The Truth Behind The Death Of Soundwave Festival

It was announced today that Soundwave Festival will not be going ahead in 2016, officially due to poor ticket sales.

However, when you look at the bigger picture, it all seems to have less to do with the number of tickets sold, and more to do with the financial difficulties surrounding festival boss AJ Maddah and his associated businesses reaching a critical mass.

Reading like a Shakespearean tragedy, the seeds of the festival and its promoter’s downfall seem to have been sown – ironically – when both were at their peak.

The heavy music festival has for years been one of the biggest events in the Australian music calendar, bringing over huge acts like Metallica, Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Green Day, Iron Maiden, Smashing Pumpkins, Blink 182 and so many more.

While cracks have been appearing in the SW universe for a while now, they became more prominent this year, with many fans expressing apathy towards the proposed 2016 lineup, and question after question being raised over the festival’s financial state.

Much of this can be traced back to 2013, a huge year when, after the Soundwave promoter’s company raked in $62 million gross revenue and cleared $14 million profit, Maddah chose to expand.

Buying BHSS Pty Ltd (formerly Billy Hydes Staging Systems Pty Ltd), launching Harvest Festival and buying into the Warped Tour and Big Day Out, those decisions would prove fateful, as he would end up losing around $30 million on the ventures, on average at a rate of $800,000 a month. A situation only made worse by the falling exchange rate of the Australian dollar.

All this was happening behind the curtain, but things came to a public head this year when – seeking restitution for unpaid debts incurred during the festival’s 2015 run – staging company World Stages Pty Ltd took Maddah to court seeking to liquidate the company’s assets.

In classic AJ style and in an attempt to distance the Soundwave brand from the legal proceedings, Maddah changed the name of the festival’s former operating company from ‘Soundwave Festival Pty Ltd’ to ‘Penny Denny Pty Ltd’ on September 24th, only to be changed once more, the following day, to ‘ACN 127 870 866 PTY LTD’.

At the time, Maddah said that the company under administration had ceased to be the operating company of Soundwave Festival as of April, and therefore the 2016 festival would still go ahead.

Despite these legal manoeuvres though, the company went into voluntary administration, with AJ entering into a Deed of Company Arrangement with his various creditors.

Now this is where it all gets complicated, with the deal covering a litany of other companies set up by Maddah in addition to the former operating company. Including Hounds Of Hell Pty Ltd (the company under which Maddah was hoping to run the 2016 event), BHSS Pty Ltd, Sonic Travel Pty Ltd, 3wise Pty Ltd, and Madjo Enterprises Pty Ltd, the end result of this agreement was that creditors somehow agreed to terms that would see Maddah pay back $4,320,000, only 25% of the over $16 million owed.

The deal specifies that the funds would be raised by selling off BHSS Pty Ltd (at $600,000 – well below what he would have paid for it), in addition creditors taking 50% of the net profits of Soundwave 2016 to cover the remaining $3,720,000 still owed.

However, with the festival no longer going ahead, the deal – which even under the best circumstances would have seen creditors recoup no more that 25 cents on the dollar of the money owed to them – will now see creditors getting a mere 3 cents on the dollar return in the form of the $600,000 raised from selling the staging company.

As for the festival no longer going ahead, the final nail in the coffin came only recently, when Maddah announced it was all off. Citing poor ticket sales, it seems the promoter was unable to meet the requirements of the bands, venues and other businesses involved in running the festival.

AJ managed to keep this all under wraps for a while, until headliners Bring Me The Horizon claimed they weren’t 100% confirmed to be playing the festival. Seeing the end in sight, AJ then posted on Twitter that Soundwave would not return in 2017, but things still looked like they were going ahead as planned for 2016.

That didn’t last long though, with NOFX and Frenzal Rhomb also making posts to social media suggesting the 2016 festival might not happen. Taking to Twitter himself in an attempt to dispel the cancellation rumours, Maddah dashed the hopes of many by replying: “Not true yet. We’ll Know This Afternoon.”

When asked what the deciding factor in the festival’s looming cancellation was, he claimed that it was “down to some scumbags at Eventopia/Tickete[k]”. The ticketing agent, however, wasn’t taking that lying down, and issued its own statement claiming that it “takes instruction from the Soundwave Festival promoter”, and tweeted that it doesn’t have a say “in whether the 2016 festival goes ahead.”

Maddah then made a full statement to Twitter claiming that after having secured an initial advance (which was reportedly approximately $1.9 million) from the ticketing company to cover various costs, a further agreed upon advance was then allegedly withdrawn by the ticketing company. It is these missing funds that Maddah says is responsible for the 2016 festival’s apparent demise.

As the festival’s cancellation is now official, attention has now turned to an ongoing stoush between the festival and the ticketing agent, over who is responsible for refunds.

Looking over the events that led to this sorry situation, one could argue that it was Maddah’s ambitious expansion that took the festival down a path to destruction. Racking up unsustainable amounts of debt in his various attempts to keep the festival going, it seems likely that many bands would have been worried by the prospect of not being paid.

One would imagine his difficulties with securing this year’s line up stemmed from artists seeking to be paid large deposits upfront, and Maddah’s inability to raise the necessary funds after over committing on prices.

As revealed by Music Feeds, large sums are still owed to over 50 acts who took part in the 2015 edition of Soundwave in February, including rock heavyweights Soundgarden, Slipknot and The Smashing Pumpkins.

This sorry end to the festival aside, and as sad as it makes us here at Music Feeds, we can’t help but reminisce fondly at AJ’s many colourful moments. Truly a larger-than-life figure within the Australian music industry, you can’t deny he cares about the music and certainly embodies a certain type of rock’n’roll attitude.

As big as his personality is though, it won’t replace the gaping hole in Australia’s festival season left by the event’s cancellation. And while fans of heavy music across the nation are sure to be mourning the loss the hardest, with Soundwave one of the few major events left championing the cause of punk, heavy metal and rock’n’roll, this is a loss that everyone in the Australian music industry will feel.

At the end of the day, as ugly as all this is, Soundwave certainly provided some treasured memories for more than a few of us.

So as it all seems to be going to shit, we here at Music Feeds want to raise a glass to the festival and say thanks for all the good times, killer sets, controversy (and web traffic) over the years. Here’s to you, Soundwave. It’s been a blast.

Gallery: Soundwave Memorable Moments 2008 – 2015

Soundwave Festival: Memorable Moments

Backstage Soundwave 2013, Brisbane

"I think I took a photo of this jacket at just about every Soundwave Festival in Brisbane. I would always come up the day before and take some photos of the site being setup. This jacket belong to one of the loaders and I always thought it was such a badass!"

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Backstage Gear Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Plz Let Me In! Soundwave 2010, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Waiting Patiently Soundwave 2012, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Merch Tent Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Wonder Women Spotted At Soundwave 2015, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Mario Makes An Appearance Soundwave 2013

"It takes dedication to go to a festival dressed up. I think it was another 30+ degree day in Sydney the day this was taken, it must have been so hot in there. A guy dressed up as Mario about to run into a wall of death? Dream photo. It could only have been better if Luigi was coming the opposite way."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Gallows Soundwave 2010, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Blink-182 Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
A Quick Refill (DragonForce) Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Ministry Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Papa Roach Soundwave 2015, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Metalheads Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Biffy Clyro Soundwave 2014, Brisbane

"Biffy Clyro after their first Soundwave show in Brisbane. Fuck it was hot. One of my favourite bands."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Backstage Soundwave 2010, Perth

"Always SO. MUCH. GEAR. How it doesn’t get lost is a mystery. PS It does get lost."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Letlive Soundwave 2012, Adelaide

"This is LetLive in Adelaide, the stage was running really late and the band were about to get their 30 min setup cut really short, so they just never stopped playing. They turned the lights off. They kept playing. They cut the power. They kept playing. They were literally going to be dragged off so they started helping clear the stage."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Less Than Jake Soundwave 2011

"At some of the shows, Soundwave would organise people with native animals to come backstage to show the artists. This is Chris DeMakes of Less Than Jake in Adelaide. I live in Australia and have never been that close to a koala."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
You Me At Six Soundwave 2012, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Testament Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

"Free Tattoos? Yes please. The folks at Eurkea Rebellion Trading tattooing Chuck Billy from Testament in Melbourne."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Thursday Soundwave 2012, Perth

"Thursday played their last ever show at Soundwave Festival Perth. This is Anthony Green from Circa Survive giving a hug to Thursday singer, Geoff Rickly. It was a pretty emotional show."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Bert (The Used) & Jenna (Tonight Alive) Soundwave 2015

"Bert McCracken from the Used came out and did some guest vocals with Tonight Alive this year in Sydney with Jenna McDougall. Nice time."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Alexisonfire Soundwave 2010, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Down Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

"I did a shoot with Down during the week off, between Sydney and Melbourne Soundwaves. When I was shooting Melbourne side of stage, Phil recognised me, dragged me on stage, and I took this photo. I was actually shitting my pants, not knowing what was happening. I thought originally I might have done something to piss him off. What a legend."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
View From Above Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2009, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
(Hayley Williams) Paramore & Davey Havok (AFI) Soundwave 2010, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Real Friends Soundwave 2014, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Bullet For My Valentine Soundwave 2011, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Living End Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Pennywise Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

"Onstage with Pennywise during Bro Hymn. Oooooooh oooh oooh oooooooohhhh. That’s my bad, bro hymn."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
AFI Soundwave 2010, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Limp Bizkit Soundwave 2012, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
ADTR Crowd Surf Soundwave 2012, Brisbane

"This is that thing that A Day To Remember get everyone to do, but I can’t remember what they call it. It’s essentially crowd surfing, on a crowd surfer."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
All Time Low Soundwave 2015, Sydney

"Sydney this year during All Time Low. A massive storm came over and they eventually had to stop for 20 minutes as it was an absolute downpour."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Anti-flag Soundwave 2010, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Guitar Tech Soundwave 2013, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Slayer Soundwave 2011, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
30 Seconds To Mars Soundwave 2011, Melbourne

"Whether you like 30 Seconds To Mars or not, they put on one hell of a performance. This was during a song where they invite the audience onstage. Gets pretty darn hectic."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Bronx Soundwave 2011, Brisbane

"This is the Centerfold!"

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Fucked Up Soundwave 2015, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Subways Soundwave 2009, Sydney

"As I was walking past the stage, I heard a voice onstage say, if you don’t start moving, I’m getting in there with you. I quickly ran to the pit and basically got my camera to my eye as he was in mid flight. Yes, he did make it, but even he said he had his doubts mid jump, ha."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Backtage Soundwave 2013, Perth

"The crew having a bit of fun with some black tie dinner service for the stage managers on the main stage at Soundwave 2013 in Perth."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Helicopter Flight Soundwave 2011, Adelaide

"Slayer has a mate who owns a helicopter so they came to the festival in it, (as you do), and he was generous enough to give me a flight to take some photos. It was the first time I had been in a helicopter, loved it!"

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
A Day To Remember Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Dillinger Escape Plan Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Amity Affliction Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

"I think this guy crowd surfed to the front in his wheel chair and Joel got him on stage. What a legend!"

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Nine Inch Nails Soundwave 2009, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Janes Addiction Soundwave 2010, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
System Of A Down Soundwave 2012, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Motionless In White Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Metallica Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Mastodon Soundwave 2014

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Metallica Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Brisbane Airport Soundwave 2009

"Baggage coming into Brisbane as everyone starts to arrive."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave Festival: Memorable Moments #57

"This is Alexander Hagman from Raised Fist after running around on stage for an hour. I asked if I could take a quick snap and this is what I got. Amazing."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2010, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Of Mice & Men Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Max Cavalera Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

"Max Cavalera after playing his first show with Killer Be Killed. Another fucking hot Soundwave day."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2009, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2014, Perth

"Soundwave has a great sense of humour. Yes these are actual quotes from artists."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
LetLive Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Foxy Shazam Soundwave 2011, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Down Signing Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

"Soundwave had meet and greets during the festival where all the money was donated to Camp Quality. This is Phil Anselmo, from Down. Everyone gets a little emotional sometimes, but the bands always met every last person."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Panic At The Disco Backstage Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Dudesons Soundwave 2008, Adelaide

"This is some fans hanging over the fence backstage getting some autographs. I thought it was hilarious when I rounded a fence and saw exactly what you are looking at."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Slash & Alterbridge Backstage Soundwave 2012, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Eagles Of Death Metal & Jimmy Eat World Backstage Soundwave 2010, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2015, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Slipknot Soundwave 2012, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Marilyn Manson Soundwave 2012, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Greenday Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The BossHoss Soundwave 2014, Perth

"One of the best bands you probably never saw at Soundwave 2014, The BossHoss."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Unearth Soundwave 2012, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Killswitch Engage Soundwave 2008, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Alice In Chains Soundwave 2009, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Bennies Soundwave 2015, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Fletcher (Pennywise) Onstage With The Bronx Soundwave 2011, Perth

"In 2011, Fletcher from Pennywise got annihilated and decided it would be a good idea to get onstage with the Bronx and cut himself to freak a few people out. I think he nailed it."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Meshuggah Soundwave 2010, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Enter Shikari Soundwave 2010, Brisbane

"Enter Shikari singer, Roughton Reynolds, cops a bass to the head in Brisbane."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
5 finger Death Punch Backstage Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The End Of Tony Abbott (Gwar) Soundwave 2014, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Black Veil Brides Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Bring Me The Horizon Backstage Soundwave 2011, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Dashboard Confessional Backstage Soundwave 2012, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
While She Sleeps Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Crossfaith Soundwave 2013, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Ok Rock Backstage Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Steel Panther & Gerard Way Backstage Soundwave 2015

"Just before Steel Panther went on, Gerard Way who had just finished on the adjacent stage, popped over to tell Michael Starr that he was a fan. Someone got stoked!"

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Fletcher (Pennywise) & Trash Talk Backstage

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Atleast He's Honest Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Vandals Backstage Soundwave 2013, Adelaide

"In between the artist backstage and the festival there was a little park and during one of my commutes I ran into Dave Quackenbush from The Vandals killing some time."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Bloodhound Gang Backstage Soundwave 2009, Perth

"This is Jimmy Pop after their Perth show. Again it was fucking hot. About 10 seconds after I took this photo two of his band mates walked up and pissed in it."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Chariot Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

"This is Stephen Harrison finding yet new ways to destroy his guitars. That is a fucking long way up. Cray cray."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Strung Out Marriage Soundwave 2012, Perth

"In Perth Jake Kiley from Strung Out got married on Stage by Greg Hetson (Bad Religion) and Bert McCracken was the maid of honour, with Brooks Wackerman being the best man." Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Northlane Soundwave 2013, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Bring Me The Horizon Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Faith No More Soundwave 2010, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Crossfaith Soundwave 2013, Sydnety

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Duff McKagan Soundwave 2014, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Iron Maiden Soundwave 2011, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Bring Me The Horizon Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

"This was in Melbourne during Bring Me The Horizon’s set. They had just released Sempiternal and it was so packed in that tent, everyone was going nuts. There were bodies on top of bodies."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Sleeping With Sirens Soundwave 2013, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Mindless Self Indulgence Soundwave 2013, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Stonesour Backstage Soundwave 2013, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2011, Sydney

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Trash Talk Soundwave 2011, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2011, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Jedi Soundwave 2008, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Gallows Soundwave 2013, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Blackout Soundwave 2013, Adelaide

"This is the singer of the Blackout, Sean Smith in the crowd, standing in his own circle pit. Great dude! I loved that band."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Soundwave 2013, Adelaide

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Backstage Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Sum 41 Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
All Time Low Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Antemasque Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Korn Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Paramore Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Greenday Soundwave 2014, Melbourne

"Each night Greenday would bring up a fan to help sing a song. This girl was such a mega fan."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Rob Zombie Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Gwar Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Metallica Soundwave 2013, Sydney

"This was during Metallica in Sydney. Stupid idea to light a flare in the crowd, when they can put your face up on the bring screen."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Cerebral Ballzy Soundwave 2014, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
A Day To Remember, Korn, The Story So Far Soundwave 2014, Brisbane

"I was taking a quick snap of A Day To Remember and the next thing you know, members of Korn and The Story So Far have jumped in. That’s why I loved Soundwave."

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
King Parrot Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Steel Panther Soundwave 2015, Melbourne

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
Avenged Sevenfold Soundwave 2014, Brisbane

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1
The Chariot Soundwave 2013, Perth

Photo by Kane Hibberd - Book: Kanye Lens Vs Soundwave Volume 1