NOFX 'Banned' From Performing in U.S. After Controversial Shooting Joke
Music

Fat Mike writes in Instagram, claiming the Los Angeles-based group has been turned away from playing 'ANY big venue in the United States.'

AceShowbiz - Rockers NOFX have "effectively been banned" from performing in the U.S. after causing an outcry by joking about the 2017 Las Vegas festival shooting while onstage in the city.

The controversial remarks were made during the group's set at the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival there last month, when the stars made light of the tragedy.

"I guess you only get shot in Vegas if you're in a country band," guitarist Eric Melvin quipped, with frontman Fat Mike responding, "At least they were country fans and not punk rock fans".

The jokes were in reference to the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in October (17), when a gunman opened fire on the audience, killing 58 people, and injuring hundreds of others.

The members of NOFX subsequently issued a lengthy apology on Instagram, and followed it up with another official statement, calling their comments "shameful", but it was too little too late as several of their sponsorships and planned engagements were cancelled.

Now Fat Mike, born Michael Burkett, has returned to Instagram, claiming the Los Angeles-based group has been turned away from playing "ANY big venue in the United States".

Burkett apologised again to fans, specifically those with tickets to the Punk in Drublic Craft Beer & Music Festival in Austin, Texas, which they were set to play in September.

"NOFX has effectively been banned in our own country," he wrote. "This is not our choice, but it is our reality. We are very sorry to our fans, especially the ones in Austin... It f**kin sucks! We made a mistake, we apologized, and we gotta suffer the consequences. Maybe it ain't fair, but whoever said life was (sic)".

The singer noted scheduled tour dates outside the U.S. would continue as planned and explained that although he is working to restore the band's shows in its home country, he isn't holding out much hope.

Fuck it! I’m not supposed to talk about it, but because of the comments we made in Las Vegas... every NOFX show has been cancelled in the US. We did not drop off the shows.... we were told that NOFX is not welcome to play ANY big venue in the United States. No joke! NOFX has effectively been banned in our own country. This is not our choice, but it is our reality. We are very sorry to our fans, especially the ones in Austin. For now, we are playing in Europe, Mexico, and Canada. The Punk in Drublic Festival is still happening in Europe and other continents. I’m trying my best to bring it back to the US but a lot of people don’t want it to happen. It fuckin sucks! We made a mistake, we apologized, and we gotta suffer the consequences. Maybe it ain’t fair, but whoever said life was. We are just very thankful that our fans are being so supportive. Thanks to all of you!!!!! See y’all in Slovenia tomorrow! #punkindrublicinternational #whendidpunkrockbecomesosafe #IhatednotbeinginOhio

A post shared by Michael Burkett (@fatmikedude) on

"For now, we are playing in Europe, Mexico and Canada," he shared. "The Punk in Drublic Festival is still happening in Europe and other continents. I'm trying my best to bring it back to the US but a lot of people don't want it to happen".

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