Just saw this on Blabbermouth (sorry if this has already been posted elsewhere)
Michigan Heavy Metal Musician Accused Of Animal Neglect (Video) - May 11, 2011
According to The Oakland Press, Steven Banch Jr. — the 39-year-old member of SPYDER BABY (MySpace page), the Michigan-based industrial metal band that describes its music online as “unapologetically dark and edgy” — is scheduled to be in court June 3 for several animal-related charges, including failing to bury a cow that died on his farm. Banch is also accused of allowing animals to roam free and having unlicensed dogs.
The owner of Cowbell Dairy Farm about 40 miles northwest of Detroit is fighting the charges and says the cow died of natural causes.
Fox 2 Detroit reported on troubles with the farm this week, broadcasting gory photos of animal bones, rotting carcasses and cow heads that littered Banch’s property. (see video report below.)
Larry Obrecht, Oakland County Animal Control manager, said his staff has been out to Banch’s farm “several times” and taken Banch to court twice in the past.
“The place is a mess,” said Obrecht, describing the farm.
MINISTRY mastermind Al Jourgensen remixed and co-produced SPYDER BABY’s “Bitter” which was released by Blind Prophecy Records in early 2008.
Steven Banch Jr. — the 39-year-old member of SPYDER BABY (MySpace page), the Michigan-based industrial metal band that describes its music online as “unapologetically dark and edgy”
The video interview was pretty funny… Every answer “Well uh, it depends…”
Maybe another publicity stunt? Whatever happened to this guy playing bass for RevCo?
I haven’t clicked on the link yet. I’ll check it out later. Thanks.
I wouldn’t think it would be a publicity stunt, as NO ONE seems to benefit from being associated with animal cruelty/ neglect (or if it was, it was really poorly conceived).
I don’t know what the full story was. I’d heard that he wasn’t really blending in with the rest of the gang. I guess because they’d already formed their little bonds and homeboy was kind of the fifth wheel.
Anyway, I didn’t follow any of it too close as I never gave a rat’s ass what RamCo was doing anyway.
Is anyone actually offended by this? Animals in the wild get to roam free, don’t have licenses, and rot wherever they die. That’s not “neglect,” it’s “nature.”
Is anyone actually offended by this? Animals in the wild get to roam free, don’t have licenses, and rot wherever they die. That’s not “neglect,” it’s “nature.”
Yeah, but these aren’t animals that a free to roam and fend for themselves in the wild. They’re farm animals that Banch obviously isn’t competent enough to care for and are being left to starve to death.
Well, yes and no.
These are domesticated animals and they require more care than just letting them roam around your property.
Exactly. I was more disturbed by the pics of the skinny (obviously underfed) cows than I was of the carcasses.
As for the carcasses . . . if that farm does resell its livestock for public consumption then, yeah, I’d be a bit cautious of the overall health of the food.
But if it’s just his little farm and he keeps some cows and pigs because he thinks it’s cool, well, I’m not really concerned over whether it’s taco-grade meat or not.
I am concerned, though, if he’s neglecting animals (they are not “free”, they are stuck in his farm) as that’s just kind of a dick move in general, especially if people are offering their help.
It’s funny to see that dude out of stage persona. He just looks like some dirtbag tweaker hick. I used to just think he looked like a “sissy goth faggit”. I’m not sure which one works better for him.
I guess I also just find the whole story kind of funny because he’s the last dude I ever expected to be a farmer . . . . as it is, I guess he ain’t MUCH of one.
My grandparents had 80 acres and animals. Farming animals requires time, money, ambition, dedication (I want to see SB out there at -40 degrees feeding and caring for the animals), and the right out love of animals. If just one of those elements is missing, it is catastrophic for the animals.
If he cannot care for/pay to feed them, he should be burdened with finding the adoptable ones loving homes under the supervision of animal control. They deserve so much better.
Guess this means no Spyder Baby won’t be opening for Skinny Puppy anytime soon. :*(
Oh I think you’d find that Puppy would put their ethics on hold if they had the chance to open for motherfuckin’ Spyder Baby! I mean, come on Revok - it’s motherfuckin’ Spyder Baby we’re talking about!!
