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Till Lindemann: His Wacken debut was planned for 2022
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images/Golovanov/Kivrin
Heavy metal fans had to starve for two years: The last Wacken Open Air took place in 2019, since then the festival has been canceled several times due to the corona pandemic.
It was scheduled to take place again in August.
But now the organizers are reporting that several artists are not coming.
“The combination of the effects of the corona pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has now reached us,” it says.
»Unfortunately, Till Lindemann, Death SS and Angel Witch cannot perform as planned«.
In the last few weeks, according to the organizers, "many bands, concerts and festivals have had to give up", now it is "unfortunately also affecting bands that have already been announced".
The team cited a lack of staff and financial problems as justification.
The remaining specialists are fully booked.
The whole industry is affected: »regardless of whether it is a bus driver, backliner or stagehand«.
However, the problems are not with the organizers themselves, but with the bands.
When asked about it, SPIEGEL said: »The organizer ensures that the artists who have booked can perform their concerts at the Wacken Open Air at the highest level.
In addition, they need their own infrastructure - such as a well-rehearsed crew - in order to be able to implement their shows.« The acts in question have now informed the organizer that
Rammstein front singer Till Lindemann was to appear in Wacken for the first time.
Its festival debut was already announced by the organizers in June 2021.
According to the official website, a performance in Kyiv is planned for this year for his “I hate children” tour.
Two concerts in Russia have been cancelled.
Last Friday, Bayerischer Rundfunk canceled the “Pulse” open air planned for the weekend at short notice.
The reason: lack of security guards.
Visitors who had already arrived were asked to leave.
In 2021, the Wacken Open Air with around 75,000 fans was canceled as in 2020 due to the corona pandemic.
An initially planned smaller edition with up to 20,000 visitors was ultimately canceled last year.
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