Welcome To Rockville canceled multiple sets this weekend after severe thunderstorms forced attendees to evacuate from Daytona International Speedway. Forfeited performances included headlining appearances by Korn and Guns N’ Roses.
Following the first day of the festival, which saw a headlining set from Kiss, organizers were forced to cancel Korn’s headlining set on Friday due to inclement weather. The festival proceeded on Saturday but organizers had to halt performances again around 3 p.m., according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. After a brief pause, they resumed the festivities with a reconfigured schedule that included abbreviated sets from Alice in Chains‘ Jerry Cantrell and Shinedown, but at 10 p.m., they announced the cancellation of the rest of the night’s performances, including Skillet, Breaking Benjamin, and GNR’s headlining show.
“Unfortunately there is another storm headed our way so we regretfully will be cancelling the rest of the show tonight,” organizers Danny Wimmer Presents said in a since-deleted statement (via Blabbermouth).“We are as heartbroken as you are that today’s inclement weather has disrupted our plans, but ultimately the safety of our fans, artists, staff and vendors are of the upmost importance. Please make your way to your vehicle or campground calmly. Thank you and see you tomorrow.”
GNR guitarist Slash tweeted about the band’s disappointment over the canceled show, which would have marked the band’s first live performance since October 2021. “Tonight’s cancelation at Welcome to Rockville was a massive disappointment,” he wrote. “We were really looking forward to the show. But the weather had other ideas. We sympathize with all you guys who got rained out along with us, it [expletive] sucks. Another time, sooner than later!”
The festival’s ticket policy precluded fan requests for refunds for cancellations due to inclement weather. As the festival’s site states, “No refunds or exchanges will be given as a result of weather conditions; and no refunds or exchanges will be given for inclement or severe weather that necessitates an evacuation, delay or cancellation in part or whole of the event.”
Luckily, the weather cleared up and Welcome To Rockville Festival finished strong on Sunday with performances by The Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails. Sunday also saw Porno For Pyros‘ first concert in 25 years. Though guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins were unable to perform due to COVID and a “bad infection” respectively, the Perry Farrell-fronted group treated fans to a set of both originals and Jane’s Addiction classics with a lineup featuring Peter DiStefeno, Mike Watt, and Stephen Perkins’s drum tech. Watch fan-shot video of their performance below.
Porno For Pyros – “Pets”
[Video: K Train 2787 Productions]
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Tonight’s cancelation at Welcome to Rockville was a massive disappointment. We were really looking forward to the show. But the weather had other ideas. We sympathize with all you guys who got rained out along with us, it fucking sucks. Another time, sooner than later! iiii]; )’
— Slash (@Slash) May 22, 2022
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