Metal Anarchy

As previously reported, End It are currently facing backlash after turning a Toronto, ON crowd on a man who showed up in a banana costume. As such, Five Finger Death Punch’s Chris Kael and comedian Craig Gass decided to invite the fan on their “Beardo & Weirdo” podcast to discuss the incident.

Banana Man, who was at the concert to see Terror, said the following about becoming a target:

“There was no pretext to it that I understood. I also didn’t do hours of research on this band before arriving to the show, cause like you said, I was there for the headliner.”

He continued when it was mentioned how End It are known for “harassing people in the crowd”:

“From what I understand, there’s been other incidents of banana hatred from them.”

He also discussed his headspace at the time:

“I think you can see my happiness as he calls me and I reach for a handshake and he goes, ‘No, no, no. You don’t get rewarded.’ I was gonna say, ‘Hey, Scott, welcome to Toronto,’ but that took a turn pretty quickly.”

Kael went on to call End It hypocrites for saying “Fuck the IDF, free Palestine, fuck Israel & fuck the police” before placing a bounty on a fan’s head:

“Like the positive vibes that a hardcore show is supposed to be, getting the community together, and just having a good time. And it upset me so much. Especially after they get off there talking about the free Palestine thing, where [they were against] violence against Palestine, and then inciting violence on a fan who paid money to come to the show. That is insane to me.”

Gass agreed:

“F the police and then followed by attack this guy… Like F like any kind of law and order, you know, and then attack…”

Kael then interjected:

“…And they turn it on your own people in the crowd. And I mean hardcore is known for like crowd killing. I love all that stuff. You know the hardcore dancing. It is kind of a violent thing, but to have… We’re all looking out for each other. That’s the vibe of a hardcore show. I mean, I’ve been growing up in hardcore in Lexington, Cincinnati, Vegas. I love the vibe. Knocked Loose is one of my favorite bands. And I go to these hardcore shows all the time. I have never seen anything like that.

I’ve seen fights in the crowd, sure, but nothing ever incited by the band. And that’s just, I mean you’re you’re fighting against so much stuff from crowd safety in the first damn place.”

He later added:

“I mean, hardcore is known be tough, and to get upset over a banana costume?”

“…We are all family. Whether it’s a metal show, whether it’s a hardcore show, people like him, he’s paid you money to come out and see the show. Have some respect and and love for your fans coming out that are doing that, you know? I mean, everybody’s working hard, going through life. You come to those shows as an as an escape from all that other stuff, man. And then to have to deal with that, oh, it lit me up so bad.”

Kael also invited Banana Man to a Five Finger Death Punch show and offered him merch. He also told him to wear the banana costume if he wants.

As for End It, Banana Man says they never offered merch or an apology. He also said they should “just practice [their] stage show before [they] deliver it.”

Kael futher commented:

“I love hardcore music, I love metal. I love the community and to see something like that happen to someone in our community, I was outraged. So, I wanted to make sure we got a chance to get on here and talk to you about your experience and turn it around for you and get you out there to celebrate in Toronto with us.”

[via The PRP]