Mayhem Festival Co-Founder Clarifies Harsh Metal Scene Comments
Earlier this week, Mayhem Festival Co-Founder Kevin Lyman upset some folks in the metal 
community by stating “Metal got gray, bald and fat,” while also suggesting that the cost it takes to secure big festival headliners hurts the scene’s ability to prop up young talent.
As Mayhem Festival trudges along with Slayer and King Diamond leading the charge, Lyman has issued a lengthy apology for the remarks he made.
Here is Lyman’s full statement:
“There has been a lot of talk on the Internet about an interview that was done by me a few weeks ago — and I said some things to a reporter that I now regret.
“In a nutshell, the problem is I was never talking about Mayhem — I was talking about metal scene as a whole.
“Let me go on record saying that I support heavy metal and producing music events has been my whole career.
“I do appreciate some of the comments because it presents sentiments, thoughts and ideas from the heart of the metal community and I’m happy to be reminded of the passion that fans have for heavy metal music.
“For us, it is our duty to be receptive to your thoughts and opinions because it is our yearly mission to create the greatest festival for you to come out celebrate and herald heavy metal.
“We do strive to work our hardest to keep this ‘Mayhem’ train rolling and it only works with the support of all of us and I’m apologizing for conveying my deepest concerns on the record.
“The article covers some behind-the-scenes genuine concerns regarding the presentation of an event at this magnitude. It costs lots of money and energy to drive the tour, plus it has been a challenge to work with larger acts who will sell the bulk of tickets to these-sized venues while we still have the responsibility to deliver performances by the up-and-comers, who are the headliners 
of tomorrow. I pride myself that this is something that Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival has accomplished year after year, assisting in procuring the growth of artists careers such as Five Finger Death Punch, Battlecross, Butcher Babies and many many more … Our festival has also introduced legendary bands to a new generation of fans, such as Motörhead, Slayer, Anthrax and Rob Zombie. We also have the challenge of timing: which band is on a new album cycle? Or which band hasn’t already booked their touring? Or which bands haven’t played through the same markets too many times? etc. etc.
“Bottom line, we need headliners to put on a production of this magnitude, but in order to fulfill our responsibility to bring fans the up-and-comers. We need the larger bands also so that we can fulfill our responsibility to not only bring you headliners and the up-and-comers (who are the future), but to also continue to maintain our status as the only touring heavy metal amphitheater festival of this size in North America.
“Please accept my apology and thanks for all of your support.”
Stay tuned for Riffyou.com’s coverage of the Toronto edition of Mayhem Festival, including a feature interview with the one and only, Slayer!
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