Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Vintage Vinyl says that the state government has shut down the festival, claiming that the organizers have not properly prepared for crowds of up to 80,000 at the Feria De Texcoco Estadio De Mexico in Texoco. They’ve cited inadequate plans for fire safety, evacuation and fireworks.

Last week, Pollstar reported on the attempts to shut down the festival, hinting at a political struggle between the town and state governments, which are controlled by rival parties. The stadium has held fairs and concerts before, including those featuring the controversial “narco corridos” songs, which chronicle the actions of Mexico’s drug cartels.

“I don’t know if this is discrimination against the metal community,” said Juan Carlos Guerrero, a representative for the organizers of the Hell and Heaven Metal Fest. “I couldn’t prove that’s the case, but there are some things that make you wonder, and one is that massive ‘grupero’ concerts have been held in Texcoco, with as many as 200,000 people.”

The festival was scheduled to be the opening date on Guns N’ Roses’ tour of Latin America, which will run through April 9. They will begin their second residency at the Joint in Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on May 21.