Backlash has erupted after a German band decided to pull out of a summer music festival over concerns surrounding America’s political climate following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Iron Savior, a 90s German metal band, released a statement to Facebook on Saturday where they informed fans that they would not be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, in September to preform at this year’s anticipated ProgPower USA festival.
‘We simply do not feel safe and welcome anymore in your country,’ the post cited.
In the statement, which has since created turmoil within the rock community, the group expressed their sadness over not being able to attend while also addressing their discomfort with the Trump administration.
‘The reason is as simple as omnipresent: the new Trump administration and their new world order,’ the statement read. ‘Trump/Vance/Musk are tearing down everything that has been build up since WW2.’
The lengthy post went on to address multiple issues they have with the current state of the US, including President Trump’s handling of the brutal conflict in Ukraine.
Trump has shifted America’s position on the war during his speech at the Conservative Political Action conference last week as he revealed his agreement to meet with Russian officials.
Under the previous Biden administration, the nation was a steadfast supporter of Ukraine.
During the conference, the president shifted the blame on Ukraine for starting the war and referred to President Zelensky as a ‘dictator,’ a claim that has since resulted in swift backlash from Ukrainian supporters.
The German rockers described the administration’s sudden shift as an attempt to ‘rewrite history’ and ‘turn around the victim-aggressor role, denying that Ukraine has been invaded by Putin with 150,000 soldiers.’
Iron Savior also mentioned Vance telling them ‘to start collaborating with the AfD Nazi party here in Germany,’ an action in which they describe as ‘spitting on the truth’ and thinking ‘freedom of speech means license to lie and to insult.’
‘Obviously they are about to destabilize the western world order so they can rewrite it to their needs, to even make more money,’ the statement read.
‘We are deeply worried about this and simply do not feel safe and welcome anymore in your country.’
While acknowledging that only 50 percent of voters voted for Trump whereas the remaining 50 percent didn’t vote at all, they doubled down on the state of the country, noting how ‘we can’t foresee what will happen in the next few months.’
‘Maybe things will calm down and your admin will somehow get back to their senses,’ the statement read. ‘Or will they proclaim the American-Russian federation? All is possible and this scares the hell out of us.’
The statement concluded with the rock band expressing their hope to be able to return to Atlanta ‘some other time in a better world.’
ProgPower USA festival’s Facebook page also shared the statement, but opted to turn off the comments as they are ‘an entity that’s all about the music and won’t be getting into politics.’
Although Iron Savior’s statement was met with dozens of comments expressing respect for the group’s decision to ‘denounce fascism,’ an overwhelming majority slammed the band for ‘making a political statement’ at the expense of their fans.
‘Quite possibly the most pathetic reason for a show cancellation, Trump supporter or not,’ one comment read. ‘This post should be studied for Trump derangement syndrome purposes. I seriously can’t believe what I just read. Lmao!’
Another read: ‘What in the conspiracy theory bulls*** it is this?’
‘You guys must be watching way too much government sponsored mainstream media outlets,’ read another. ‘Hard to believe a metal band could make a c*** determination on where to play just based on what leader is within the White House. Germany’s leadership is what you should be worried about. This statement is pathetic.’
Another comment in agreeance said: ‘Why the hell would any of you feel unsafe here? Makes no sense. You’ve played 9 shows in freaking Russia, get real.’
While hundreds of comments began rolling in, the group added a second ‘clarification’ statement to explain why their post was worded in the way it was.
‘This statement was made in this way, because you deserve the truth and no Blabla, “due-to-internal-reasons” bulls***,’ the band wrote.
‘It was not made to blame or insult any of you nor to slam the door. But we have to stick to our ideals and beliefs.’
Despite the explanation, Iron Savior’s Facebook post continued to flood with more than 700 comments slamming their reasoning behind not attending the festival.
One response from an angry fan simply said: ‘Losers.’
‘Never thought I’d see the day when a metal band would go full r*****. Yet… here we are,’ wrote another.
‘All because of Donald Trump… Jesus Christ,’ added another. ‘Why don’t you do the show for your fans? That’s pretty pathetic.’
A fourth said: ‘Y’all are clowns. Your government is putting people in prison for mean comments online. I hope it’s worth losing fans over your limp wristed political views.’
Due to the ongoing chaos in the comments, which many times accused Iron Savior of pulling out just because they feel as though ‘Trump is mean,’ a member of the band added a personal third statement under the group’s previous post.
Piet Sielck, singer-guitarist of the group, addressed those who felt as though their decision was strictly political.
The band’s primary concern, Sielck suggested, was not to make a political statement but rather to keep themselves safe as things in the US could be much worse by the time September rolls around.
Sielck cited the group’s real fears over the potential dangers of traveling to the states, especially for people like them who admitted to ‘criticizing the government openly.’
‘It may sound ridiculous to some of you, but looking at what has happened in just a few weeks, I cannot predict at all how far your government is willing to go,’ Sielck wrote.
‘It was never our intention to make a political statement nor to hurt your feelings or insult you,’ he added. ‘We just gave you the truth of what led us to this decision.’
The guitarist responded to certain comments within his six-paragraph statement, including those which said that the band is speaking about things that do not concern them in Germany.
‘First of all, everything the USA does is of concern for any human being on this planet since the US actions affect the entire world,’ Sielck responded.
He mentioned his mother, who he said has lived in California for more than 30 years – a place which he referred to as being a ‘second home for me for centuries.’
In response to comments accusing the band of being ‘badly informed’ and ‘listening to the wrong news,’ Sielck said that many US citizens ‘might have the wrong idea about our public medias.’
He highlighted Germany, explaining that media in the country is ‘financed and run by the people’ and ‘committed to be neutral and unbiased by law.’
‘They are not operated by the government nor has the government any control about the content. This is regulated by law,’ he wrote.
‘But since we are all human, this works not all the time 100 percent, but it works good enough for me to keep my trust in a more or less neutral and unbiased coverage.’
Sielck then went on to address the angered fans accusing Germans of forbidding freedom of speech, noting that ‘this is as wrong as can be.’
He brought up the freedom of speech/opinion that is anchored in their constitution under the GRUNDGESETZ article 5, which ‘forbids censor.’
Therefore, he explained, Germany has some limitations forbidden by law, including insults, defamation/aspersion and racial hatred – a law in which he described came after the ‘mistakes of the Weimar Republic which allowed the Nazi party to rise with all the horrors of ww2 and the holocaust.’
‘This is where the vast majority of the German society comes from and I am totally ok to sacrifice a tiny little bit of my freedom of speech having to make my points in a civilized way without hate, insult and defamation,’ Sielck wrote. ‘Because those are the tools/weapons of demagogues.’
To conclude his own personal statement, Sielck apologized to those who accused the band of ‘dividing the metal community.’
‘The divide has been there long before I wrote the statement, and was not made by me,’ he wrote.
‘The divide is made by politicians who use hate and defamation to manipulate the people to their needs,’ he added. ‘My statement just made visible what is under the surface.’
‘We don’t claim to be right here, but we have to base things on what we think is right. If we are right or not… time will tell.’
ProgPower USA Festival 2025 is still set to take place over the course of the September 3-6 weekend at the Center Stage in Atlanta.
Though Iron Savior officially dropped out of their performance, other features such as Orden Ogan, Vanden Plas, The Night Flight Orchestra, Eclipse, Cemetery Skyline and many others will still take the stage.