Scott “Wino” Weinrich, frontman for The Obsessed, and best known for his time as a pioneer of the doom metal genre in Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan and several other bands, has canceled his scheduled performance at the Psycho Las Vegas festival this weekend.
The reason? Mask mandates.
In a rambling statement posted to The Obsessed’s Facebook page this afternoon, Wino announced he was pulling out of his performance at Psycho Las Vegas as a solo artist due to the requirements that all festival attendees and performers (when not on stage) wear masks in the festival’s indoor spaces.
Without citing sources or evidence — claiming “I have dug very deep when researching covid-19” — Weinrich says that while he believes the virus, which he calls a “bio-weapon,” does exist, he thinks it was created by the U.S. government in a lab as a depopulation tool. He then attempts to use instances of false positives and varying levels of accuracy among different types of Covid-19 tests (which are certainly no secret) as proof for… we’re not exactly sure. Further, he attempts to paint the CDC’s initial recommendation in March 2020 that Americans not wear masks as evidence of… again, we aren’t sure what (it’s now widely understood that the CDC’s recommendation at that time was intended to reserve then-limited mask supplies for the healthcare workers who needed them most and to avoid creating even further mass panic than already existed). He then goes on to assert, once again completely unsubstantiated, that the world is run by a small group of global elites who are weaponizing Covid-19 as a depopulation tool to enrich themselves.
Doom metal fans everywhere just shed one massive, collective tear. Another hero gone.
Here’s Wino’s full statement for your comedic relief:
“WINO STATEMENT
“Two evenings ago, I received an email from Psycho Las Vegas, wherein they informed me, and other artists, that this event would require that all people, attendees and artists, wear a mask at ALL times indoors. The exception only being while singing on stage, all non-singing musicians, band members, etc. are required to be masked during the performance. This includes drummers. Also, as soon as the performance is over, artists will be required to re-don masks in backstage, front of house, vip lounges, and common areas. I have dug very deep when researching covid-19 not just on youtube, but in scientific publications, journals, lectures, etc. I BELIEVE THE VIRUS EXISTS, and has been weaponized as has been proven in congressional hearings where the evidence is overwhelming. Our govt (NIH) has been complicit in the financing, and shared scientific lab work creating a SARS based super coronavirus, designed specifically for lethality and easy dissemination amongst the human population. Bio-weapons are nothing new, but in my personal opinion pure evil. Early on in the so called pandemic it was stated by the CDC that PCR tests were inaccurate in determining if one had the virus, because they are designed for individuals who already were symptomatic. The CDC quickly backtracked as it was a desirable test to cause FALSE POSITIVES. Also, the Innova rapid tests have been recalled by the FDA for also giving inaccurate results. Mainstream media did not report this, and these tests are still in use. A paper mask was also first said by the WHO and so called experts to be useless against the virus, then of course the official word was again changed. My personal beliefs are: We are under the authoritarian cloak of a small cadre of unelected so called “elite” who are beyond rich and consequently consider themselves above the common man. This virus I believe was created as a depopulation tool, and the fear associated with it as a means to subjugate and enslave you and I, the common people. I cannot, in good conscious, perform my music in an environment that is designed to take away individuality, civil liberties and free will. I will not be performing this night at Psycho Las Vegas, not out of fear, but principle. If we, the people, continue to blindly accept this tyranny we are destined for enslavement. These are my personal views, but I urge everyone to dig deep. My apologies to my friends and fans, but it’s time to wake up.
“Sincerely,
WINO 8/19/2021
Plague Years”
The Obsessed join the growing list of bands dropping off Psycho Las Vegas due to Covid-related reasons. A slew of European bands, including Emperor, Mayhem, Satyricon and Watain, were unable to travel given continued restrictions imposed by the U.S. to help stem the spread of the virus. The Skull revealed earlier this week that they couldn’t make it either because singer Eric Wagner has Covid-19 pneumonia. Intronaut’s drummer, Matt Lynch, tested positive for the virus. And Red Fang have dropped off as well, although they didn’t give a reason.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that The Obsessed had been scheduled to perform at Psycho Las Vegas; it was Wino as a solo artist.