Not sure if anyone around here has heard of the massive fiasco that was Brazil's Metal Open Air (metalopenair.com). Long story short, open air festival with a killer lineup and two promoters that are probably going to jail (read on). I basically created a chronological summary of what happened (according to what the news outlets, etc. in Brazil were notifying) to share with Glenn, as he was curious about what truly happened. He encouraged me to post this here as well. I still can't believe that what was going to be one of the highlights of the metal scene in South America became the most embarrassing, absurd clusterfuck ever.
Mind you this is something I put together based on witnesses/news reports/etc.
(EDIT - LINKS ARE CORRECT IN THE POST BELOW.)
The fest/place: Metal Open Air was scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take place in the city of Sao Luiz, MA. Geographically it's in a good location (northeast of Brazil, shorter flights in from EU and US), but essentially it's like booking an open air festival like that in Jackson, Mississipi. In that area of Brazil, fans are avid and attend the concerts in good numbers, but it's kind of a "wtf" location. Very nice area, but also one of the not-so-wealthy places in the country. The "venue" (Pq. Independencia) was basically a huge expo-park that not only takes concerts, but also huge agricultural expos (hence the huge expo-style horse stalls). It's weird. Poor infrastructure on these types of places usually as you can imagine, which is ABSOLUTELY NOT a reflection on the rest of the country, as well as where concerts (metal tours) take place at other cities in Brazil.
The promtoers: In conjunction, NEGRI CONCERTS (booking agency/promoting agency) acting allegedly as bookers, and LAMPARINA PRODUCTIONS (acting allegedly as the promoter of the festival). Supposedly Lamparina had agreed to have Negri pay the deposits for the bands' fees and Lamparina would take care of all other expenses (all of it), and eventually pay Negri for those deposits.
Thursday:
- Department of health, fire marshall and other agencies say that there's still a lot of stuff that promtoers need to comply with to have the event happen (the day before the show). Promoters are scrambling like crazy people to make that happen. Problem is, this is Brazil, and even if things aren't fully ready, people get the events going anyways.
- Aquiles Priester's Hangar issues statement saying they're not sure what's going on with the show yet, since they haven't received the band's fee for expensesfor the trip, or even a contract. They might cancel because the band doesn't want to risk getting there and not being paid (and having to pay the return flights out of pocket). Aquiles is very clear that Hangar is one of the most professional bands in Brazil (they are) and traveling cross-country to play "in the name of metal" for no compensation is something Hangar will *never* do (which probably means they won't ever get a shot in the US, lol). Zero communication from promoters.
- A few other bands (Terra Prima, Headhunter DC) issue statements complaining about the same thing. No contract, no airfare/travel expenses paid, no communication from promoters. The usual comments about promoters treating Brazilian bands like shit while licking bands from abroad's balls begin.
Friday (Day 1 of fest):
- Fans don't know where to go once at the venue. Lines are forming, doors are late, no explanation, no signs, not a clue about what's going on. But hey, it's Brazil, right? Shows can start 3 hours late, who cares? We're not punctual anyways.
- Stage still being set up at 11:50am (first band was scheduled for...1030!). People somehow get in. WHERE IS THE CAMPING AREA?
- Saxon issues statement canceling Metal Open Air alleging breach of contract by promoters. Money should have been in on March 15th. It's Friday afternoon and nothing has been sent. No email. No money. No airfare. Nothing.
- Finally, camping area is located! HORSE STALLS! (pictures here: http://www.oimparcial.com.br/app/no...os-viram-area-de-camping-para-o-publico.shtml Fans complain that the place kind of smells (literally).
- Food court? What food court? Hah... maybe a fucking shack where a few people are serving "questionable" meals for absurd prices. Health inspectors not happy, but hey... It's a poor area of Brazil.
- Ahhh, restrooms. Nice. I really needed to take a shit. Awesome. Relieved. I'll be civil and flush. Oh wow! The flush isn't working! Hopefully it does at the next stall. Ugh... nope. (two bathrooms in the camping area - Male and Female. Only the female one sorta works). Oh yeah, lights in the camping area don't work either, with the exception of one. But hey, it's not so bad. It's part of the fun!!!!!!!!
- Two more bands cancel for guess what? Same reason (Obskure and Unearthly).
