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Artist News: Dream Evil Forced To Cancel ProgPower USA XII Appearance

Posted on Saturday, August 27 @ 21:00:00 UTC by nightowl

Swedish metallers Dream Evil have canceled their appearance at the ProgPower USA XII festival -- which is set to take place September 14-17, 2011 at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia -- and have been replaced by reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers Forbidden [who made some news themselves, included at the end of this item -ed]

Commented Dream Evil: "First of all, we can't describe our frustration in this sad matter. We can't come to ProgPower for the show on September 17 because we had problems getting our visas. We did all we could yesterday, August 18th, when we all took the day off from our jobs and went by car over five hours in the worst rain storm in years to Stockholm for a visit at the American embassy for the interview which is necessary for the visa. After waiting in the long line of people for over four hours at the embassy, they told us that we had applied for the wrong kind of visa.

"We asked them politely to help us change the application so that we could get the right type of visa, but they told us that we had to go back and do it all over again. As the booking for the interviews are made a long time in advance, we then checked to find out that there were no available spots for new interviews until late September and that is too late. This sucks! We paid a lot of money for the visa applications and for the trip to Stockholm, all for nothing, and the worst part of all is that we can't come to Atlanta on September 17. At this time the American embassy has blocked us from travelling to the U.S. before September 17th, so we are not able to come to the U.S. at all until after the festival. We're so sorry and so frustrated and there is nothing we can do. To all the fans and the promoter at ProgPower, we're really really sorry."

Glenn Harveston posted, and quite frankly at that, the following at the PPUSA website : "Unbelievable.

"The basic steps involved in securing a visa:
1. Complete the nightmare known as the "application process" here in the States. That is the most difficult part and is where bands are denied frequently based on background checks, etc.
2. Once approved, the band schedules their interviews via an online application.
3. They take the approval notice, complete a mundane interview process and get their visa stamps.

"In ten years, I have never had a single band have a problem with the interview portion of the overall process. Dream Evil found a way to screw things up for everyone.

"The band was officially approved by the U.S. government on April 4th, 2011. I emailed a scanned copy of the approval the next day. I also mailed the actual notice the same week as well. The band received both. Everything is normal. I then check with the band on June 1st regarding an invoice for their visa interviews. I was told they haven't scheduled them yet.
What?

"Nothing I could do. They know what has to be done. I check back in July and was told they had an interview for the first week of August. That is still six weeks out so plenty of time. I check back the first week of August and was told that the interviews were rescheduled for August 18th.
What?

"I emailed the agent on the 18th and was informed that three members of the band were denied visas. They evidently checked the P-2 visa type instead of the P-1 type that is clearly written on the approval notice and were thus sent to a different interview at the consul. They were then told that they could re-submit the interview application and do it again ... but the next available opening was at the end of September.

"Screwed.

"I feel very sorry for the fans that were traveling specifically to see the band. Please direct your piss and vinegar at them, not me. I have little sympathy for them. They may have wasted a day, but I wasted a year[...] [Harveston then included the above band statement]

"Needless to say, I have been scrambling like hell for the last 48 hrs...

"I'm very pleased to announce that reactivated metallers Forbidden have been confirmed as the replacement. Kings of the second wave of the Bay Area Thrash scene, Forbidden were most popular during the late 80's and early 90's for their brand of technical thrash metal infusing odd signature timing with melodies, making them one of the most original metal bands of the time."

Confirmed bands for ProgPower USA XII:

Therion **
Sanctuary
Ihsahn **
Evergrey (playing In Search Of Truth in its entirety)
Forbidden
Vanden Plas **
Labyrinth **
Mob Rules **
While Heaven Wept
Powerglove
Red Circuit**
Voyage
Darkwater**
Eldritch **
Haken **
Creation's End

** U.S.-exclusive appearances

So... back on August 17, Nuclear Blast reported: Guitarist / founding member / songwriter Craig Locicero of the Bay Area thrash band Forbidden has issued the following update:

"This is the most painful update I have ever had to write...

"Due to family obligations on the part of our longtime drummer, Mark Hernandez, Forbidden is forced to cancel it's tour of Europe and will start to search for an adequate permanent replacement right away. Compounding things is the fact that Mark and I also play in Demonica, who were to open the tour. Unfortunately, at this late date, there is no time nor budget to find a replacement who can handle both bands and our only option right now is to cancel the entire tour.

"Forbidden would like to apologize to all of the different promoters, Continental Concerts, the bands Communic and Demonica, our label Nuclear Blast, and most importantly our fans who have been waiting for us to finally make it overseas for our first proper European tour in support of Omega Wave. You all deserve better. This is a collective kick to everyone’s stomach and it is very difficult for us to swallow.

“If there were any way to find one drummer to do both jobs and learn over 22 songs of material in only a couple of days, we would do it. But there is no way to teach somebody all of that material from the ground up and give the fans our very best. Our first choice was longtime Brother, Gene Hoglan, and since Gene is very familiar with our current set list, this makes the most sense. However, he only has a very small window to work with and no time to commit to an entire tour. But he did agree to fly out to Belgium with us so that Forbidden can play the Alcatraz Festival on August 27th! That works out to be the only days that work within Gene's busy schedule and it also allows us to get in front of as many fans as possible for one show.

“In no way does this make up for all of the other gigs we will miss. They MUST be rescheduled for the future!

“Unfortunately, that future will have to be without Mark Hernandez. He has played for the last time with Forbidden and we will be looking for the right replacement as soon as the dust settles. Obviously it takes a great player to play drums in Forbidden. We will only accept the best!

“We all love Mark and hope he finds peace and serenity in his future with his family.

“In the meantime we will continue and take the momentum we have gained from Omega Wave and use it as fuel for the next record and beyond!

“Looking forward, not back....”

No word at the Forbidden website (which you can easily access... so, you know, not so forbidden...) of who will sit behind the kit for PPUSA next month, but it is possible iit will be Gene, but that's a guess on our (PW's) part.

[Source: Blabbermouth.net, ProgPower USA, Nuclear Blast]

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)