Millions of Dead Cops show cancelled due to name
A show by punk band Millions of Dead Cops, scheduled for Belvedere's in Lawrenceville Friday, has been canceled.
The promoter and club owner both refuse to comment, but according to the band, the name is the factor.
Obviously, fliers for Millions of Dead Cops were a sensitive issue in Pittsburgh in the wake of the April 4 shootings of three police officers in Stanton Heights.
"Pittsburgh got canceled," said Jay Crash, a member of the opening band Embrace the Kill and former MDC roadie who was booking the tour. "After the unfortunate incident of the three police officers were shot, we had a couple cancellations because of the name of the band and tour [Patriot A-hole]. Boston was cancelled too. The club said after that incident, it was bad publicity for the club."
The left-leaning hardcore punk band formed in Austin in 1979 originally as the Stains and changed the name to Millions of Dead Cops for three reasons, according to drummer Al Schvitz: the police reaction at the 1968 Democratic convention, his claim that an unarmed friend was shot by police officers, and his claim that some Texas police officers were connected to the KKK.
The band became known for songs like "John Wayne was a Nazi" and for taking part in the Rock Against Reagan Tour. It broke up in 1995, reformed in 2000 and launched a 25th anniversary tour in 2005, which played the Mr. Roboto Project in Wilkinsburg. The band was a no-show for a 2007 show at the Braddock Elks Lodge.
Crash and Schvitz expressed sympathies for the families of the fallen officers and said they love playing Pittsburgh, especially on Friday night, and were disappointed by the cancellation on a tour which is playing 57 shows in 56 days. They said they'll be back, probably under one of their many aliases, which include Multi-Death Corporation, Millions of Dead Children, Millions of Damned Christians and the more charming Mother's Delicious Cookies.