Two seriously injured by storm at Sonisphere Finland

As Iron Maiden wrap up thanks to some hairdryers

09 August 2010

Two ticket-holders seriously injured at this weekend's Sonisphere Finland are no longer in a critical state, say organisers.

The pair were hurt after a freak thunderstorm hit the event, breaking Motely Crue’s kit and damaging the second stage beyond repair.

The festival, however, continued with an impromptu four-song acoustic set by Iggy Pop and full shows from Alice Cooper and headliners Iron Maiden.

“The stage over there is completely fucked. Motley Crue have gone home as their stuff is fucked and our stuff is fucked, but we don’t care,” said Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson when introducing Cooper, “We’re not going home until you go home.”

Alice Cooper had to borrow their equipment from Slayer to make sure the show went on while stagehands plugged in 30 hairdryers and set to work drying out kit for Iron Maiden.

Going on two hours later than originally planned, Maiden arrived onstage to a great reception. “This is one of the most amazing concerts of my whole life,” Dickinson told the crowd, “We were pissed on by the gods and we pissed on the gods right back. For those of you that have rocked we fucking salute you.”

“We’ve already starting planning next year and the show will definitely be coming back to Finland,” said Sonisphere series producer Stuart Galbraith.

“It’s been an unbelievable tour and I’m so proud of the way we’ve dealt with any challenges,” said Stuart. “We’ve survived mud baths in Switzerland and Sweden, a sandstorm in Spain and now we’ve survived a tornado here in Finland.”

Anthrax and Slayer were among the acts to perform before the storm hit Sonisphere Finland 2010.