Rock band Filter cancelled a scheduled performance in Sweden on Monday night after receiving death threats against individual members of the band, the group announced on social media.
The Cleveland-based band had been scheduled to play at the Sticky Fingers club in Gothenberg Monday night but cancelled the show via a message on Facebook just hours before it was set to begin.
Filter just received a death threat at the club tonight. We will not be performing.
Posted by Filter on Monday, June 13, 2016
“Threats were made to Filter’s well being that were not taken lightly,” band frontman Richard Patrick announced in a statement. “We felt it necessary to cancel and are so sorry to our fans.”
Patrick said that two violent incidents at performance venues in the United States over the weekend factored in to the decision to scrap the show.
On Friday, 22-year-old former The Voice contestant and YouTube star Christina Grimmie was gunned down while signing autographs at the Plaza Live concert venue in Orlando. She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to her injuries. The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Kevin Loibl, shot and killed himself after the singer’s brother reportedly tacked him to the ground.
On Sunday morning, a gunman who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group opened fire at the gay nightclub Pulse, also in Orlando. The early-morning attack left 49 people dead and another 53 injured.
“After an extremely violent weekend in The United States, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the innocent victims in Orlando as well as Christina Grimmie’s friends and family,” Patrick added in the band’s statement.
The band was expected to go on with their scheduled performance in Stockholm Tuesday night, according to the New York Daily News.
Filter is currently on a European tour in support of their latest album, Crazy Eyes.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.