Just scanned through the comments on my last post. I’m just glad that there are so many like me who feel such shit shouldn’t be taken lying down. It has generated enough discussion on the post itself plus various posts on other blogs. I don’t really want to defend my writing or my emotions. But I’ll clarify certain things.
Like I mentioned in my original post, I’m really not what you would call a “metalhead”. I do listen to Metallica only because I like their music. I don’t worship them. I don’t idolize them. And yes, this was my first concert.
But having sat through the entire ordeal, waiting on the mats, complying with the organizers demands, it was so frustrating to hear the firang come up on stage and announce that Metallica wouldn’t perform, as if nothing had happened. If they couldn’t fix it, they shouldn’t have lied. Wasn’t it better to simply hand over some merchandise to the audience as a compensation than to have the audience get on stage and create chaos? No clarifications, no apologies and simply no crisis management. Things could’ve turned very, very ugly.
On top of that, I see people blaming Delhi for not having the kind of metal/rock culture such concerts demand. It’s sheer stupidity. Was Bangalore born with the rock scene? No. The culture slowly grew. Things take time to develop. If Delhi-tes can handle a world-class Metro, I’m sure they’re responsible enough to handle themselves in a gathering.
Then, they’re those who point out that abuses are a part of the entire experience and Delhi should go back to watching Mika performances. Well, had Mika uttered a “Ma ki”, “Behn ki” or “G@ndu” on a stage, people anywhere would’ve kicked his butt. Same goes for the firang. Just cause he chose words like “Fuckin’”, “Buttheads” doesn’t make it any less insulting. I, like everyone else PAID money to watch Metallica perform live. I wasn’t there for free. I wasn’t there to get insulted. I wasn’t there for a compromise. I wasn’t there because I thought it’d be a good opportunity to participate in a riot. When I paid, it was because of the promise of quality entertainment. In the end, I went home with an aching head/back and a fucked up head. My post wasn’t put online for some 15 minutes of fame. I needed an outlet to vent the frustration.
I just hope Bangalore has a better experience. And whether they, or any band for that matter returns to India, I really don’t care. There are some basic sentiments that everyone must appreciate. Metallica did not. And I blame them for that. DNA Networks proved that they’re nothing but a joke but Metallica proved to me that they don’t really care. It was like, alright kids, show’s cancelled, now scram! Don’t expect reasons. You won’t get any. Deal with it. Different places have different cultures and the organizers, the band and its crew should’ve duly taken note of that. You think McDonalds would’ve thrived in India had they served beef and pork, just because traditionally, it’s a HAMBURGER and not an Aaloo Burger? You take note of cultures, sentiments and you tweak yourself to adapt.
Its a simply producer-consumer analogy. That’s all. I don’t know shit about mosh pits and I don’t care what the rock culture dictates. It’s simple logic through which I deduced that I was cheated. I didn’t grow up listening to Metallica. But maybe, just maybe after the concert, I would’ve grown old listening to their music. But their silence disappoints me. I feel like I was used for a cheap, promotional gimmick. The money returned, makes up for nothing.
Some other posts that might interest you :
- The Day That Should’ve Never Come : Dear DNA Networks, Metallica Band Members and the Crew, As I lie in bed and watch NDTV newsanchors blame the “rowdy” Gurgaon crowd for “vandalising” the Metallica concert stage and creating “chaos”, I’m only filled with more anger. I strongly feel that what you got tonight, is less when compared to what you actually deserved. [...]...
I understand your frustrations. I don’t think Metallica is a very good band anymore. They’ve made their millions and they don’t care about their fans. I’m a fan of Iron Maiden and know they truely love their fans and do it for the enjoyment of the music. Metallica does it for the pure greed of money alone. Sorry you had a bad time…I hope you can get your money back. Just remember not all Americans act that way and we’re all people so I hope you don’t hate us for this stupid band.
Dont lie to the world dude. I was there too. the american said buttheads to scums who were breaching the barricade and he was virtually begging and pleading to the fans that metallica will perform tomorrow
i think i agree with you…. that may have been the possible reason.its what i take into account after watchn the videos of the shit happening….total chaos ….pretty fucked up!!!
i think the primary problem with the gig was there were too many people who were attending simply because of the hype and not out of any appreciation for the music.
they far outnumbered the actual fans so a situation like this which spiralled out of control could not be brought back into check by people who ‘understand’ how to reach in situations like this.
of course the reality is if you dont let in 15,000 of the rest along with the actual 5,000 the organisers will never recover their money…
** sigh..
I doubt people would pay close to 3 grand to attend a concert for ‘hype’. Delhi has enough proper music fans now. Anyway that’s besides the point.
