Only Murder Is Real

This new photo by my Murder In The Front Row co-author Harald is beyond amazing to me!  It was taken at the With Full Force Festival in Germany last week when Harald and D.R.I. shared the bill with the legend Thomas Gabriel Fischer (aka Tom G. Warrior) and his current band Triptykon.

In early 2010, I heard about a new book titled Only Death Is Real by Mr. Fischer chronicling the early days of Hellhammer and Celtic Frost. The book was being published by something called Bazillion Points in New York City and I pre-ordered it. When the book arrived I was blown away by how personal it was.. It had amazing early photos and stories AND, to my astonishment, my old early-80's Metal 'zine Whiplash was mentioned as one of the fanzines Hellhammer sent their first demo too (they did!). Surreal! 

I was also gobsmacked over how similar and parallel the original Metal scene in Switzerland was to what was going on in The Bay Area at the exact same time. Teenage Metalheads in Switzerland and Teenage Metalheads in San Francisco were doppelgangers of one another! It was like looking into a time machine mirror.

The book and its production quality was so perfect I remember thinking to myself that if I ever did a book I'd like to do it with Bazillion Points. Fast forward almost a year later and I got a message from Ian Christie of Bazillion Points proposing to do a collaborative book with myself and Harald. I tried to play it cool but my mind was blown over how full circle things had become. 

In the years since Ian and Bazillion published Murder In The Front Row there have been many, many other moments when I felt like this and this photo is the latest one. Metal can still be amazing and inspiring... Sometimes.

Death Meets Murder

San Francisco - October 2010

Procreation Of The Wicked

Triptykon / 1349 / Yakuza
Slim's, San Francisco
Rocktober 23, 2010

Art/design: Kevin Gan Yuen // www.viraloptic.com

As rain fell on San Francisco I was nailed to the couch at Casa de Umlaut watching Game 6 of the NLCS swearing at the t.v. as the game's drama went ballistic; it was baseball at its very best! When the Giants finally nailed the coffin on Philadelphia, I was out the door and into the wet night as neighbors set off fireworks (I assume they keep a stockpile of them for such occasions..) and celebrated in the rain-soaked streets. Pretty cool... I'm not necessarily a fan of Jocks, but I am a fan of the GAME of baseball and it's cool how a winning team can inspire a sense of community. What a GREAT way to start the night and what a GREAT night to be in San Francisco and The Bay Area!

I stepped into Slim's as Yakuza were onstage performing their Metal / Jazz / Prog Rock hybrid. The last time I'd seen a "Metal" band have a saxophone onstage was during a horrible Queensryche performance several years back. Can a clarinet and saxophone ever be Metal?? I'm still not sure, but Yakuza make interesting use of the instruments to create an ambient tone in their sound that other bands would create more traditionally with guitar.

Yakuza saxing up Slim's
(Photos courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

It was an interesting and dynamic performance that reminded me of watching bands like Isis and OM. However, my opinion about the wind instruments went back and forth between (1) this is cool to (2) this is a gimmick. Overall, Yakuza earned my respect and at least I didn't pay more attention to the beer in my hand while watching them. However, I can be fairly dogmatic about my Metal... and a dude coming at me with a clarinet will never be as effective as a dude coming at me with a guitar. One time at band camp.....

Those corpse-painted Norwegians 1349 came onstage with dark confidence and I have to say it was the strongest performance I've seen them play to date. Given his work with Satyricon, Frost on drums is the focus of interest for many... but 1349 are a solid presentation across their lineup. As I said after the last time I saw them back in May, 1349 exudes that real deal Norwegian vibe but, let's be honest, if they were from Sacramento and came onstage dressed like that they'd be hilarious. Also, the band's evil aura was somewhat diminished by the young girls shouting "I LOVE YOU!" at vocalist Ravn in between songs. CUTE.

1349 seducing Slim's
(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

This was a co-headlining tour (with Triptykon and 1349 switching off headlining slots each night) so the Norwegians played a full 70-75 minute set. To be honest, they came out of the gate very strong for me as I watched them from down front... but by the end of their set I could be found at the back of the room with members of the Umlaut Nation and also 3/4 of Saviours.

