American doom metal band Pentagram have called off their planned first-ever Australia and New Zealand tour.<\/p>\n
The string of shows was set to kick off next month, with shows scheduled in major cities such as Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland.<\/p>\n
However, promoter Hardline Media have now put the tour \u201con hiatus\u201d, saying in a statement this is \u201cdue to the current allegations\u201d, though no specific situation is mentioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be clear, no VISAs have been granted, as has been stated previously by other media. No venues or any staff hitherto are party to these allegations,\u201d their statement read, per Rolling Stone Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWith great respect, we appreciate your patience and understanding while we manage this situation,\u201d they added.\u00a0\u201cAll ticket holders will be contacted directly, as information becomes available.\u201d<\/p>\n NME have reached out to Pentagram for comment.<\/p>\n The cancellation comes after Australian journalist and activist Sherele Moody<\/a> and her The RED HEART Campaign<\/a> \u2013 an organisation which aims to honour \u201cwomen and children lost to violence\u201d \u2013 publicly highlighted frontman Bobby Liebling\u2019s 2017 conviction for abusing a vulnerable adult, stemming from a violent attack on his 87-year-old mother.<\/p>\n Liebling was charged with first-degree assault and physical abuse of a vulnerable adult and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years\u2019 probation for the crime. Liebling pleaded guilty to abuse and neglect, but maintained innocence on the assault charge.<\/p>\n At the time, Pentagram toured without him, citing \u201ccircumstances that are beyond anyone\u2019s control, that are a direct result of Bobby Liebling\u2019s personal actions.\u201d<\/p>\n Opening acts for the band, including Wax Idols and King Woman, had previously dropped out of the tour at the time<\/a>, citing inappropriate comments from Liebling.<\/p>\n Liebling co-founded Pentagram in 1971, and has remained the group\u2019s sole original member throughout their history, performing on all nine of their studio records.<\/p>\n