Legion Of The Damned Pulled From 70000 Tons Of Metal After Denied Entry Into The U.S.

Legion Of The Damned Pulled From 70000 Tons Of Metal After Denied Entry Into The U.S.

Dutch death/thrash metal band Legion Of The Damned has announced that only days before the 70000 Tons Of Metal festival, they are heading back to Europe after being denied entry into the United States, owing to one member once having a brief layover in Cuba. A message from the band reads as follows:

“We have some disapointing news to send out. Legion Of The Damned has been unable to enter the US due to the fact that a member of the band was in Cuba for 15 minutes during transfer flight to mexico in 2021. He was not even out of the plane. His ESTA was approved but this popped up. Because its Sunday we are unable to fix something, taking a flight tomorrow will result in not making it to the boat in time. So sadly enough we are flying back to dusseldorf right now after spending the entire day in London Heathrow airport!

“We are deeply sorry and we hope for the best and see you maybe on 70000 Tons Of Metal in 2025.”

The organisers of 70000 Tons announced that they are currently searching for a replacement act to fill the void. This is the latest stroke of bad luck the event has had, as Draconican and Mardfuk were also unable to travel to the US due to visa issues, and Nile pulled out following two of its members being diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

The American blockade of Cuba has been in place since 1960 following the rise to power of Communist leader Fidel Castro, who passed away in November 2016. The blockade has come under increasing pressure to be lifted in recent years, with 184 countries voting against the embargo during a UN assembly in November of last year, with the only votes for the embargo coming from the United States and Israel. Ukraine abstained.