US hardcore punk band Death By Stereo have used a recent Californian show to deliver a resounding “fuck you” to Australian promoter Ben Neilson of Hits and Pits festival, who is rumoured to owe thousands of dollars following this year’s event.
The American band toured Australia as part of the Hits and Pits festival earlier this year and, as you can see from the video below (via theMusic.com.au), still had some serious steam to vent about the Australian promoter during a set last week in California.
“This goes out to Ben in Australia,” singer Efrem ‘The Bean’ Schulz informed the audience. “Everyone when I count to three, go ‘fuck you Ben’. California fucking hates you son of a bitch, let’s party,” he added, jovially. Also on the bill that night were the band’s Hits and Pits tour mates Strung Out.
Allegations were made earlier this year against Ben Neilson of Collateral Manage, the promoter of Hits And Pits with claims that the promoter owes tens of thousands of dollars to the punk festival’s crew.
The return of the Hits and Pits festival is in doubt as a crowdfunding campaign launched by the festival, which Neilson claims was arranged before the latest tour, only raised $9,515 of its $50,000 target. The campaign closed on June 10th this year but because the promoter has opted for ‘flexible funding’ the campaign still receives all funds raised regardless of whether it reaches its goal.
Watch: Death By Stereo – F&$k You Ben from Australia