It had been just over 4 years since the last time I had witnessed Tom Gabriel Warrior (TGW) take the stage. I've lamented in this space before how most bands today have no concept of TONE when it comes to their all-important guitars. Guitarists simply cop someone else's sound and pawn it off as their own to an audience who is either too young to know better or too lazy to care that what they're hearing isn't original. As with my other favorite Masters of guitar TONE Tony Iommi and Dave Chandler, TGW's TONE is completely his own. When you hear the unholy wail of his signature Ibanez Iceman it can only be one beast. TGW's TONE makes me subconsciously raise my hands in the air to form a claw in defiance against all that is normal and mainstream and safe. His TONE can be like a time machine that echos back and forth between my Inner Teenage Metalhead and my 21st Century self right here, right now. His TONE is holy and unholy at the same time.

TGW and his weapon of tone: The H.R. Giger Iceman
(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

Going into the show I think everyone expected the setlist to lean heavily on Triptykon material, but TGW surprised us by weaving a set that was a profound balance of Celtic Frost material and his new songs... and the result was one of the most compelling sets I've seen all year. For those who care, the setlist went like this:

• Procreation Of The Wicked (Celtic Frost)
• Goetia (Triptykon)
• Circle Of The Tyrants (Celtic Frost)
• Abyss Within My Soul (Triptykon)
• The Usurper (Celtic Frost)
• Synagoga Satanae (Celtic Frost)
• The Prolonging (Triptykon)
  

Yes, "only" 7 songs... but with 3 of the songs clocking in at 15-20 minutes each on album (probably a bit longer live) it wasn't about the quantity of songs but the quality of the performances. The band walked onstage and immediately engaged the audience with the old school blast of 'Procreation Of The Wicked' and it didn't take long to realize that Triptykon isn't simply TGW using anonymous backing musicians to "recreate" Celtic Frost. For the educated follower and listener of the man's work, Triptykon is TGW taking his Celtic Frost vision to another level and place. It's denser... even darker... and as a live act Triptykon has a different feel than his old band as well... Onstage the new band are tight but also agile... They played as any great band should play: They looked hungry onstage... Hungry to create... Hungry to express themselves... Hungry to connect both with the audience and themselves.... Hungry for the blood of success.

Triptykon Onstage
(Photo courtesy of Sensory Abuse)

Despite the focused attack and blanket of darkness that the band weaved onstage, I was surprised to see TGW smile a couple of times... and the vibe between him and Vanja Slajh (bass), V. Santura (guitar), and Norman Lonhard (drums) was palpable. They performed grounded in the present instead of chasing something from the past.

It's not often that a musician with a legacy like TGW can successfully join the shadow of his past with something new.... but that's exactly what Triptykon represents and at Slim's it was an almost incomprehensible beast of volume. The new songs were never a distraction and they were even elevated when presented alongside the older Celtic Frost material. The show closed with the new song 'The Prolonging', a 20 minute journey that was beyond epic... and when it ended I was literally stunned. It was a damp and chilly night in San Francisco and I felt like I had just been tucked into bed under the song's crushing promise for retribution... and it was inspiring.

For the newbies, Umlaut has been following TGW's career since the very earliest days of Hellhammer. Also, in his magnificent book Only Death Is Real, TGW actually namechecked my old Metal 'zine Whiplash...

From page 109 of Only Death Is Real

Whiplash #1 - 1983

Having something that I created (along with my friend Sam Kress... R.I.P..) being recognized like that by one of my Music / Metal heroes made my head spin. How did Hellhammer even get a copy of my 'zine in Switzerland back then!? Anyway, at one point in the evening I had the opportunity to finally meet TGW after all these years... and my life came full circle in an instant:


Me: "Do you remember the 'zine Whiplash?"
Tom G. Warrior: "Of course I do..."
Me: "That was my 'zine.."
Tom G. Warrior: "Are you Brian?"

