- Melbourne band posters systematically targeted
- Mannequin Death Squad singer speaks out
An angry Australian punk rock singer has spoken out about a mysterious figure secretly sabotaging Melbourne’s live music scene.
Elly Vex, van Mannequin Death Squadposted a video on social media explaining how dozens of her band’s posters on Sydney Road in Brunswick had been systematically damaged overnight, removing all information about their upcoming Bergy Bandroom gig on July 6.
“I walked for 20 minutes and about 70 of our posters were scratched,” she said in the video.
“So someone doesn’t want people to come to our show. Someone doesn’t want live music.’
Elly, who is from Melbourne and spent much of last year touring Australia and the rest of the world with the band, told Daily Mail Australia she is “upset and heartbroken” by the bizarre act of vandalism that “left at least one hours’ would have taken. to carry out.
Elly Vex, of Mannequin Death Squad (pictured with bandmate Dan) suspects someone is ‘sabotaging’ Melbourne’s live music scene
Dozens of posters for her band on Sydney Road in Brunswick Street were systematically damaged overnight, removing all information about their upcoming Bergy Bandroom gig on July 6.
‘We don’t have a major label or manager, we organize everything ourselves. It’s a lot of work… and we also have full-time jobs. So every dollar is invested in the band,” she said.
‘It costs a lot to do marketing and make posters. So it really hurts our income. The artist who made the poster also put a lot of effort into it.
“It’s really disappointing and disturbing.”
Although Elly initially feared that it would be a ‘targeted personal attack’, she noticed that the posters of many other bands were also damaged.
Wild theories have emerged on social media about who might be behind the plot and what their motive might be.
One person claimed a man with a Stanley knife is regularly seen walking along Brunswick Street and Sydney Road – where there are a host of trendy bars and restaurants – damaging posters and other signs.
Others on Facebook speculated that it may have been a rival band playing on the same night.
‘Jealousy can do terrible things. I’m so sorry those assholes did that El,” one person wrote.
Elly, who is from Melbourne, told Daily Mail Australia she is “upset and heartbroken” by the bizarre act of vandalism which is said to have lasted “at least an hour”.
The attack comes at a time when Melbourne’s once thriving live music scene is now struggling to stay afloat.
Public liability insurance premiums have skyrocketed by more than 500 per cent since the Covid pandemic and the extra costs are expected to force half of the city’s live music venues to close or stop booking gigs altogether.
Elly, who started Mannequin Death Squad with guitarist Dan, said she fears for the future of live music in Melbourne.
“Please go out and see more live music and live performers,” she said.
“Because venues are closing across Melbourne, so please support them or we’ll lose them.”