Setting The Record Straight
Danny Bazzi / Silverback Touring
Released: Saturday 28 March 2026 | 2:00 PM Bangkok (ICT) / 6:00 PM Sydney (AEDT)
I don't normally respond to this kind of thing, or get into online noise, I've got far better things to do, like playing with my dogs and eating hummus or even watching my NRL raise my heart rate each week, but given what's been published about me and Silverback Touring in the last 24 hours, I feel it's very important to set the record straight. This is my only comment and statement about the matters raised in those articles.
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If you do not know me personally, I've dedicated many years of my life, as an independent promoter, to bringing quality artists to Australian stages, whether it is within the realm of rock acts with Silverback Touring or across the broad spectrum of R&B, Soul and Hip Hop with Delta Bravo Presents. These artists range from Grammy winners and bona fide icons through to upcoming artists breaking through the club scene. That all means something to me.
So no, I won't let deliberate misinformation go unchallenged.
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Trixter Tour
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On the Trixter tour which was scheduled to run on 26-28 March 2026. Yes, it was cancelled. By Trixter.
Visas were approved, hotels were booked, flights confirmed inbound and outbound, as well as domestic flights between Sydney and Melbourne as well as Melbourne and Brisbane for a travel party of 10.
The only outstanding item was airline ticketing on the return flights for the US based artists from Brisbane to Newark/Nashville (for Trixter) and Brisbane to Los Angeles (for Rachelle/Lewis). This process has been explained in the Silverback statements. The issuing of tickets after booking confirmation happens in this way in corporate travel bookings. In fact, it even happens when you use your online aggregators. If you book a flight via an online travel agent, you will often receive a confirmation from the site and then another email a day or so later with the e-ticket issued by the airline.
As I was in a window where the return tickets had not been issued yet, I made a decision to save $23,000 (that is what the 5 one way flights were priced at) in recoverable costs while I could, as it would affect upcoming tours, so I asked for a postponement. They cancelled. End of story.
They refunded half my artist fees which were paid upfront in full.
I have no issue with Trixter directly, I have much respect for PJ, Steve and Ben. I was not happy with the way the statement on the cancellation was phrased as I did ask for some alignment on this and the inbound flights we had paid for. This is a very standard practice and my genuine intent was for us to be able to revisit this down the track. It is what it is.
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Whilst on Trixter, I do wish to mention Lorraine Lewis who I also have a deep level of respect and admiration for. I really hope we can bring Lorraine back at some point. Lorraine is a class act and there is nothing but love, respect and admiration for her.
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On the issue of flights, there has been some comment on leaving flights late and so forth. I get how that looks from the outside looking in. Since Covid and AI coming into our world, we book all our flights strategically in the hope of beating dynamic pricing. Saving money should not be frowned upon in any business. Flight costs fluctuate daily, in both directions, and we know how to work with this. Prime example - those Trixter return flights? They are now half the price they were a few days out from travel than when we booked them. Doesn't make sense, but that is reality. Hit me up for any flight hacks, more than happy to share the knowledge.
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Stevie Rachelle
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Stevie Rachelle on the other hand - a guy I thought was a mate.
We spoke every other day, shared memes, the usual stuff. I introduced him to my contacts in Thailand so he could perform there. Spent time with him there. Usual mate stuff.
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Apparently that counted for nothing.
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I should also note that prior to publication of his article, which I was aware was being prepared, I engaged a defamation lawyer who issued Stevie Rachelle a formal 13 page concerns notice under Australian defamation law.
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He published anyway.
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Make of that what you will.
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This matter is now being actively pursued in both Australian and US courts and I will see it through.
I want to be very clear on something many people may not be aware of - under Australian defamation law, liability does not stop with the original publisher. Every person who shares, reposts or republishes defamatory material can be held equally liable.
This includes individuals sharing content on their personal social media pages.
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Rachelle himself states on numerous occasions throughout his own article that the allegations are unsubstantiated and unconfirmed. One has to ask, if the case against me is so compelling, why does his own article need to disclaimer itself into oblivion? The answer is obvious.
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Sad that it has come to this. But I will take a stand when someone sets out to destroy my business and my character. One only needs to look at what he posted the day before the article was published. He posted a text image which said "Today was a good day, tomorrow will be even better." The troll energy and self appointed saviour complex speaks for itself.