Did you hear that? That was the sound of my jaw hitting the floor. To say that I was left speechless by that conversation would be a complete understatement... The Rock Godz work in mysterious ways, man.

It was an amazing night to be in San Francisco... First, the Giants moved on to the World Series for the first time in 8 years (SPORTS!) and the city had played host to one of THE best Metal shows of the year! The entire night was very life affirming for me and a huge THANKS to Steve at CM for making sure I was taken care of at the show.

I didn't do a proper merch audit, but if you bought one of every Triptykon merch item you would have paid around $150 (I think). On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called me a fag. The next day I attempted to visit the nearby Giants Dugout store. There were almost as many people waiting in line to get into the store as there had been at this show. Crazy... Winning Sports Team = Procreation of the Wicked!

Click HERE to see Photo Ray's shots from the night... and click HERE for Tom G. Warrior's blog post about tonight! Amazing..

The Healing Power Of Metal

Halloween 2006

This has been a weird and stressful time for Umlaut and Skychick, with a dark cloud of bullshit hanging over Casa de Umlaut for the entire year. Thankfully, the sun finally broke through and the sword of justice smote our enemy upon the ruins (or something like that). However, despite this victory, our world is a changed place.

As a reaction to the chaos swirling around me, I religiously embraced Metal again because it gave me comfort in these dark times. Metal is familiar and it served the same purpose when I was a weird and stressed teenager. I don't know what other dudes my age do when their lives become weird and stressed (God? Golf? Hookers?), but it was cool that I could find solace in something "normal people" can't comprehend and that's not self-destructive (unless I want my soul to go to Heaven of course): The Healing Power of Metal.

The Healing Power Of Metal wasn't simply listening to the music; it also included many ironic and positive events that happened to me this year. Most of these events have been chronicled in this space and they all had one thing in common: METAL. Events such as this one:

A year ago my Mom gave me a box of crap she'd collected from my old bedroom at my parents' house; I stuck it up in the attic and forgot about it. Last weekend I was looking for our Halloween decorations and came across the box and finally opened it. Most of the contents were trivial, but there was also a strangely familiar blue folder. On the cover was a late-70's / early-80's decal from local Rock radio station KSJO (R.I.P.). When I opened the folder I almost screamed like King Diamond.

Inside the blue folder was pure gold: The original layouts for Issue #1 of my Metal fanzine Whiplash, which I thought were long gone. Also inside were notes and typed articles that had been intended for the ill-fated Issue #2 that was never published. There were also some vintage live photos that penpals had sent me of Metallica, Randy Rhoads, and Lemmy amongst others. It was like finding my own personal Ark of the Covenant.

Sidebar: Other mom's would have chucked this stuff in the trash, but not my mommy - THANKS MOM! It almost makes me forgive her for making my original Mercyful Fate shirt "disappear" back in The Day...

One of the lost articles in the folder was a piece I wrote about a Swiss band called Hellhammer. For the newbies: Members of Hellhammer subsequently formed the legendary Metal band Celtic Frost, whose resurrection was one of the high points for me this year. Celtic Frost 2006 + Finding This Article = The Healing Power Of Metal!

Judging from the dates in the article, I wrote it in early-1984 and I have a vague memory that the band sent me their demo tapes after they'd read a copy of Whiplash #1. Because they had made the effort, I felt obligated to write something positive about the band eventhough they sounded so primitive to me.  Hellhammer were ahead of their time and my ears weren't quite there yet.

I'm rather gobsmacked how relatively focused my writing was back in those salad days... Especially since any reader of this space knows that I tend to rant and meander now in my old age. I'm also struck that my sense of humor about Metal had already developed eventhough I was still a fanatically dogmatic 20-year old who lived and bled Metal 24/7.

On a historical note, it's interesting how the cross breeding of Punk and Metal was already being acknowledged in the underground scene eventhough the Punk / Metal crossover "officially" was still a good 2 years away. Also, how can you not love the band's personal aliases!?

I must also mention that had Whiplash #2 been published we could have been the first Stateside Metal publication to cover Hellhammer / Tom Warrior / Martin Ain. Alas, what could have been.... Anyway, enjoy this trip down Old Metal Memory Lane.

Your's In Metal,
Brian Umlaut (alias "Flayed Obliteration")

HELLHAMMER

Switzerland is the home of the appropriately named HELLHAMMER, one of those rare bands that come along now and then to enrich society. Originally called HAMMERHEAD, the band was formed in May, 1982 by Tom Warrior (alias "Satanic Slaughter") along with his brother Steve (alias "Savage Damage") and Grave Hill, who was sacked shortly afterwards.

During the first months the lineup continued with Pete Smith (alias "Bloodhunter") on drums, but according to the band he wasn't good enough, so he was replaced in November, 1982 by Bruce Day (ex-MOORHEAD), alias "Denial Fiend". More recently, HELLHAMMER underwent another facelift as Steve Warrior was replaced by Martin Ain (ex-SCHIZO), who goes by the alias of "Slayed Necros".

Although the band lists their influences as VENOM, ANGEL WITCH, RAVEN, and EXCITER, their sound can easily be defined as a cross between VENOM and those punk / metal fiends THE MENTORS (What a hybrid!)! In June, 1983 HELLHAMMER recorded their first demo, which turned out very badly and was never released. This abortion was followed closely by the "Triumph Of Death" 13-song cassette. As a result of some terrible production, a casual listen comes across as an earful of rumbling incoherency. Still, those with patience enough to listen to the tape will find tracks like "Maniac", "Reaper", "Power Of Satan", and "When Hell Is Near" promising. If the songs themselves are forgettable, their titles are certainly classics: "Decapitator", "Blood Insanity", "Death Fiend", "Ready For Slaughter" to name a few. Excellent stuff - right out of a Herschell Lewis Film Festival! Too bad the music doesn't quite live up....

Mercifully, HELLHAMMER were able to return to the studio in late-'83, which resulted in their third demo, "Satanic Rites". This tape is a definate improvement over the previous one, and features new versions of "Triumph Of Death", "Maniac", and "Crucifixion". The production is much better as well, although you still can't understand a word Mr. Warrior is saying and absolutely no bottom end is present (Why have a bass player if you can't hear him???). All qualms aside though, the three "re-done" tunes plus the five new ones [Editor's Note: This sentence is incomplete, its conclusion lost in the fog of time..]

HELLHAMMER is punk / metal, no doubt about it. Along with such tried and true masters as DISCHARGE, G.B.H., and THE ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, they fall into that "no man's land" which lies between Punk and Heavy Metal. These Swiss maniacs are not something you'd listen to all the time, but their [sic] fun as hell to thrash to when the situation arises! The so-called "proper" headbangers will hate this band, but they'll have the Top-40 "heaviness" of QUIET RIOT, DEF LEPPARD, VAN HALEN, et. al. to dance along with. But for all you militant bangers out there, give HELLHAMMER a listen! The musicianship is pretty pedestrian, but with this band, musical competency is sacrificed for brute power! VENOM are still #1, but if you don't want to overkill on Chronos & Co., HELLHAMMER should fit right into your playlist.

You can summon the band by sacrificing a virgin or a suitable farm animal and chanting the following verse:

HELLHAMMER
P.O. Box 12
CH-8309 Nurensdorf
SWITZERLAND

Or, if you're the squemish type, just write the same verse on an envelope (Red ink will suffice...) and let the postman take care of the rest.

I returned to the attic and found one of the Hellhammer demo tapes I received back in 1984 (Demo #2 = "The Triumph Of Death" recording). I can safely say I hadn't listened to this cassette since 1984-85.

As I listened to the tape for the first time in at least 22 years several thoughts came to mind:

• The recording sounds like crap... but that's how demo tapes sounded back in the days before digital technology and home computers. In my old age I find the crappy sound charming and endearing.
• I have no idea why I compared Hellhammer to The Mentors back in 1984.
• It's interesting to hear the embryonic version of Tom Warrior's trademark vocals and guitar style that he perfected with Celtic Frost.

