A Heroic Act Saves One of the World’s Largest EDM Festivals
When a massive fire threatened to disrupt one of the most anticipated music events of the year, a quick-thinking move by a legendary rock band ensured that the festival could go on as planned. The incident unfolded just hours before the start of Tomorrowland, one of the world’s biggest electronic dance music (EDM) festivals, which takes place in Belgium.
The main stage, a central feature of the event, was severely damaged in the fire, raising concerns about whether the festival would be able to proceed. With performances from top EDM artists such as Swedish House Mafia and David Guetta set to take place, the situation looked dire. However, thanks to the efforts of Metallica, the festival was able to continue without any major disruptions.
Metallica, currently on their M72 World Tour, had their stage equipment stored nearby in Austria. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the band quickly arranged for the stage to be flown overnight to Belgium. This swift action allowed Tomorrowland to remain on schedule and deliver an unforgettable experience for its attendees.
Martin Garrix, who was scheduled to perform on July 19, took to Instagram to express his appreciation for the band’s efforts. In a post, he wrote, “I can not believe I’m actually typing this… but my set at Tomorrowland is still happening! Massive love and a big shoutout to the incredible @tomorrowland team for pulling off miracles — and to @Metallica for coming through with the new stage parts.” The caption was accompanied by a photo of Garrix and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. In response, the band left a simple black heart emoji in the comments, showing their support.
Fans were quick to praise the band’s actions, with many expressing admiration for their willingness to help. One fan wrote, “Makes me so proud to be a Raver AND a Metalhead.” Another commented, “Desperate times call for LEGENDARY MEASURES.” Some fans even expressed hope for a future collaboration between Martin Garrix and Metallica, with one saying, “I’m praying to see garrix x metallica collab one day,” while another added, “now I’ll be dreaming with a collab.”
A Miraculous Turnaround
After the fire was extinguished, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen addressed the situation, acknowledging the significant effort that had gone into building the original stage. She told Rolling Stone, “Years of love and passion have gone into building that stage. Those teams are devastated. Tomorrow, 38,000 festival-goers will arrive, we’re really looking forward to that, and we’re going to give them a warm welcome. We’re going to make it a wonderful festival.”
Wilmsen continued to express her gratitude for the rapid response and the support from the community. On Friday, July 18, she told DJ Mag, “It is a miracle and we are beyond happy to be opening. Two hours ago we were still demolishing the old stage.” Her words highlighted the incredible teamwork and resilience that helped save the festival.
Tomorrowland will take place over two weekends, from July 18-20 and July 25-27. Despite the challenges faced, the festival remains a celebration of music, unity, and perseverance. The unexpected support from Metallica not only ensured the event could proceed but also became a story of heroism and collaboration that will be remembered for years to come.
