A VENUE in Glasgow has cancelled a metal festival after learning a number of the bands had links to the far right.
In a statement on their website, the Classic Grand said they were parting ways with the Darkness Guides Us event, and that they would "never give a platform to any kind of hatred."
In today's The National we revealed that at least four of the bands playing at the festival were involved with the Neo-Nazi metal scene.
One of the group booked even has a song called “Gas Chamber” and lyrics which include the phrase “Sieg Heil!” and refers to “torching the Jewish creation”.
On their Facebook page, the Classic Grand said they had been "made aware of certain connections to fascist ideology being associated with the festival which was due to take place in November of this year."
They added: "As such we have made the decision NOT to be associated to this festival and will no longer be hosting this event.
"The Classic Grand is not, nor do we give a platform to any form of hatred".
It's not clear what will happen to the festival. They had already booked a separate venue for headliners Taake and Satanic Warmaster, both of whom have had events cancelled in the past because of their brushes with fascism.
Satanic Warmaster have been in conflict with anti-fascists in Glasgow before, because of their links to National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM).
Singer Werwolf – real name Lauri Penttilä – contributed to a 2006 compilation titled Declaration of Anti-Semitic Terror and has issued split-releases with NSBM bands including Aryan Blood and shared with the stage with Germany’s Absurd.
One member of that band broke parole terms when, on release from prison for murder, he gave a Nazi salute.
Other bands on the line up include Kalmankantajah from Finland. The group's lead member, Grim666, is also in Order of the White Hand, who are an openly national socialist outfit.
Nocturnal Depression too have expressed views supporting NSBM.
It’s not the first time, the event has found itself in the middle of a race storm.
Last year the Ukrainian band Kroda were booked to play. The group are holocaust deniers with links to a Russian outfit called M8l8th. The 88 is Neo-Nazi shorthand for “Heil Hitler”.
The Glasgow Anti-Fascist Alliance had promised to “mobilise” against Darkness Guide Us.
Responding to the initial criticism, the event organiser Dimitris Artofsin told The National: “I don’t know if you are aware, but I’m not a white power supporter, hell I’m not even white myself.
“I’m getting tired of this. Darkness Guides Us is at its core, like me anti-authoritarian, neither right nor left but with extreme hate towards both ends. Antifascists and fascists are the same for me and I’m disgusted by what they both represent.”
He said he couldn’t care if any of the bands booked for his event had “a member in their band affiliated with another band that is political”.
He added: “The publicity has certainly helped me, it’s like free advertising."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel