Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has responded to the news that Sacramento hip-hop outfit Death Grips have broken up by taking to Twitter. The frontman says he isn’t surprised at the dissolution of Death Grips, who were slated to support NIN’s co-headline tour with Soundgarden.
“Sorry everyone,” Reznor writes. “Why would I have ever thought those dudes could keep it together?” Reznor’s dispatch presumably refers to the notoriously erratic behaviour that marked the controversial trio’s five-year existence, including numerous cancelled tours and appearances.
The band cancelled a string of Australian appearances in 2012, and famously caused a small riot after bailing on their commitments to America’s Lollapalooza tour. It was later revealed the trio never intended on showing up to their scheduled slot, and the no-show was in fact the show.
Taking their cue from the band itself, the organisers of Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest, on whom Death Grips have unexpectedly cancelled twice, have issued their own response to the band’s split by sharing an image of a note scrawled on a napkin, as the band did to announce their break up.
“We are now at our super best and so our relationship with Death Grips is finally over — we have decided to consciously uncouple forever, after being stood up twice at the altar, we had to look deep into our soul and ask if Death Grips really loves us or is capable of loving anyone,” they begin.
“The unfortunate answer is ‘no.’ We are better than that. So we have officially stopped following Death Grips on Twitter out of fear of seeing them at another show or with other fans — it’s just too soon,” they continue. Organisers insist Fun Fun Fun Fest will proceed with a replacement act.
Meanwhile, LA’s FYF Fest say they are “bummed” about the dissolution and subsequent cancellation. There’s been no response yet from Soundgarden or the other events on which Death Grips have now bailed, including Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival or Toronto’s TIME Festival.
10 Weakest Excuses For Last-Minute Gig Cancellations (And 1 Way To Do It Right)
sorry everyone… why would I have ever thought those dudes could keep it together?
— Trent Reznor (@trent_reznor) July 3, 2014
Death Grips have broken up and will not be playing FYF. Bummed.
— FYF Fest (@FYFFEST) July 2, 2014
Weakest Excuses For Cancelling Gigs Last Minute
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Death Grips
THE NO SHOW WAS THE SHOW: Death Grips' Lollapalooza 2013 after party was set to go off, but the band simply never showed up. Fans were expecting the band at any moment but when venue staff broke the bad news shit got cray, an onstage drumkit was destroyed as the band's album played and an odd suicide note was projected on stage. The band now claim the lack of a performance WAS the performance. Weak. -
Celine Dion
HURT FEELINGS: In 1997, Celine Dion cancelled a gig in Nova Scotia because local media kept taking the piss out of her. "When an artist comes to a place to entertain, the artist hopes people are happy," husband/manager Rene Angelil said, "I couldn't understand that negative reaction." -
Flo Rida
SLEPT IN: After putting up some serious money to book Flo Rida in 2011, you can understand Fat As Butter's frustration when their headlining act told them moments before he was meant to take the stage that he slept in and would be unable to perform. -
Joe Strummer
BEARDY FITNESS: In 1982, Joe Strummer did a runner after the Clash's 'Combat Rock' was released, either as a publicity stunt or a power play. The band's UK tour was cancelled, and Strummer was later discovered in France, having grown a beard and run the Paris Marathon. -
Bieber
TOO DAMN SEXY: Earlier this year, our good mate Justin Bieber cancelled a gig in Oman after Muslim leaders in the Islamic country deemed him "too sexy", being labelled a "reprobate" in the process. -
Kings Of Leon
AVIAN COPROPHAGIA: During a gig in St Louis in 2010, Kings Of Leon were bombarded with poo after disturbing birds in the rafters. Three songs in, the band quit, with Nathan Followill tweeting that "a bird shat in Jared's mouth". -
Azealia Banks
DIVA PARANOIA: Whether it's because The Stone Roses sound guy messed up her set at Future Music Festival 2013 or "technical issues" at Splendour In The Grass 2013, it doesn't take much for Azealia Banks to drop a performance, and blame those around her for it. -
Morrissey
SENSITIVE NOSE: Morrissey fans almost deem it a right of passage to have the man cancel their gig. "I can smell burning flesh ... and I hope to God it's human," said Moz during his Coachella set in 2009. Halfway through 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', Morrissey decided he'd had enough and walked off stage. -
Oasis
BROTHER'S TIFF: In 2009, Oasis cancelled their Rock en Seine festival gig just one minute before going on stage - yet another spat between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher was the final straw, Noel quitting the band effective immediately. -
Supafest
NO EXCUSE AT ALL: Lack of an excuse is far weaker than any weak excuse. With Supafest artists in previous years not performing, claiming they never confirmed and/or hiding in bathrooms to avoid performances, it was clear organisers had some explaining to do. This year, the entire festival was cancelled just a week out from launch day, and organisers are yet to give any solid reason as to why it all fell apart. -
Motley Crue
THE GOOD GUYS: Motley Crue cancelled a show in New York earlier this year due to dangerous weather conditions. Fair enough. But when the band learned that a fan had flown all the way from Japan to see the gig, Nikki Sixx flew the dude to Atlantic City for their next show, putting him up in a hotel as well. Class.
