Pentagram‘s newfound viral fame was outweighed by the past notoriety associated with the band when it came to the doom metal group’s plans for their first-ever Australian/New Zealand tour. That run had been booked for August 06th through to August 16th, and would have served as the first time the band, who formed in the early 70s, had made their way down under.
However, local uproar over the past actions of the group’s vocalist Bobby Liebling resurfaced, causing the shows to be spiked. In a statement issued late last week, the tour’s promoter, Hardline Media, shared:
“Due to the current allegations surrounding the Pentagram Australian/New Zealand tour – Hardline Media have decided to put this tour on hiatus.
To 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.
With great respect, we appreciate your patience and understanding while we manage this situation.
More information soon.
All ticket holders will be contacted directly, as information becomes available.”
While the above statement doesn’t give a clear indication, it would appear that the allegations in question were concerns being raised by local activists and concerned citizens regarding Liebling‘s criminal past.
As displayed in the 2011 documentary, ‘Last Days Here‘, Liebling struggled extensively with drug addiction for a number of years and was found to be living with his elderly parents at the time. A number of years later in 2017, Liebling was sentenced to 18 months at the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville, MD in 2017, on a charge of physical abuse/neglect of a vulnerable adult-custodian.
His now former Pentagram bandmate Greg Turley stated around the time of that incident that Liebling committed the above-mentioned assault against his mother while in a “drug-induced” rage. Upon returning to the road with Liebling back in 2019, Pentagram collectively described the disgraced musician as being ‘remorseful and rehabilitated.’ Pentagram‘s career got a second wind earlier this year thanks to a viral live performance becoming an instant meme.
