Metalblog

Despite reports that hard economic times are meant to be good for the heavy metal music market, there is evidence of poor ticket sales and dwindling attendances for more than one heavy metal tour. 

Schmeir, bassist and lead singer for thrash metal band Destruction, who are currently on the road for their D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. - 25 Years Of Total Destruction tour, posted the following statement on the band’s official forum last week:

“As the tour is going pretty bad, those will maybe be some of the last European club shows in a long time. Too bad but the market is dictating that I guess.”

Since posting the comment, Destruction have played shows to reportedly disappointing crowds in Dublin, Ireland and Leeds and Dudley in the UK. The Metalblog will be at Destruction’s show tomorrow night in London. Hopefully the numbers at that gig will make up for the poor turn outs around the rest of the UK.

It’s not only the smaller tours that are feeling the pinch. Concerts in Birmingham, Glasgow, Stockholm and Manchester on the Unholy Alliance III tour that ran through October and November and featured Slayer, Trivium, Mastoden, and Amon Amarth, had to be moved to smaller venues.

And the Metalblog has already reported that the Preist Feast tour featuring Judas Priest, Megadeth, and Testament, had to move to a smaller venue in Manchester and cancel the show in Nottingham. The Nottigham ticket holders were offered two tickets for every previously ordered ticket to either Birmingham or Sheffield, which must also be selling slower than hoped for to be able to accomodate the 2 for 1 deal.

The only heavy band that looks to be beating the recession is AC/DC. Not only have they sold out all of their already announced arena European tour dates for next year, but they also added stadium tour dates for next summer.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS