Download Australia is CANCELLED: Heavy metal concert will not go ahead after headline act My Chemical Romance pulled out due to the coronavirus pandemic
Download Australia has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The heavy metal festival was scheduled to take place in Melbourne and Sydney next weekend but won’t be going ahead, said organisers Live Nation.
The events were cancelled after headline act My Chemical Romance announced they would not be able to perform ‘given the current global situation’.
Axed! Download Festival has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: headline act My Chemical Romance
MCR released the following statement on Friday: ‘To our dearest friends. It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to postpone our performances in Australia and New Zealand.
‘We felt this was the right decision for our fans, our band, our crew, and our families given the current global situation.
‘We apologise to our fans, but please know that we didn’t come to this decision lightly. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to being with you all again as soon as we can. In the meantime, please be good to each other.’
Staying home: Nu metal band Deftones were also scheduled to perform at Download. Pictured: Deftones signer Chino Moreno performing in Belgium on August 29, 1998
A Download Festival spokesperson added: ‘Given that this announcement has come barely eight days prior to Download Australia, we will not be able to secure an alternative headliner as there is insufficient time to secure visas and arrange the other relevant logistics that are required prior to the festival.
‘As we are unable to deliver a complete lineup to meet the standard that Download fans both expect and deserve, we have very reluctantly made the decision to cancel Download Australia 2020.’
Organisers are currently working with both My Chemical Romance and Deftones to schedule separate headline shows in Australia later this year.
Fans who purchased tickets for the shows at Sydney’s The Domain on March 21 and Melbourne’s Showgrounds on March 20 will receive full refunds.
Pulling out: It comes after Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil (pictured) cancelled their Australian tour and appearance at Download due to coronavirus concerns
It comes after Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil cancelled their Australian tour and appearance at Download due to coronavirus concerns.
In an official statement on March 3, the band wrote: ‘Our home region of Lombardia, Italy, is in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak.
‘While cancelling is heartbreaking for us, everyone’s health and safety must come first and this includes our fans.’
There are 162 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia as of Friday morning.