AFL grand final border breacher Hayden Burbank accused of abusing musicians at his bar

Bar owner Hayden Burbank says “I don’t make apologies” after being involved in a dispute with musicians at his Prahran venue.

Hayden Burbank says his ‘honest feedback’ didn’t go down well with some of the musicians. Picture: Mark Stewart

Melbourne bar owner Hayden Burbank has defended his behaviour after being accused of abusing musicians at his Morris Jones venue.

After a Sunday session at the weekend one of the performers and bystanders posted on social media that Burbank had intimidated and bullied the band for not playing songs to his brief.

The border breacher who was jailed in WA after flouting border rules to attend last year’s AFL grand final, said he made no apologies for holding high standards after his patrons were not given the usual experience on a packed Sunday night.

“As a business owner, I always set out to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations with their experience at Morris Jones,’’ he told the Herald Sun.

Hayden Burbank has defended his behaviour. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Sundays are a very big day and night for us. This past Sunday night we had a full venue, great atmosphere with customers in high spirits on the dance floor when the band was due to take over from the DJ.

“Unfortunately the band started an hour late and to make things worse they didn’t play to the music brief or what our venue normally plays, even though they have played here the previous three weeks.”

Burbank said people were disappointed by what they heard and were “complaining directly to me and walking out in their droves”.

Burbank celebrating after the Demons won the Grand Final.

He was jailed in WA for flouting border rules.

“To the point where the band cleared out the dance floor and the main room by the second set,’’ he said.

“I relayed the feedback to Jay Bruno, the drummer and a good friend of mine, with whom I have a great relationship. We always talk openly and frankly and I asked for more energetic party music to be played.

“This honest feedback and request to Jay didn’t go down well with two other band members, who overheard our conversation, who then after the gig decided to have a rant on social media and make personal comments about me and my venue, which was upsetting.

“I admit I’m not perfect but I don’t make apologies for putting the enjoyment of my customers first and for setting high standards. I did however try to reach out (on Monday) to the other two band members by both calling and text, but I haven’t had a reply yet.”

Several musicians including Tyron Hapi, Thomas Byrne, Jax Thomas, Kane Worthy and Julian Steel were among those to support Bek Brooks who posted that Burbank’s actions had gone too far.

Drummer Jay Bruno who was playing on Sunday night for the crowd, which included members of the England cricket team, said it was an unfortunate situation.

“I don’t want the singer or any of the other band members to feel anxiety over it,’’ Bruno said.

“What we all want is for the music community to thrive and it’s really important that we keep gigs and keep the vibe.

“The main issue was between Hayden and myself and I take the rap for not fully going to Hayden’s brief. We played what we thought the crowd wanted in that moment, according to him we got it wrong, but as artists we’re not going to be a Jukebox or a DJ, these are some of the best musos in Melbourne. There were some heated discussion but we had created a good atmosphere, the staff and managers there are brilliant people.”

Bruno and the other members of the band are questioning whether to return to the venue — he has been performing at Morris Jones on Sundays for the past year and a half.