Rotting Christ - To Change Name For South Africa Shows
Rotting Christ will be changing their name temporarily for their shows in South Africa in July to appease religious protestors, it has just been revealed. According to Witchdoctor Productions, who were behind the country's Witchfest event which last year was also the target of protests, the name is changed on the digital poster, Facebook event and mass marketing, but they will use their normal backdrop and the tickets are still labelled as Rotting Christ. There is no word about what name the band will take for the South Africa dates as of yet. Hopefully, it will be something creative.
Promoter Shaughn Pieterse told Metalhammer: "What we're going through is what the metal scene dealt with in the late 80s and early 90s, with religious folks challenging them and trying to stop the shows because they disagreed with the opinions and messages of the bands. It started early last year with Witchfest 2015. In order to host an event you've got to get certain certificates from the council. Every time we made a move to do everything by the book, the councils were getting shot down by so-called Christians and religious protesters.
"Every time we had to move venue we lost the deposit and you keep haemorrhaging money. But you have to make the show happen because if you don't then they've won. You have to take quite a knock to show that they can't stop you.
"It's started again with Behemoth and more so with Rotting Christ. But we even accommodated that and spoke to the band and they will be playing in South Africa under an alternative name so as not to offend people in that sense. Rotting Christ was maybe a little bit too far for some people, it's really in your face."
He adds: "I believe we live in a democratic society and art is art. You can't censor it. Art is designed to provoke emotions from people. Once you start getting offended by art and start censoring it, where does it end? People are buying the tickets to see these bands and they have every right to see them. As long as the fans buy tickets we will bring these bands for them. We're not doing anything wrong."
The Greek metallers released their latest album Rituals in February.
Promoter Shaughn Pieterse told Metalhammer: "What we're going through is what the metal scene dealt with in the late 80s and early 90s, with religious folks challenging them and trying to stop the shows because they disagreed with the opinions and messages of the bands. It started early last year with Witchfest 2015. In order to host an event you've got to get certain certificates from the council. Every time we made a move to do everything by the book, the councils were getting shot down by so-called Christians and religious protesters.
"Every time we had to move venue we lost the deposit and you keep haemorrhaging money. But you have to make the show happen because if you don't then they've won. You have to take quite a knock to show that they can't stop you.
"It's started again with Behemoth and more so with Rotting Christ. But we even accommodated that and spoke to the band and they will be playing in South Africa under an alternative name so as not to offend people in that sense. Rotting Christ was maybe a little bit too far for some people, it's really in your face."
He adds: "I believe we live in a democratic society and art is art. You can't censor it. Art is designed to provoke emotions from people. Once you start getting offended by art and start censoring it, where does it end? People are buying the tickets to see these bands and they have every right to see them. As long as the fans buy tickets we will bring these bands for them. We're not doing anything wrong."
The Greek metallers released their latest album Rituals in February.
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