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Good luck to you Stevie. It was nice while it lasted.
My dealings with you are now a matter for the courts and the lawyers.
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Business and Creditors
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Like any business, there are difficulties.
Mismanagement can arise due to a whole range of factors - cash flow problems, operational pressures, things falling through the cracks. Running from things and being evasive? Then you're an arsehole, period. I'm not that person.
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Things do fall between the cracks. Conceding error and working to fix it should be paramount.
There are instances with local artists where things have gone sideways and I've made contact to rectify them. Why they got to where they are is less important than moving forward.
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Tyketto
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On Tyketto - yes, they are owed a back end payment.
Part has been paid and the balance is subject to an instalment arrangement.
A commercial agreement was recently entered into for it to be resolved in full shortly. It was never run from. It was never avoided. Best efforts have been made. Communication with their team has remained constant.
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Cherie Currie and Jake Hays
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This is where the most misinformation lies. I'll be blunt.
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The artist's agent failed to follow simple protocols that all acts must follow when touring Australia - specifically, setting up an ABN for local tax compliance.
This allows artists to get paid and minimise or eliminate their tax liability. All of our offers made to artists are on a tax inclusive basis with the artist responsible for coordinating their own tax arrangements. Our offers also include a clause offering to refer them to a local accountant to assist with these procedures.
This was not done by their assigned representative nor when Jake Hays took over managing the tour from the agent. That communication is a matter for their team.
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As a result of this inaction, we were responsible for withholding up to 47% of the artist fee for the tax office. This represented the balance of the artist fee after initial expenses were paid from the fee. For clarity, the fee payable to the artist was a "landed" fee meaning it included all airfares and related costs of getting to Australia.
This also allows artists to book their own travel. We were asked to book the travel ad we did so. The balance remaining to be paid to the artist was then withheld for tax compliance.
Once compliance was processed and cleared, the fee was paid to the artist's agent.
If this process is not followed, the promoter is liable to pay the tax. Simple.
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Regarding the VIP monies referenced in the statement found in Rachelle's article.
The figure stated in the article is $15,000. This is factually incorrect.
The reconciled amount, approved by Jake Hays at the time of the tour reconciliation, after expenses, is significantly less than that and also in AUD. I am not in a position to disclose specific artist business so as to respect their privacy.
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The VIP monies were processed through our business books and reported in the December quarter, finalised in February.
We requested an invoice for the reconciled amount. In a separate email, the artist also provided her direct bank details. When payment was made by our accountant, it bounced. I was of the understanding that there was an admin error.
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Frustrated by this and also sensing the artists frustration, I offered to personally make the payment from where I am based. I did this in two seperate transactions. As recently as yesterday (27 March), the first of these payments bounced and were returned to the account. I then discovered that this was not due to any error on my part or the accountants part with the first payment, it was an account number error.
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Since then, the artist has confirmed the error. The payments are now being processed again.
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Context is vital. Process matters. Mistakes matter.
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All of this is vital to understanding why things happen - rather than simply being told this person is an arsehole who ripped someone off. All of the delays referred to are all process. We were simply doing what we are obligated to do.
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Local Acts
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On local acts - I am not out here to short change anybody. There are a range of reasons things have fallen behind with some local artists. By example: some years ago, one act didn't send an invoice for some time, followed it up a couple of years later asking for some details for THEIR invoice, and now even more years on is asking the same questions. Some acts need to manage their affairs better, this is not an attack but a general observation.
Others may have fallen through the cracks due to mismanagement or cash flow issues. For those ones, I apologise and will do all I can to rectify these.
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My inbox is always open. We will make good on any genuine claim.
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I've already made contact with a couple of acts I know have legitimate claims and I'm hopeful we can reach resolution. I'd also note - one party was quoted as being owed money for work completed in 2017. Silverback Touring didn't exist until 2018.
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Cassidy Paris & Steve Janevski
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At the time of our work with Cassidy, the business was facing a number of internal obstacles and admin failures, which led to delays with these payments being satisfied. I concede that better communication should have ensued and I own that.
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Both Cassidy and Steve, with his band, subsequently participated in our GlamFest shows - for which they were paid without issue. That context seems to have been conveniently omitted.
