Death Grips Bail On Lollapalooza Aftershow, Probably Their Careers; Fans Trash Equipment
By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 3, 2013 9:30PM
Confrontational noise-rap duo Death Grips bailed on a Bottom Lounge Lollapalooza after-show, then the entire festival altogether, apparently choosing to simply not arrive in Chicago.
Lollapalooza replaced the band on Saturday's lineup with the band Bad Things which features Perry Farrell and snowboarder Shaun White. Death Grips' whereabouts are still unknown, at least as it concerns the festival.
Death Grips fans were supposedly so upset Friday night that they stole what appeared to be Death Grips' drummer Zach Hill's equipment. According to DNAinfo, that was a "child's learning drum kit" on the stage. The management at Bottom Lounge said "Fuck 'em" as they announced the band would not be showing up. DNAinfo writes:
Death Grips' management repeatedly told Bottom Lounge employees the band "was on their way, only to be told by the same tour manager that the stage set up and the Death Grips album being played 'was the show,'" said Erin O'Neal, marketing director for Bottom Lounge. "It appears to us that despite having a signed contract, they never intended on performing last night and instead wanted to leave a room of disappointed fans."
The backdrop of the stage was apparently a Gmail screenshot of this distressing suicide note written by a Death Grips fan. As transcribed by someone on Reddit:
I am ready to take my own life. Many bad experiences led me to this dark void that I am locked in. Maybe by my own hands? I don't really care anymore. I just wanted to say thank you for showing me the other side. the side that is locked away deep inside a person. I am mad. Mad all the time and depressed all the time. I can't take it. I'm not afraid of dying but i am afraid that I can't hear DG in the after life if there is such a thing. I don't know, but I hope your music transcends to the unknown. A place where DG's essence exists. A place where art exists. I love art. That's the one thing that kept me alive? this long. So just to ease minds, DG didn't "influence" me to do this. this is my own fucking choice. but thanks for making my life a little better. you're my absolute fave and I will fight the gods if they don't allow me to follow DG's efforts can't see Earth. Anyways, continue doing great things. I love you Stefan, Zach, and Andy.I will be watching.
-AJJ
See more on the confusion and calamity below.