Billy Talent frontman Ben Kowalewicz has spoken out with a message for the unvaccinated: don't come to the band's shows.
In a now-deleted tweet viewed by Exclaim!, the singer wrote, "Hi there, this isn't a debate or up for discussion. This is how it is. If you're not vaccinated, please don't come to our shows. Ever. Thanks."
UPDATE (8/12, 9:50 a.m. ET): The original version of this story was published before Kowalewicz deleted his original tweet. It has been updated to reflect the change.
He subsequently deleted the tweet but wrote a new message, reiterating that concert-goers should get vaccinated or show a negative test before attending any shows.
He also wrote that Billy Talent just "had our first full band rehearsal today in nearly TWO YEARS and it was glorious!" The group have a couple of Canadian shows coming up in 2021, following by a European tour in 2022. See their tour schedule below.
In a now-deleted tweet viewed by Exclaim!, the singer wrote, "Hi there, this isn't a debate or up for discussion. This is how it is. If you're not vaccinated, please don't come to our shows. Ever. Thanks."
UPDATE (8/12, 9:50 a.m. ET): The original version of this story was published before Kowalewicz deleted his original tweet. It has been updated to reflect the change.
He subsequently deleted the tweet but wrote a new message, reiterating that concert-goers should get vaccinated or show a negative test before attending any shows.
He also wrote that Billy Talent just "had our first full band rehearsal today in nearly TWO YEARS and it was glorious!" The group have a couple of Canadian shows coming up in 2021, following by a European tour in 2022. See their tour schedule below.
Also, we had our first full band rehearsal today in nearly TWO YEARS and it was glorious!
— Ben Kowalewicz (@BenKowalewiczBT) August 12, 2021
Kowalewicz's comments resulted in some pushback from anti-vaxxers. Rather than listen to random people on Twitter, here's the word on vaccine safety from medical experts [via canada.ca]: "Only vaccines that are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality are authorized for use in Canada. The COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested during their development and then carefully reviewed by Health Canada. The vaccines can't give you COVID-19 because they don't contain the virus that causes it. The vaccines also can't change your DNA."
Tour dates:
09/09/2021 St. John's, NL - Iceberg Alley
09/12/2021 Brookside, NS - Rock the Hub 2021
06/03/2022 Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park
06/05/2022 Nürburg, Germany - Rock Am Ring
06/07/2022 Brno, Czechia - Vystaviste
06/08/2022 Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Park
06/09/2022 Kraków, Poland - Klub Studio
06/11/2022 Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival 2022
06/12/2022 Nickelsdorf, Austria - Nova Rock 2022
06/14/2022 Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
06/20/2022 Saint Petersburg, Russia - Kosmonavt
06/21/2022 Moskva, Russia - Glavclub
06/23/2022 Kyiv, Ukraine - Green Theatre
11/22/2022 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Luxexpo the Box