In a new interview with Andrew McKaysmith of the Scars And Guitars podcast, PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner — whose real name is Matthias Lasch — addressed the fact that a lot of international musicians are canceling U.S. tours because they have decided that going through the complicated process of getting a U.S. artist visa may not be worth the financial and safety risks. The 61-year-old musician, who was born in Stuttgart, Germany and who also serves as PRIMAL FEAR‘s producer and one of the band’s main songwriters, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): ”I hope that the so-called leaders, which are sometimes close to criminals, or are, get their shit together and give us a chance for a peaceful future.
“Look at PRIMAL FEAR — everybody’s asking, ‘Why don’t you come to America?’ We played seven tours in America [in the past],” he explained. “It was never a problem. All is cool. So now you hear reports that a lot of European bands, even that had working visas, were not allowed to enter the U.S. The immigration said ‘no’. So all the costs you have, like lawyers, visa, social security, flights, paying the first rate for the bus, and all these things, how can you risk it to ruin a band without not having the proof that you can enter the country and play a tour? And this is so ridiculous. So, of course, if a fan from Texas writes, ‘Why don’t you come to Texas?’ Yeah. Sorry, guy. It’s not our problem. It’s your problem.”
