Steve Ignorant/Crass Tour Bumped

American dates have been rescheduled for April and May.

By Blurt Staff

Ah, the US immigration authorities strike again. It's become a familiar ritual for overseas bands: book an American tour, then at the 11^th hour learn that your entry visas have not yet been approved, forcing you to reschedule the tour or cancel it altogether. That's what just happened to Steve Ignorant, late of Crass, who was all set to bring his "Last Supper Tour" to these shores and give North American Crass fans a chance to hear classic Crass tunes performed in concert one last time before Ignorant & Co. put the brand to rest for good.

As Ignorant explains in the new issue of BLURT (due on newsstands next week), "It all really started with the Feeding of 5000 shows in 2007 (playing songs from the band's debut). I got a lot of phone calls from people wanting me to repeat that show across the world. I had to explain to them that the whole idea of the Feeding 5000 was just a one-off show, never to be repeated and I couldn't go back on that. As time went on it became apparent that a lot of people couldn't get to those shows and were desperate to see them live... When I do the last show (from the Last Super Tour) in England, I will never every perform these songs live again. That's a promise I have made to not only people, but myself."

But as of March 7, the band had not been issued US entry visas, despite months of preparation and despite having delivered all of their documents to their visa agent well in advance of usual guidelines. With only three days to go to the first show and no hope left of getting the visas in time, the only decision that could be made was to let the fans know and move the shows.

New tour dates are listed below.

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Here is the official statement posted by Steve Ignorant on his blog:

"I'm really really gutted to have to let you all know that we have to reschedule our USA and Canadian gigs. There's a delay with the issue of the visas we require to enter the USA. We hope it will all be sorted soon but we will NOT be able to make the scheduled gigs.

I would ask everyone to please hold onto your tickets and give us about a week to announce new dates. We will reschedule as soon as possible and tickets will be valid for the rescheduled dates, however, if you think 'fuck it, I want my money back', then do that and I will completely understand.

I know that loads of you have been planning to travel for these gigs and that rescheduling them will be a right kick in the bollocks for you. I'm really, really genuinely very sorry about this. Please understand that this situation is costing me and the band a load of emotional upset, it's not the money, it's the letting you lot down, the bands that we were going to play with, all the people that have worked so fucking hard to put this thing together and if we could have done anything to avoid it we would have. Honestly, with all my heart, there was nothing else we could do. PLEASE, if you could let other gig-goers know that it's off for now through your emails and face books or whatever means you can please do so. I know these are only typed words and words aint enough but it's all I can do. To say I feel a right xxxt would be an understatement. This is the worse thing I've ever had to do. We really appreciate your support and we will do these gigs one way or another. Here are the rescheduled dates that will be confirmed as soon as our visas are confirmed. Until the powers that be grant us entry there's nothing more I can do at the moment. Again, I'm really so sorry about all this.

Everything is tbc pending visas but we are hoping they will get issued this week.

All tickets will be good for the rescheduled shows." - STEVE IGNORANT

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New tour dates:

April 20 Brooklyn, NY @ Europa

April 21 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda - SOLD OUT
April 22 Toronto, ON @ Opera House

April 23 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge - matinee show

April 26 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
April 27 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's

April 29 Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
April 30 Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
May 3 Austin, TX @ Emo's

May 6 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

May 7 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
May 8 New York, NY @ Santo's - SOLD OUT