VINNIE PAUL: European-Style Heavy Metal Festivals Wouldn't Get Same Kind Of Support In America

June 13, 2015

Kerrang! Radio conducted an interview with HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott and guitarist Christian Brady at this year's edition of the U.K.'s Download festival, which is being held this weekend in Donington Park. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about what it's like to perform at Download festival again, Vinnie Paul said: "It's incredible, dude. I tell people all the time back home, if we could have these kinds of festivals in the United States, it'd be amazing, but people just wouldn't support 'em like they do over here. People over here really love and embrace heavy metal and hard rock music, and they still… It still feels like '80s, the '90s, 2000 over here, because they just love the music, man. And it's so great to come and play for people here."

As previously reported, HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell broke his foot in three places and is not able to participate in the rest of the band's European tour. Vinnie Paul said: "We will carry on, with Chris Brady holding down the guitar force. Tom will rejoin us for [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival this summer]."

HELLYEAH's latest album, "Blood For Blood", was the band's first release since parting ways with guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kahaha in 2013.

The new members of HELLYEAH are bassist Kyle Sanders and Christian Brady.

"Blood For Blood" sold around 17,000 copies in its first week of release to land at No. 18 on the Billboard chart.

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