Dealer’s First Show Back in Australia in Years Canceled Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Just one day after Australian nu metalcore outfit Dealer announced their first show back in their home country in roughly five years, those plans have since been axed over continued concerns over previous violence and sexual assault allegations leveled against the band’s vocalist and co-founder Aidan Holmes.
The show had been billed as a charity event to help a friend of the band who’d been diagnosed with a particularly nasty form of cancer. Though the venue, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse in Queensland, had been announced and everything looked like it was good go to, the business announced in a statement online that they would no longer host the event after learning of said allegations.
“Mo’s Desert Clubhouse stance on violence.
“Yesterday we announced a show for a well known act touring Australia soon. Today, we were made aware of allegations of violence and sexual assault from members of this band, which is currently before the courts. In light of these allegations, we have decided to cancel this show.
“Mo’s is founded on radical expression and radical inclusion—an ethos that doesn’t leave room for ANY form of violence, discrimination, abuse or hate. Our priority has always been, and will always be to our patrons, artists and staff’s safety and well being.
“On booking this show we were completely unaware of these allegations, and we sincerely apologise for any distress or pain caused.
“To those who contacted us directly to discuss this, thank you for informing us in a mature manner. It takes time to deal with situations like this, and is a process to cancel a show. To those who abused our staff over the phone, sent threatening messages and violent content to our socials, a reminder that violence breeds violence, hate breeds hate.
“Peace, love and rock’n’roll, ❤️
“Christian, Kim and the entire familia at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse.”
For those that don’t recall, Aidan Holmes, a.k.a. Aidan Ellaz, was the lead vocalist of Alpha Wolf from 2016 through 2018. As was previously reported here on MetalSucks, an old article from Hysteria Magazine explained that Holmes was accused of assault by a woman named Jaye Lunson who was sharing a bed with the musician and another friend named Robert Flugge. Lunson accused Holmes of allegedly touching her inappropriately on one night in April 2017, and Flugge made a statement confirming that he witnessed it.
Those allegations forced Holmes to quit Alpha Wolf and start Dealer. After an Attila tour that also had Dealer on the bill fell apart because people criticized that too many people involved were facing sexual misconduct allegations, Holmes put out a statement trying to clear his name.
In light of this new show cancellation, Holmes issued the following statement professing his innocence, though he’s since deleted it. Dealer as a band has yet to respond to the show cancellation.
“The show has been cancelled due to the online backlash and the agent has decided to save face. Given all the negativity around Dealer’s platform I tried to do something positive. I say nothing and I’m guilty. I say something and I’m guilty.
“This has been my ongoing battle for the last 7–8 years despite following the entire legal process properly. People I do not know or met briefly many years ago continue to show prejudice and lack of critical thinking and or emotional intelligence.
“I am not an abuser. But I am done with this.”
