Report: Progressive Metal Band's Name Causes Cancellation Of Benefit Concert

May 16, 2006

New Jersey's Asbury Park Press is reporting that the the name and web site of a local progressive metal band — DIVINITY DESTROYED — sparked enough worry about sacrilege that leaders of St. Mary's parish in Barnegat canceled a long-planned charity concert meant to benefit the terminally ill and disabled.

The sudden cancellation of Friday's concert, set to be performed at the parish center in Stafford, is provoking talk of petition drives and angry words from the church youth group members who organized the benefit show.

"It's hypocrisy. They always say turn the other cheek. It's our job to give everyone a second chance," said 13-year-old Briana Taylor, a youth group member who helped organize the event.

For St. Mary's pastor Ken Tuzeneu, the decision to cancel the concert was made reluctantly and with the sense of a disconnect between himself and the youth culture.

"I worry about that," the pastor said. "It's not my music."

Tuzeneu said he learned last week about the band and its web site, which "had some things that weren't appropriate. We were concerned about the message we were sending."

With only a week before the concert, Tuzeneu said their wasn't enough time to investigate whether all the different bands participating were appropriate for a church atmosphere setting.

"If we had more time, maybe we'd be able to work something out," Tuzeneu said.

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