Scientology band The Jive Aces have cancelled a show in order to attend the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) next week, with the venue offering full ticket refunds.
The swing band, who shot to fame after becoming finalists in the 2012 season of Britain’s Got Talent, were scheduled to perform at the Royal British Legion Hayling Island Social Club on October 31st and tickets were already on sale priced at £22.50 each (or £17.50 for members). However, after the date of this year’s Scientology gathering was announced on October 11th the venue announced “due to circumstances beyond our control The Jive Aces have had to cancel on 31st October.”
Typically taking place over a weekend in October, the IAS event celebrates its anniversary in an illegal 45,000 square foot marquee erected on the premises of their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex. Thousands of Scientologists travel from across the world to hear reclusive leader David Miscavige update them on the group’s accomplishments over the prior year, with celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Nancy Cartwright often in attendance.
This year’s gathering is set to take place next week and has been marred with controversy, with local residents complaining to Mid-Sussex District Council about the disruption, traffic issues and safety concerns associated with it being held at their Saint Hill compound. Last year, the Council issued a Planning Contravention Notice after Scientology failed to apply for permission to erect a number of mammoth marquees in order to host the event and a bid to secure a Legal Development Certificate for the structure was rejected in July. The church subsequently submitted an application for permission to build a 600+ space car park, two toilet blocks and permanent infrastructure to support the annual erection of the temporary marquees although it stops short of asking for permission for the structure itself. Angry local residents have responded with a series of objections along with the Council’s Conservation Officer and several government agencies recommending the application is refused.
As well as being talented musicians in their own right, The Jive Aces are all members of the Sea Organisation and have signed one billion year contracts dedicating their lives to working for the controversial Church. Sea Org staff hold positions in Scientology’s management structure and are provided communal berthing, food and a weekly stipend of just £50 in return for a lifetime of commitment and are expected to work 14-16 hour days, 7 days a week with no time off. According to former members, staff are frequently subjected to harsh punishments such as hard manual labour, restricted diets and sleep depravation and any contact with the outside world is strictly controlled by the church.
When Claire Headley, who once served as the third highest ranking executive in Scientology, testified as an expert witness in the 2023 trial of serial rapist and disgraced actor Danny Masterson, she told judges Sea Org staff are not permitted to report crimes to law enforcement and are threatened with expulsion from the Church for failing to comply with the policy.
The band are often seen promoting Scientology’s front groups such as the Foundation for a Drug Free World and The Way To Happiness at their events. They also feature in an episode of ‘Meet a Scientologist’ on Scientology TV and several of the band’s musicians feature in glowing testimonial videos on David Miscavige’s website.
Lead singer Ian Clarkson describes Miscavige as “fearless”, explaining “he will confront what is actually happening in the world and do something about it. He leads people by example.” Several former Scientology executives who worked close to Miscavige describe a pattern of worrying behaviour, having witnessed him physically assault staff and banish them to a hard manual labour prison camp known as ‘The Hole’, which was set up at the Church’s International Base in the Californian desert.
In April 2012, former executive Debbie Cook testified about her experience in The Hole, with The Tampa Bay Times reporting at the time “she was held there seven weeks with more than 100 other Scientology executives. They spent their nights in sleeping bags on ant-infested floors, ate a soupy “slop” of reheated leftovers and screamed at each other in confessionals that often turned violent. For two weeks, she said, Miscavige had the electricity turned off as daytime temperatures in the desert east of Los Angeles topped 100 degrees.”
As members of the Sea Org, the Jive Aces would have been expected to drop everything in order to work at the annual IAS event or face severe repercussions for failing to comply with orders and as such, had to cancel their show booked for the same date.
Details around the event, including the date, are often decided at the last minute by Miscavige which often leads to Scientologists having to change plans and reschedule commitments in order to attend. Earlier this year during a review into the behaviour of protestors who gather outside Scientology’s property over the weekend, Mid-Sussex District Council (MSDC) highlighted the burden the event places on public services and resources. They asked Scientology to provide at least 6 weeks’ notice prior to the event taking place, to which a church representative responded “because the IAS is an international event, it is difficult to provide the exact date 6 weeks in advance, due to the Los Angeles filming schedule.” He explained they “are provided with 3 date options which they provide to MSDC as soon as they have them. The Church prepare for the event to be held on any of the 3 dates provided.”
Despite the Council’s request that more notice be given in the future, Scientology announced the date of this year’s event on October 11th, just three weeks before it is set to take place on October 31st.
On October 12th, the Royal British Legion Hayling Island Social Club shared a poster on social media promoting the Jive Ace’s performance, reminding followers to get their tickets however this was quickly retracted the following day with a statement explaining the show had been cancelled “due to circumstances beyond our control”.
A spokesperson for the venue told Scientology Business “Unfortunately The Jive Aces had a prior arrangement moved forward which clashed with ours and they were unable to get out of it.”
The show has been rescheduled until next year, with ticket holders being offered full refunds if they are unable to make the new date.