To quote Celtic Frost (from the song 'Return To The Eve'): "Could I ever return, it would be doom, obsessed by the nightmare's sound..."

Indeed, I can return... again and again. Never underestimate the Healing Power Of Metal.

Updated on 2/13/08:

From the Celtic Frost web site:

With the release of "Demon Entrails" on February 18th in Europe and February 26th in the U.S., the days of numerous sub-standard bootlegs of the classic Hellhammer demos - "Death Fiend", "Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" - are finally over! "Demon Entrails" will also be available as an opulent oversized double CD media-book packaging and as a gatefold triple vinyl album. Both versions will feature a lavish booklet and a poster. A bare-bones lower-price CD version will be available.

To celebrate this pinnacle release, the official "Demon Entrails" microsite has been launched at www.demonentrails.com. Fans can pre-order all three versions at a special price for a limited time only. The site also features album cover art and complete track listings.

"Demon Entrails" has been specially re-mastered from copies of the original master tapes under the supervision of founder Tom Gabriel Fischer, and the demos now represent Hellhammer exactly as the band sounded when recording these songs in June and December of 1983. Drawing from a wealth of previously unknown historical liner-notes, material and artwork, as well as plenty of unreleased Hellhammer photos from 1982 to 1984, "Demon Entrails" features all lyrics and essays detailing the individual demo recording sessions.

Morbid Tales

Celtic Frost / Sun O))) / Goatwhore / 1349
The Fillmore, San Francisco
October 3, 2006


This was the first time Celtic Frost has toured the U.S. in 17 years. Tickets for The Fillmore went on sale 6 months ago, which was kinda brilliant since a genuine, slow burning hype built up around the show amongst the Old Metal crowd. That hype was ratcheted up a notch when the new Celtic Frost album was released in May and it was fookin' gleat!

The hype came to fruition as I ran into many Old Metal people as soon as I entered the lobby. I sort of recognized one guy wearing a Witchfinder General shirt and he greeted me by name like an old friend... Unfortunately, I had no idea who he was, but we had a good conversation anyway. I felt bad, but it would have been lame to ask his name after I had pretended to know him. Also, for the first time in probably 20 years I was in the same concert venue as John Silence!

We arrived in time to see Goatwhore, who were just as awful as when I saw them 2 months ago with Venom. They committed the cardinal sin of any support act: They mentioned the headliner to win the crowd over ("Are you ready to see Celtic Frost?!!!").

To be honest, I wasn't in the mood for the endless bottom end of Sunn 0))), but it was cool that former Melvins' bassist Mark Deutrom was in the lineup. That being said, Sunn 0))) definitely brought drama to the night with their smoke machine overkill, hooded robes, and effective lighting... although it also says something that 1/2 the crowd cheered and the other 1/2 booed when they left the stage.

Celtic Frost were everything an "old band" should be: seasoned performers with the musical chops and songs to back it up. On top of that, their new material sounds just as relevant as any new band out there. Long story short: Venom and Trivium can't carry Celtic Frost's jock.

At one point Celtic Frost brought the singer from the opening band 1349 out to sing 'The Usurper' (it was 1349's final night on the tour)... 1349 are from Norway and the singer had a genuine Scandinavian Death Metal thing about him (in a good way); he was not a poser.

Best Quote:
Lori Acid King - "Where's he from?"
Me - "He's not from around here."

Trivia: 1349 is the year The Plague was brought to Norway. No matter what you might think about Metal Geeks, most of us tend to be History Geeks as well!

The highlight for me was 'Into The Crypts Of Rays', although Ref would say it was the old Hellhammer song, and John would say it was 'Necromantical Screams' > 'Dawn of Meggido' back-to-back. Discuss amongst yourselves.

This was the 24th gig I've attended this year and I gotta say it was my favorite show of the year (so far). Every year there seems to be one show that reminds me of my roots, a show that reminds me of my true Music Geek nature (for better or worse)... and Celtic Frost were that for me in 2006. By the way, have you heard the new Paul Westerberg soundtrack CD?

