Swiss metal legends CELTIC FROST have issued the following update:

"While already on the road on the European leg of the Monotheist tour, we were informed of strict curfews to our co-headlining shows with Kreator in the UK. These curfews have been imposed locally and are not a stipulation by either Celtic Frost or Kreator. As a matter of fact, we oppose these curfews explicitly, and we have informed both our management and our concert agency accordingly. There is little we can do, however.

Celtic Frost and KREATOR and the bands’ representatives have spent months trying to assemble an appropriate and exciting touring package of four bands that cover a wide variety of contemporary metal. We loathe the fact that we are now finally back out on the road – in Celtic Frost’s case, for the first time in some 17 years – and have to discover that the local booker and promoters in the UK impose curfews so unrealistically strict that it is impossible to put on the regular performances by all four bands (also LEGION OF THE DAMNED and WATAIN) on the bill as played everywhere else in Europe. Apparently, some of the UK venues book two events during certain nights, i.e., in this case our tour and another event. This will yield twice the profits for them in one night, but it also means that the first event, namely our tour, will have to clear the venue at an unreasonably early hour, as early as 9:30 or 10:00pm.

There appears to be no proper solution to this situation. Both headliners are categorically unwilling to cancel the performances of either our opening act or special guest, Watain and Legion of the Damned, in order to play full headlining sets. Just like us, Watain and Legion of the Damned have travelled thousands of miles and gone through great expenses to play all of Europe. The local booker and promoters in the UK are equally unwilling to extend their ludicrous curfews, even for a mere 30 minutes. The alternative, so we are informed, would be a cancelled concert.

Having all four bands play at least a semblance of a set means that the duration of all sets will be severely restricted. In case of Celtic Frost and Kreator, this means sets of 60 minutes, in case of Watain and Legion of the Damned, sets of 20 minutes. This applies to the following shows: Glasgow, Bradford, Wolverhampton, Cardiff, and Nottingham. All bands involved believe that playing a set is better than cancelling any show. That we all are extremely frustrated, if not to say furious, about this situation is obvious."

Upcoming Kreator/Celtic Frost European live dates include:

March

14 - Bradford, UK at Rio
15 - Wolverhampton, UK at Wulfrun Hall
16 - Cardiff, UK at Souls
17 - Nottingham, UK at Rock City
18 - London, UK at Koko
20 - Paris, France at Elysee Montmartre
21 - Bordeaux, France at Theatre Barbey
22 - Madrid, Spain at La Riviera
23 - Bilbao, Spain at Rockstar
24 - Barcelona, Spain at Razzmatazz 1
26 - Pratteln, SWI at Z7
27 - Milan, ITA at Rolling Stone
28 - Suttgart, Germany at Longhorn
29 - Berlin, Germany at Columbia Club
31 - Oslo, Norway at Betong

April

1 - Gothenburg, Sweden at Trädtgarn
2 - Malmö, Sweden at KB
3 - Stockholm, Sweden at Arenan
4 - Helsinki, Finland at Tavastia
5 - Hamburg, Germany at Markthalle

May

19 - Thessaloniki, Grece - Hydrogios
20 - Athens, Greece - Gagarin 205

* March 8th-29th - with Legion Of The Damned and Watain)

* March 31st-April 5th - with Watain)