Japan seems to be cracking down hard on all things American. First it wanted to arrest the cheerleader from Heroes, and now it’s banned the thing that America holds most dear – rubbishy old-man hard rock groups.

Or, to be more specific, one rubbishy old-man hard rock group – Velvet Revolver. According to a posting on the Velvet Revolver website, the band have had to cancel their imminent tour of Japan because immigration officials wouldn’t let them have visas. Apparently the ruling may have to do with the drug-heavy background of some of Velvet Revolver, although chances are that the band’s ban might be in some way be involved with the Japanese government’s new legislation outlawing whiny skinny idiots who dress up as scruffy Nazis for a living. And awful 1980s widdly-woo rock music. And top hats. So, in that respect, it’s been a perfect storm for Velvet Revolver.