Paradise Lost Gun Drama!

Doomsters body-searched in drugs raid! Bust-up with proggies in Holland!

Paradise Lost were subjected to a terrifying ordeal while on the road with Sepultura in Europe this week.

The Yorkshire Doom outfit were travelling from Berlin to another German venue when their tour bus was pulled over to the roadside by five unmarked police cars.

According to a spokesman for Music For Nations, Paradise Lost’s record company: “Three armed policemen boarded the bus at the front and three came in the back.

“The band were told to ‘keep quiet and get off the bus’. They were then led, with guns held to their heads, off the bus and subjected to body searches.

“The police were apparently looking for cocaine and had received a tipoff. None was found and the band were freed.”

The incident comes just weeks after Sepultura singer Max Cavalera was arrested by police in Arizona.

Max was arrested after retaliating to an alleged shooting incident, and both he and his wife Gloria claim to have been unfairly treated by police.

Seethed Paradise Lost frontman Nick Holmes: “One minute we were having a party on the bus after a great show, the next we were stood in the middle of nowhere with these guns to our f**kin’ heads!

“The police didn’t even show any ID – except the barrel of a gun.”

Days earlier, a fracas between Paradise Lost and New York melodic rockers Dream Theater broke out during the famed Aardschok Festival in Holland.

The MFN spokesman said: “Apparently, Dream Theater’s crew were upset at the show running late and tried to cut Paradise Lost’s previously agreed set length.

“Nick and the band then took to the stage, quite furious, and Dream Theater’s crew resorted to cutting the power to their sound and lighting desks.”

Said Holmes: “I think they were upset at the fact that we were the heaviest band on the bill, and they must have felt intimidated.

“We have played all the great European Festivals during the past couple of years and have never had this kind of attitude from any other band – I think Dream Theater are lame.

“The main thing is that we had a great time, the kids were great and however much they tried to spoil our set, they can’t deny we blew them away!”

Dream Theater manager Jim Pitulski was quick to respond to the allegations: “Under the best circumstances, a festival is a logistical nightmare,” he said. “We had seven bands and seven crews all trying their best to stick to a very strict production schedule.

“Because of circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the show was generally running behind.

“We were told by the show’s producers that there was a curfew and that the show had to end on time, meaning all of the bands would have to cut their set.

“Mike Tramp and his band Freak Of Nature cut a song off their set, and second headliners Warrior Soul cut their set short. Both bands were very professional and accommodated the situation without complaint. Dream Theater themselves cut their set by half an hour to meet the curfew.

“Unfortunately, Paradise Lost felt it necessary to exhibit some very hostile and unprofessional behaviour. They were the only band that refused to co-operate.

“The stage was prepared for their performance but they would not go on, saying they refused to start until their manager arrived at the venue.

“Towards the end of their performance, one of their crew told our production manager the band had two songs left to perform.

“After they had done their last two songs, the house lights came up as they normally would.

“We absolutely did not pull the plug on Paradise Lost.”