Mostly...
Just over a week ago, I sent an e-mail to the person responsible for booking Iron Maiden into our arena, True North Entertainment's Senior VP & GM of the MTS Centre, Kevin Donnelly. I simply asked why a show with an established line-up would have the support act pulled off the bill in favor of what I was told was a local act and that no other city on the two-month tour was doing this. I then proceeded to explain to him who Dream Theater was, along with their storied history and why, obviously, they would be a far better choice than any local band, regardless of their following around town. I concluded by asking if they would please reconsider and put DT back on the bill. Not surprisingly, I have not heard back from him. I've since spoken with a few major local radio personalities (Hal Anderson being one - any fellow Winnipeger here should know who that is) and told them what happened... and all of them said the exact same thing, "That's really strange!"

Now, this afternoon I found out who the band is... former Killer Dwarfs drummer Darrell Millar's band, Automan, from Toronto. Huh? A Winnipeg promoter is paying a Toronto band to come here and warm up Iron Maiden, yet is not willing to pay for DT, who was already lined up to play... the logic escapes me. There's a fine line between 'strange' and 'WTF!?' and this promoter, whomever it is, just pole-vaulted over it. It's completely unfair to DT and their fans here, and it doesn't matter that it was DT - it's completely unfair to whatever band would have had the gig. The only question that remains is 'why?' Politics? Who knows.

I know it's likely meaningless to the other forum members and perhaps even to the band, but I would like to apologise to DT for the blind ignorance of our city's promoters. I apologised to Mike for my presumptive, utterly boorish remarks in the other thread, which is now thankfully locked - wish it would get deleted. (I'd just had the worst week of my life, capped off with my father being diagnosed with cancer). That's so far from who I am, was clearly not it the right frame of mind, and let my emotions speak for me... never again.

Anyway, that's the story as to DT being replaced on the Winnipeg bill...

nice investigating, that sucks though!

so sorry to hear about your dad, he's in my prayers. We know your not a douche, no worries. No DT or Maiden in the BOston area either, I feel your pain. We'll catch 'em on the next tour.

A link to this was on their facebook page

AUTOMAN.CA To Open Up For IRON MAIDEN In Winnipeg

Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 17:46:38 EST

The Toronto-based band AUTOMAN.CA - led by former KILLER DWARFS drummer Darrell Dwarf Millar on vocals - have been added to IRON MAIDEN's Wednesday, June 30th date at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 13 at 10:00AM.

Automan.ca are touring in support of their debut album, debut CD, Pocket Change.

In 1988, the Killer Dwarfs were the opening act for Iron Maiden on their Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour in England and played a few dates with the UK legends in North America in support of their breakthrough record, Big Deal

Remarks Millar: "Yes, the Dwarfs did four shows in the USA on the east coast with Maiden in 1988 when ACE FREHLEY pulled out. Steve Harris loved the band and took us to the UK for that whole leg."

^^^ lol

Thanks DTman... this all just seems really bogus, bringing in a band in from 1400 miles away just to open for Maiden. Something's not right here...

It looks like the band bribed somebody. Although this would still make no sense, as they are 1400 miles away from there?

meh @ the industry. money > talent/hardwork. luckily for DT, most of their battles are in the past and they can finally enjoy creating music for the art of it (as well as raking in a well deserved pile o' moneys).

and yeah, sorry about your dad, i hope he pulls through! :)

Whitewolf..thanks for the info.  I think what you said was very big of you and I,for one,commend you on that!

And I wish nothing but the absolute best for your father and your family.....THINK POSITIVE!!!!

Good investigating man.  You should be a reporter just like when you investigated the stuff about the theater DT got stuck at.  (I still need to go back and watch my VHS of Clown After Midnight). 

Sorry to hear about your dad, man.  We will be thinking about you guys.

And this American still maintains Winnipeg rocks.  Go Blue Bombers!

For a moment I thought this would have something to do with the Jordan Winnipeg videos from the last summer tour

Kinda coincidental that I am seeing this thread as I am reading the Rudy Sarzo book, "Off the Rails" - where he talks about his experiences touring with Ozzy during the Diary tour.  Anyway, basically (on page 100) he mentions that the Canadian government is rather keen of supporting Canadian bands.  I can't help but wonder if this isn't what is going on with this show...


