Filter Cancel Swedish Show Over Death Threats

Given recent events like this week’s shooting at Pulse in Orlando, the murder of Christina Grimmie, and last year’s terrorist attacks in Paris, it’s understandable that people are taking potential threats to their lives very seriously. These are reminders that the unthinkable is very real, and not only can it happen at any time, but it’s happening all the time, right now.

So I feel no contempt towards Filter, who cancelled their appearance alongside Combichrist at Sticky Fingers Gothenburg, Sweden, yesterday due to death threats made towards the band.

Apparently, Filter were hours away from taking the stage when they received electronic messages that named the venue and specific members of the band. The threats forced Filter to cancel the show. Frontman Richard Patrick made the following statement:

“Threats were made to FILTER’s well being that were not taken lightly. We felt it necessary to cancel and are so sorry to our fans.

“After an extremely violent weekend in the United States, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the innocent victims in Orlando as well as Christina Grimmie’s friends and family.”

The band also issued the following via Facebook:

You can say Filter are perpetuating a culture of fear by not standing up to these death threats, and you may be right, but I don’t know. I understand why they didn’t want to risk it, and can’t blame them for it.

Filter will be playing Stockholm tonight. Their new album, Crazy Eyes, is out now on Wind-Up Records.

[via]