- First band goes on stage!!! Fucking A! It's 4:45pm. Only...6 hours late.
- Media reports that fans aren't happy (video here - you can't understand it but you can at least see the place http://globotv.globo.com/tv-mirante...cia-local-do-festival-metal-open-air/1912697/)
- Orphaned Land on stage. Holy fuck, awesome show. Attomica cancels. Andre Matos cancels. Ratos de Porao and Matanza... cancel. Guess the reason!??!
- Rock N Roll All stars tweets that they may cancel the show due to the usual. They weren't paid. Also, apparently their emcee (lol, Charlie Sheen) wasn't paid either. That pissed promoter off who pissed band off. *sigh* Tweet here: http://whiplash.net/materias/news_840/152767-metalopenair.html
- Almah gets on stage and plays a KILLER set with Edu sounding better than he has in many years (wow, finally the doctors are making something out of him). No payment. Did it for the fans.
- Promoters issue statement admitting that they didn't have enough money to pay everyone. Apparently some sponsors backed out last minute (I doubt it). Also, the government was going to issue a grant and never did. State govt. issues statement saying they don't do grants to events that charge for tickets. Promoter caught in his own lie.
- Promoter tweets: "To those who didn't think the show was gonna happen and all naysayers, GO FUCK YOURSELF!"
- Promoters/crew find a scapegoat for the delays: Megadeth and crew. Meanwhile, they had yet to arrive at their backstage rooms. Oh, backstage rooms, I had forgotten. Literally, cubicles made out of air walls, about 5 ft high. Tiny cubicles.
- Promoters issue statement saying that "Rock N Roll All Stars" is officially canceled BY the promoter because "the group broke the contract badly."
- Symphony X and Megadeth get on stage, close the night.
Saturday (Day 2):
- Late again. Sound and light company didn't get paid so are taking gear down. Promoter begs them to continue and guarantees payment the next day. They reach an agreement.
- Anthrax cancels. Band won't play if promoter isn't fulfilling his contractual obligations.
- Blind Guardian, Grave Digger announce they're canceling it. Blind Guardian's statement says a lot about the festival. Look it up, worth reading it.
- One of the promoters announces festival is canceled. People get pissed, but not destructive at all. Police arrives. Some leave. Other promoter says "No, let's go on." Dark Avenger takes the stage. Few thousand people are left. Security is almost non existant, as Police moves out. Better business bureau sets up a stand at the event collecting complaints. At that point, 30 bands of the total of 43 had canceled.
- People start noticing missing wallets and other items out of their campsites. Oh yeah, venue is near a slum/shantytown in the city. People are seen climbing the walls fleeing the place. After Exodus finishes playing, fans notice lots of empty wallets on the ground. (Does it get worse than this?) Police says "Talk to the security inside." Security crew says "We were instructed to protect artists and avoid fights in the crowd. Nothing we can do about it."
- One of the promoters issues statement saying that, in summary, it's the other guy's fault.
- Other promoter issues same statement about first promoter.
- Mustaine issues awesome statement about how they played for the people, and how promoters at that point, didnt give a shit.
- Another video worth for the visual : http://g1.globo.com/jornal-nacional...esaponta-fas-em-sao-luis-do-maranhao/1914720/
- One promoter tries to leave the place. His car is allegedly followed by the other promoter's car, and eventually stopped. Supposedly (typical crime movie scene), guys walk out of the car, and escort the other guy back to the venue. "You're not leaving this place." in the eyes of the law, that's kidnapping right? Right.
- Picture of backstage signage surfaces. Could it be real? You bet: http://whiplash.net/materias/news_840/152896.html
- Fans create the official festival shirt: METAL OPEN AIR - I WAS THERE, BUT THE BANDS WEREN'T!"
Sunday (day 3):
- Stages begin to be brought down. Lighting as well. Company providing that never got paid, so enough is enough.
- Festival officially canceled by both promoters, accusations are exchanged via statements. Better business bureau opens lawsuit against promoters.
- The aftermath? Some fans who traveled from thousands of miles away (even abroad) have no way to re-book their flights early. That means they have to stay camped at the fucking place until the next day. People spent as much as $12,000 for the trip. Better BUsiness Bureau guarantees that fans can start suits to recover the money. International attendees aren't so lucky. They most likely won't see a penny back.
