MANOWAR: 'Our Performance At HELLFEST Was NOT Cancelled By The Band'

MANOWAR has released a new statement regarding the cancelation of the band's appearance at this past weekend's Hellfest.

It was reported on Friday (June 21) that MANOWAR's performance at the annual event in Clisson, France was called off just hours before the band was supposed to take the stage.

The Hellfest organizers later issued a statement saying that the MANOWAR members "decided to leave the site" and insisting that the cancelation was caused by "reasons beyond our will."

Earlier today, MANOWAR released the following statement via social media:

"Regarding Hellfest cancellation

"Our performance at Hellfest scheduled for June 21, 2019 was NOT cancelled by the band; it was cancelled by the Hellfest organizers in their announcement that appeared on their websites.

"In the days prior to Hellfest, Switzerland, Greece, and Bulgaria all witnessed our massive production that brought The Kingdom Of Steel to life. We brought it to Hellfest because we came to play.

"We fought to give our fans the performance we promised last year at Hellfest, but we will not be pushed around by the Hellfest promoters who chose not to honor their contractual obligations and think they can do wrong to us and to our fans.

"Those of you who have requested information regarding ticket refunds should contact the outlet where you purchased your ticket or the Hellfest organizers directly, as they are responsible.

"We are currently seeking every legal remedy available to us by law."

Last month, MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio said that the band was "not retiring," despite the fact that it announced its "final" tour more than three years ago. " I'm too young to retire," he told Bulgaria's Z Rock Radio. I'm like Peter Pan — I'm a boy in a man's body. I'm, like, 15 years old in my mind."

Back in May 2016, MANOWAR revealed that it would say "thank you", "farewell" and "goodbye" to its fans on a world tour that would be "bigger and beyond anything" the group had ever done.

MANOWAR released a new EP, "The Final Battle I", in March. Parts II and III of the trilogy will arrive at a later date, inspired by MANOWAR's adventures on the remainder of "The Final Battle".