Later - Mike

tube-amped


Kinda coincidental that I am seeing this thread as I am reading the Rudy Sarzo book, "Off the Rails" - where he talks about his experiences touring with Ozzy during the Diary tour.  Anyway, basically (on page 100) he mentions that the Canadian government is rather keen of supporting Canadian bands.  I can't help but wonder if this isn't what is going on with this show...


Later - Mike

But DT has a Canuck pirate in it!  You can't beat that!

Thanks, guys...

Anyway, I look at this as a total slap in the face to DT and their local fans. First they say they're bringing in a local band, then they call (and pay) for a Toronto band? Sorry, but the logic escapes me. Definitely a lot of corruptness in this business, as I've been told by several people in town I've related these stories to.

OT: Off The Rails is a great book and $haron and Ozzy were, to say the least, not happy campers to see it released - and tried to actually block it.

I really don't know any of the details of this, but from what I'm reading, would be great if DT played a one-off show there the same night and the DT fans could enjoy that. Problem is, you'd get a lot of folks left making a tough choice between seeing IM or DT. Also probably would not be a great "political move" playing "against" the band you're opening up for on their tour.

This is true, but that's not a bad idea.
What would be wild is if DT would perhaps do an acoustic set in a small theatre that night? Maiden will fill over 10,000 seats at the arena regardless, so this really would not affect their bottom line, and DT would still be able to make money. Screw the arena promoter.
Given the choice (what would be lower ticket prices and which band we like better), I, and I know several others, would happily go to DT in this case. We have a nice little theatre, The Garrick, with two 600 seat rooms which happens to be open that night. I'm friends with one of the merch girls who works there and they have some say with the booker as to who they get in to play).
Just a thought...

This is a strange strange story. Im interested on what mike has to say about this. And maybe James can pull some canadian strings and get the DT boys back on the bill. Keep us informed Whitewolf im very interested to see how this turns out!!!!

Well, regardless of the outcome, I'm going to keep fighting for DT in this.  It may be naivety and foolish optimism, but I just thought with the buses, crew and gear traveling through Winnipeg enroute to Toronto anyway...

I saw Maiden two years ago and I refuse to give my money to the guy who screwed DT like this and lied about the replacement band. I will absolutely not be attending IM  this time and I think I may be able to convince others to do the same (but the ticket prices and seat availability might have more to do with that anyway).

There's another thread about Toronto tickets and how bad the seats were when the person asked for the best available... I searched for Winnipeg tickets with the same result - crap seats at the back of the arena two days into the onsale.

Well, again, the whole deal screams corruption to me, maybe you can contact some authority, some antitrust organisation over there or something? I can't figure out why would that be, unless someone from the promoter is getting money from it. So maybe someone offered the Toronto band to open for Maiden if they cut the money in half or something? If it is a group of employees, the management would be interested in the issue. And if it is the management, the employees won't be too happy. I dunno, it's too weird to assume that nothing wrong and borderline illegal is going on there.

Thanks Whitewolf2112! Being from the Peg myself, I was extremely disappointed when I found out that DT would not be coming to Winnipeg! I missed them when they were here last year and was looking forward to having the chance to see them at the arena but sadly this shall not be. I know that there will be several people that I know, including myself, that likely will not end up going to the concert because of the absence of DT! I know that sounds pretty harsh towards IM, and I have nothing against them, but it's just the way it is.

Exactly! My not attending is not a slight to Maiden in the least - I love them. However, as I mentioned... to me, it's my small way of screwing the promoter (Kevin Donnelly) for screwing DT like this.
I know we'll never get like two thousand people to do this, but hopefully enough will not attend for Donnelly to get the message. I know I'll be telling as many as I can about this - then, it's their call if they want to attend or not and pay $92 for a decent seat (if they can get one).

I have a few more cages to rattle around town... anxious to see what falls out, if anything.

go get em dude!!!!!!

The plot thickens... I just read this message from Automan's singer...

Automan is already in Winnipeg the night before at the Zoo (Note: The Zoo is one of our last surviving metal bars) and touring the whole west coast. Dates are not announced yet, and Dream Theatre canceled due to the routing. You don't know all the politics involved therefore in your world it doesn't make sense.

Really? So, these guys think/were told DT canceled the gig due to the routing?!?

I can't believe it... the prick deleted any post on that Facebook thread making reference to this!!!

Sorry to hear about your dad, Whitewolf2112.  Hoping for the best outcome here...

Meanwhile....

Automan.ca are touring in support of their debut album, debut CD, Pocket Change.