Whats done is done now. People who’ve been looking forward to it for ages are now left moping, wondering if they’ll ever get a chance again..
hey, i accidentally stumbled upon your blog vis facebook. i am reading couple of more posts you have puted up. well i must say you write really good.
i like n love your skills of writing….do post more..Cheers Dude!!! n fuck that Metallica…kirk HAmmet worst student of Joe satriani>>>!!! maa ka laura
McD – pork – aaloo? Really? Thats what you come up with to compare a freaking Metallica concert? Well, just so you get it, McD here is not analogous to Metallica, idiot, its analogous to DNA. Metallica is the fucking burger! You don’t want to eat the fucking hamburger then get the fuck out or blame McD for not setting it up right. Don’t blame the burger itself.
I can’t believe people like you are justifying the whole riot. Its self-righteous shit like this that make people think that everyone in that 25000 crowd was on the fucking stage looting it instead of the actual few chooths who did it.
You went to a concert hoping to have a good time, a few idiots and the management team screwed it up. The band, scared for its safety didn’t turn up. Blame the chooths, not the band. The Bangalore concert was ossom and the band was actually polite!! A first for Metallica I think. The ‘firang dude’ that everyone is so fussed about was there before the main act asking people to move and the Bang crowd did move without looting the stage. So grow up and start taking responsibility for your mistakes instead of blaming others.
The band, scared for its safety didn’t turn up.
Had it been Iron Maiden, Bruce would have said, “Aye, kheeds (kids) will always be kheeds, and we know them. We ARE playing.”
Haha. Yeah, right. The image of a band is completely different from what they are like in real life, I’m sure you know that. Any artiste that big would be scared to perform in front of a loose crowd. If the barricades were not good enough to stop the crowd and if in the midst of the show one of them had fallen, any fan worth his salt would have run on to the fucking stage to meet/fall on to the feet of/hug his idols. And that, to any celebrity, is scary as fuck
Skuttle, you are spot on man.
Rahul Dude says ‘had Mika uttered a “Ma ki”, “Behn ki” or “G@ndu” on a stage, people anywhere would’ve kicked his butt.’ Very true bro, that’s because he is Mika and not Metallica. Metallica utters same words in concerts and people treat them like Gods. Of course this doesn’t happen in Delhi. And hence the show gets cancelled.
Better luck next time, when Delhi assumes the Rock avatar. Till then Bhangra with Mika !!! Cause Delhi no longer Rocks. Delhi Bhangra’s.
Do let me know where Metallica used such words in the US. I wasn’t probably aware that American fans don’t have any issue in being insulted.
Banglore handled it well. The crowd really held it together. There were lots of pricks ffcrse but nobody dared to go beyond the limit becasuse the crowd would’ve chewed them out if they did.
One chink asshole started banging on the sideboards; the whole crowd exploded. The jackass ducked and vanished , never to be heard again.
Delhi guys could’ve handled it, but again we were extra cautious becuased of the gurgon fiasco.
I don’t think you guys are getting the point here… the whole riot thing and vandalism happened AFTER the long delay/wait and show being cancelled!! What we are saying here is that there was no concern or apologetic behavior shown by the organizers or the Band on that part & no reason was given!! Plus even the cover bands were not seen till 6:30pm. There were absolutely no preparations done for a show of this magnitude, and the ‘technical problem’ was obviously not repairable (or equipment/arrangement not upto standards of the Band– which the band should have got checked long back with so much experience of performing live) and it had been internally decided the band was not performing that day, that is the reason the band was actually giving a Press-conference at that time, and we were just left waiting, & the organizers hoping the crowd gets a bit wild and we call off the show blaming the crowd for the unruly behavior. Imagine, just after the announcement, the exit gates were closed and people could not get out for some time.. trapped inside!!
No metal detectors, no proper arrangements at the entry gates, not much equipments / barricades, staff from organizers to guide the crowd, show host, no cover bands.. seems the show had already been pulled off for some reason!!
AGREE!!!
