De eerste editie van het Forces of Metal festival heeft zijn eerste grote tegenslag te pakken. Headliner Manowar heeft het optreden op het E3-strand in Eersel afgelast, omdat de organisatie de contractuele verplichtingen niet nakomt. Wie er naast Twisted Sister nu als 2e grote naam op het affiche verschijnt, is nog niet bekend. Op 8 en 9 juni zullen onder andere ook Kamelot en Sonata Arctica op komen treden.

De verklaring op de website van Manowar luid als volgt;

"Forces Of Metal Festival, Netherlands Fails To Fulfill Contractual Obligations - MANOWAR Performance Canceled

Following the festival organizer's failure to meet their contractual obligations, making MANOWAR's headlining performance at Forces Of Metal Festival on June 8th 2012 impossible, the band's performance is officially canceled.
Magic Circle Management have done everything in their power to save this performance for the sake of the fans, but the organizers have failed to find a solution to all of their problems and Magic Circle Management must protect the MANOWAR fans.
The band was looking forward to returning to Holland with next year's massive festival production. Magic Circle management hope that Forces Of Metal will immediately refund all tickets sold to all those who purchased a ticket to see MANOWAR.

Those who have purchased tickets to Forces Of Metal, Netherlands to see MANOWAR are urged to immediately contact the promoter's office to obtain a full refund."