Steve Harris’ British Lion withdraw from Darkness tour support citing “completely unacceptable” protocols

British Lion standing in a field
(Image credit: John McMurtrie)

British Lion, Iron Maiden leader Steve Harris’ hard rock band, have withdrawn from their scheduled winter tour with The Darkness, citing “completely unacceptable” protocols.

Explaining why they will no longer be participating in the tour, which is scheduled to begin in Brighton on November 17, an official statement from the band reads:

“Due to circumstances beyond our control British Lion are really sad and disappointed to announce that we will not be able to participate in the tour with The Darkness. Very recently we received their own protocols that are not Government protocols which are completely unacceptable to us. Therefore, we have no alternative but to withdraw from the tour.

“We are really gutted that this has happened and although it is really short notice we will try our best to put together some shows of our own in November/December.”

The Darkness have yet to make a statement to clarify what these protocols stipulated. No replacement for British Lion has yet been revealed.

The tour dates remain as follows:

Nov 17:  Brighton Dome, Brighton
Nov 19: Winter Gardens, Margate
Nov 20: O2 Academy, Bournemouth
Nov 21: Cliffs Pavillion, Southend
Nov 23: UEA, Norwich
Nov 24: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Nov 26: The Hexagon, Reading
Nov 27: The Great Hall, Cardiff
Nov 29: The Great Hall, Exeter
Nov 30: G Live, Guilford
Dec 02: O2 Academy, Liverpool
Dec 03: Academy, Manchester
Dec 04: Bonus Arena, Hull
Dec 06: The Victoria, Stoke-on-Trent
Dec 07: O2 Academy, Bristol
Dec 09: Barrowlands, Glasgow
Dec 10: O2 Academy, Newcastle
Dec 11: O2 Academy, Leeds
Dec 13: Rock City, Nottingham
Dec 14: O2 Academy, Birmingham
Dec 16: O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Dec 17: O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

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