Power Trip Challenge Trapt to See Who Can Draw More Fans
Trapt frontman Chris Taylor Brown’s multi-day racist, pro-Trump Twitter tantrum about the coronavirus has, unsurprisingly, drawn the ire of multiple prominent members of the metal community.
The push-back seems to have begun with Power Trip frontman Riley Gale, who challenged Trapt to see which band could draw a bigger crowd in the same market on the same night, with the losing band having to donate whatever money they made to charity. Gale even went so far as to offer Brown as many handicaps as he liked — Trapt could choose the market, how much time they had to promote the show, etc. It took Brown a LONG time to entertain the challenge (while declining to provide specifics of when Trapt would take Power Trip up on the offer). Which, frankly, made him look like a coward who was lying about the level of Trapt’s ongoing success… unsurprising, given Brown’s love of our Liar-in-Chief.
The pile-on only grew from there, with members of Every Time I Die, The Acacia Strain, Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, I Prevail, and a myriad of other bands all telling Brown, in so many words, to go suck an egg.
Perhaps most tellingly, after Brown tried to insult Dance Gavin Dance’s Tilian Pearson, Continental Touring booking agent Daniel DeFonce (who just so happens to be our guest on the latest episode of The MetalSucks Podcast) pointed out that Dance Gavin Dance are, indeed, a bigger draw than Trapt (and Daniel would know, because, again, he’s a booking agent). Furthermore, Chelsea Grin drummer Pablo Viveros posted the itinerary for Trapt’s now-cancelled spring tour, noting that the band plays rooms with 200 – 500 people… far below the numbers of many of the bands Brown has been shit-talking on Twitter.
You can check out all the action below, courtesy of The PRP.
Noah Sebastian (Bad Omens)
Shut the fuck up you latte sipping vegan douchebag…. Stop playing music this instance! You’re making a mockery of the craft
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 19, 2020
Tilian Pearson (Dance Gavin Dance), Dylan Bowman and Eric Vanlerberghe (I Prevail)
It must feel really good to be so relevant in the music scene after all these years, pumping out hit after hit. I hope Trapt’s consistent and smashing success will one day contribute to you finally losing your virginity
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
Oh fuck you and you’re totally gay (as in happy!) band! You haven’t had ANY hits…. oh and TRAPT kicks your ass on all streaming platform you bitch. Come say any of this to my face….
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 19, 2020
Not that it matters, but on a yearly basis we absolutely shred you in total streams, album sales and ticket sales. You have inflated numbers on unique listeners because people listen to your one song and change it immediately
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
Dude! Your streaming numbers are NOTHING compared to TRAPT you lil bitch!
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 19, 2020
It seems like you need help understanding how numbers work. A higher total number of streams means more success—or in your case, transparently insecure Twitter machismo in lieu of actual arguments. So to play your game, we had 132 million streams in on spotify 2019
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
Although I can’t see Trapt’s total number, based on contextual data from single song streams, I’m willing to bet you had about 10 to 15 percent of that number
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
The good news is, it seems like your are true to your lyrics and you seem “headstrong to take on anyone,” even if it means going in with incomplete data, cherry picking unique pandora streamers who were listening to 3 day grace when your song popped up and they didn’t change it
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
I’m sure you made a lot of $$ in the early 2000s, I hope you saved some
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 19, 2020
Buddy! Your band doesn’t hold a candle to TRAPT! ?? You will never get the numbers we have! You will never pull the $$ we have!
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 19, 2020
Every year of my life I will make more money than you, ya bish….
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Certainly not playing music. I’m glad you’re confident in your second career though
— Tilian (@tilianpearson) March 20, 2020
.9/10 people would think they were listening to a dead cat when your music is playing….. Your voice would be the main issue…. I will dance circles around your shitty voice ??
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Tilian’s voice is awesome. In other news @TRAPTOFFICIAL will still be going on tour through the covid-19 pandemic as no more than ten people will be attending their shows on a given night.
— Dylan Bowman (@DylanBowman) March 20, 2020
.Okay band that only got noticed because they covered a Taylor Swift song…. You are the Linkin Park of Warped Tour???????
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Lol now you don’t want to talk numbers ?? and if you’re going to go down the Taylor swift route, at least be more creative. I’ve heard better over the last 5 years.
— Eric Vanlerwhatever (@DickVanberg) March 20, 2020
There is nothing that is going to change how you got noticed bud….. Fake….
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Pablo Viveros (Chelsea Grin), Jake Harmond (ex-Chelsea Grin), Lee McKinney (Born Of Osiris), Daniel DeFonce (Continental Touring/ Unique Leader Records)
Is Trapt selling out 1000-2500 cap rooms? Please show us proof. You’re not. Tilian’s band is doing those numbers. Please take a backseat.
— Daniel DeFonce (@defonce__) March 19, 2020
The Royal in Salt Lake City is about 200… it’s a straight up bar n grill ?? pic.twitter.com/sqX6nxpka6
— Pablo Viveros (@Pabl0GRIN) March 20, 2020
And according to Billboard headstrong didn’t even make top 10. pic.twitter.com/6iYQc1Pat4
— Pablo Viveros (@Pabl0GRIN) March 20, 2020
Fuck you all trapt is playing the Illinois state fair. If that’s not big time I don’t know what is
— Jacob Harmond?? (@JaekGrin) March 20, 2020
I feel like that band has been blacked out drunk for days…
— Lee Patrick Mckinney (@LeeOsiris) March 20, 2020
Fuck you ya pussies
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Chris Fronzak (Attila), Steve Micciche (Every Time I Die)
Patiently waiting for Mr. Trapt to tell me he makes more money than me because I know for a fact he certainly does not ??
— Metalcore Gatsby (@FRONZ1LLA) March 20, 2020
An absolute embarrassment. Dude needs some serious help.
— Steve Micciche (@MitchBHavin) March 20, 2020
My name Mr. Trapt and me angy ?? pic.twitter.com/iQi92BFnxn
— Metalcore Gatsby (@FRONZ1LLA) March 20, 2020
Vincent Bennett (The Acacia Strain)
Can’t take us all on.
— Vinny Benny: New Horizons (@xDIAMONDCUTx) March 20, 2020
I will literally fly to anywhere @powertriptx plays to give them another head against Trapt man.
— Vinny Benny: New Horizons (@xDIAMONDCUTx) March 20, 2020
Tyler “Telle” Smith (The World Alive)
Since @TRAPTOFFICIAL keeps talking about how he has more money than literally everybody ????
How about you post a screenshot of that account balance.
I wonder how many agents/promoters/bands are gonna blacklist you after coronavirus is done & everybody goes back to work but you
— TELLE {MONOMANIA OUT NOW} (@tellesmith) March 20, 2020
But thank you for the entertainment today, I literally thought you guys were hacked.
Drugs are bad guys…
— TELLE {MONOMANIA OUT NOW} (@tellesmith) March 20, 2020
.trapt destroys you on Spotify and let’s not get into your pathetic presence on Pandora!!! ?? Stfu!
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
This is the most excitement he has had in nearly two decades I’m sure he’s doing a few lines to keep awake and savor every second lol
— TELLE {MONOMANIA OUT NOW} (@tellesmith) March 20, 2020
Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens)
.Bro you look like an older David Cassidy…. You have aged the exact same way. Pretty cool??
— TRAPT (@TRAPTOFFICIAL) March 20, 2020
Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary (Fit for a King)
Only boomers listen to Pandora
— BRINGMETHEVERIZON (@TuckFFAK) March 20, 2020
Elijah Witt (Cane Hill)
kudos to the whole core scene for ripping @TRAPTOFFICIAL a new one. Who knew their racism, homophobia, and bigotry, would unite such a divided scene.
— JESUS CHRIST (@elijahwitt) March 20, 2020
