BELGIUM, DE (VIP NEWS) — The Eurorock festival in Belgium was halted for a while on Saturday after all the money had disappeared from the cash register.
A couple of bands cancelled when it turned out they could not be paid. To make matters worse, the driving force behind the festival became unwell when he found out about the theft.
Het Nieuwsblad reports that some 80,000 euros had gone up in smoke at Eurorock, a festival focusing on gothic, rock, wave and industrial music. The cash would be used to pay the bands.
When organizers informed performers they could not be paid, some decided to withdraw their act. However, spokesman Bernard Van Isacker told reporters that "we were able to convince the vast majority to play anyway".
Headliner Killing Joke did go on stage, just like Peter Hook of Joy Division. The Belgian bands Front 242, Neon Judgement and Praga Kahn decided to quit. Ticket prices were lowered as a result.
The driving force behind the festival became unwell when he found out about the theft. The man suffered heart problems and spent the night in hospital. Other organizers had to bend over backwards to let the concert go ahead despite his absence.
Eurorock saw its first edition after a 12-year absence. The festival started Friday and attracted several thousand music fans. –According to flandersnews.be
