Deze week kreeg Oceano-zanger Adam Warren kritiek omdat zijn band als support mee gaat op de ‘America’s Rejects Tour’ met Attila, Dealer en Nathan James. Leden van zowel Attila als Dealer zijn in het verleden namelijk aangeklaagd voor misbruik. Hierop heeft hij aangekondigd te stoppen bij de band.
Attila-zanger Chris Fronzak ontkende in 2020 beschuldigingen van seksueel wangedrag en werd zijn bandgenoot drummer Bryan McClure in datzelfde jaar ontslagen na beschuldigingen van verkrachting en seksueel wangedrag.
Zanger Aidan Ellaz Holmes van Dealer stapte in 2018 op bij Alpha Wolf vanwege beschuldigingen van seksueel misbruik en wangedrag die tegen hem waren ingediend. Die aanklachten daarover zijn later zijn ingetrokken vanwege een gebrek aan bewijs. Hij werd later echter door zijn bandleden beschuldigd van mishandeling en heeft daardoor de line-up van Dealer meerdere keren opnieuw opnieuw op moeten bouwen.
Warren heeft zelf gereageerd op de deelname van Oceano aan de tour en dat hij niet betrokken was bij enig wangedrag. Hij verklaarde verder dat als hij wangedrag zou waarnemen, hij de eerste zou zijn om het aan te kaarten. Zijn uitleg viel echter niet in goede aarde bij fans die hem er onder andere van beschuldigden dat hij geld belangrijker vond dan moraal.
Warren gaf daarop aan dat hij niet op de hoogte was van de omvang van de beschuldigingen en dat niemand in zijn omgeving hem van tevoren op de hoogte had gesteld van de geschiedenis van de eerder genoemde bands. Hij gaf ook aan dat Oceano uit de tour is gestapt en dat ze hun laatste show voor het nieuwe jaar gaan plannen, aangezien hij de band zal verlaten:
Believe it or not some people don’t spend their life on the internet. My only goal has been to take opportunities to push Oceano forward since the fans said they wanted it. You will not make me out to be a bad person for things I am Not connected to when it comes to what other bands members do.
There was a time in my life when I was in a social media high horse, and I don’t agree with that nor plan to act like I am better than anyone nor that I know the details to anyone else’s business. I wasn’t aware of the depth of accusations with Attila and associates. I remind you, Oceano was not active for a long time before now.
I don’t even know anything about Dealer besides the bands name I’ve heard when they first came out years ago?. Didn’t they break up? I did not even know what any other bands on the tour would be beyond Atilla until long after we agreed and no one in my circle cited any issues with our decision to take the tour.
I think that before judging the innocent band just taking what seemed like a decent opportunity and has never been associated with these bands before, you should look towards the Agents, Managers, Venues, Websites, Festivals that all continue to support, book, and clearly downplay to their own clients the character of people their (good) bands work with.
If you continue to read, keep asking yourself WHAT words have I said that are harmful? No one knew my circumstances nor my perspective until this moment. And I will stress, I don’t support any type of abuse or harm to anyone ever. But I’m not paying attention to what YOU all or anyone in the music scene personally does on the internet. I don’t have time for that.
So it is clear I was not informed enough to make a proper decision to tour with this package. I’ve never experienced bands causing such a stir and I was not made aware until announcing the tour of people with such serious allegations surrounding them being on a tour I’m going to be on. I encourage anyone who is directly affected by those people/bands to contact the authorities/police and take legal action.
I have been nothing but kind and positive within this music scene especially on that internet side and that can be hard sometimes. A year ago We almost ended Oceano for good. We had an Album to drop but we def were done. I had ZERO idea my name is being tossed around along side fucking people who have people accusing them of horrible things. And getting upset with ME, because I’m just hearing about it? In real time people swarmed me while I was still figuring out what was going on.
Y’all are vicious and clearly seek chaos without care of who it effects. Thought I have been blessed with much opportunity, as we enter a more connected era I have felt very disrespected over the years from a scene that really is more a facade than a real concept in reality.
After gathering my own information on the subject OF COURSE we will be removing Oceano from the tour.But shame on all of you who tried to make me the scapegoat. What are YOU doing to change this culture besides point fingers and reshare rumors? It’s time to get to work. I had zero idea the environment I was getting myself into. And I’m talking openly about it. What are YOU doing to change this?
As of today it is clear I am WAY more surrounded by complicit industry people, a Metal “scene” riddled with cosplay, worship of band members and less focus on artistic integrity.
I don’t want to exist to YOU anymore. As of today I quit Oceano and will focus on being a solo Independent Artist (Adam On Earth). Oceano’s final shows will now begin being planned for 2025. It feels good to finally say that.
