The appointment of metal lovers, which begins Thursday, June 15 for four days, is criticized on several points this year. The boss of the festival, Ben Barbaud, answers point by point.
Hellfest is about to make metal and its currents resonate once again from Thursday June 15 to Sunday June 18, 2023 in Clisson (near Nantes, in Loire-Atlantique). The festival, whose 16th edition notably features the giants Iron Maiden, Kiss, Motley Crüe, Slikpnot, Pantera and Black Flag, is sold out with 240,000 spectators expected. Pointed to on several points this year, in particular on its programming of artists condemned by justice for domestic violence, the co-creator and director of Hellfest Ben Barbaud responds to criticism in an interview with AFP.
You are programming Johnny Depp this year as guitarist of the Hollywood Vampires, despite the controversy that surrounds him since the trial which opposed him to his ex-wife Amber Heard on the background of accusations of domestic violence, and Tommy Lee, drummer of Mötley Crüe, sentenced in 1998 for domestic violence against his ex-wife Pamela Anderson…
Ben Barbaud : Our line of artistic programming is based on the request that we are made or not of an artist. They are part of world famous bands that attract crowds. I am well aware that some would like us not to program them. But I am neither a judge nor a prosecutor. I do not wish to create a sort of second sentence. Tommy Lee was convicted over 30 years ago.
What if Rammstein, whose singer is accused of sexual assault, asked you to play next year at Hellfest?
Ben Barbaud : There is vigilance to be had. We talk about behavior during concerts. I didn’t hear of anything like this when Rammstein played Hellfest in 2016. If the band were to contact us for next year, which they are not, if complaints were filed, if a investigation is underway, with consistent clues, we will not go. It’s giving me too much importance and skills to expect me to be a prosecutor and a judge. But the safety of festival-goers is my responsibility. Last year, a brigade, Hellwatch, was created to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. We decided to beef it up with 60 people this year. We know it is perfectible. For environmental issues, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, it is wrong to say that we do not care because we sell our tickets in five minutes. We are aware that we have to improve.
Why does the four-day pass increase by 40 euros to 329 euros this year?
Ben Barbaud : Compared to its size, Hellfest is the least subsidized festival with 40,000 euros out of a 35 million budget. You should know that we are not looking for profit, we reinvest what we earn in scenography, security, public reception for the next edition and we suffer general inflation on energy, the price services from our service providers. The price is not accessible for all, I regret it. But we don’t go over 500 euros unlike other festivals abroad. We operate in a niche but the bands we program also play on supply and demand. There is also a real question of the environmental impact, because artists arrive with an increasingly gigantic production with sets, etc. If the artists slowed down a little on this, maybe we would see lower fees, even if I find it hard to believe.
The Hellfest, for its exceptional double edition 2022, consumed 300,000 liters of fuel oil last year…
Ben Barbaud : I was too transparent in saying that. But I didn’t say I didn’t care. I said that, concerning energy, it is difficult for the moment to have technical solutions. But, I insist, we know that manufacturers, manufacturers of generators, are working to find ways for us to, I hope, in the future, organize events with cleaner energy. I don’t claim to be an expert. Maybe it will go through hydrogen, photovoltaics… This year, Hellfest is testing a hydrogen solution on a group and we have committed to a photovoltaic support test next year. 15 years ago, the Hellfest did not do selective sorting; today, we are at 70%. I don’t do “green-washing”, we know that everything is not perfect at Hellfest.