Organizers of Germany's Dong Open Air Festival have issued the following statement:

"We have fought hard throughout the recent weeks, but can no longer hold back and have to tell you very sad news. The end – possibly of an era – has come for the Dong Open Air.

Fans from the region may have already read about this in local newspapers: Plans have been made to use the artificial hills of the region permanently. Wind turbines shall be built on our dear Halde Norddeutschland. These types of hills are admittedly predestined for this kind of endeavor and because of the area’s exposed setting, the turbines may also carry additional symbolic value in the energy industry.

'Gold Mines In Lofty Heights' was the title of the regional newspaper Neue Ruhr Zeitung (NRZ), and made it clear where the motivation of the project stemmed from. Financial interest was compared to cultural riches. The latter lost. The construction process and the placement of the wind turbines will make it impossible to conduct another Dong Open Air on the Dong hill. Even worse, while this sort of undertaking usually takes its time, this time, people are trying very hard to put their money where their mouth is, announcing the start of construction for 2013. In plain words: The Dong Open Air 2012 will be the last of its kind.

If and how the Dong Open Air continues after this summer is yet to be decided. We, the organizers, are having a hard time picturing a continuation of the Dong Open Air in a different location – outside of the Dong region.

But for now we’ll focus on something else: Making sure we whip up an awesome tenth heavy metal circus above the roofs of Neukirchen-Vluyn, in between the Ruhr metropolis and the lower Rhine. If you still want to join us for our last big party on the hill, get one of the leftover tickets now."

The Dong Open Air Festival 2012 which will take place in Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany from July 12th to 14th.

Confirmed acts now include: AARDVARKS, BASANOS, BETONTOD, BLACK BLITZ, CIRCLE OF SILENCE, CYRCUS, DAVIDIAN, HUNGÖVER, KNORKATOR, NAPALM DEATH, NIGHT IN GALES, OMNICIDE, ONE BULLET LEFT, PATH OF GOLCONDA, RAGE, SUIDAKRA.

For more info on the festival and tickets visit Dongopenair.de.