Excess is a many headed beast, taking forms such as destruction, substance abuse, causing offence, aggression. Lower types of excess exist unfortunately and they are mainly formulated, premeditated just for show outbursts. What people love in metal and rock is a true organic excess, with spontaneity to boot.
Village Green Preservation Society to City Dwelling Decadents
Many bands start from grass roots to become institutions of success and fame, and this can often cause a stark difference in lifestyle. Many British bands such as the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath all started from impoverished backgrounds to achieve mega stardom. This left the band members with piles of cash and opened the door to endless drugs, drink and women, which they all indulged in as these thing were not available to them before.
The Who in particular had a penchant for chaos spurred on mainly by eccentric drummer Keith Moon. Everyone has heard the tales of hotel room obliteration and musical equipment trashing, hence The Who’s reputation for excess.
In the Almighty Words of James Hetfield - Live Life Hazy
Metal and beer are the best of buddies, and binge and purge to the sound of heavy tunes is a common stress relief mechanism. Tankard sang of nothing but alcohol in the 80’s, and more recently bands like Municipal Waste and Korpiklaani frequently elaborate on the joys of drinking (See ‘Beer Pressure’/’The Inebriator’ and ‘Happy Little Boozer’/’Beer Beer’ respectively).
Kings of 80’s thrash metal Metallica were renowned to be heavy boozers in their early days. In several biographies the band are rumoured to have been drinking large amounts of Vodka and Jägermeister after each show and were donned “Alcoholica” with the tagline “Drank ‘em all” an obvious pun on Kill Em All (1982), and James Hetfield in particular having a long standing problem with alcohol.
And The Worst For Last...
The line between excess and pure depravity is crossed, blurred and defecated upon by one certain individual. Performing with such high brow acts as The Scumfucs and The Cedar Street Sluts, coprophage and all round lunatic G.G. Allin (born Jesus Christ Allin) would include such feats as urination and masochistic acts in his live appearances in the 80’s and early 90’s, rape and torture in his private life and drugs in both until that is his heroin related death in 1993.
Well, it seems excessive and usually illegal activity goes hand in hand with heavy metal and alternative culture. The general demographic associated with these circles are very passionate about their causes, but relatively docile. The few mentioned here were the ones who pushed the boundaries of banality and contributed to the bittersweet spice of life.
Tom Findlay - Tom Findlay: Young freelance writer, articulate and humorous in style. Writes what he sees; no obesquious pandering and no unnecessary ...
