Well, that didn’t take long. Just a day after the Australian nu-metalcore crew DEALER announced their big comeback show in their homeland, the whole thing got axed. Why? Oh, just some minor allegations of violence and sexual assault against their frontman, Aidan Holmes. No biggie, right?
The show was supposed to be a charity gig for a friend battling cancer, but the venue, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse in Queensland, noped out faster than you can say “PR disaster” once they caught wind of the allegations. Cue the venue’s statement, which basically reads like a masterclass in damage control:
“Mo’s Desert Clubhouse’s stance on violence… [insert lengthy explanation about canceling the show, safety, and a shoutout to the trolls who sent them hate mail] Peace, love, and rock ’n’ roll, ❤️”
Fun fact: Before DEALER, Holmes was the frontman for ALPHA WOLF. You know, the band that’s been crushing it in the metal scene with their brutal riffs and even more brutal mosh pits. But Holmes left ALPHA WOLF in 2018 after some alleged late-night shenanigans that would make your grandma clutch her pearls. The drama? A former bandmate accused him of, uh, “inappropriate touching” during a shared bed situation (yes, really). Cue the exit music.
Fast-forward to 2024, and DEALER’s “redemption tour” is already hitting a snag. Holmes tried to play the “I’m the real victim here” card with a now-deleted statement:
“The show got canceled ’cause everyone’s mad online… I’m not an abuser, but I’m done with this.” [dramatic mic drop]
Meanwhile, DEALER’s socials are radio silent. Maybe they’re too busy drafting their next “We’re the real victims here” press release. Stay tuned, folks—this saga’s got more twists than a nu-metal breakdown.
