Photo by Luis Blanco

Cradle of Filth has been forced to cancel their North American tour with The Faceless, Decapitated and The Agonist.  Here's Dani Filth's statement from Cradle of Filth's Facebook Page:

"Cradle Of Filth are really sorry to tell all of their fans that their US tour ’28 Days Closer to Hell’ is going to have to be cancelled, due to US immigration issues beyond the band’s control.

They have been desperately trying to solve these problems, but it has become evident they are not going to be resolved in time for the band to embark on a tour that starts next week.

The band sincerely apologize to all their fans and to the other acts on the tour and want to assure people they have made every effort possible to go ahead with the tour."

Two things about this:

1)  This is one of the unfortunate side-effects of post-9/11 U.S. Immigration policy.  I've interviewed more than a few European Metal artists who bemoan the astronomical expense of entering the U.S. to tour.  The cost just to get permission to tour quintupled after 9/11.  While this might keep some of the bad guys out, (cuz they totally won't just sneak in, right?) it keeps a lot of the good guys out too.

I understand that there are border security concerns in this country, but making it easier for European musicians to tour the U.S. isn't going to leave us open to another 9/11.  It just means we get more kick-ass metal shows.  Financially opening U.S. borders to international tours should be a part of immigration reform talks.

2)  I feel really bad for The Agonist.  They're really kickass, and an opening slot for Cradle of Filth would have exposed them to an audience that I feel would be really receptive to their work.  If you haven't picked up Prisoners yet, go get it.

Be Metal,

~ST