In a disappointing turn of events for metal fans, the highly anticipated performance by legendary black metal band Mayhem, part of their 40th Anniversary Tour, has been postponed. The concert was scheduled for January 23, 2025, as part of the Bangalore Open Air Warm Up Party, but was canceled at the last minute due to visa complications.
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Salman Syed, the founder and organizer of Bangalore Open Air, spoke to Sinusoidal Music about the situation, “The visas were applied for much in advance in the first week of January; they are supposed to be processed in 72 hours as per the website. It’s not like we applied a week ago. But then, after a week, they asked us to submit additional documents, which we did. Out of the total travel party, five got their visas, but the last three didn’t. We reapplied. They were in Nepal, and three of them went to the Indian embassy in Nepal and submitted their passports. We were promised by the Indian embassy that they would get the visa this morning. The embassy said, ‘Tomorrow morning, you should get it by 9 o’clock.’ “
However, embassy delays at the last moment stalled the show, “We spent a lot of money on flights, from Kathmandu directly to Bangalore. Why did we announce the postponement at the last moment? We were hoping all three would get their visas this morning based on what the embassy was saying. We got Necrobutcher’s and the lightning technician’s visas, but not Hellhammer’s. The sad part is that people start abusing the organizer. People need to take two steps back and see the issue beyond our control despite our best efforts.”
In a lengthy Facebook post, Syed shared his frustrations about the challenges facing organizers in India. He expressed that the passion for metal exists but is fragmented, and the hurdles faced are overwhelming. “The sheer amount of red tape required to get even basic permissions is overwhelming,” he noted. He mentioned that the environment in India often feels discouraging, stating, “Bangalore Open Air has always been a labor of love, but the love feels one-sided.” Syed emphasizes his commitment to the metal scene, even as he considers stepping back from organizing. “I don’t know what the future holds for Bangalore Open Air, but my passion for metal remains,” he concluded.
The remaining band members vocalist Attila Csihar, and guitarists Teloch and Ghul were available for a signing session and meet-and-greet at the venue for ticket holders. While fans signed everything from autographs, and posters to t-shirts, we also spotted Youtuber and metalhead Karl Rock lurking around.
While postponement has left many fans disappointed, there is hope that Mayhem will be able to reschedule their performance soon.
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