Melbourne band named Prostitute Killers cancels concert

An Australian band has cancelled a concert and deleted its social media account amid claims it was encouraging violence against sex workers, media reported Wednesday.

The Prostitute Killers was due to play in Melbourne but the organisers cancelled the gig after picket line threats and a social media backlash, The Melbourne Age reported.

Former sex worker Chloe (not her real name) and her friends became aware of the band Monday.

"One of us noticed that this band was playing and somebody posted a Facebook post really late Monday night," Chloe was quoted as saying.

"Myself and a few other people saw it and tagged sex workers and other women against violence and what have you, and it all happened over the space of Tuesday," she added.

Tago Mago, a favorite live music venue in Melbourne, announced Tuesday night that the gig has been cancelled.

"It's just been drawn to our attention that a band with a particularly offensive name had been booked to play at our venue," a post on the Tago Mago's Facebook page stated.

"Tago Mago prides itself as a friendly, welcoming inclusive venue which supports local musicians and punters. We will never condone misogynist behaviour or band names," the Facebook post said.

"The prostitute killers (sic) have been cancelled and Tago Mago offers a most sincere apology," the post added.

Chloe said her friends had created a Facebook group called "Picket Tago Mago and The Prostitute Killers" and were planning on attending the gig in protest.

She said the name was offensive because it propagates the idea that the murder of a prostitute is less important than the murder of a woman who is not a prostitute, the report said.