THE owners of a Glasgow music venue say they have been left with a repair bill totalling thousands after a thrash metal event went awry.

The Classic Grand said it had suffered “severe damage” during last weekend’s Caledonian Darkness II event.

Bands had flown in from all over Europe, including Sweden and Finland, for the two-day festival, which was scheduled to run last weekend.

However, the event was cut short by organisers on Saturday after tensions apparently arose because some bands complained they had not been paid the agreed fees.

Classic Grand bosses said they agreed with a decision by the promoters to pull the event due to health and safety concerns and damage caused to the venue.

The event’s promoters, Oracular Phantasm, said bands performing at the festival were “professional and respectful” and said it was still to be established who was responsible for the damage.

The venue issued the following statement: “The event, Caledonian Darkness, organised by Oracular Phantasm was cut short on Saturday.

“The Classic Grand would like to clarify, and reiterate, this was a decision made entirely outwith our control; it was a decision that the event organisers/promoters elected to make.

“Bands had flown in from all over Europe, with performance fees agreed by the promoter, as well as riders etc. It soon became apparent that the agreed fees were not going to be available to the bands, or venue.

“When certain acts discovered they were not going to be paid by the promoter, some took it upon themselves to challenge them.

“To ensure everyone’s safety, the promoter decided to cut short the event, a decision which The Classic Grand agreed with.”

A spokesman for promoters Ophidium Arcanum said: “We have yet to find out who is responsible but they will be dealt with accordingly when we do.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said they had no record of a complaint having been made.