Canceled ‘Hellfest’ States Conflict With Insurance Company Amid Pandemic

Among the recently canceled festivals, France’s Hellfest announced it would be no longer taking place this year. Originally slated for June 19th-21st, Hellfest has instead set it’s sights for 2021, which will be the rescheduled 15th anniversary for the festival. The announcement came April 9th, adding Hellfest to the list of canceled European rock & metal festivals this year.

Over a hundred rock and metal bands were scheduled to perform at the 3-day festival, from the likes of Deftones, Judas Priest, Korn, System Of A Down, Faith No More, Deep Purple, and several others. Hellfest was certainly gearing up for the biggest year in its history, hence the 15th year anniversary, but if matters couldn’t get worse Hellfest organizers have stated serious conflicts with their insurance company amid the cancellation:

“Aware of the stakes and its responsibility, the Hellfest Productions association had nevertheless taken care to take out an “all except” type insurance with the aforementioned company ALBINGIA , a French insurance company with its headquarters in Levallois Perret, for the low sum of € 175,000, corresponding to the amount of the contract premium supposed to cover us from potential risks leading to a cancellation. This same insurance contract clearly stipulates that pecuniary losses due to possible pandemics will be covered, provided that the contract was signed before the appearance and recognition of this pandemic by the French authorities or by WHO. Our contract was signed on December 17, 2019, before the official appearance of the virus in China.

Only here, our dear insurance company shows to who still doubted it, that it is easier to pay contract premiums rather than to obtain compensation for damages supposed to be covered: ALBINGIA sent us an end of non receive on the pretext that this “type” of pandemic did not fall within the terms of our insurance policy.”

Hellfest’s statement goes on to criticizes the french insurance company, but the festival organizers bring their point home in saying “solidarity and respect for their commitments should be at the center of the concerns of insurers.”

While the alleged claims are truly a shocking twist in the era of coronavirus cancellations, hopefully it’s not a recurring issue among other large festivals and insurance company’s. Speaking of which, Wacken is the next biggest European metal festival who’ve yet to announce whether they’re going to cancel/postpone or not. The German festival is in a more flexible spot considering it’s dates run from July 30th to August 1st, but it’s certainly not exempt from possible postponement or cancellation. Sure enough, in the coming weeks/months there will be more announcements regarding the rest of Europe’s metal and rock festivals.

However, as June music tours and festival cancellations unfold in both the U.S. and Europe, it’s strange to find the status of Mötley Crüe’s much anticipated stadium tour unchanged. As the biggest U.S. rock tour of the summer, there’s yet to be any announcement regarding a postponement or cancellation. The tour is currently set to embark on June 18th, and Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee recently stated in an interview “Everything’s still a go.”