That's very, it's very, cool, and cool, because, thus, then, and, well, you know, are aware, yeah.

Whitewolf2112


The plot thickens... I just read this message from Automan's singer...

Automan is already in Winnipeg the night before at the Zoo (Note: The Zoo is one of our last surviving metal bars) and touring the whole west coast. Dates are not announced yet, and Dream Theatre canceled due to the routing. You don't know all the politics involved therefore in your world it doesn't make sense.

Really? So, these guys think/were told DT canceled the gig due to the routing?!?

my blood is fucking boiling for some reason.

1. its Dream Theater
2. thats not something Dream Theater would do
3. fuck.

i dont know why but rereading this thread really got me pissed off i think i know (only partially) how you feel whitewolf2112

Automan.ca are touring in support of their debut album, debut CD, Pocket Change. And they are willing, ready to lie, cheat, deceive to promote it, advertise it, support it.

It certainly seems so, exabyte.

I tried to edit my previous post, but ran out of time. Here's what I posted in response to that...

Really? What I do know is what Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy said on his forum about it...
"We'd LOVE to be doing this show....
For some reason, it's the only one that Iron Maiden couldn't offer us because apparently the promoter is putting a local support band on the bill instead..."

'Local' support band? From Toronto - 1400 miles away? So, either Mike Portnoy is lying, which I highly doubt, or you got some bad information, Darrell... and I'm betting on the latter.

I'll reiterate... it's cool that you've been given the opportunity to open for IM, however under these circumstances, something is less than correct here. I don't care who the support act was supposed to be.

Well, about 30-45 minutes after I posted this on the Automan Facebook page, every post mentioning this on that thread was deleted... how convenient.

WhiteWolf, you are proving yourself to be quite the detective.

Something is very fishy here.....keep it up, dude solve it for us!

This is some juicy gossip! Keep it up we all want more!!!!!

I enjoy doing it... and the more I learn, the more I'm narrowing it down to two possible conclusions - however, unless I have further proof, it's merely conjecture so I won't say any more (especially after the idiot I made of myself in the other thread).

Thanks again to everyone for their well wishes. While my dad is doing somewhat better, sadly, it gets worse - my fiancee's sister passed away over the weekend in England...

Some month this has been...

Sorry to hear about your bad news. All you can do is be there for the ones you love.

And kudos on the investigative work. Keep it up!

Mu guess is either the Promoter or the Owner of the Hall has a friend with that Band.  

That would be the only realistic reason for that move. 

I just posted this at the automan.ca FB wall

So wait, why is Mike Portnoy claiming that Dream Theater was not offered the Iron Maiden show because the local promoters wanted you instead?

Interesting how your post is still there after 3+ hours, yet some other things have magically changed - like most threads, especially the thread relating to them opening for IM here, is now gone (and the only mention is the dates under "Description"), the event page seems to be gone and Darrell Millar's personal FB page seems to be inaccessible....

Just got the following reply from Darrell.   This is an exact copy/paste:

Show me a link where pourtney is talking about this. I think Maiden and the promoters will want to know about this. May just cause us to get the whole tour. Thanks for the heads up.

BTW....I just replied with a link to MP's post.

And he's delusional too... nice!
They deleted my posts, but I left it on my FB page for posterity... where they can't delete it.

Another reply from Darrell.  This one actually comes across quite reasonable.  I don't think anyone should flip him crap because he seems alright, and just in the middle of a very uncomfortable situation that is not his fault.  (although, I'll admit that first quote made me cringe)  This one seems much more down to earth:

Thanks Ben. Like I said. Rock & Roll is all about timing. Automan.ca was already in Winnipeg playing a club the night before Maiden and I am the ex drummer of Killer Dwarfs and toured with Maiden extensivley in the late 80's. They were happy to hear I was there to kind of fill that small opening slot. I'm seeing these DT fans talking all this shit about this show and speculating DT doesnt like Winnipeg and all this shit. Its not true at all, its really just Canada is so fucking big to tour and it is going to be a tight set up time as is just for Maidens show. Doors are at 8:00PM and always at 7:00PM usually. its going to be tight to get us on stage even. That is what I have been told.

If that last quote is true...then the TIME factor may have more to do with it than anything else.  What if they only have 30 minutes??  If there was ONLY a 30 minute slot available (hypothetically) I doubt DT would bother to fill it.   If that's the issue, then no one is to blame except local laws.   But I don't know...just trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.