Melbourne punk band Scab Eater have denied suggestions that they desecrated a war memorial in the Wollongong suburb of Corrimal ahead of ANZAC Day celebrations. The band were first suspected of the crime because the phrase “Scab Eater – No tears for dead soldiers” was found written on the memorial.
As the Illawarra Mercury reports, vandals damaged a granite pillar and scrawled the band’s name, along with the anarchist symbol. The damage was discovered by Corrimal RSL sub-branch vice-president Neil McLeanon on the morning of Saturday, 18th April.
Scab Eater have now distanced themselves from the vandalism, speaking out via the Facebook page of Brisbane-based music festival Total Attack. A post by the festival says the group are no longer set to perform at the event or “any other related shows”, due to the vandalism at Corrimal, with the band condemning the war memorial desecration and blaming a “single individual”.
The band’s statement reads:
“Scab Eater would like to state that they recognize the history of ANZAC and conscription service in Australia, and that although the Australian military has a bloody and imperial legacy, fallen soldiers are just as much victims of war as any other form of casualty.
The ignorant and heartless sentiments on the memorial were the action of a single individual which collectively the band does not stand behind.
The structural damage to the granite and additional broken glass was not caused by any member of Scab Eater. Scab Eater apologize for any distress or grief caused by the message, and this incident.”
Scab Eater performed at Corrimal Hotel on the night before the damage was found. Wollongong police are using CCTV footage from the hotel as part of their continuing investigation into the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Wollongong Police or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
Scab Eater have been in contact and will no longer be performing at Total Attack 2015, or any other related shows. "…
Posted by Total Attack on Monday, 20 April 2015
