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21.05.2017 - 06:02
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Written by Slyfang on 21.05.2017 at 01:17

Also the people going to see Shining live should know what to expect, and decency and respect have no part in his performance.

Some people go to shows without knowing anything about the bands, they want to be surprised. With Shining, I'd guess they're definitely surprised.
----
"I'm here to nunchuck and not wear helmets. And I'm all out of helmets."
"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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23.05.2017 - 01:11
IBlackened
Written by DreadfulYgg on 18.05.2017 at 21:30

I can't believe the "this is normal for him, so no big deal" comments. Apparently if someone is misogynistic, homophobic, and a racist asshole for long enough, it should be accepted and ignored. I like a couple of Shining albums, but this guy should not be allowed to play anywhere.

I didn't say I support his behavior. I said I'm not surprised, since it's not the first (and probably not the last) time this happens.
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Their old stuff is better.
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23.05.2017 - 04:37
FDBAHFG
It can be over for band to tour USA, if cops came and he has booking, he might be refuse enter visa next year
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23.05.2017 - 23:42
qlacs
"The Quaker"
Written by Slyfang on 21.05.2017 at 01:17


My point is, if they don't tolerate his usual drunken shenanigans, they should never have booked him in the first place. Also the people going to see Shining live should know what to expect, and decency and respect have no part in his performance. It seems utterly illogical to me to ban him because someone might get offended. It's not like he's giving a sermon in a church.

Maybe because they were acting in good faith? I guess they had the idea of making compromises but this is about something else.
There is a huge gap between a performance that includes offensive behavior and causing purposeful physical or mental harm outside it. What he did was not part of the show. It was just to reinforce his f*cked up world view. I'm pretty sure anyone who would be in charge to organize a show would not want to deal with such a guy.
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31.05.2017 - 15:08
Dietrich
I'm too old to give a toss about this crap anymore... next!
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