Metallica concert postponed due to 'technical snag'

American heavy metal band Metallica's very first concert in India scheduled to be held on Friday has been postponed to Saturday evening due to technical snag.

"Due to some technical problems we are postponing the Metallica concert to tomorrow," organisers said.

"The organisers have informed the police that due to technical reasons they are postponing the concert," said Gurgaon police commissioner SS Deshwal, ruling out that it was due to chaos at the venue.

Fans had already gathered in large numbers at the Leisure Valley in Gurgaon on Friday for the concert scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.

After the news of postponement was announced on stage, disappointed fans tried to sabotage the venue. They broke barriers, climbed on stage and tore posters.

"It is so disappointing. I have been standing in the line for two hours and then the organisers just announce that it has been postponed to tomorrow because of some technical difficulties," said Ramnik, a fan at the venue.

Another fan Karan, who had come all the way from Mumbai, said, "I am very disappointed that the concert has been cancelled. I came all the way from Mumbai to see the concert. I have been standing for almost two hours now and have just been told that it has been postponed. No organiser has made any official statement if our tickets will be reimbursed or not."

Metallica is in the country to perform as a part of F1 Rocks and is scheduled to perform in Bangalore on Sunday.

PC Meena, deputy commissioner of police, Gurgaon, said, "We had taken a bank guarantee of Rs 1 crore from the organisers to grant permission for the concert. If the administration finds that the reason behind the postponement of the concert is not genuine, then we will refund the ticket amount to buyers."

He also said that they may blacklist the organisers barring them from organising such events in Gurgaon further.

Image: File picture of a Metallica concert in Rio de Janeiro
Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters