Metallica's Delhi concert cancelled, four organisers
arrested
Gurgaon, Oct 29 (PTI)
Four organisers of Metallica's maiden concert in India were
arrested today on charges of cheating, a day after the event was
first deferred ostensibly due to technical hitches and then
cancelled, provoking a section of over 20,000 fans to vandalise the
venue.
Police
arrested four persons - Ashok, Rajesh, Savia Faleio and Umesh -
from DNA network, the event management company looking after the
show under sections 406 (breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the
Indian Penal Code, police said.
An official statement from the organisers said that
the four-member American band is disappointed with the cancellation
and that details of the ticket refunds would be announced within
the next 24 hours.
The concert, scheduled to take place at the Leisure
Valley here Friday night, was initially postponed to Saturday,
triggering chaos with some fans going berserk and vandalising the
venue.
The concert was altogether cancelled later on as the
promoters couldn't secure permission for holding it
today.
"We arrived in Delhi on Friday very excited and
ready to play our first show ever in India at the F1 Rocks concert.
However, immediately at the end of our afternoon press conference,
we were notified that there was a serious question as to whether
the show could proceed with regard to the safety of the concert
audience," said Metallica on their official
website.
Tickets for the concert were priced at Rs 1650 and
Rs 2750.
A statement from DNA said, "The band was notified
that there was a serious question as to whether the show could
proceed with regard to the safety of the concert
audience".
"DNA Networks, and Metallica determined that there
was a failure of a security barricade in front of the stage that
could not be adequately repaired, they reluctantly announced the
postponement of the show until Saturday," the company said in a
release.
"Unfortunately, on such short notice the promoters
were unable to secure a permit for a show on Saturday, therefore
DNA announced that Metallica would not be able to play in Delhi,"
it said.
DNA networks said it will be soon issuing a
statement on refund.
"Within the next 24 hours a notification will be
issued by DNA Networks regarding the process for full refunds.
Metallica is deeply disappointed with this news and will continue
to send updates as additional details are determined and
confirmed," it said.
"There were more than 30,000 fans in the concert
area and they were pushing against the barricade in front of the
stage. The barricade collapsed because it was not strong enough to
hold. The capacity of the venue was 15,000-20,000. Therefore we
took a call that it was not safe to carry on with the concert in
that situation," said Karuna Prithvi, spokesperson of
DNA.
Hundreds of fans including from outside the National
Capital Region(NCR) had gathered in large numbers at the venue
several hours before the concert was scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM
last night.
After the news of postponement was announced on
stage, disappointed fans vandalised the venue. They broke barriers,
climbed onto the stage, tore posters and damaged
equipment.
At the press conference before the concert was
cancelled, Metallica said, "Our music is very different. It is the
music of (goddess) Kali. We would love to go around the country
after the concert. We are constantly influenced by the countries we
go to. India too influences our music."
"We do know that we have a strong fan base in India.
I thank the bands that have been playing our music when we could
not come here," said lead vocalist James Hetfield.
Metallica is in India to coincide with Formula One
making its beginning for the first time in India. They are due to
perform in Bangalore on Sunday.