Avenged Sevenfold Nixes Jakarta

Evidently the show was canceled only hours before Avenged Sevenfold was scheduled to take the Carnaval Beach stage in Ancol, located in north Jakarta May 1 (yesterday due to the Int’l Date Line). The Jakarta Post reported that promoter Entertainment Ranger tweeted that “To ensure the safety and security of band members,” the show was canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Those unforeseen circumstances probably meant the thousands of workers participating in May Day demonstrations. However, North Utara Police Chief Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal told the Post that canceling the show because of security reasons was a faux claim.

“Even though there were many rallies in Jakarta on Tuesday commemorating May Day, there were no reports of violence acts,” Iqbal told the newspaper. “Jakarta is safe and sound, particularly North Jakarta.”

The newspaper also reported that Avenged Sevenfold asked another promoter to help fly them home.

“Luckily, we managed to get tickets for them,” promoter Melanie Subono tweeted, according to the Post. “If we had not, maybe they would have asked to stay at my place because of the panic they were in.”

But while the Jakarta press played up security reasons for Avenged Sevenfold’s cancelation, the band posted a different explanation on its website, saying concerns about the safety of the stage forced the band to scrub the show.

From AvengedSevenfold.com:

“Over the years, Jakarta, with its many loyal A7X fans, has become one of our favorite cities to visit. And so it is with the deepest regret that we announce tonight’s (May 1) concert in Jakarta, Indonesia has been cancelled.

“Upon arriving at the venue in the morning and consulting with local production staff it was determined that the stage at Carnaval Beach was not safe and would endanger the band and the thousands of fans who had purchased tickets. Although the building of a stage is the responsibility of the promoter, not the band, our production crew made every effort to work with local staff to find a way to overcome concerns and put on a safe event. Unfortunately the safety concerns were too great and made it impossible for us to perform.

“You may read reports from others that the show was cancelled because the band was worried about its security. Do not believe it. There is only one reason the show was cancelled: the stage had numerous defects and was not safe and our fans, as well as the band and crew, could have been hurt.

“Words cannot adequately express how disappointed we are at missing the opportunity to play in Jakarta. As more details and information are determined we will post them on AvengedSevenfold.com”