Three members of the pioneering British band UK Subs were detained and denied entry into the United States at LAX airport, according to a social media post by the band’s bassist, Alvin Gibbs. The situation meant only the group’s singer was able to perform at the LA Punk Invasion festival in Los Angeles.
“Some of you might have seen posts on UK Subs’ websites, which provide photos and video of a random line-up playing with Charlie at a Los Angeles Punk festival at the weekend. You might therefore be wondering ‘how come?’ Well, the truth is that Stefan, Marc and I were all denied entry into the USA,” Gibbs wrote in a Facebook post just after noon on March 19.
The festival took place March 15 at The Belasco and Mayan theatres. Gibbs was referring to band vocalist Charlie Harper, who according to his post, was the only band member allowed to enter the country. Fellow band members Marc Carrey and Stefan Häublein were also deported back home, according to the post.
According to his lengthy post, Gibbs thinks it could be his public criticism of Trump that got him denied from entering the country.
“There were two issues: 1) they said I didn’t have the right visa for entry and 2) there was another issue, which they wouldn’t disclose, both of which prevented me from being allowed into America — I’m now wondering if my regular and less than flattering public pronouncements regarding their president and his administration were a factor; or maybe that’s just me succumbing to paranoia.” he wrote on Facebook.
Gibbs said his phone and passport were taken and he was forced to spend 25 hours in a holding room with his bandmates and other detainees.
This is the latest instance of people reporting they were denied entry into the United States recently. Published reports include a French scientist who said he was barred because of anti-Trump comments, though the assistant Secretary of Homeland Security called the allegation “blatantly false.” Trump is also expected to soon ban or restrict travel to the United States by citizens of several countries.
The comments on Gibbs’ Facebook post were in large part supportive of the musician.
“Unbelievable. So much for free speech. At least you made it home safe,” one of his followers posted.
Some questioned whether this would affect other artists trying to enter the U.S.
“This makes me wonder about others trying to tour this year, that their visas that used to work just fine normally suddenly won’t when the time comes to do their USA legs,” another commenter posted.
Still in true punk fashion, Gibbs also lamented the lack of alcohol on his return flight back after a “nightmarish experience,”
“Another eleven hour flight was then endured, the worst bit being I was denied any alcohol because its United Airlines’ policy that any passenger being escorted onto a flight in that manner cannot be served as much as a single glass of wine: Stefan and Marc, on the other hand, who travelled back via British Airways, were allowed to make the most of the free booze on their flight to help offset the stress of our shared experience,” he wrote on the post.