A TRUE PERFORMER IS HARD TO FIND

(Taken from the recent performance at Rexall, no joke)

Outside the metal box for you this morning (why does that make me think of the 3rd Terminator film?). Pop Princess and all around musical waste of time Britney Spears who has graced more tabloid covers (at least parts of her) than CD covers as of late, walked off stage in Vancouver just days after "performing" in Edmonton. Complaining that there was "too much smoke" in the venue, which made me think of a phrase I used as a bouncer working the bar many years ago when times got tough, "suck it up buttercup!"

Now, I am not advocating that smoking in a non smoking venue is acceptable, as a non-smoker myself, I find it can be pretty rough on the throat the next day, however, it HAPPENS! Nothing you can do but continue to perform, "the show must go on" as they say.

From what the reviews say about this lack luster bit of entertainment, the smoke had nothing to do with it, by the sounds of it, Britney needed to just go back to the gym and maybe the studio and actually WORK!!!

That is all I have to say on the matter of that fallacy of an artist, which is so full of manufactured ingredients that even 1970’s TAB soda and MSG would get together and say "that stuff will give you cancer."

The main reason I even bring up this topic at all is because metal has had some of these instances as well, some artists are even known for it. Whereas, one can see incredible performances time and time again, from bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica and even to a lesser extent AC/DC. Artists like Axl Rose of L.A. Glam-Metal band Guns N' Roses and Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine have been known to become angry, freak out at fans or just plain walk off stage for the sake of walking off stage. This infamy has prompted some to show up to the shows just to heckle and harass these artists hoping for some on stage drama to occur.

Don't get me wrong, no matter the band, a walk off can happen, sometimes for legitimate reasons, Nickelback back in 2002 played at a Portugese open air festival and had to leave the stage because they were reportedly "pelted with rocks and bottles to the point they couldn't safely continue" (can you blame them?). A little bit closer to home and at least involving real metal musicians, (Sorry Chad Kreuger, covering Metallica doesn't make you metal) Ex-patriated Metallican turned Lord of Megadeth, Dave Mustaine had quite a hissy fit at last years Edmonton stop of the Gigantour (the tour he founded might I add). Stand in a line for a concert in Edmonton these days and you will here one or two different tellings of this story, from guys that "were there, man".

(Do yourself a favour, make up your own mind, and take a look at the two clips below)


A short one, where Dave has just been hit by a shoe @ Edmonton GIGANTOUR '08

Fans rescue the performance from Mustaine haters @ Edmonton GIGANTOUR '08
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Thankfully, even though Megadeth walked off stage, they did return in full force, but this is not always the case, and the only ones who suffer are the fans. Artists do as well to a certain extent, but it's the people who pay money, sometimes a lot of money that ultimately get burned by a walk-off.

Musicians are people too, I get that and things do happen, I get that as well, but the main problem I have with most of these artists, not just in metal is that they don't fully understand the ramifications of their actions.

They forget their starting out days, when walking off was never an option, despite the jarring boo's and heckles of such helpful phrases as "get off the stage!" and "you suck!". They aren't reminded enough of how important their fan base is to their success. There are a lot of very talented artists, who play in subway stations because they lack a fan base.

Most of the time, artists do submit an apology in one way or another but it doesn't totally wipe away the acid reflux like sting of seeing your musical heroes and metal gods abandon the stage, leaving you in the kicked up dust and exhaust of their escape vehicle.

Artists are not totally to blame either, in many instances where a walk off occurred, a heckler who isn't even a fan most of the time will throw something at the stage causing the domino effect that eventually leads to a performer's departure and a lot of upset fans.

In conclusion my message is simple, artists and bands, when "it" hits the fan or even you, especially if you call yourself Metal, shrug it off and keep playing, hell, pull a DimeBag Darrell and turn the fans on the assailant (where do you think the Pantera song "Five Minutes Alone" came from? story here) Better yet, learn a martial art like Tool front man Maynard James Keenan and deal with bothersome people yourself (see below)


Fans, you see some guy messing with your band, tell him to shut up, make sure he "accidentally" catches an elbow in a moshpit, or just have security remove them, which leads to my next point.

Security, I have worked in your field, and I get it, you can't catch everyone, but come on! Stop worrying whether or not your crisp clean, Event Staff shirt is going to get rip or ruined and do your job, if some moron throws a shoe at you and almost ruins your house party, you'd throw him out!

I digress, life is too short to let the actions of one or two individuals ruin the finer things in life. I will see you all at the next concert, keep those horns high Edmonton, you are what metal is all about and most importantly.

NO WALK-OFFS FOR 2009 EDMONTON, MAKE IT HAPPEN!