NME News

Music festival canceled after fears of violence

NME Logo

NME Logo

Bash pulled after biker's death incites fears

The Custom Rock and Blues Festival, which had been set to take place in August in Derbyshire, has been axed after a biker's death raised fear of possible violence.

Organisers for the festival withdrew an application for a licence – a decision based on fears of revenge attacks occurring relating to the death of Hell's Angels biker Gerard Tobin last August.

Tobin was shot dead on the M40 motorway.

According to BBC News, 15,000 people were set to attend the gig, which has a strong biker following.

Organisers said they had not received any specific threats of violence, saying: "We have a duty to customers, employees and the general public to take very seriously any representations made by the police based on intelligence which they have, no matter how sensationalised we believe it to have been."

Police said that the organisers had made the right decision, calling them "sensible".

Add your comment

NME Alerts

Get NME news delivered direct to your desktop. Find out more

Please sign in

Forgot your password?

Register with MyNME

Every Tuesday

  • Breaking News stories
  • All you need to know about the week's NME magazine
  • Live, Album and Track reviews
  • Tip offs about the most important Gigs
  • All the latest NME.COM video exclusives

Every Friday

  • NME.COM's free mini-magazine
  • Gig listings for the weekend
  • All the most important Album and Track reviews
  • The week's biggest News stories
  • Competitions - with exclusive music prizes
  • plus loads more!

In The Magazine

This Week's Issue
  • The ultimate guide to the week in music
  • Agenda-setting news and fiery comment
  • Must-read interviews with the planet's hottest bands
  • Hundreds of UK gigs listed every week
  • Unrivalled access to the artists that matter
  • Subscribe today and get 1/3rd off NME