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I have personally reached out to Steve to discuss these outstanding matters and I am hopeful of a resolution that works for everyone.
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I want to say something I genuinely feel here. I am proud of how far Cassidy has come. I have always given both Cassidy, and Steve with his respective bands, a platform and I always will.
The narrative being painted of me as someone who targets or exploits a young female artist could not be further from the truth. My support for her career has been genuine and it remains so regardless of what has been published.
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Some things simply don't make headlines.
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Marcelo Machado
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This one is personal and I want to address it properly. It is clear to me that this article and the subsequent posts and narrative has been co-ordinated by both Rachelle and Marcelo. It was I who introduced them when Marcelo worked as a contractor on GlamFest.
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Marcelo was someone I considered a friend, a real friend and part of my inner sanctum with whom I shared some personal struggles, as did he.
I believe I introduced him to consistent touring work and watched him grow from being a driver, stage manager into a tour manager and all round go to guy for a successful Australian touring band. His tour manager role with one of my promoting colleagues came about on my recommendation. No issue. I loved seeing him grow professionally, he deserves it and I know he does great and will do great.
For all contracting work he did for me, be it as a driver, stage manager, tour manager and so forth, he invoiced and was paid in full every single time without issue.
A few years ago, we entered into a commercial agreement. Commercial agreements are common in business and are private matters between two parties.
The reality of business led to some difficulties maintaining a steady repayment plan.
These things happen and it has always been acknowledged as outstanding and something that will be dealt with once the business finds its feet again. In the meantime, Marcelo continued to be engaged as a contractor, most recently in September 2025.
About two months ago I received a barrage of abusive messages from Marcelo alleging that a change in our company name meant his commercial agreement was void and that I was being evasive.
I explained that the change was cosmetic - the company number, all registrations and the essence of the business remained identical. He wasn't satisfied.
A number of weeks later, more abusive messages followed.
I told him clearly - when cash flow stabilises and I can commit to a structured repayment plan, we will do so. Communication has remained open throughout.
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He then advised he would escalate to his legal representative.
My response? Please do.
As a lawyer of almost 30 years I know that when a commercial debt becomes emotionally charged it helps nobody. A legal representative takes the emotion out of it and makes it a structured commercial reality.
That is not avoidance - that is sense.
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What I did not expect was for Marcelo to go on a public campaign alongside Stevie Rachelle, making accusations of bullying and painting me as something I am not.
The bullying allegations are categorically and unequivocally denied. Anyone who knows me personally knows exactly what I'm about.
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The online commentary has continued 24 hours after Rachelle's article. I am now seeing memes, I am seeing allegations that the staff contractors I engage are not real. I have also seen a screenshot of a facebook account that is apparently me.
Again, if you go back to the start of this statement, I do not have much time for this kind of nonsense, let alone pretending to be someone else on Facebook. Anything I need to say, I will say as I am right now.
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Marcelo - you know my number. You know my email address. You know how to reach me. Rather than the public campaign, please have your lawyer contact me.
It will be more productive for everyone.
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Grievances
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To those who raised other grievances in the article, get in touch and discuss these grievances.
For anyone who is raising grievances that are laced with misinformation, these will be addressed directly by my legal representative.
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In Conclusion
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I'm not perfect. Things fall behind. But going out of my way to deliberately harm people? That is not who I am and it never has been.
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Everything being posted, shared and commented on is being monitored and documented.
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Since this article was published, there have been plenty online who have laid the boot in. It is to be expected, a good majority of these people have never met me, attended one of my shows or would know me, period.
On the other hand, I have been genuinely humbled by the responses of support. People have reached out ranging from fans I may have met once at a show right through to some of the most respected figures in both the Australian and international music industry - including artists I have had the privilege of working with.
The people who actually know me, who have worked with me, who have been on the road with me - they know the truth. That means everything.
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I have spoken to all of the stakeholders for the upcoming tours and everyone is on the same page and excited for the tours that lay ahead.
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Personally, I am focused on the shows. That's what I've always done and what I'll keep doing.
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Genuine grievances: claims@silverbacktouring.com
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Thank you to everyone who reached out. I'm doing fine.
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Danny Bazzi
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