I remember how excited my friends and I were when we purchased Ministry / Front Line Assembly / KMFDM tickets. It was very expensive having to wake up that morning, but man, I knew as an industrialist this tour would be monumental. Since then, the Industrial Strength Tour has become a shit-show of controversy even before it started.
There's accusations of Sin (Ministry) illegal-ing underage girls. Lucia (KMFDM) has gone out of her way victim-blaming his conquests and defending Sin, which shows the Long Island trash side of her. What has Uncle Al done about handling him? Zero. Which is much less that what Chris Connelly has done: he gracefully bowed out of the tour and rightfully so. Uncle Al also has done much less than what Marilyn Manson did to Twiggy. We all know that outcome.
I've also read some homophobic things Sascha (KMFDM) allegedly said about Claus Larsen / Leaetherstrip that I'd never co-sign or agree with, and I don't. (Referring to: “I am not playing before that f-----”.) Which leaves Front Line Assembly who's stuck in the middle of all this. No word from them.
Now I’m left with a $65.00 ticket that instead cost me $100.00. But I’m not concerned about the tickets as much as I’m concerned about creepy statutory rape artists who can’t keep their hands to themselves and off minors who can’t consent, or how some of my favorite heroes are bad-mouthing my other favorite heroes with anti-gay rhetoric. It’s Claus Larsen, a huggable lovable teddy-bear who didn’t ask for or deserve any of this shit.
The initial thrill of wanting to go has worn off and it’s not definite just yet, I’m considering either selling or refunding the ticket. As much as I love Ministry and KMFDM, I am knee-deep in all of the touring artists’ discographies. The vigilante in me tells me that by attending the show, I’d be complicit and guilty of supporting sexual assault, victim-blaming, and gay-bashing. And haven’t we had two tons more than enough of that during this administration?
I know opposing sides will have their arguments; that we can separate the music from the artist’s behavior, or how people freely talk shit and not mean it, or getting offended over situations not your own is justice-warrior stuff. Hey, you can’t argue with the law when underage girls explicitly tell you their real age, and with Sin having a history prowling for minors, I’m lead to believe that there’s coercion and manipulation to be had. On the other subject, can you expect everyone to tolerate whatever garbage that comes out of your mouth? How do you expect to say the double-G word and have that one person who does take it seriously not to publicly tell you to go fuck yourself?
I’ve had exes- sexually violated and coerced. I seen co-workers who tried slinging their luck against the age limit. I have family members swing and hit for Team Rainbow. No matter the effect it has on me, I feel stained if I go to this stop. Six months to go. We’re hoping for some retractions, or better yet, firings and replacements. Though, I’m not putting more of my money down on that happening, if not at all.
