In Flames Vocalist Doesn’t Think Live Music Will Return For 2021

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Anders Fridén, Vocalist of swedish metal band In Flames, has said that he doesn’t think live shows will return for 2021. In an interview with Kaaos TV posted to YouTube, Fridén explained his thoughts on live musics return in 2021.

The frontman said “We don’t have a date [for the return of live music]. If we at least had a date, where people in control could say, ‘Okay, January 1st, you can go back to do what you do. But our whole business is pretty much on hold. Everyone that’s working for us and around us — agents, people that work on stage — I mean, everyone [is] affected by this, of course.”

He goes on to say “And it’s not that easy to start this machine immediately like that. And I don’t think politicians realize that. It’s not like we take a guitar and go play a show. It’s not that easy, especially for a touring band [of] our size.”

When asked if the band had revieved any financial help from the swedish goverment, Anders said: “There’s stuff you can ask for, and you can get some, I guess. But there’s been musicians that actually have been awarded some help, and then they got shit from other people, ’cause they think that they don’t need it, because they are rich musicians already. Everybody thinks that just because you’re a touring band, a touring musician, you have so much money in your pocket. There’s been some help, for sure, but speaking for me, it might be one and a half years or two years [where we have] completely nothing — no income, basically, from the touring side, of course. It’s different types of fields. Musicians and people that work with culture don’t get as much money, ’cause I think they look at us [like] we should be happy and we should do it for free, sort of. I don’t envy the politicians, because there’s a lot of really tough decisions,” he added. “There’s not all the money in the world, so everybody can get the help. I understand it’s difficult.”

Anders went on to say “I don’t think there’s gonna be festivals next summer, I think the festival owners and organizers still say [there’s] gonna be, but I don’t think there’s gonna be that many people in one place. It’s kind of sad when you think about it.”

We recommend that you go watch the full interview here:

Melvin Benn, the Managing Director of Festival Republic recently said that he believes mass testing is the key to reopening live music, while others have suggested Drive Ins, and many bands have turned to Livestreaming virtual concerts. Only time will tell what the future of live music will be.