Witchfinder General shirts = 2. If you bought one of every Celtic Frost merch item you would have paid around $300. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. The next day, the Old Metal buzz in the e-mails from friends about the show was Old Metal F-U-N! Long story short: We all had a GREAT time and some of us actually bought merch. I wore my new Celtic Frost shirt to work and met with Japanese business partners while wearing it. METAL.


'Into The Crypts Of Rays' - 1985
Umlaut's Metal brutha Dave provided this insight into the show:

Something you may not have known: The fellow singing for Sunn o))) that night was one of the original frontmen for Mayhem, "Attila". He fronted the band in their heyday of murder, drugs, & suicide. He came in, I believe, after "Dead" blew his brians out. How METAL!!!

How could Umlaut be so clueless about this!? I'm a poser... For the newbies: Mayhem are one of THE legendary Scandinavian Black Metal bands.

Even if you're not into Metal you should read the amazing book Lords Of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind. It's a fascinating look at the Norwegian Black Metal underground, with a focus on the mayhem and murder resulting from the scene's anti-Christian stance. Church burnings A-Go-Go!

All Punks are complete pussies compared to these Norwegian Metalheads.

===
A report from San Diego by Drunk Ted:

Saw Celtic Frost last night. I was shocked how many people I knew there that were/are closet metal fans! At least half a dozen that I personally know, a couple of bartenders from Live Wire and the Tower Bar too.

Another shock was how nice everyone was there! That includes the band. Friends were to be made everywhere. Drinks were being bought for strangers on more than one occasion.

Waited in line around 8pm to get access to the signing the band was doing. When we got in, the band was nowhere to be seen. I brought my UK copy of Tom's book, "Are You Morbid?" for him to sign. A few other people did the same.

Weird thing about this show was that it was all ages. Last time Celtic Frost came around was almost 20 years ago! So anyone who was underage was most likely not even born last time they came around! Because it was all ages, the bar was upstairs where the kids couldn't go. Not too many kids at the show either.

So before the show, we're at the top bar wondering "Where's the signing? How come they're not here yet?" Was kind of pissed I had to carry the book around all night, so me & my friend went up to this other guy who had the book and made some comment about the signing. He said "It's going on right now, downstairs"! We had just checked not even 5 minutes before.

We ran back down. Sure enough, there they were. Tom & Martin were very, very nice to the fans. As I handed Tom my book, I told him how I interviewed him last time he came here. He said "For real?" I said "Yeah, and you chewed me out for making a face when you mentioned the Cure as an influence". Told him that what I was trying to express was surprise, not disgust. Tom smiled at me and said "I was very young then". I said "I was too." Then he said "Now I'm old." I said "I'm older, but not going to admit being old."

What was really funny was that Ain & Warrior were completely friendly and down to earth talking to fans. But when they were asked to pose for a picture, they did the devil horns and tried to look very mystical and morbid. Sharp contrast to what they were really like.

Goatwhore was great, but completely ruined by the cookie monster vocals. Reminded me of Kreator and Possessed. I had flashbacks to '85. Too bad their singer completely ruined the band.. If I could buy an instrumental CD of theirs, I would've.

The 2nd band played one song. (Sunn?) For about 45 minutes. The same note. Very loud. Like the Melvins, but they only played one note. It actually was pretty cool, but only for the first 20 minutes. I cracked the whole upstairs bar up by yelling "ENCORE" when they finally finished. It was only after 30 minutes that I realized that this whooping sound wasn't a part of their music! Turns out they had set off every single smoke alarm in the place with their fog machine. (Noticed it when I went to the bathroom and the strobe alarm there was going off).

Celtic Frost proved that they were really ahead of their time. All those stoner metal bands owe a great big debt to them! They were great, but I sure would've liked to have heard more of the new songs live. At least they didn't cut the set short this time because of a "riot" (which consisted of 3-4 guys running behind the stage when they last played in San Diego). And Martin Ain looked completely bad ass! I was freaking out on him the whole show.

The show was probably half full. 3-400 out of 700, I'm guessing.

