Irish Councilor Tries To Ban Behemoth From Playing Limerick

Polish blackened death metal band Behemoth is facing an against from Limerick Councilor about performing music acts in the city. According to Loudwire，Fianna Fail councilor and former mayor of Limerick Kevin Sheehan is objecting to the band playing because of their “satanic practices.” The band is scheduled to play with Swedish death metal group Amon Amarth at King John’s Castle on June 17.

The councilor expressed his feelings and where it comes from on TodayFM’s The Last Word With Matt Cooper: “To me, the objection is well founded and it’s quite justified. Satanism is associated with evil. And I’m a Christian. I wouldn’t be blowing my trumpet too loud about that. I’m an average Christian, if there’s such a thing. And what I am against totally is anything to do with Satanism and with evil thoughts, music or practices.”

He went on further with an attempted ban towards the band saying, “We have laws in this country. The justice minister, Charlie Flanagan, about a month ago decided to exercise a 1999 act which allowed him to prevent a pastor from America, a guy called Steven Anderson, and he had anti-Semitic and anti-gay views, and he was prevented, because of those views, from coming to Ireland. So I was calling on the minister to give serious consideration to using the same laws to prevent these Satanic people from coming to Limerick next Monday.”

“I have no problem with music. Music can be the soul of our lives. But not Satanic practices or thoughts or promotions. I have no facility in my life for any of that.” The councilor clarified himself that the against is because of Satan instead of music.

Behemoth firstly had the Polish government’s attention for their bold behavior dating back to 2007, when frontman Nergal insulted Bible on the performing stage. In 2014, the group had to detain and be deported from Russia by struggling forces. But Behemoth won the court case about their controversial t-shirts about Polish coat of arm in 2017.

The group featured in Slipknot’s summer 2019 tour and Slayer’s new legs of the farewell tour. More gigs from the group are coming from July to September in the States. Check out their tour dates and tickets HERE.