Knotfest Mexico turned into a riot after Slipknot and Evanescence were forced to cancel their headlining sets at the festival due to safety concerns. The single-day hard rock event in Mexico City was running smoothly until a barricade was broken just before the headliners were due to come on, causing a cancellation of the remainder of the music.

The festival also featured acts such as Godsmack, Bullet For My Valentine, 311, Papa Roach, and more, all of whom were able to perform without incident. It was reported that the barricade separating the stage from the audience was broken during Behemoth‘s set, igniting concerns over artist safety. Apparently, festival organizers were unable to repair the barricade and thus were forced to cancel the two remaining performances from Evanescence and Slipknot, respectively.

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Upon the cancellation announcement, fans stormed the stage and proceeded to damage equipment for both headliners, which was already set up for their impending performances. Fan-shot video shows the chaotic scene with thousands of fans running through the festival, and a few lighting Evanescence’s drum kit on fire.

Watch the entire scene play out below.

Knotfest Mexico – Fan Riot

[Video: DELAWER]

Slipknot addressed the cancellation with a statement to fans on Twitter:

Evanescence also released a statement about the incident with a video shared to the band’s Facebook page echoing similar sentiments of regret toward the fans and promising to somehow make it up to them in the future.

Evanescence Knotfest Mexico Statement

Knotfest was scheduled to team up with Forecefest to create a two-day metal festival in Mexico billed as Knotfest Meets Forcefest. Forcefest still went on as scheduled December 1st with headliners Rob Zombie, W.A.S.P., In Flames, Accept, and more at the same venue where Knotfest was held the previous day. The Forcefest organizers originally tried to remedy the Knotfest cancellations by allowing Slipknot and Evanescence to play the next day at Forcefest. However, in an ironic turn of events, the rioters from Knotfest damaged the band’s equipment to such an extent that they were unable to perform the next day at Forcefest. This prompted yet another Facebook post from Evanescence.

Slipknot also announced via social media that their equipment was too damaged in the ensuing riot and that they would not be able to play a make-up set at Forcefest.