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Censorship against COF
-NICK-ED BY THE FILTH-
Nicholas Barker, drummer with UK shock metallers Cradle Of Filth, was arrested by police in Dover on the weekend of May 18 for wearing his band's infamous 'Jesus Is A C*nt' t-shirt.
The incident occured when the band's bus broke down on the way to the Dynamo festival in Eindhoven, Holland, coming to a halt outside Dover police station. Nick then left the bus in order to find a pub whilst the bus was being fixed, only to be confronted by a local policeman.
"This copper came up to me and asked me what I thought I was doing wearing the t-shirt," explains Nick. "He told me it was a public order offence. I asked him whatever happened to freedom of speech and with a typical fascist pig attitude, he said, 'Oh, smart arse, eh?' Next thing I know, I'm in a cell."
The police were actually within their rights to hold Nick for up to 72 hours, which would have meant that he missed the Dynamo show, the biggest gig of the band's career thus far, but thankfully, they released him after two hours.
Although originally charged with creating a public disorder and resisting arrest, this has been whittled down to just the former and there is a good chance that the Crown Prosecution Service will not proceed with the case.
But... "I'm just glad they didn't come on the bus," laughs the drummer. "We had all sorts of stuff on there; uppers, downers, round and rounders, amphetamines, hash... You name it, we had it on there." (Metal Hammer)
-VESTAL MASTURBATION-
Rob Kenyon was arrested in London several months ago for wearing a Cradle Of Filth shirt in public which depicted a masturbating nun and 'Vestal Masturbation' printed below.
Kenyon was 'found guilty of commiting an act of Profane Representation under the 1839 Act by Bow Street Magistrates Court. His lawyers will now proceed to the court of appeal in order to defer the case to the Crown Court, to prevent a precedent being set.'
"..in these days we think it's a very bad thing that someone is getting in trouble with the police and authorities for walking around wearing a cradle of filth shirt.." -Gian
The end result was a fine of £150.
-BANNED MAGAZINE COVER-
KERRANG! was forced to alter its cover when the original picture shot for issue 626 was deemed 'likely to cause offence' by it's distributors.
Following legal advice, the original Cradle Of Filth cover (above, and reprinted as a poster) had to be withdrawn.
The picture, which depicted drummer Nicholas drenched in blood and vocalist Dani similarly splattered, was deemed too graphic to be stocked by certain newsagents.
Kerrang faced a similar situation in 1984, when WH Smiths refused to stock an issue of Kerrang which featured WASP frontman Blackie Lawless in a blood splattered pose.
"It's ironic that last week's Kerrang cover dealt with freedom of speech and censorship," comments Editor Phil Alexander. "We hated changing the cover, but we had to accept that Kerrang readers would be happier picking up their copy of the magazine on a Wednesday morning rather than finding out that it had been withdrawn from sale simply because of a picture. I wonder what the powers that be will make of this week's Marilyn Manson cover?" (Kerrang)
-BANNED Cruelty and the Beast Cravestone Edition in USA-
