Kyle Rittenhouse Metal Fest Sparks Band Withdrawals

Festival Drama Unfolds in Orlando

A big metal festival in Orlando is losing some of its bands because Kyle Rittenhouse was announced as a special guest.

Band Exodus Begins

Shell Shock II, meant to help veterans and first responders with PTSD, saw its lineup change when Evergreen Terrace decided to leave. Soon, other bands like Southpaw, Let Me Bleed, and American Hollow followed suit after hearing the news from Loudwire.

Social media posts, later deleted, showed Rittenhouse at the Kenosha protest, raising his hand with a gun in the other, saying, “Raise your hands if youll [sic] be at Shell Shock.”

Fans wonder why such choices get made for events meant to do good.

Evergreen Terrace explained on Facebook that they couldn’t be part of an event that seemed to support someone they didn’t agree with, even after organizers considered removing him. They emphasized their commitment to helping veterans in other ways.

Southpaw said they didn’t know about Rittenhouse’s involvement when they agreed to play, realizing later that it wasn’t what they signed up for.

Meanwhile, Let Me Bleed stated they weren’t aware of the political angles being used to market the show, which led to their decision to back out.

New Lineup Faces Backlash

Despite the withdrawals, Shell Shock II is still happening on October 19, now featuring a Slipknot cover band called SiC.

Shell Shock’s founder Tyler Hoover criticized those leaving and others condemning the festival. He told critics on Instagram, “I’m here to tell you, you’re not punk, you’re not hardcore… you guys are the ones that are manipulated.”

He also stated, “The lynch mob here to take down Shell Shock will not win… You can’t kill spirit. You can’t kill punk. And you can’t fucking kill Shell Shock.”

What’s Next for Rittenhouse?

It’s still a mystery what Rittenhouse will actually do at Shell Shock. In a statement to USA Today, Hoover said everyone is welcome, emphasizing the event’s purpose to support military veterans and first responders. Rittenhouse was among many who offered their support.