Restrictions on music and dancing are commonplace in Iran, where hundreds of young people have been arrested at unauthorised live shows.

The drummer, who asked not to be identified, explains in an e-mail to Australian newspaper The Age why he left his home:

"Heavy metal is completely prohibited and illegal in Iran, and as I mentioned before because of the religion and misjudgments, it's known as 'Evil Music'. Government officials and the religious [authorities] who are in charge will arrest you and take you to Intelligence Department and anything can happen to you then."

Recently more than sixty people attending an underground concert were arrested. They were charged and locked up. Artists were taken to Intelligence. The arrested included two music teachers.

Soon after the drummer sold his drum set, moved to a new location and changed his phone number. He cut ties with everyone but family and sank into depression:

"I deleted every history of my music from my life because of my fear of being arrested by the government who were intent on stopping this music. During this time six musicians that I knew were arrested in their training place. After that no one contacted each other, even on Facebook."

The drummer eventually fled his home and made it to Australia, where he is currently detained at the Manus Islands detention facility, one of the new centres for offshore processing the Australian Government controversially announced in August 2012.