In a back-door apology sent to selected news agencies, including a Melbourne daily, the ARIA award-winning band has backed away from claims Albury-Wodonga had only one hotel and relied on sheep-shearing.

Seven days after The Border Mail revealed comments lead singer Connie Mitchell made in a British magazine, she says her remarks were never meant to offend.

In an apology addressed to Albury-Wodonga residents Mitchell said; “It seems we have really set off on the wrong foot.”

“I would like to apologise unreservedly for the negative comments that were published in the TNT magazine in Britain,” she said.

“It was never my intention to upset anyone and I truly regret this situation.

“I hope we can get over this hurdle, you can accept my apology and we can get back on the right foot.”

The trio allegedly trashed a room at Albury’s Chifley hotel during their visit to the Border for the Groovin’ the Moo festival last November.

The band did not send the apology to The Border Mail.

Mitchell said; “The hotel in question apologised unreservedly for the misinformation, yet this so-called news still found its way onto mainstream television, radio and newspapers around Australia. That story was simply not true.”

The Border Mail tele­phoned and emailed the contacts listed on the band’s website, but only managed to get in touch with their booking agent, Julia Davis.

She knew nothing about the apology or comments published in TNT magazine.

Instead, she defended what went on in the Albury hotel room.

“You know what really happened,” she said.

“There is a group of bands who ... take a painting off the wall at every hotel they stay at and draw a painting behind it.

“It’s like a cult thing.

“There was no vomit or beer bottles or anything left all over the place.”

At the time, hotel general manager Mark Munday said it was one of the worse cases of room-trashing he had seen.

Albury radio station Star FM received the sorry email late last week after it banned Sneaky Sound System’s songs from air time and held a sheep-shearing festival in response to Mitchell’s comments.

Matt, of breakfast show Matt and LC, said the “rambling” apology was not good enough.

“LC and I haven’t been won over by it,” he said.

“When you say something like what she said it’s hard not to offend.

“We want to speak to a member of the band themselves.”

Albury Mayor Stuart Baker was pleased with Sneaky Sound System’s words.

“I think it’s great that they have apologised. I’m very happy with that apology,” he said.