View photos of Swollen Members through the years here.

VANCOUVER — Shane Bunting, known as emcee Mad Child with Vancouver hip hop group Swollen Members, has been banned from the United States after being questioned by U.S. customs agents at Vancouver airport about his association with the Hells Angels.

In a statement released following the incident, Bunting explained that he was on his way to join the rest of the group to perform shows in the United States when he was pulled into the customs waiting room at the airport and left waiting several hours.

He was then asked repeatedly about if he was a member of the infamous biker gang, to which he replied, "No."

Bunting stated that after eight and a half hours of waiting and questioning, he was told he had been banned from the country.

Bunting is now unable to enter the U.S. to tour or record until the matter is resolved.

The incident is ill-timed for Bunting and Swollen Members. The Juno-winning group's new album Dagger Mouth is scheduled to be released in March.

"I've been across many times for many years with a work visa just like I had this time going through the Vancouver airport," Bunting said in an interview with The Vancouver Sun on Wednesday. "It's going to throw a wrench in the spokes for sure. To not be able to tour when an album comes out is definitely a strike against not just myself but also the other guys. I'm more concerned that the guys are going to be feeling the effects of this because I can't go as well. We'll tour Canada and hopefully there's not going to be a problem with Europe, Australia and Japan. But touring America is part of our livelihood and we have a great fan base there."

Bunting said a criminal record stemming from an assault charge when he was a minor could have also played a part in his being blocked from entering the U.S. and that he is working with a San Diego lawyer to apply for a waiver from U.S. customs, something that could take up to six months.

Under privacy rules, U.S. Customs and Border Protection are not at liberty to discuss the specifics of Bunting's case and exactly why he was barred from entering the U.S.

"For a variety of reasons on any given day we deny giving entry to over 600 people on a national basis," said U.S. Customs spokesperson Mike Milne, "including previous customs or immigration violations, lack of proper documentation, criminal history and employment issues.

"I can't specifically comment on this individual case except to say that in no way did it take eight hours."

It was not the first time Bunting's association with the infamous biker gang had landed him in hot water.

In 2007, a SWAT team showed up at his home in Kelowna looking for the owner of a Dodge Ram parked in his driveway.

At the time, he said he had borrowed the truck from a friend and that the police had been dogging him since 2003, when several members of the East End chapter of the Hells Angels appeared in three different Swollen Members music videos sporting full colours.

In September last year, Swollen Members performed at a concert meant to mend the fences between two warring gangs, the Independent Soldiers and the Game Tight Soldiers, where Renegades and Hells Angels members were also present.

Bunting denied knowing the true purpose of the concert until he arrived on site.

"People will have a perception of you and sometimes it takes a long time for that perception to change," he said. "That's fine. I'm very much more on a positive path in general, bro. But I've been around a certain lifestyle and I'm a little concerned. This 'gangster' trend in Vancouver has gotten out of control."

Bunting said he has started sharing his life experience with kids after being invited to St. George's School in Vancouver six weeks ago to discuss prescription drug addiction, something he hopes to share in other schools in the future.

"I've been drug-free for a year. This was my first New Year's in seven or eight years without doing drugs. That was a little milestone for me. I've been on a path to rebuild a normal lifestyle."

fmarchand@vancouversun.com, with files from Kim Bolan

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