Van Mol Goes Underground

Paul Ryan from The Agency Group’s London office appears to be the latest agent to run into difficulties with Dutch promoter Hendrik van Mol’s Vain Productions.

In an e-mail response to questions about how U.S. rock act Chimaira’s van Mol-promoted European tour had done, Ryan told Pollstar, “We do not to wish to make any comment or discuss this.” The e-mail was also copied to company chief operating officer Jan Sikorski.

Ryan was reportedly calling venues to ensure fees weren’t paid to anyone in van Mol’s organisation, and the Dutch promoter supposedly intended to file for bankruptcy after the final Chimaira show at London’s Electric Ballroom Oct. 12. It hasn’t been possible to contact Vain Productions or to confirm the phone calls.

Van Mol, more commonly known as “Henk,” already angered Paul Bolton from Helter Skelter in London and Jim Morewood – who runs his English Gent Organisation from Gothenburg, Sweden – by allegedly failing to make staged payments to bands on the road.

“He pays the deposits and then gets acts into a difficult position by managing to pay them just enough to cover the costs of continuing,” Bolton told Pollstar. “I think he’s worked out that’s enough to get them to carry on, rather than upsetting their fans by pulling out of the remaining shows.”

Bolton explained that extreme metal band Cradle Of Filth and Finnish folk metal band Turisas – represented by Morewood – struggled to finish their European tour that ended May 10 in The Netherlands.