BIFF BYFORD CANCELS TOUR; MAGNUM SAY F&*k IT; CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

In an already tough market, the Heavy Metal music industry is continuing to see more setbacks as the effects of Coronavirus continues to make front page news.

This morning Biff Byford announced his April/May solo tour has been cancelled. While this is a result of low-ticket sales over the last week, it is not known if this is a direct effect of the current Covid 19 Virus pandemic, with people now refusing to travel.

Biff commented “The honest truth is the tickets for the forthcoming tour have just not sold as everyone expected for whatever reason, so we have cancelled the dates as scheduled with a view to hopefully re-visiting at a later date.

“It’s sad as I was looking forward to the spoken word and live band show but it’s just not to be at this time. I want to thank everyone who bought the album and supported me. Keep the faith and see you on the road with Saxon”

In the world of Heavy Metal Touring, the Coronavirus situation is causing a major headache for artists, tour managers, promoters, venues and Heavy Metal fans alike.

In the US, a number bands, for example Pearl Jam, have cancelled their entire US tours, while festivals such as Coachella have been ‘moved’ to later in the year with others such as SXSW cancelled altogether. Kiss are one band to continue play live in the US, although they have halted their meet and greet sessions.

Asia has been badly affected, with bands like Green Day, Slipsknot, Whitesnake and Michael Schenker pulling tours. The Sons Of Apollo recently pulled their entire Europe, Russia and Ukraine calendar.

Hella Rock Festival

Closer to home, Italy is under tight restrictions with 62 million people told to stay mostly at home from Monday, as the country tackles the virus.

Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary have today cancelled events, including Sari Schorr. Given the presumably tight margins of financing these schedules, Schorr has indicated that the whole tour is now at risk.

There is “no rationale” to postponing sporting and music events in Britain because of coronavirus, according to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, with Day Two of the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival currently underway.

This is the bullish view of Magnum, who yesterday issued an update on their upcoming tour with the following statement:

“The band are NOT going to cancel the tour.

“We’ve been in rehearsal for 3 weeks now. We’re all in excellent health. Dennis has been fitting in fantastically and we’re looking forward to playing our new material for the first time to as many people as possible.

“We are contractually obliged to play every single show and we intend to do so.

“We’d urge every fan and indeed every human being around the world to not fall into the trap of allowing fear and misinformation to prevent them from living their lives to the fullest……F&*K Coronavirus”.

In London, trains and buses are to undergo ‘enhanced’ cleaning using a new disinfectant to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

As for UK Summer Festivals, it is probably too early for these festivals to be cancelled. Spare a thought for all Heavy Metal festival organisers. Do they continue with expenditure and outlay on site builds, crew and advertising, not to mention booking acts in the hope that everything is resolved before the event? Or freeze all spending to cut loses?

In a tough climate for venues, with spiralling rent and rates cancelling events as artists pull out of whole tours can dent anyones cashflow

Coronavirus

Covid-19 is a virus, so antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system.

Exercise, good diet, vitamins help your immune system. Wash your hands. Regularly.

The symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a cough
  • a high temperature
  • shortness of breath

But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

UK NHS Coronavirus Guidance

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