TERROR CANCEL CZECH SHOW: “WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO STAND UP FOR RANDY BLYTHE”

Hardcore stalwarts Terror will tour Europe this Fall — but one destination that won’t be on their itinerary is the Czech Republic. The band has cancelled an appearance in that country as a show of solidarity for Randy Blythe, who has now been in jail for over a month.

An official statement from the band reads:

“TERROR is going to cancel their show in the Czech Republic this month. We feel obligated to stand up for Randy Blythe. This situation seems to be taken too lightly. Randy comes from punk and hardcore roots, just like TERROR. He still supports underground music and has always supported TERROR– even singing on stage alongside us when we play Richmond. This hits really close to home for us having members of the band and our crew from the hometown of LAMB OF GOD.

“We love our Czech fans very much and have amazing shows there, but we need to ‘stick tight’ to our friend Randy, which is why we have chosen to cancel the show. As a band that could easily be in this same position at any given show, we don’t think we can play there and act like this is OK – it isn’t.

“This is bigger than a hashtag or a clever t-shirt– we as a community need to take action and speak up. Free Randy Blythe.”

I’m really of two minds about this: I appreciate Terror wanting to take a stand for Blythe, but I’m not entirely sure canceling a show in the Czech Republic punishes anyone but the band’s fans. I suppose the idea is that if enough metal bands refuse to play their, Czech metal fans will rise against their government and justice will be served.

But based on Blythe’s treatment so far, I’m not sure it’s a stretch to say that the Czech authorities would love nothing more than for metal bands to stop playing their country. Might it not be more effective to go to the country in question and make a big brouhaha? Think of it this way: if your parents gave you quiet time, would you take revenge by pouting silently in your room, or by getting right up in their faces and making the biggest, noisiest commotion possible?

It’s possible I’m being entirely naive about this, by the way. I’m open to having my mind changed. This is just my gut reaction.

Weigh in with your thoughts below. This is obviously a complicated issue and I’m curious to hear everyone thinks.

-AR