Detroit-based rockers Mac Saturn have axed their North American tour, reeling from a scandal involving former keyboardist Evan Mercer's arrest on child pornography charges. Mac Saturn, known for their throwback sound akin to the bluesy rock of the 1970s, pulled the plug on the 35-city tour, which had just begun and was set to wrap in Grand Rapids on March 17, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
The tour cancellation announcement came via a social media post where the band commented, "In our darkest hour, we remain dedicated to creating music and spaces for people to celebrate life as safely and respectfully as possible," detailing their decision to abruptly end their tour commitments and their intention to donate to The Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. According to Detroit Free Press, the group extended "our deepest and most profound sympathies, not only to the victims of the shocking and appalling behavior that our former band member Evan Mercer has been accused of but to anyone who has ever been a victim of such heinous and inexcusable crimes."
Support act The Thing with Feathers also withdrew from the tour, releasing a statement which stated, "While we were hoping to see our dearest friends and fans across North America over the coming months, we simply cannot continue in light of the recent revelations," as quoted by hoodline. Mac Saturn played their Friday show at The Fillmore Detroit but the keyboard seat was notably vacant following Mercer's arrest just hours earlier, leaving the band to face their fans amid brewing controversy.
Meanwhile, Mercer, 30, is facing grave accusations as he was seen in sexually explicit acts with minors, and some files were discovered through a shared iCloud account with an ex-girlfriend, who alerted the authorities. This all comes before a federal judge ordered Mercer held until trial, adding another blow to a band that has seen its trajectory halted by the weight of these charges. Judge David Grand noted during the hearing, "It’s just shocking to see a grown man engaging sexually like this with a 7- to 9-year-old girl and the male victims who were somewhat older but still minors,” signaling the perceived danger Mercer presents, as stated in an article from Detroit Free Press.
Mac Saturn's response to the charges against Mercer has been swift, with the band publicly severing ties and encouraging a focus on the victims involved in this disturbing case. Mac Saturn's heartfelt apology to their fans comes as a sober reminder of the responsibilities those in the spotlight bear, especially when it comes to matters of trust and moral integrity within the music community.
