THE digital release of band’s new single has been delayed after its cover art – which depicts a bass player in his pants - was deemed “too sexy” for streaming platforms.

Dingus Khan, formed in Manningtree but now a staple of the Colchester music scene, expected their track My New Hat to drop on Spotify and Apple Music on March 17.

Despite having submitted the song and its accompanying artwork to their digital distributor TuneCore in good time the track failed to appear on either service.

The band’s record label Antigen Records was then contacted by the American company who explained the cover art was too raunchy and broke guidelines.

Gazette:

The rejected image, a still from the promotional video for the single, shows bassist Tom Armstrong in is underwear wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses.

In their defence, Dingus Khan have now cited Roxy Music’s Country Life album, which remains on streaming platforms despite its artwork showing two semi-naked women.

“We have been left puzzled by the decision and it has prompted outrage from some of our fans,” added frontman and songwriter Benjamin Brown.

“One of them sent us the Country Life album cover to us and said this is a ‘clear case of discrimination based on the quality of the physique in question’.

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“TuneCore’s Content Review Team claimed the original artwork was too explicit for them to distribute to online streaming platforms.

“They then asked our record label to submit new or censored artwork.”

Dingus Khan says they have now turned the fiasco into a positive, creating a competition for which their fans are being asked to create and submit new artwork ideas.

The winner will receive a T-shirt, the cash equivalent of a month’s streaming revenue for the single and two tickets to their show at Colchester Arts Centre on April 29.

The concert will be the band’s biggest live show since the death of their principal drummer Gaz Burney, 35, in July 2022.

Following his death Gaz, who also played with Swimsuit Competition, was described as “good-humoured” and an "absolute beast onstage".

Jason Whittaker of Antigen Records said: "Local support for the band appears undiminished by their absence and, with over 200 advance tickets already sold, the arts centre event seems likely to sell out.

"The band will be performing material from the last album recorded with Burney, from which their new single is taken."

Bosses at TuneCore have now claimed concerns were raised over the artwork due to its quality, although an email sent to the band does also reference the possibility of it being "too explicit".

A spokesman said: "The reason the artwork was flagged is because it is extremely low resolution. 

"Most digital service providers, ie apple will not accept low res artwork.

"The email that goes out is a template and the concern is the second one on the list."

To submit a design to the artwork competition visit facebook.com/dinguskhanband before March 29.

My New Hat, with its new or censored artwork, should now be available to stream from April 14.