Fans Smash Stage After Metallica Cancels

Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo from Metallica at the F1 Rocks India Metallica concert press conference on October 28th, 2011

The organizers of a planned Metallica concerts in India were arrested after the show was called off, leading fans of the band to destroy the stage and vandalize equipment. Metallica had been booked to play in Delhi on Friday, but they postponed the show after a security barrier in front of the stage collapsed.

The group issued a statement explaining that they were "notified that there was a serious question as to whether the show could proceed with regard to the safety of the concert audience, and our first and foremost concern is always for the safety of you, the fans." The promoters were unable to secure a permit for a concert on the following day.

The four executives of DNA Entertainment Network, the promoters of the gig, were arrested on fraud charges after they refused to refund ticket money for the event. Reports indicate that around 25,000 people had purchased tickets to see what would have been Metallica's first-ever concert in India.