Meanwhile, serious promoters that for years are trying to make a truly professional and good festival in Brazil probably have zero chance of being taken seriously now. Credibility? LOL
Mind you this is something I put together based on witnesses/news reports/etc.
(EDIT - LINKS ARE CORRECT IN THE POST BELOW.)
The fest/place: Metal Open Air was scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take place in the city of Sao Luiz, MA. Geographically it's in a good location (northeast of Brazil, shorter flights in from EU and US), but essentially it's like booking an open air festival like that in Jackson, Mississipi. In that area of Brazil, fans are avid and attend the concerts in good numbers, but it's kind of a "wtf" location. Very nice area, but also one of the not-so-wealthy places in the country. The "venue" (Pq. Independencia) was basically a huge expo-park that not only takes concerts, but also huge agricultural expos (hence the huge expo-style horse stalls). It's weird. Poor infrastructure on these types of places usually as you can imagine, which is ABSOLUTELY NOT a reflection on the rest of the country, as well as where concerts (metal tours) take place at other cities in Brazil.
The promtoers: In conjunction, NEGRI CONCERTS (booking agency/promoting agency) acting allegedly as bookers, and LAMPARINA PRODUCTIONS (acting allegedly as the promoter of the festival). Supposedly Lamparina had agreed to have Negri pay the deposits for the bands' fees and Lamparina would take care of all other expenses (all of it), and eventually pay Negri for those deposits.
Thursday:
- Department of health, fire marshall and other agencies say that there's still a lot of stuff that promtoers need to comply with to have the event happen (the day before the show). Promoters are scrambling like crazy people to make that happen. Problem is, this is Brazil, and even if things aren't fully ready, people get the events going anyways.
- Aquiles Priester's Hangar issues statement saying they're not sure what's going on with the show yet, since they haven't received the band's fee for expensesfor the trip, or even a contract. They might cancel because the band doesn't want to risk getting there and not being paid (and having to pay the return flights out of pocket). Aquiles is very clear that Hangar is one of the most professional bands in Brazil (they are) and traveling cross-country to play "in the name of metal" for no compensation is something Hangar will *never* do (which probably means they won't ever get a shot in the US, lol). Zero communication from promoters.
- A few other bands (Terra Prima, Headhunter DC) issue statements complaining about the same thing. No contract, no airfare/travel expenses paid, no communication from promoters. The usual comments about promoters treating Brazilian bands like shit while licking bands from abroad's balls begin.
Friday (Day 1 of fest):
- Fans don't know where to go once at the venue. Lines are forming, doors are late, no explanation, no signs, not a clue about what's going on. But hey, it's Brazil, right? Shows can start 3 hours late, who cares? We're not punctual anyways.
- Stage still being set up at 11:50am (first band was scheduled for...1030!). People somehow get in. WHERE IS THE CAMPING AREA?
- Saxon issues statement canceling Metal Open Air alleging breach of contract by promoters. Money should have been in on March 15th. It's Friday afternoon and nothing has been sent. No email. No money. No airfare. Nothing.
- Finally, camping area is located! HORSE STALLS! (pictures here: http://www.oimparcial.com.br/app/no...os-viram-area-de-camping-para-o-publico.shtml Fans complain that the place kind of smells (literally).
- Food court? What food court? Hah... maybe a fucking shack where a few people are serving "questionable" meals for absurd prices. Health inspectors not happy, but hey... It's a poor area of Brazil.
- Ahhh, restrooms. Nice. I really needed to take a shit. Awesome. Relieved. I'll be civil and flush. Oh wow! The flush isn't working! Hopefully it does at the next stall. Ugh... nope. (two bathrooms in the camping area - Male and Female. Only the female one sorta works). Oh yeah, lights in the camping area don't work either, with the exception of one. But hey, it's not so bad. It's part of the fun!!!!!!!!
- Two more bands cancel for guess what? Same reason (Obskure and Unearthly).
- First band goes on stage!!! Fucking A! It's 4:45pm. Only...6 hours late.
- Media reports that fans aren't happy (video here - you can't understand it but you can at least see the place http://globotv.globo.com/tv-mirante...cia-local-do-festival-metal-open-air/1912697/)
- Orphaned Land on stage. Holy fuck, awesome show. Attomica cancels. Andre Matos cancels. Ratos de Porao and Matanza... cancel. Guess the reason!??!
- Rock N Roll All stars tweets that they may cancel the show due to the usual. They weren't paid. Also, apparently their emcee (lol, Charlie Sheen) wasn't paid either. That pissed promoter off who pissed band off. *sigh* Tweet here: http://whiplash.net/materias/news_840/152767-metalopenair.html
- Almah gets on stage and plays a KILLER set with Edu sounding better than he has in many years (wow, finally the doctors are making something out of him). No payment. Did it for the fans.
- Promoters issue statement admitting that they didn't have enough money to pay everyone. Apparently some sponsors backed out last minute (I doubt it). Also, the government was going to issue a grant and never did. State govt. issues statement saying they don't do grants to events that charge for tickets. Promoter caught in his own lie.
- Promoter tweets: "To those who didn't think the show was gonna happen and all naysayers, GO FUCK YOURSELF!"
- Promoters/crew find a scapegoat for the delays: Megadeth and crew. Meanwhile, they had yet to arrive at their backstage rooms. Oh, backstage rooms, I had forgotten. Literally, cubicles made out of air walls, about 5 ft high. Tiny cubicles.
- Promoters issue statement saying that "Rock N Roll All Stars" is officially canceled BY the promoter because "the group broke the contract badly."
- Symphony X and Megadeth get on stage, close the night.
Saturday (Day 2):
- Late again. Sound and light company didn't get paid so are taking gear down. Promoter begs them to continue and guarantees payment the next day. They reach an agreement.
- Anthrax cancels. Band won't play if promoter isn't fulfilling his contractual obligations.
- Blind Guardian, Grave Digger announce they're canceling it. Blind Guardian's statement says a lot about the festival. Look it up, worth reading it.
- One of the promoters announces festival is canceled. People get pissed, but not destructive at all. Police arrives. Some leave. Other promoter says "No, let's go on." Dark Avenger takes the stage. Few thousand people are left. Security is almost non existant, as Police moves out. Better business bureau sets up a stand at the event collecting complaints. At that point, 30 bands of the total of 43 had canceled.
- People start noticing missing wallets and other items out of their campsites. Oh yeah, venue is near a slum/shantytown in the city. People are seen climbing the walls fleeing the place. After Exodus finishes playing, fans notice lots of empty wallets on the ground. (Does it get worse than this?) Police says "Talk to the security inside." Security crew says "We were instructed to protect artists and avoid fights in the crowd. Nothing we can do about it."
- One of the promoters issues statement saying that, in summary, it's the other guy's fault.
- Other promoter issues same statement about first promoter.
- Mustaine issues awesome statement about how they played for the people, and how promoters at that point, didnt give a shit.
- Another video worth for the visual : http://g1.globo.com/jornal-nacional...esaponta-fas-em-sao-luis-do-maranhao/1914720/
- One promoter tries to leave the place. His car is allegedly followed by the other promoter's car, and eventually stopped. Supposedly (typical crime movie scene), guys walk out of the car, and escort the other guy back to the venue. "You're not leaving this place." in the eyes of the law, that's kidnapping right? Right.
- Picture of backstage signage surfaces. Could it be real? You bet: http://whiplash.net/materias/news_840/152896.html
- Fans create the official festival shirt: METAL OPEN AIR - I WAS THERE, BUT THE BANDS WEREN'T!"
Sunday (day 3):
- Stages begin to be brought down. Lighting as well. Company providing that never got paid, so enough is enough.
- Festival officially canceled by both promoters, accusations are exchanged via statements. Better business bureau opens lawsuit against promoters.
- The aftermath? Some fans who traveled from thousands of miles away (even abroad) have no way to re-book their flights early. That means they have to stay camped at the fucking place until the next day. People spent as much as $12,000 for the trip. Better BUsiness Bureau guarantees that fans can start suits to recover the money. International attendees aren't so lucky. They most likely won't see a penny back.
Meanwhile, serious promoters that for years are trying to make a truly professional and good festival in Brazil probably have zero chance of being taken seriously now. Credibility? LOL
Thanks for putting this together and sharing it. 
