Filter have been riding on a high of a reunion of original members Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang writing together for the first time in a decade, and heading out on some shows. That high was buzzkilled in El Paso yesterday (Thursday, March 7th.(
It all started when Filter posted a video from soundcheck, with the promise of "a lot of Trump bashing" and an invite to "bring Beto" – which would be former Texas Democratic congressman, Beto O'Rourke (who was spotted at a Metallica show last week).
I guess the venue got wind of the caption and were not pleased at the apparent ruckus it might cause. The show was cancelled and Richard Patrick posted the following on Instagram:
FILTER(ED) IN TEXAS
Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso, TX, the Tigua Tribe’s Casino / Resort / Music Venue has cancelled tonight’s FILTER show, due to a humorous Facebook post written by vocalist, Richard Patrick, and the band’s plans to use the American flag turned upside down in their background video on stage.
The “offending” post, which included a short video of the band soundchecking at the venue:
This is sound check!! We’re Playing El Paso!!! Get here later and it will be packed!! A lot of Trump bashing!
Does anyone know Beto?? Bring Beto!The band was told the venue “didn’t like” the post and that they were getting threatening phone calls and bomb threats from Texans who didn’t like it either. The tour manager was in the green room and woke up from a pre-show nap to 30 yellow-shirted security guards and the General Manager shouting expletives and telling the band they were not welcome at the venue. “The First Amendment does not exist in this Casino. Get the f@*k out,” they said.
Management also told Patrick that it was illegal to display the flag upside down in their video. The law to which they might refer is Title 4, US Code “(a) The flag should never be displayed with union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.” Patrick explains “This is a dire emergency! This country is totally jacked up!! This is my right to artistic expression. If they are going to tell me that I am un-American for saying that about the President, I’d ask them if they have been to Iraq or Afghanistan. I have been over there and love and respect the job that our troops are doing over there – fighting to ensure our rights to say what we like. As a matter of fact – I was asked recently what FILTER stands for and THIS IS IT – our freedom of expression!” In addition to the First Amendment, The Texas Constitution, in Article I, sections 8 and 27 protects the “liberty to speak, write or publish … opinions on any subject.” You have the right to express your views in these ways regardless of how unpopular or controversial they may be.
#freespeech #america #GOP #filter2019 #reBus
The venue released a statement saying they just wanted to avoid any trouble: “Unfortunately due to safety concerns associated with Filter’s performance tonight we will be canceling their show. We want everyone who comes to our venue to experience entertainment with positivity, union, safety, and joy. We all have our own political views and want to respect everyone’s opinion, but our shows will not be a platform for it. We apologize for the cancellation.”
I'm curious if all the black metal fans who screamed "but free speech" when all those black metal shows got canceled, are going to be quick to jump to defend Filter here.
[via ThePRP]
