The great rock ’n’ roll swindle: band’s fakery exposed
WITH hundreds of ticket sales, legions of social media followers and adoring messages posted online from teenage fans, Threatin, a Californian metal band, appeared more than ready to conquer the UK music scene.
Venue managers liaised with an apparent booking agent and record label, gladly signing them up in the hope of sell-out crowds.
The reality was a rather different story. This band was unknown, they had no fans and no management.
Last week they toured thecountry playing to completely empty gig venues and their story began to unravel.
The band, and in particular Jered Threatin, the sole permanent member, has been accused of creating a fake legion of fans in order to land the UK tour.
Rob Moore, singer and guitarist in Dogs flesh, a hardcore punk band that supported Threatin in Newcastle to an audience of four people, said: “The effort that he’s gone to to portray himself as a big star is quite phenomenal.” It was a similar story in London, where Threatin had allegedly claimed to have made nearly 300 advanced ticket sales.
In Bristol, the audience consisted solely of the support bands and staff, it is claimed, and Mr Threatin was forced to go to a cash machine and withdraw hundreds of pounds to pay the venue hire costs. “It’s a really extreme version of ‘fake it til you make it’,” said Iwan Best, the venue manager.
The band Kamino, which supported Threat in in Bristol, said they began to do their own digging and alleged that the entire tour was based on fabrications stemming from paid socialmedia “likes” for each show.
“Having delved deeper we realised the same practices were in place on his Youtube channel, his Facebook page, even on previous US tour dates listed on his website,” they said. “Essentially, the entire history of Threat in is alie.”
Mr Threatin – whose real name is not known – has not responded to requests for comment. He cancelled his last UK show in Belfast on Sunday.