Tau Cross Dropped By Relapse Records For Thanking Holocaust Denier In Liner Notes

If you’re a musician, there are very few things you could do in order for your record label to drop you, but metal supergroup Tau Cross have done one of those things: they listed a Holocaust denier as an inspiration on their new album.

Tau Cross put out a statement about the termination of the four year relationship between them and Relapse Records, with little to no explanation or accountability: “We regret to say that Tau Cross and Relapse records are now parting company after several successful and fruitful years together. Circumstances have arisen that must put an end to our relationship. We would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to all the staff and crew at Relapse for their work over these past few years and our apologies to supporters who have already bought the new record. We shall be looking into other avenues to release the album ‘Messengers of Deception’ and will keep people updated about that development.”

Label manager Rennie Jaffe put out his own statement:

“Over the weekend the German magazine Ox brought it to our attention that a person named Gerard Menuhin was prominently thanked in the new Tau Cross album, and specifically credited in the liner notes for inspiring Rob Miller. All Relapse records go through a vigorous proofing process–checking for spelling and punctuation mistakes, mostly. We all read this name, but didn't recognize it or think that it was anything other than a personal friend of the band’s, that we did not know. Ox however recognized the name as a far right conspiracy theorist, focused specifically on Holocaust denial. Suddenly the lyrics and themes of the new record were cast in a new light, for me. I spoke with Rob Miller, who is the individual in the band who Ox was interviewing, and while he denied being a Holocaust denier, I cannot comfortably work on or sell a record that dabbles in ideologies such as these. There are certain issues that rise above mere political differences and this is one of them. I spoke with the rest of the band on Monday, and NONE of them had any idea who Gerard Menuhin was, and were as shocked by these references in the record, as we at the label were. I firmly believe that these references and mentions in the record do not represent the band as a whole, but rather just Rob Miller’s. In light of all this, Relapse swiftly decided we cannot move forward with this album–we gave the masters back to the band, together with the rest of their catalog.”

Rob "The Baron" Miller is not new to political controversy, having been the long-running vocalist of seminal crust punk outfit Amebix. How he will respond to these allegations remains to be seen.

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