JON OLIVA'S PAIN Explains Dubai Cancelation

July 18, 2012

JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the Florida-based band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, has just returned from Europe where it celebrated the 25th anniversary of one of heavy metal's most iconic records, "Hall Of The Mountain King" by SAVATAGE. The band performed the entire album as a special one-time-only treat for the still massive amount of loyal fans, along with songs from the DOCTOR BUTCHER album (by Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, released in 1995),SAVATAGE and JON OLIVA'S PAIN.

Unfortunately, JON OLIVA'S PAIN was forced to cancel its June 26 concert in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the last minute due to luggage issues while attempting to fly out of Brussels airport.

A statement from the organizer read: "The Dubai promoter was willing to go far beyond what made financial sense in order to bring the show to Dubai and stick to his commitment, which makes this (cancelation) even more sad for all parties involved."

The one-off show would have been Oliva's first visit to the UAE.

Commented the band: "The Dubai cancelation was an emotional, financial and fan/promoter nightmare that we hope we will never have to live again. And despite what anyone may say... Dubai was the highlight show of the tour for us and sitting in Holland for three days dwelling on the entire situation was exhausting and anxiety-filled for all involved.

"The hatred thrown at the band for having to cancel the show was heartbreaking. Sharbel (our fantastic promoter in Dubai) had risked a lot of money and his reputation on getting us there. Fans from all over the Middle East were traveling to see us play... and we were so excited to be going to such a unique and mysterious place. But, as told before, some asshole supervisor for [the] airline denied 13 of us to board the plane because we had two soft case guitar bags that are ALWAYS allowed on EVERY other airline as carry-ons for reasons of their high value and items that could never be replaced. This super-ASS had every right in his power to allow us on board but demanded we check them into the belly of the plane. He told us that if they were lost or damaged that 'we would be made whole again by filing a report.' But this was just another lie out of his pathetic mouth as we knew that [the] airline's policy clearly states that they are 'NOT responsible for lost or damaged items.' Damage or loss of these guitars would have ended our tour and the loss of prize guitars owned by Jerry and Joe. This was totally unacceptable.

"We ran from ticket counter to ticket counter looking for options. After nearly eight hours, we found an airline willing to allow us to travel with the guitars. The promoter even agreed to pay for entirely new flights for all 13 passengers (14,000 euros) but the band had to come up with the money in cash. We had only been on the road for one show and that kind of money was not available. We all sat on the bus totally pissed, in shock, and counting the loss to fans the promoter and band over and over in our heads.

"JON OLIVA'S PAIN contacted [the] airline on behalf of the promoter to see what we could do to help him get back the money he had spent on non-refundable tickets. We felt we owed it to him to at least try. Our tour manager constructed a detailed and polite email to [the] airline outlining the entire day's events and the rudeness and unwillingness of their 'supervisor' to work with us. We pointed out the incredible amount of financial hardship this has caused to the promoter the fans and the band. And after several days we received a reply. [The] airline stood behind the decisions of their employee but agreed to give the promoter back all of his money he paid for his non-refundable flights. This, my friends, is just another roundabout way of saying, 'We were wrong and you were right,' without having to take responsibility for the cancellation of the show and the financial and emotional loss to all involved...and to avoid any potential lawsuits.

"To Sharbel and the fans, once again we send our sincere apologies. We knew this would have been the highlight of the tour for all of us!"

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