Scott Lee (New England Metal and Hardcore Festival)

Next month The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival will hold its 14th event. We thought it would be a great time to talk to festival founder and organizer Scott Lee. In addition to the festival and its associated events, Lee is a promoter for MassConcerts and also manages a handful of notable bands, including The Acacia Strain and Mychildren Mybride.
This is correct. I sold my soul to get Shadows Fall on this festival. I brought them there and when we went to get our passes, we were treated terribly. I saw a pile of lanyards and asked if we can have some and the guy said "no, who do you think you are?" The band was not allowed to use their own guitar heads. It was just a bad overall vibe.
Matt [Bachand] from Shadows Fall said to me that I could do it and do it a lot better. So I took the idea back to MassConcerts and here we are 14 years later.
I have no idea. I think it stopped for obvious reasons.
Doing an interview with Lambgoat. I think it is very cool. The lineup is really solid this year. Probably the most solid lineup we have had in a long time.
I am excited that the festival has been around for 14 years now and we can continue doing this. It is a lot of fun hanging out with all of my friends and meeting tons of new people who come to the fest each year.
Massconcerts. I work for MassConcerts and this is something I had brought forward to the company I work for.
To be honest with you, we start the month before the festival happens to start planning for the year afterwards. It is a non-stop year round job booking and promoting the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest.
We take looks at who is putting out records in that time frame and making a skeleton for an ideal festival for the next year.
I try to get as much sleep as I can. I do not have a no drinking policy for myself. I like to take some time to have fun with some of my peers at the end of the day. It sometimes makes for some fun and outrageous stories. I don't get to see all of these people who come to the fest very often.
Slayer.
It's definitely a scheduling thing and I think they look at it as if they can sell the venue out on their own without paying a festival. Hopefully someday we can make it work.
Correct. It is very cost prohibitive. It is very difficult to keep ticket prices low. Nobody wants to spend a million dollars going to a metal or hardcore show.
The guys in Megadeth were very cool and cordial. Actually, no, about Dave. He was very nice and interested in the festival itself. He wanted to know more about it and the bands playing the fest.
Slayer.
Yes. The band Scurvy will absolutely positively never play the festival again. We caught them stealing beer, they broke a bunch of monitors and gear, and they touched too many butts. The bass player got detained by police at the festival for being a total creep. We had to break up a fight between the guitar player and the singer of Shadows Fall, Brian Fair. They are just not allowed back.
Also, the band Scars Of Tomorrow is never welcome back because the singer is a total prick.
Situations vary, but it is usually a full payment after their performance.
That shit is annoying. But they usually come and go. I think that we are the longest lasting American Metal and Hardcore festival. So it does not affect our name because we have been doing it the longest.
I can't do that! I am supposed to say it's the best lineup every year. Come on dude! I try hard to provide the best available and possible talent every year.
Sometimes things don't pan out exactly how we hope, but we put together the best festival we can.
Deicide and Manowar during the first festival and Earth Crisis being direct to Manowar. Lamb Of God playing at one o clock one year and coming back to headline a few years later. The first time Meshuggah played. Blood Has Been Shed has always killed it at the festival. Blood for Blood's reunion was also a great moment.
2006. We had a weak lineup. Lots of cancellations beyond repair.
Yes. The security at the Worcester Palladium is second to none. I am comfortable enough to say that this may be the best security in the country. People come through all the time and compliment their security efforts.
But yes, I think that the kids have been more scared in prior years. I honestly don't think it is as violent as it used to be in any way shape or form.
They have to do what is best for themselves. I wish them the best.
Unfortunately their touring schedule just hasn't matched up with our festival dates. We have tried to make it work but it hasn't come through until this year. We are happy to have them back!
We had an issue with them on the first year with security. Their situation is something maybe we can talk about in year 15. Jake Bannon and the rest of the guys and I are friends and we would love to have them back sometime.
I am a big Converge fan and always have been and always will be.
The band's manager Derek Brewer and I started talks about it. He had come to me. I thought it would be great. I can't wait. I am also a big fan of them as well. This is their last big hooray. We want to send them out on a high note.
I hope the big black singer says lots of blasphemous stuff on stage.