- Melbourne band posters systematically targeted
- Mannequin Death Squad singer is speaking out
A furious Aussie punk rock singer has spoken out about a mystery figure who is secretly sabotaging Melbourne’s live music scene.
Elly Vex, from Mannequin Death Squad, posted a video to social media explaining how dozens of her band’s posters on Sydney Road in Brunswick, had been systematically damaged overnight, to remove all the information about their upcoming Bergy Bandroom gig on July 6.
‘I’ve walked for 20 minutes and about 70 of our posters have been scratched,’ she said in the clip.
‘So somebody doesn’t want people coming to our gig. Somebody doesn’t want live music.’
Elly, who is from Melbourne and spent much of last year touring Australia and the rest of the globe with the band, told Daily Mail Australia she’s ‘upset and heartbroken’ by the bizarre act of vandalism that would have taken ‘at least an hour’ to carry out.
Elly Vex, from Mannequin Death Squad (pictured with bandmate Dan) suspects someone is ‘sabotaging’ Melbourne’s live music scene
Dozens of her band’s posters on Sydney Road in Brunswick street, had been systematically damaged overnight, to remove all the information about their upcoming Bergy Bandroom gig on July 6
‘We don’t have a big label or a manager, we organise everything ourselves. It’s a lot of work… and we also have full-time jobs. So every dollar gets invested into the band,’ she said.
‘It costs a lot to do marketing and to make posters. So it really messes with our income. The artist who made the poster also put in a lot of effort.
‘It’s really disappointing and upsetting.’
Although Elly first feared it may have been a ‘targeted personal attack’, she noticed that many other band’s posters were also damaged.
Wild theories have emerged on social media about who might be behind the plot and what their motive might be.
One person claimed a man with a Stanley knife is regularly seen walking the length of Brunswick street and Sydney Road – where a sting of trendy bars and restaurants are – damaging gig posters and other signs.
Others on Facebook speculated it may have been a rival band playing on the same night.
‘Jealousy can do horrible things. So sorry the a***hole/s did that El,’ one person wrote.
Elly, who is from Melbourne, told Daily Mail Australia she’s ‘upset and heartbroken’ by the bizarre act of vandalism that would have taken ‘at least an hour’ to carry out
The attack comes at a time when Melbourne’s once-thriving live music scene is now struggling to stay afloat.
Public liability insurance premiums have skyrocketed more than 500 per cent since the Covid pandemic and the extra fees are expected to force half of the city’s live music venues to close or give up on booking gigs altogether.
Elly, who started Mannequin Death Squad with guitarist Dan, said she fears for the future of live music in Melbourne.
‘Please go out and see more live music and live artists,’ she said.
‘Because venues are shutting down all over Melbourne, so please support them or we will lose them.’
