The Internal Revenue Service has thwarted Echo & the Bunnymen’s invasion of the United States before they even ventured beyond the West Coast. Despite having played two successful shows, including performances of Ocean Rain in its entirety in Los Angeles and Oakland, CA, November dates have gotten the axe (until next year at least). Here’s the news update via their official site:
It’s with the deepest regret that Echo & The Bunnymen have had to cancel their USA November tour.
This is due to unreasonable demands that have been presented by the IRS for the band to enter the USA to tour.
This is not a VISA issue as some websites have stated.
Echo & The Bunnymen will be touring the USA in April of 2010.
Please contact venues for refunds.
And the canceled dates are:
Nov 15 Atlanta, GA – MasqueradeNov 17 Washington, DC – Black CatNov 18 State College, PA – The State TheatreNov 20 Glenside, PA – Keswick TheatreNov 21 Fairfield, CT – Stage OneNov 22 New York, NY – Hammerstein BallroomNov 23 Boston, MA – House Of BluesNov 25 Chicago, IL – Metro
Meanwhile, you can still download the Bunnymen’s new single “I Think I Need It Too” 100% tax-free here.
**Update: The band’s claim about “unreasonable demands” made by the IRS has been clarified in a statement (via CoS). As it turns out, Echo & The Bunnymen’s Central Withholding Agreement (CWA) was rejected by the IRS, even though the band’s “team submitted the necessary paperwork in due time and in accordance with the process that had been followed on previous tours.” What’s more, “the IRS offered no reasoning for the rejection and was unresponsive to [their] inquiries.” Without an accepted CWA on file promoters are “legally required to withhold a minimum of 30% in lieu of tax which ultimately will not allow for a tour to happen at this time.”