Are Politics Behind Mexico City's Decision to Cancel Heavy-Metal Concert? Mark Stevenson - The Associated Press
go to original March 8, 2014

A man pulls a dolly loaded with supplies past publicity of "Hell and Heaven Metal Fest" concert, posted on bus in Mexico City, Friday March 7, 2014. (AP/Eduardo Verdugo)

A Mexican state's decision to cancel a two-day heavy metal concert with top bands like Kiss, Twisted Sister and Guns 'N Roses is drawing fire from fans and organizers, who say they suspect that political motives, corruption or discrimination are behind the move.

The Mexico state government says the March 15-16 "Hell and Heaven Metal Fest" concert planned for a fairground just east of Mexico City did not have adequate safety plans, posing a risk to concert-goers. The web pages of all three of the metal bands still showed the concert on their tour schedules.

The state sent about 300 riot police to surround the fairgrounds Friday in the township of Texcoco. The state civil defense office, and its federal counterpart, said in a statement that it had cancelled the organizers' plans "for 70,000 to 80,000 people and 50 musical groups, because safety conditions for potential concert-goers were not ensured." It cited a lack of fire safety and evacuation plans, and inadequate planning for fireworks.

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