The debut Australian tour from Virginia doom metal pioneers Pentagram has been cancelled due to “current allegations,” promoters have announced.
The group – which have been active in various forms since 1971 – first announced they would be touring both Australia and New Zealand in early April, with six dates scheduled in August for Australia, and an additional three in New Zealand.
However, a new statement from promoters Hardline Media on Friday (July 18) has confirmed the tour will not be going ahead as planned.
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“Due to the current allegations surrounding the Pentagram Australian/New Zealand tour – Hardline Media have decided to put this tour on hiatus,” a statement given to media read. “To be clear, no VISAs have been granted, as has been stated previously by other media. No venues or any staff hitherto are party to these allegations.
“With great respect, we appreciate your patience and understanding while we manage this situation,” it concluded, promising more information would be revealed soon. No specifics were given as to the nature of the “current allegations” that have been made.
Pentagram was co-founded by vocalist Bobby Liebling, who has remained the group’s sole original member throughout their history, and has performed on all nine of the group’s studio records. In early 2025, Liebling and Pentagram received newfound fame in the wake of their latest album after a video of the vocalist performing live went viral on TikTok.
In October 2017, Liebling was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and physical abuse of a vulnerable adult – revealed to be his then 87-year-old mother. Liebling pleaded guilty to charges of abuse and neglect, and while maintaining his innocence on the assault charge, was later sentenced 18 months in detention and three years probation.
Earlier that year, Pentagram had announced that they would be touring without Liebling on vocals, citing “circumstances that are beyond anyone’s control, that are a direct result of Bobby Liebling’s personal actions.”
In the lead-up to the tour’s cancellation, The RED HEART Campaign – an organization which aims to honor “women and children lost to violence” – spearheaded an effort to publicize Liebling’s prior conviction in order to “help keep him out of Australia.”
