Toxic Holocaust/Iron Reagan Aussie Tour Cancelled

If there’s a god, he or she is hell-bent on stopping Toxic Holocaust from touring Australia and New Zealand.

Back in April, the band was forced to postpone their original planned national tour alongside Skeletonwitch following frontman Joel Grind’s battle with illness. They rescheduled a month later, but Skeletonwitch were unable to make the revised show dates in November, and were consequently replaced by Virginia-bred metal heroes Iron Reagan.

However, that plan has also fallen through, with the announcement of the tour’s final cancellation coming via statement from Robert MacManus of tour company Heathen Skulls, who said that the risks involved with proceeding with the tour were “just too steep”, and used the opportunity to indicate that he would no longer be sustaining Heathen Skulls' operations.

“It’s with a certain level of regret and an equal amount of relief that I must announce the cancellation of the Toxic Holocaust and Iron Reagan Australian and New Zealand tour this November,” MacManus wrote in his statement.

“Over the last 12 months, since signing onto to this tour, my financial situation has changed dramatically, the touring industry in Australia has become a lot more competitive and oversaturated; because of such things, I’ve decided to pull back from touring as the risks involved are just too steep.

“At this point in time, due to other pressing commitments, I no longer have the time or the financial resources to meet the demands of touring or to keep Heathen Skulls sustainable.” 

Explaining that the tight financial situation resulted in Iron Reagan’s unwillingness to proceed – even though it would not have affected “the end result in regards to their fee” – MacManus takes pains to clarify that Toxic Holocaust were understanding about his position, but felt there was little point in moving ahead with the tour, especially given its tumultuous history to date.

MacManus said that he had contacted other promoters in an attempt to organise alternative funding for the venture, but was unable to reach a compromise in time to proceed with the November tour.

However, he said, “The tour is still on the cards for early next year, but it is now in the hands of another promoter and the bands themselves.”

Refunds for all shows are available from the point of purchase.