To ALL THE IDIOTS WHO ARE CRITICIZING THE CROWD BEHAVIOR AND BY THEIR CRIRICISM ARE IN A WAY SHOWHING SOLIDARITY WITH THE CORRUPT DNA EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM:
i am too tired to write again. so i will just copy-paste what i have written before elsewhere:
It seems you are paid stooges on the pay-rolls of the DNA PR team….or you might also be gigoloes hustling your ass for the gay DNA bosses…
Ever heard of terms like mosh-pit, crowd-surfing etc ?
Ever heard of the Sex pistols, songs like Anarchy in the UK, of punk music, of heavy metal ?
Ever been at a Rock concert or even seen one on TV ? (btw, they are not aired on channels like Colors and Star Plus)
Ever heard of Football hooliganism in Britain?
No show ever gets cancelled this way anywhere outside India…and if they do there would be BLOOD on the streets like it happened in Indonesia or even in some of the more civilized European nations
The Delhi crowd should be praised for keeping their cool…had it been any other place in India (the gentlemanly Rajnikant-lapping South India included where fans tear apart cinema halls when their hero gets beaten up on screen), the riots and destruction would have been massive….colossal…much larger to what happened yesterday in Delhi
I suggest you watch live performances of bands like Motorhead, Black sabbath, Judas Priest, AC-DC and Slayer (bands which you probably have never heard of) on youtube. Their sights and sounds will make you piss in your mother’s laps but you’ll get to know what Heavy Metal is all about.
Violence is to be condemned. But as i have said before, the crowd should have been praised for showing restraint under extreme provocation. This was nothing. ANYWHERE ELSE the violence would have been at a much larger scale if something similar had happened (Bangalore included).
What the DNA management did was no less than a scam and fraud perpetrated on the people. They tried to cut corners with security as with the sound and other technical equipments which were far too ordinary. Metallica refused to play under those conditions. And the DNA management in a desperate bid to save their face tried to hide behind the hapless crowds by making lame excuses like “violent crowd behavior”.
Why were they selling tickets even after the show was cancelled? Why were they lying to the fans on the issue of postponement when it was clear that they did not have a permit for the next day and when it was virtually impossible to have two concerts in Delhi and Bangalore on consecutive days ?There are many other disturbing “whys” . Even a laymen can point out the glaring lapses on the part of DNA vis-a-vis arrangement, organizing and security and that the Metallica show was a no-show right from the start. The obvious reason is embezzelment; the organizers having siphoned off the loot tried to cut corners everywhere.
Because you will definitely refuse to understand this, you are either a naive, gullible fool and one of the reasons why there is so much loot and corruption in India or an employee of DNA trying to cover up for your bosses who are cooling their heels behind bars.
ur rite buddy??
So true man,so true.
@Uthfull: read this 50 times.
And go listen to Metallica before showing up for their concert.
While i understand your frustration on the show not happening and i agree it was not right i do not think it was right to blame Metallica for fiasco that happened.everyone incl you would have been scared for their safety if put in that situation. Metallica are humans not mortals. Because of some idiots the true Metallica fans suffered. look at the show @ Bangalore…it was awesome. the crowd was one of most well behaved. the same firang came on stage and requested the crowd to move away from the front barricade and the crowd listened (it was different that his instruction made me feel i was in aerobics class) and this happened @ 7pm after the Scottish band played……from 7pm to 8pm the crowd waited patiently for the show to start not knowing the whole time what was happening. we kept staring at a blank stage & screen. we all thought for a while that this would be a repeat of Delhi but when Metallica started playing it was heaven.I love Metallica and the music they play. So you should blame DNA and the buttheads who vandalized the stage for the show not happening……
dont blame metallica for the fuck up that the organizers are. i was there at bangalore. the gig went like clockwork there.
Skuttle, you are spot on man.
Rahul Dude says ‘had Mika uttered a “Ma ki”, “Behn ki” or “G@ndu” on a stage, people anywhere would’ve kicked his butt.’ Very true bro, that’s because he is Mika and not Metallica. Metallica utters same words in concerts and people treat them like Gods. Of course this doesn’t happen in Delhi. And hence the show gets cancelled.
Better luck next time, when Delhi assumes the Rock avatar. Till then Bhangra with Mika !!! Cause Delhi no longer Rocks. Delhi Bhangras.