Headbanger’s journey, watch concerts that you missed
Author: CodyWatson | Posted: 06.03.2012Something had gone wrong, Washington wives had too much time on their hands and they thought it was a good idea to decide on what people are supposed to listen to. Endless lawsuits and censorship followed. But to some, it meant everything and the fact that the outside world didn’t understand, made it even more compelling.
The flower power and the peace rallies had just ended, and not many embraced the deluded utopia. Growing up as alienated teenagers from working class families, heavy metal was a vent and it had kept us sane. The music was simple; on your face, brutal and honest. It was a statement, a philosophy and a way of life. A number of genres had sprouted and each band wanted to outdo the other.
The music grew faster, complex and louder. Fearing controversy, major recording labels did not want to endorse bands. The music went underground, but the fan base was growing. With MTV and radio stations, corporates saw the marketing potential. Metal started to top the Billboard charts. Albums went platinum.
As days passed, the life behind the curtains and staying on the road had burnt the musicians out. Being the most devout music fans that they really are, metalheads loathed and despised the band that strayed out of their roots. It was the beginning of the end. Bands that once played packed arenas began to crumble. Only a handful stood to what the believed and metal went underground once again, but very much alive.
2011, putting aside their differences, the big four of thrash metal- Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth and Metallica, decided to share the stage and play across Europe and The US. Tickets were sold out and excitement rippled across the metal community.
D-day; Boy! The feel of being a teenager again! The fan base had now spanned three generations; kids, parents and grandparents. A week after hipsters stood on the same desert ground for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, there was a wave of black T-shirts. Some had camped the festival grounds a night before and the ‘heavy metal parking lot’ had bought a sense of nostalgia to many. Late afternoon and Anthrax opened the show with a set that drew heavily from ‘Among the Living’. The act ended with the crowd in a huge sing-along.
Megadeth, and right off the bat was ‘Trust’ and ‘Into the lungs of fire’ followed by ‘Holy Wars’. Mustaine left the stage with his signature closing line: "You guys have been great... And we have been Megadeth." Slayer stormed the stage with the title track from their newest slab of aggressive bleakness, “World Painted Blood”. The set spanned their entire career, including ‘Silent Scream’, ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ and ‘Dead Skin Mask’. Now it was Metallica’s turn. Right after the opening song, ‘Am I Evil?’ Metallica jumped back to their 1983 debut, Kill 'Em All, for ‘Hit the Lights’ and ‘Seek and Destroy’. Giant beach balls emblazoned with the Metallica logo dropped onto the crowd as the show ended.
The show was great and did have a feel of those good old days. With sweet bruises of the mosh pit as mementos, we went home. The Big Four tour was recorded and with one of the European acts being released on DVDs. Time Warner TV has loads of these concerts and heavy metal documentaries available On Demand. Some of these concerts are priceless and were recorded thirty years ago, the quality pristine and if you are a metal head, you would love them.
About Author:
Cody is a freelance writer, a blogger and a metal head. He enjoys writing about bands, concerts and some of the popular sources for these shows on Time Warner Deals.
Cody is a freelance writer, a blogger and a metal head. He enjoys writing about bands, concerts and some of the popular sources for these shows on Time Warner Deals.
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