Totally fake band touring Europe...

[pipFunk]

... it looks like the original article link doesn't work any more. Were they forced to take it down? The plot thickens!

No, they've updated it, rejigged the title a bit and included an interview with a support:

'Fake band' Threatin just played a UK tour to... pretty much no-one - NME

Thing is, practically everyone I know in Bristol wants a Threatin t-shirt now... Unfortunately, it seems they're fake too!

 

[pipFunk]

And... it appears it is all over (for now):

Threatin: band creates fake fanbase for tour attended by no one

His guitarist and drummer have both left the band and flown home. The bassist, being made of sterner stuff, is sticking things out!

I'm still waiting for this to play out fully... If he's smart, and if he gets decent PR involved, there's chat shows, a book deal and maybe even a film, in this material. Who knows, he may even get a record deal!

That's if it's not all some elaborate post-modern, ironic satire on the state of the music industry in the age of social media and TV shows like '... Idol', and '... got talent', of course...

 

[Chango Malo]

I'm still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out...

 

[Mr_Moo]

That's if it's not all some elaborate post-modern, ironic satire on the state of the music industry in the age of social media and TV shows like '... Idol', and '... got talent', of course...

For a brief, glorious, hopeful moment, I thought you were going to say that shows like Idol and Talent were satirical comments on the state of the music business.

That dang bassist, now we have a whole new round of bassist jokes to look forward to.

 

[dxb]

I'm still waiting for this to play out fully... If he's smart, and if he gets decent PR involved, there's chat shows, a book deal and maybe even a film, in this material. Who knows, he may even get a record deal!

Except chances are those would all be fake too.

That's if it's not all some elaborate post-modern, ironic satire on the state of the music industry in the age of social media and TV shows like '... Idol', and '... got talent', of course...

Nah, probably just boring old, garden variety fraud.

 

[retslock]

If you’re not gonna have listeners you may as well not have a LOT of listeners.

Logic worthy of Joseph Heller. I like it.

 

[wayshot]

Here's an interview with touring drummer Dane Davis telling the story.
(The headline is a bit misleading. Jered is not interviewed, just Dane.)

Threatin interview: inside the year's most talked-about tour

 

[dxb]

Yikes. The other three guys should form a band and use the publicity from this to promote their own tour, maybe even play the same venues, but this time with a real crowd. They've certainly got a lot of material to write songs about, as this ridiculous saga reads like an ironic millennial counterpoint to classic 'life on the road' albums like Running on Empty.

As far as the singer, sadly there are probably lots of opportunities for someone with his unique skills in this 'post-truth' world. I guess its possible he was a victim too, but from what I've read that doesn't seem likely. It sounds like the whole thing was probably cooked up by him and his wife/tour manager.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Jered said it all. The promotion company screwed up. Looks like they forgot to buy the audience. Maybe they ran out of money.

 

[Skybone]

There was a comment by one of the venues where they'd cancelled after the furore hit...

"If they had played, they would have had a decent crowd turn out because of the notoriety"

 

[dxb]

 

[Spectrum]

Here's an interview with touring drummer Dane Davis telling the story.
(The headline is a bit misleading. Jered is not interviewed, just Dane.)

Threatin interview: inside the year's most talked-about tour

Just read that. Really sad. The drummer seems like a cool guy who's taking it well, and he's out a bunch of money, wasted time, and basically got lied to about the pay. And that little story about the breakfast kerfluffle, wow, sounds like Threatin and his wife are control freaks, too, surprise, surprise.

 

[wayshot]

Here's a video statement from bass player Gavin Carney:

 

[Mr_Moo]

Here's a video statement from bass player Gavin Carney:

That's a pretty sad video. He comes across as the bassist who got left in the hot vehicle.

 

[IamGroot]

Poor Gavin.

I used to sub. mostly with great people/bands, but a few I was asking myself "Is this for real"

Back in the late 80s/ early 90s, I played guitar for an outfit that made bogus band cassettes, later CDs) for bands to give to bars and other venues to get gigs. We did everything but the lead vocals. If we were smart, we would have set a min. talent threshold for the bands we would record for. Eventually, the bar owners got wise and the business dried up.

 

[IamGroot]

Jered Threatin - BBC News

He tried to fake his way to fame and got caught red-handed. Or did he? A conversation with a false rock god.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Sign of the times, I guess, why believe reality when a comfortable illusion is so much more interesting. He bought his 15 mins of fame, I think it’s up.

 

[Jokei]

This would be all well and good if the booked venues didn't suffer a loss in revenue due to his bookings - however, argument could be made that they should have done due dilligence, although that may have been obfuscated by the online presence that was purchased.

The main problem I have with this, is that the music sucks. Even if it came out 2 decades ago (which seems to be the point of inspiration), it would still be bad.

The fact that Jered, Gerald? Seems to be revelling in screwing people over makes it ugly.

/rant

 

[andykeating]

A friend of mine was asked to go and photograph their show in Manchester at Rebellion bar, but got wind something wasn't right and didn't go. He wishes he had done the gig now just to witness the farce.

 

[dxb]

This would be all well and good if the booked venues didn't suffer a loss in revenue due to his bookings - however, argument could be made that they should have done due dilligence, although that may have been obfuscated by the online presence that was purchased.

The main problem I have with this, is that the music sucks. Even if it came out 2 decades ago (which seems to be the point of inspiration), it would still be bad.

The fact that Jered, Gerald? Seems to be revelling in screwing people over makes it ugly.

/rant

Well said. I would add that even in terms of performance art, its not like he did something amazing or mind blowing. He just bought a fake social media following then lied to people about it, causing many of them to lose money. That's not a clever commentary on the music business or an edgy new form of performance art, but rather just an annoying scam to try and gain popularity.