Metalcore outfit Confession have decided to part ways. But not before one final, national tour.
The decision was made by enigmatic frontman Michael Crafter. “The most excited I have been [as a musician] is doing a final tour. I feel like closing a book is the best part. I got to do a final tour with [I Killed The] Prom Queen years ago and I feel like bands always have the peak of their career during their last tour.
“They always break up and all of a sudden everyone is their biggest fan. John Farnham fucking knows. He does comebacks and farewell tours every 15 minutes,” Crafter says.
Crafter is content to leave this part of his life behind as fatherhood and other interests now occupy his time. “I haven't necessarily achieved everything in this band, but I have definitely achieved everything over time.
“I started singing in bands when I was 18 and went everywhere pretty much in the world that you can tour ... I never had high expectations; I kind of took everything as it came and it just so happened that a lot of stuff came fast,” Crafter says.
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In 2008, Crafter spent time inside the 'Big Brother' house. It started out as a joke. The problem was he was booked to go on tour at the same time. “A mate made a flyer and then it was the goal of everyone I knew to try and get me on television, but Prom Queen was doing a final tour and it was already sold out so the tour was massive.
“I negotiated a deal where I would get a thousand bucks a day and I could leave whenever I wanted. As soon as I left, I was on a plane to Melbourne to go to band practice.”
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A myriad of members have been through the band’s ranks since 2008's ‘Can’t Live Can’t Breathe’ EP and 2009’s ‘Cancer’ album. In between the success and growing popularity was the band’s failed mutiny attempt after 2011s ‘The Long Way Home’. Under the leadership up Crafter, the band was rebuilt, they released their final effort, 2014s #19 ARIA charting ‘Life & Death'.
Known for his on-stage charisma and energy, Crafter does not fit the bill of your typical off-the-rails rock 'n' roll front man. "I haven't touched a thing since I was seventeen. Don't drink. Don't smoke. Nothing. Never even thought about it. I stopped when I was seventeen for reasons and I am still straight edge. I will never feel the need to change. Everyone drinks around me. It's kind of instilling it into me more as I get older,” says Crafter.
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Both his mother and father have battled cancer in recent times, his father having lost his battle last year; having a young family himself, maybe music has lost in the battle to consume his everyday life. “Maybe in a few years I will wish I was in a band again but for now I don't have that drive. I don't have that drive to sit down and write a song. I just want to spend time with my kid and have fun with her,” says Crafter.
Confession Tour Dates
Sat 2 Jan - Evelyn Hotel (Melbourne)Sun 3 Jan - Arrow On Swanston (Melbourne)
Mon 4 Jan - Basement (Canberra)
Tue 5 Jan - Towradgi Surf Club (Wollongong)
Wed 6 Jan - Cambridge Hotel (Newcastle)
Thu 7 Jan - Drone (Newcastle)
Fri 8 Jan - The Helm (Mooloolaba)
Sat 9 Jan - The Brightside (Brisbane)
Sun 10 Jan - The Lab (Brisbane)
Wed 13 Jan - Coolangatta Hotel (Gold Coast)
Thu 14 Jan - Woy Woy Leagues Club (Central Coast)
Fri 15 Jan - Barwon Club (Geelong)
Sat 16 Jan - Unify Festival (Gippsland)
Sun 17 Jan - The Brisbane Hotel (Hobart)
Wed 20 Jan - YMCA HQ (Perth)
Thu 21 Jan - Prince Of Wales (Bunbury)
Fri 22 Jan - Amplifier (Perth)
Sat 23 Jan - Enigma Bar (Adelaide)
Sat 30 Jan - UTS Underground (Sydney)
