WATCH: Silverback Touring Faces National Scrutiny After A Current Affair Airs Artist Payment Allegations

Silverback Touring and founder Danny Bazzi are facing national scrutiny after A Current Affair aired allegations from artists and contractors over unpaid fees, cancelled tours and refund concerns.

Silverback Touring and founder Danny Bazzi are facing renewed scrutiny after A Current Affair aired a segment on Thursday night examining allegations from artists, contractors and industry figures connected to the Australian rock promoter.

The segment pushed a simmering hard rock touring dispute into the national spotlight, with several musicians and industry workers alleging unpaid or delayed payments, while Bazzi appeared on camera to dispute parts of the claims and defend his handling of the situation.

Silverback Touring has operated in Australia’s rock, metal and alternative touring space since 2018, bringing legacy hard rock acts, niche international tours and festivals including Glamfest and Uncaged to the region.

But in recent months, the promoter has become the subject of growing criticism from artists and fans following cancelled tours, refund concerns and public claims around outstanding payments.

During the A Current Affair segment, reporter Steve Marshall put a list of alleged debts to Bazzi involving several artists and contractors. The names raised in the segment included tour manager Marcelo Machado, Tyketto, Cherie Currie, Cassidy Paris and Pearl Jam Experience.

WATCH: Danny Bazzi Current Affair Segment

Bazzi did not accept the allegations as presented, saying there was “context” to each matter. He also disputed some figures, including the amount allegedly owed to former Runaways singer Cherie Currie.

Currie appeared in the segment from Los Angeles, claiming she had been left unpaid following an Australian visit. Bazzi argued the amount was lower than alleged and said issues with payment details contributed to the delay.

Australian hard rocker Cassidy Paris also appeared in the report, claiming she was still waiting on merchandise money from a previous tour. Bazzi acknowledged Paris had been owed money, attributing the issue to administrative errors, and said he did not want to be seen as someone taking advantage of young artists.

The controversy has already been playing out publicly across the international hard rock community, particularly after Trixter, Stevie Rachelle and Lorraine Lewis cancelled their March Australian dates. Trixter’s camp said Silverback had been unable to fulfil the obligations necessary for the tour to proceed. Silverback later denied that artist fees were unpaid, saying the issue related to travel logistics and escalating flight costs.

The situation escalated again in May when Swedish hard rock band Eclipse cancelled their Australian tour days before it was due to begin, saying agreed terms and conditions had not been met. Silverback apologised at the time and said ticket holders would be contacted about refund processes.

The A Current Affair report now gives the story a much broader audience beyond rock forums, fan groups and niche music media. For Australian heavy music fans, the concern is not only whether individual debts are resolved, but what this means for trust in the touring ecosystem.

Independent touring in Australia is already fragile. International flights are expensive, venues are under pressure, ticket sales are unpredictable and smaller rock and metal tours often operate on thin margins. But when artists, contractors and fans are left uncertain about payments, cancellations or refunds, the impact goes beyond one promoter.

It affects whether international acts feel safe routing Australia into future tours. It affects whether local support acts and crew are willing to take the risk. And it affects whether fans feel confident buying tickets early, which is often what keeps niche tours alive in the first place.

Bazzi told A Current Affair he had “nothing to hide” and said he intends to resolve genuine outstanding matters. Silverback has also previously published a lengthy public response denying deliberate wrongdoing, while acknowledging some outstanding obligations, cash-flow issues and administrative failures.

The story is still developing. Blunt has contacted Silverback Touring for further comment.