THREATIN: How a Band Faked a Tour and Went Viral — But Did It Work in the End?

In 2018, Jered Threatin pulled off one of the most audacious stunts in modern rock history: booking a European tour for a band that barely existed, backed by fake social media stats and empty venues. The scheme went viral almost overnight, sparking disbelief and fascination worldwide. But with all the attention, the big question remains—did this viral moment translate into real success, or was it all just a fleeting spectacle?

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Before the Hoax

Before founding his solo project Threatin, Jered Eames had some real roots in the metal scene. In the early 2010s, he briefly played bass for blackened death metal band Abigail Williams, a group known for rotating through future scene staples like Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams, The Faceless, Born of Osiris) and even Ashley Ellyllon, formerly of Cradle of Filth. His stint was short-lived, but it connected him to a small yet legitimate network of professional musicians.

That credibility, however modest, helped set the foundation for what came next.

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The Illusion

In 2017 and 2018, Threatin’s online presence began to build—but not organically. Jered created a web of fake entities: a fake label (Superlative Music Recordings), a fake booking agency (StageRight Bookings), even fake fan interactions and YouTube comments. He bought views, likes, and follows across social media platforms. The band’s bio boasted over 38,000 likes on Facebook and thousands of YouTube views—numbers that, on the surface, looked legitimate to European promoters.

Using those inflated stats and his fictional management, Threatin booked a full European tour with stops in the UK, France, Italy, and Germany. He assured venues that hundreds of pre-sale tickets had been moved. But when the tour began, the reality unraveled fast.

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Empty Rooms, Real Confusion

Venue after venue opened their doors to virtually no attendees. Promoters were confused. The supporting bands were confused. Even Threatin’s hired musicians—session members brought on for the live shows—were in the dark. In interviews after the fact, several said they were unaware of how the tour was booked or why no fans showed up.

Despite playing to empty rooms, Threatin kept going, treating every show as if it were packed, even filming performances from angles that obscured the absence of a crowd.

It wasn’t long before venues, promoters, and musicians began comparing notes—and the story hit the internet like a tidal wave.

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The Fallout and the “Mastermind” Narrative

In the wake of widespread coverage, Threatin claimed the entire fiasco was a publicity stunt. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said:

“There was no way that I was going to get enough attention being a rock artist in 2018 unless I did something to get people to pay attention … It’s a publicity stunt, but the music is very real.”

It’s a convenient explanation, and one that almost works—until you consider how little of it actually seemed controlled. From the duped bandmates to the canceled shows, the tour didn’t appear to be going according to any plan.

Still, it’s possible Jered pivoted and leaned into the chaos once it began to generate buzz. Whether he was a clueless scammer, an ahead-of-his-time performance artist, or something in between, remains up for interpretation.

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Where Is Jered Threatin Now?

Following the scandal, Threatin released a few more tracks, and in early 2025, he re-emerged briefly with a bizarre rap-metal single that referenced a serious health scare. The video was self-directed, surreal, and cryptically addressed his hospitalization and recovery. Jered has since largely retreated from the public eye, and his once-scrutinized social media presence has gone quiet.

The “band” Threatin has never toured again.

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Legacy or Laughingstock?

Despite the explosive viral fame, Threatin’s fallout revealed the harsh reality behind the stunt. The buzz didn’t lead to a sustainable career or a growing fanbase. With under 800 Spotify listeners and a modest YouTube following years later, Jered Threatin’s experiment stands as a cautionary tale about the limits of hype without substance. The band may have faked the tour, but in the end, the music world wasn’t fooled long-term.

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