Metal Anarchy

Hellfest will be losing a €20,000 grant, due to their refusal to remove Down from their lineup. According to Huffington Post France, French senator and President of the General Council of the Vendée, Bruno Retailleau wanted the band removed, due to Phil Anselmos’ recent “white power” salute, which the government sees as a promotion for hate speech.

Festival promoter Ben Barbaud issued the following statement (translated by Metal Injection):

“Bruno Retailleau wanted to please his electorate and anti-Hellfest who relayed this buzz, which had already toured the metal sites. He expected it, like Laurence Garnier [Chairman of the Committee on culture in the region]. They found a perfect excuse to blow the grant.”

He also added:

“Anselmo apologized repeatedly. He even offered to leave the band to do no harm to his comrades, who must also be disgusted with what happens. Everyone agrees that this is unacceptable and that the metal scene is neither racist nor anti-Semitic. I know Phil Anselmo very well, who came many times to Clisson. And I am convinced that his apologies are sincere. Hellfest, we never had this kind of behavior, no one has ever seen or wear distinctive sign or speech, both live and in houses. I deeply believe that he is a good person. He is a provocateur who plays the big guys and loses foot when he’s drunk. He made a huge mistake. But people who make populist shortcuts and say horrors when they have three grams of alcohol, one can find many, including Vendee.”

Down could potentially cancel the show themselves, but it is unknown if they will at this time. So far the band have been stopped from performing at Fortarock, and at their New Orleans, LA show.