This afternoon we received a PSA from Nuclear Blast warning unsigned bands to beware of label impostors claiming to be from Nuclear Blast or Metal Blade, promising the world – all conveniently in exchange for some “deposit” money:

Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is.

There’s been a rash of imposters in several states claiming all of the above and more. Some try to extort money from bands by claiming they need it to place a deposit on whatever it is they’re promising. Others want free entry into a show, free CDs & band merchandise, or backstage access. Whatever the case, what’s clear is that these imposters have such low-self esteem that they’re willing to lie about who they are.

First of all, I’m sorry for those who fell for it, but this sounds like the in-person equivalent of the “African prince” e-mail scam, and you’ve gotta be pretty dumb to fall for it. Still, the staff of Metal Insider believes in metal as a community, so we wanted to find out more and warn you. After all, there must be quite a streak of these incidents to warrant a PSA. Nuclear Blast’s Loana dP Valencia filled us in:

The latest incident was the Death Angel show in San José, California this past Friday, June 5th. Someone going by the name of “Brian”, who was falsely representing Nuclear Blast, approached the opening band, saying he was really interested in them. A member of that band then reached out to our headquarters in Germany, who thought the label manager from our L.A. office approached them.

Any travel arrangements for our label manager that would involve meeting with unsigned bands would have to be pre-arranged, and those would take place via an official e-mail addresses (that lists the label in the domain name) or an official office telephone number. We work in-house from our offices. We don’t roam the country aimlessly during the work week. We’re not freelancers who live in different cities and have a local telephone numbers.

In 2007, I had an incident where an unsigned band called me saying a member of the Nuclear Blast staff had promised them a spot on Ozzfest. They were stranded somewhere in Palm Springs, California and were waiting for news about their flight arrangements. I had to tell him they were NOT signed to us and we couldn’t help them. It crushed me to hear the disappointment in this musician’s voice. He did admit that they never signed a contract, and that the imposter stopped returning their phone calls to his cell phone, but they were really convinced they were playing on Ozzfest. What a harsh reality check!

There’s your lesson for the day, kiddies. Hit the jump for Nuclear Blast’s full PSA, which is chock full of some solid, sobering advice if you’re still wet behind the ears.

UNSIGNED BANDS: BEWARE OF LABEL STAFF IMPOSTERS & IMPERSONATORS

You’re an unsigned band playing a local show and someone approaches you claiming to represent Nuclear Blast or Metal Blade Records. They say they want to sign you, book studio time for your band, buy you plane tickets, or even put you on Ozzfest, yet no contracts are ever involved. Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is.

There’s been a rash of imposters in several states claiming all of the above and more. Some try to extort money from bands by claiming they need it to place a deposit on whatever it is they’re promising. Others want free entry into a show, free CDs & band merchandise, or backstage access. Whatever the case, what’s clear is that these imposters have such low-self esteem that they’re willing to lie about who they are.

Bands, DO NOT LET YOUR HOPES OF GETTING SIGNED BLINDSIDE YOU. Staff members at Nuclear Blast and Metal Blade:

· conduct official business via their official office e-mail & telephone number.

· can produce a business card with the label’s logo, official office address, and official telephone number.

· NEVER ask unsigned bands for “deposit” money.

Nuclear Blast and Metal Blade Records wish to keep their reputations among metal fans & metal musicians in good standing, as we understand how hard bands work to bring their music to the metal community. These imposters are mocking everything we stand for as independent metal labels, as musicians, and as fans.

If ANYONE approaches your band claiming to be from a label and asks for money, for free entry into a show, free CDs or merchandise, or backstage access, your FIRST response should be to be skeptical.

Call the label asking to verify staff names and positions. Or, take your photo with the imposter/impersonator and send it to the label’s general e-mail address to inform them of what they are promising.

Nuclear Blast’s general e-mail address is: mail@nuclearblastusa.com

Metal Blade’s general e-mail address is: metalblade@metalblade.com