The final lineup is in for the 2016 ‘Hellfest‘, which is to take place in Clisson, France from June 17th-19th. Jane’s Addiction, Killswitch Engage, Atreyu and more are among the latest additions, with the full listing available here. The lineup for this years festival has also stirred up some controversy though, as its governmental funding has been pulled as a result of the festival’s organizer’s refusal to remove Down from their 2016 lineup. Down frontman Phil Anselmo‘s usage of racist gestures/remarks at the 2016 ‘Dimebash‘ event are to blame for the standoff, actions which Anselmo continues to apologize for.
French senator/President of the General Council of the Vendée, Bruno Retailleau is behind the movement to have Down ejected from the bill in light of Anselmo‘s actions, with a €20,000 grant being revoked after the festival’s organizers refused to comply. It gets into a hazy web of French translations from there on in with festival promoter Ben Barbaud going on to apparently say that Retailleau was looking for a reason to pull the funding and that he accepts Anselmo‘s apology.
This development is but the latest in the aftermath of Anselmo‘s actions, with Down having been ejected from the ‘FortaRock‘ festival and their NOLA show being cancelled in the wake of the now infamous performance.
[via Metal Injection]
