A Dundee member of the band Bombskare was stopped from getting on an aircraft to a charity gig because of his T-shirt logo.
Security staff at Edinburgh Airport told Matthew Bartlett to cover up the logo the band’s name before he was allowed on his flight to Shetland in case it offended other passengers.
Matthew, keyboard player with the nine-piece ska band, said: “It was absolutely dumbfounding. When I went through the security gate nothing beeped, so clearly I wasn’t carrying something.
“One of the guys who would have stopped and searched you spotted my T-shirt and one woman said ‘You can’t wear that’.”
When Matthew questioned her about it she called a police woman and the head of security over.
“The head of security thought I had better button it up,” Matthew said. “He had no sense of humour about it.”
Lead singer Andy Pennicuick said the whole episode had been “frustrating”.
“The member of staff said it might be offensive to other passengers,” he said.
“It was a bit frustrating. It was just stupidity. It’s not even spelt Bombscare.”
The band, from Dundee and Edinburgh, were on their way to Lerwick to headline charity concert Strip MS. After the delay at security the band took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
They posted: “Just been asked to cover up our Bombskare t-shirts at Edinburgh airport! Apparently it might upset other passengers!”
After the delay Bombskare caught their flight to Shetland and Andy said the concert went down a storm. This is not the first time Bombskare’s name has made travelling difficult.
“Just after 9/11 we had the same bother going from Shetland to Edinburgh,” Andy said.
“Someone mentioned the name of the band at the airport and he was warned if he mentioned it again he wasn’t getting on. It was a different story in Shetland this time they were joking with us.”
Andy criticised the security measures since 9/11.
“It’s made it difficult travelling,” he said. “It’s just gone too far.
“Our bass player went through with his boots and belt on no problem, but an elderly man behind him was made to take his boots off.”
Matthew said there was no way the band would ever change its name.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “It’s been hilarious. This is getting more fun every moment.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport last night defended the security measures.
He said: “We are aware of a passenger travelling through the airport on Saturday wearing a T-shirt that some people may have found offensive.
“Out of respect to other passengers, a member of our security team asked the passenger in question to cover up the T-shirt, which they did without complaint.”