Swedish band Watain has cursed the “tragic excuse of a government” and “honorless rats” for having abruptly cancelled the band’s concert on the same day that they were supposed to have performed in Singapore.
On Thursday (Mar 7), the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) revealed that it had decided to cancel the concert for reasons of public order after the Ministry of Home Affairs “expressed serious concerns about the concert, given the band’s history of denigrating religions and promoting violence, which has potential to cause enmity and disrupt Singapore’s social harmony.”
IMDA said in a statement that it had “earlier allowed the concert with a rating of “Restricted 18 (R18)”” and that it had barred Watain from performing its religiously offensive songs and ritualistic stage acts, making references to religion, and using religious symbols.
On why it cancelled the concert, IMDA noted that “Watain is known for its Satanist views and some of their previous controversial performances involved animal carcasses and throwing pig’s blood on its audience. The band also espouses anti-Christian views and advocates Satanism through their songs, and endorses violence.”
In a Facebook post, Watain blasts the Singapore authorities for cancelling the concert: “In the light of yesterdays events in Singapore we would like to send a proud hail to our fans and followers from Singapore, Indonesia, Sarawak, Burma, Laos, Phillipines and Malaysia who had travelled to see yesterdays performance but were robbed of their experience in the last minute by Singapores tragic excuse for a government.
“It was an honor to meet you all yesterday and to sense the fire in your eyes and in your spirits. We look forward to the day we can perform for you without the interference from lesser men.
“To the honorless rats behind the ban, rest assured that you in your cowardly act have only stirred the cauldrons of your own misfortune. If these men and women didn’t already feel mistrust and contempt towards ”authorities”, they sure do now. The flames of discontent have once again been kindled, may they scorch your heavens…”
A petition to ban Watain and another band Soilwork from performing in Singapore had earlier garnered about 15,000 signatures in a day. It is unclear whether Soilwork, a Swedish heavy metal band that allegedly performs songs with subliminal messages on death and suicide, will be allowed to perform here.
https://theindependent.sg.sg/imda-abruptly-cancels-concert-by-satanist-band-earlier-approved-to-performn/