Following their recent altercation that happened at a Russian airport Belphegor have cancelled the rest of their Russian shows.
What is the problem with Russia? Honestly in this day and age how can one country still be so backward. Cannibal Corpse arrive, perfrom a select few dates on which they have the plug pulled. Behemoth were actually imprisoned when performing in the country, Russian borne Iamthemorning suffer major logistical set back and now Belphegor have cancelled their Russian dates.
Arriving in St Petersburg last week frontman Helmuth of the band was spat on by an Orthodox Christian in an effort to confront the frontman. Set to perform a select few shows with Nile and Melechesh they were forced to cancel the show and now all of their following performances.
Prior to appearing on stage the band were told that they had to cancel their show, following their arrival in Moscow. Where they were met with the usual censorship. Told to remove their backdrop of crosses along with no use of onstage sculptures. Not content with that the band also had to change their songs with “Lucifer Incestus” being an instrumental then vocals were muted for the rest of the show then the band were informed they would not be performing in Ekaterinburg or Krasnodar later on the tour.
Speaking out against the entire ordeal Helmuth released a statement :
We’ve toured Russia three times since 2006 and always had amazing experiences. We’ve ignored all protests including death threats during the past few weeks. I was aware many black and death metal bands were having trouble recently, but we still marched in. To people who think they know everything: When that waste of oxygen approached us at the airport on the 19th, he had a hand in his pocket. I expected him to have a weapon. If I had hit him, I would have been thrown in jail, and he would have ended up in the hospital. That was their plan; he had that other degenerate filming the entire thing. Special thanks to brother Mr. Karl Sanders [Nile], who had the courage to block him as he continued to harass me. I’m a musician, not a fighter, especially in Russia. I’ve survived Typhus and have already been dead for six hours, hanging on only by machines followed by open-heart surgery. I do not fear anyone other than myself. No excuses to anyone!! End of story. It is of the utmost importance that artists have freedom of expression. Throughout history religions and governments have and continue to censor creative works all around the world. Thank you very much to all metalheads who loyally stand behind us and fight against oppressors and hypocritical moralizers. Russian supporters, be prepared!! BELPHEGOR are unstoppable and will return.
Personally I find it absolutely ridiculous that freedom of speech is essentially non existent in Russia. You’re free to do whatever you want as long as they agree with it. In what you would think would be a modern time where gender and sexual orientation are, quite rightly nobody’s business but the people’s own Russia still make it their absolute priority to quash any form of freedom of expression. I also find it fascinating that the church who is no doubt so called innocent in this is the entire reason there was the entire cause of conflict. What business of it was it of this idiot who decided to spit on someone that a band was playing? Now they have denied fans who only want to have a good time and listen to their favourite band the entire experience. Good job Russia.
Who cares if the band have crosses on their backdrop, who cares if they have bones and the like on their stage, who cares if someone is homosexual?
Seriously Russia get a grip.
