Prior to CANNIBAL CORPSE's appearance at The Opera House in Toronto this past Saturday, July 10th, The Hate And Morality Department of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department contacted local promoter Noel from Inertia Entertainment saying that he would be charged if the show took place. Here is Noel's statement that was posted on the Brave Board at BraveWords.com:

Cannibal Corpse Almost Canceled Due To Racism And Violence Towards Minorities

Posted: Jul 12 2004, 11:53 PM

So, I woke up to a phonecall Friday Morning from The Hate And Morality Department of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department. They told me I would be arrested and charged under Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Canada if Cannibal Corpse performed in Toronto. They also told the Opera House that they would be charged as well if the band hit the stage.

So, I inquired why. I was told the band was racist. Then the Detective began citing their early records claiming they were aimed towards minorities (Hammer Smash Face, Butchered At Birth). He then told me that as well, they incite violence towards minorities and women in their lyrics. They have been downloaded, and reviewed

I told him, it was nothing more than horror movie scripts essentially. B-Movies. Slasher Flicks. You don’t come down on Freddy Kruger. Or Jason, so how is this anything different? And absolutely nowhere will you find Cannibal Corpse singing anything racist.

Then I recalled they were in Ace Ventura – Pet Detective (1993) and said would Warner Bros. have the band in a movie if these records were racist? These records you are naming came out prior to that movie.

I told him I felt this was ludicrous, as well I thought it may be a set up to undermine Inertia Entertainment. I explained why I felt that.

I also mentioned I have had the band perform 4 times previously in Toronto, all times without a problem.

Then the detective told me he would go back to the prosecutor to discuss my statements and he would get back to me.

End of phone call one.

Phone call 2 had the prosecutor reviewing this case. Re-reading their evidence and documents, deliberating my defense, and perhaps searching for something to proceed on. I was advised that the lyrical content was rather offensive (presumably the detective had by now done some research into Cannibal Corpse to see what was going on)

I offered the alternative of turning the show into a 18+ event, kind of like a restricted movie, citing my first phone call, comparing their music to Horror film soundtracks. The detective said he would continue to discuss with the prosecuting attorney and get back with me.

A third phone call.

The prosecuting Attorney has decided that the show can go on but. We must warn you that is the band plays 'Stripped Raped And Strangled' and 'Fucked By The Beast ('Fucked With A Knife'?); that myself, the venue and the band may have some problems. There will be a few officers from the Hate and Morality department at the show overseeing it.

I thanked the Detective.

Cannibal Corpse told me that although bullshit, they would comply as they love Canada and dont want to jepordize the chance of returning to our lovely country.