Crowdfunding Effort to Help Laid Off Team Rock (Metal Hammer) Staff Has Raised £66,000 in Just Three Days

The crowdfunding effort to help the 73 laid off employees of Team Rock Ltd., the publisher that owns Metal Hammer as well as several other music-related magazines, has been a smashing success. In just three days since Orange Goblin frontman Ben Ward launched the campaign, the effort has obliterated its goal of £20,000 by over 300%.

The proceeds will help the employees — who were let go without any pay or severance right before the Holidays — get back on their feet before looking for new work. It isn’t clear yet exactly how the donations will be divided, but Ward had posted comments on the crowdfunding page indicating that he’s in touch with former staffers and all money will go directly to them, not what remains of the company itself.

2921 individual parties have donated to the cause so far. One of those was Avenged Sevenfold, who made a heartfelt public announcement pleading with their fans to help in which they bizarrely announced exactly how much they’d donated (£1,000).

Give a few quid/bucks if you can. Donate here and give back to all those people who’ve brought you great metal content over the years.