Earlier this week it was reported that Finland's representatives at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Lordi, had been denied the expensive pyrotechnics for their performance by the production crew in Athens, and were considering a withdrawal if the special fireworks show could not be organised. Now, it seems, a heavy metal festival organisation has offered to lend a hand!
The organisers behind Finland's premier festival of metal music, Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, are reported to have offered up to 5,000 euros of the initial costs for the pyrotechnic show in Athens. The German company which is to provide the expertise is apparently asking for a sum in the region of40 thousandeuros for a very special display for the Finnish monster rockers – reportedly three times the normal price due to the monopoly position the ERT gave the company. Since YLE's complaints to the EBU, the price has since been dropped and Lordi has agreed to foot the bill.
Although the Tuska organisers are no strangers to funding challenges themselves, their offer can be seen as a suggestion to others within the music industry to get behind the song and come up with funding support. Tuska's promoter Jouni Markkanen's suggestion is that if public funds fall short of the necessary costs, "let's get the money elsewhere".
The Tuska festival is now in its ninth year, and takes place over June and July in the middle of Helsinki. Lordi took part in its 2003 edition.