Ted

===
Umlaut's old friend John Silence has posted an excellent review of the San Francisco show:

"A good night out, indeed. It’s hard to compare the 1985 show with the 2006 one. The eighties show had more of an impact on me (and Voivod was better than all of the bands opening for them this time around) but I think this one was probably better. I’ve mellowed out a bit and seen a lot of very different live shows in the intervening years, but this was a very welcome return to the childlike excitement of the old days. Heavy metal is a very potent form of music if it’s done right. Celtic Frost does it right."

Click HERE to read John's complete reaction to the night.

===
The Feel Good Show of 2006:

Okay, who would have thought Celtic Frost would be the feel good show of the year??! I can't remember the last time there was such a universal post-gig buzz in the Umlaut Coven about a show!

Here's another excellent Frost addendum, this one by Umlaut friend Volume Merchant Ted:

We are taking litigation against an old guard SF merchant who is infringing on our bands rights etc. and I had to be at a mediation in Palo Alto super early..knowing I'd be in suit and tie and have to be alert, coherent, and well spoken, I made the difficult decision to skip the show...this was even more painful cause this four band card was MY hard music dream bill for the year! Unlike Umlaut, I like Goatwhore and LOVE fucking Sunn 0)))))))... have all their releases, a bunch of live stuff, side projects and have seen them with Xasthur as a guest...

Anyway, Uncle Larry, my roommate, works at The Fillmore. I came home the next day and saw a Celtic Frost hoodie hanging on one of the dining room chairs...Larry is not a headbanger but he likes to procure swag at gigs (Stuff We All Get... is a lame acronym, if this is what it in fact stands for, but that's another post)...for some reason I noticed the hoodie was not new, it had no drawstring.... As it also fucking reeked of perfume..I thought Uncle Larry had scored a headbanger chick and brought her back to the nest for some rock and roll RnR....anyway the next night the true story of the hoodie came out as I inquired to hear details of how my roomie bagged a backstage betty at the Celtic Frost gig!

Turns out he was wearing a Slayer workshirt I had given him a bit back (he is sz medium so he is the recipient of more samples than he could ever wear in three lifetimes!) and one of the band members had seen it on him, told him they had never seen it before, and that they attend every Slayer show they can and that they collect Slayer merch!

Larry, being a cool guy (and to be honest, not the biggest Slayer fan) immediately removed the shirt and gave it to the dude. The dude could not fucking believe it and would not take for granted whatsoever that Larry would accept no payment or any other reciprocation...after much earnest and friendly convincing the Celtic Frost dude removed the hoodie and insisted Uncle Larry have it....not the sordid story I was hoping for but seems in keeping with the interview I saw with the band on Headbanger's Ball this week....cool guys...they love Slayer, but dude, that fucking cologne has got to go. Some kind of Brut 70's style shit. Damn.

===
Warrior Mail:

Okay, this post easily rivals the legendary Kaiser R.I.P. for audience participation!

Brad, Umlaut's Old Metal brutha and now an ex-patriot Yank, chimed in all the way from Prague, Czech Republic with his Celtic Frost memories:

I wrote Tom Warrior after the "Triumph of Death" EP by Hellhammer, probably to suggest retirement, I don't remember actually. In early 1985, I was sent a demo/preview cassette of "Morbid Tales" with a hand-written letter from Tom W. thanking me for the support. The preview tracks were good, I bought the album. I was shocked that I liked it so much given how awful Hellhammer was just 2 years prior. Still have the letter and cassette of course.

It all makes sense now. Tom W. was a design arts graduate turned recording artist a-la Chuck D of Public Enemy. Being Swiss he's a natural diplomat. Having higher education he's got a grasp of the deeper meaning in addition to the visceral beauty of well-crafted aggressive music. Somewhere in there he's got a talent for marketing too. He viewed every contact as an opportunity and built up a worldwide audience by doing it the right way. He earned his success and deserves whatever he's got.

===
Click HERE for some GREAT pics from the San Francisco show (THANKS RAY)!