NEWS
Michelle Joy, frontwoman for indie rock band Cannons, shared on social media Tuesday that she was recently groped by a concertgoer while she was performing onstage.
“While performing one of our last shows of the tour, I was groped on stage by an audience member,” she wrote in a black-and-white text post, shared to the band’s social media accounts. “It was one of the most uncomfortable things I’ve ever experienced and a complete invasion of my space, privacy, and body. It left me feeling unsafe and violated.”
Alongside the post, she included the caption, “Just want to create a safe space for ourselves and everyone at our shows so found this important to share today.”
Her post continued: “Sexual harassment will absolutely not be tolerated at any Cannons show. Especially being a female fronted band, we care deeply about our shows being a safe environment where not only women, but everyone regardless of gender, age, race, sex, etc. can come together and share in the joy of our music, ourselves included. If you ever feel unsafe or see something that doesn’t feel right, please let someone around you know. We encourage you to speak up, be kind, and take care of one another.”
Cannons — which formed 10 years ago in LA and also includes guitarist Ryan Clapham and bassist and keyboardist Paul Davis — scored their first Alternative Airplay No. 1 in 2021 when “Fire for You” topped the Jan. 30-dated chart. Initially released in 2019, “Fire for You” found a second life thanks to its 2020 appearance in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever.
On Wednesday (Oct. 25), the band took to Instagram Stories to thank fans for their kind words after Joy’s post about the onstage violation. “Reading through your comments now and just wanted to thank all of you for your kind words, encouragement and support, you all are truly THE BEST and we are sooo [grateful] to have such a wonderful fan base, love you very much!!!” they wrote. “Excited to keep moving forward and make live music a little safer for everyone, see you all again soon!”
KROQ DJ Megan Holiday was among the fans chiming in, writing in the comments section of the original post: “Ugh wtf is wrong with people?!! I’m so sorry Michelle. Sending you all the love and hope you’re okay.”
Next up, Cannons join Lovejoy and littleimage for a pair of concerts in Mesa, Arizona, on Dec. 13 and 14.
Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information.
Lamb of God and Trivium are set to return to Australia this October for a massive five date co headlining arena tour presented by Destroy All Lines. Joining them on every stop will be Scottish metalcore band Bleed From Within as special guests.
The tour kicks off at Perth HPC on Oct. 2 before heading to AEC Theatre in Adelaide on Oct. 4, John Cain Arena in Melbourne on Oct. 6, Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on Oct. 9, and Riverstage in Brisbane on Oct. 11. Artist early bird presale tickets become available Friday, May 15 at 9 a.m. local time. Additional presales begin Tuesday, May 19 through Destroy All Lines, venue partners, and My Ticketek, while Spotify’s early bird presale launches Wednesday, May 20. General public tickets will be available Thursday, May 21 at 9 a.m. local through destroyalllines.com.
For Lamb of God, this upcoming run will be their first proper Australian headline tour in almost ten years. The Richmond, Virginia metal giants, who have received five Grammy nominations throughout their career, most recently appeared in Australia during Knotfest Australia in 2024.
Since forming in the mid 1990s, the group have cemented themselves as one of the defining names in heavy metal. Tracks like “Laid to Rest,” “Redneck,” “Walk With Me in Hell,” and “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For” continue to stand as fan favorites and staples within the genre. Earlier this year, the band released their newest studio album, Into Oblivion.
Trivium, who came together in Orlando, Florida in 1999, have built a reputation over the years as one of modern metal’s most dynamic and technically skilled live bands. Their music blends elements of thrash, progressive, melodic death, and groove metal, while their 2017 track “Betrayer” earned the band a Grammy nomination.
The group has also achieved several top 20 entries on the Billboard 200 along with multiple chart topping releases on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. Trivium last visited Australia in 2023 for the first ever Knotfest Australia, where their Brisbane sideshow received strong praise from fans and critics alike. Their most recent project is the 2024 EP Struck Dead, which followed their 2021 album In the Court of the Dragon.
Bleed From Within will open the tour after recently celebrating two decades as a band. The Glasgow metalcore act released their seventh studio album Zenith in 2025 and have previously toured alongside major names including Slipknot, Bullet for My Valentine, and Megadeth throughout their career.
