OK, this ad is about bikers, but it could easily apply to metalheads. Note that its inclusion here in no way constitutes endorsement (though I did favor Herbal Essences some years ago because it wasn’t tested on animals; I’m not sure if that’s still true). So, any metalhead hair care tips? Do you value “bounce” and “shine” as much as “brutality” and “grimness”?
Admit it, this shit’s important if you’ve got long tresses. Once at a show, I saw a couple where the man and the woman were both like Cousin It. I made the mistake of standing behind them, and even though I had a good several feet of clearance, every time they headbanged, I’d get bits of…stuff…in my mouth.
Metal shows in Europe are uniquely trying, because instead of dodging moshers, you have to avoid headbangers. That’s how they show metal appreciation. A good show looks like clumps of hair bobbing up and down all over. Both men and women are liable to bust into headbanging anytime they feel so inspired. Of course, headbanging has a radius of activity, so if you want to avoid eating the hair of others, stand next to short-haired people.
In Europe, they also have this practice, which I’ve never seen in America, where people put their arms around each other and headbang in unison, like full-on bending from the waist – for entire songs. Usually, it’s two people, though sometimes it’s more, and then you can really crank up some collective torque. I’ve only seen men do this, though once I saw some girls do it to parody men.
People who don’t go to metal shows miss out on so much.
http://www.locustleaves.com/antigod.jpg
I’m the kind of guy you should watch out for in metal gigs. I can go through whole concerts without anything more than a few head-nods, but if something inspires me, as you say, prepare for hairs everywhere. At least I’ve gotten favourable comments by near-but-not-too-near-standers that I’m fanning cold air around.
Your impressions from european headbangers are hilarious and true. We also do have mosh-pits, but they’re not populated by karate-idiots like in your side of the pond.
I personally still use Herbal Essences.
“In Europe, they also have this practice, which I’ve never seen in America, where people put their arms around each other and headbang in unison”
Yes, the male metal bonding. This is more for large groups of friends that go to shows. It can happen with two people but I usually see it – in Greece, the Heavy Metal Savagery capital – by groups.
There’s an epic metal practise where people headbob (like you americans) with one raised fist, and do a little one-step dance, one step forward, one step backwards march. This is really strange and I don’t know where it comes from, but I see it once in a while.
Have you seen people widen their leg stance use one hand on the knee for spine support and headbang really deep and fast? That’s what most thrashers do here. This is my preffered method as well, and it seems americans don’t do this. They do this little headbob thing out of rhythm, it’s like kittens headbanging. Do it like a man, I say!
And yeah, I’ve seen people headbang for whole *shows*, not songs. They take their thing very seriously!
Also check Amon Amarth videoclips for the time-honoured practise of the windmill headbang, popular everywhere in europe. If you can keep it in time, you’re awesome.
Whoa, dude, your hair must be heavy to cart around. I am well-acquainted with the “hands on knees” style of headbanging. I do it frequently in the comfort, safety, and privacy of my own home. Amon Amarth synchronized circle headbanging = hilarious. Corpsegrinder Fisher’s helicopter hair and Erik Rutan’s over-large neck muscles from headbanging = awesome.
i’m all about the headbanging. from when i was a little kid i used to run around and imitate Angus Young. i went through my punk/hardcore stage in high school and college but thrashing around a pit never really stuck. now i look at pits and consider it a waste of floor space.
you gotta bang your head at metal shows. thats the TRADITION. there is nothing cooler than that front row of heads banging in unison.
“Amon Amarth synchronized circle headbanging = hilarious”
Too true. When I saw that videoclip (was it here? It must have been here) I felt like I was watching a Monty Python sketch.
“Have you seen people widen their leg stance use one hand on the knee for spine support and headbang really deep and fast?”
I do that!!! Not always fast, but I often do that one. And I’m American
I don’t have the hair for circle headbanging yet, but I always headbang in time, and it’s rarely headbanging-lite. I’ll mosh occaisionally, but it depends on the band. If it’s a hardcore pit I usually stay out of it.