Rotting Christ is playing South Africa in July, though religious protestors are threatening the shows due to the name Rotting Christ. According to Metal Hammer, the band will still play the shows, just under a different name.
“What we’re going through is what the metal scene dealt with in the late 80s and early 90s, with religious folks challenging them and trying to stop the shows because they disagreed with the opinions and messages of the bands.
It started early last year with Witchfest 2015. In order to host an event you’ve got to get certain certificates from the council. Every time we made a move to do everything by the book, the councils were getting shot down by so-called Christians and religious protesters.
Every time we had to move venue we lost the deposit and you keep hemorrhaging money. But you have to make the show happen because if you don’t then they’ve won. You have to take quite a knock to show that they can’t stop you.
It’s started again with Behemoth and more so with Rotting Christ. But we even accommodated that and spoke to the band and they will be playing in South Africa under an alternative name so as not to offend people in that sense. Rotting Christ was maybe a little bit too far for some people, it’s really in your face.”
Alright, here's the thing that gets me about this. Whether Rotting Christ plays as Jesus Is My Pal: The Band or Fuckhammer666, it's still Rotting Christ music. The music doesn't change, the lyrics don't change, the show doesn't change… at all. So Rotting Christ is just changing its name so people won't see the name Rotting Christ, I guess?
I hope they choose Fuckhammer666.
