And the Air Euronymous campaign ends... not with a bang, but with a whimper.

[faithinfire]

Of all the miserable fucking things that could've happened... campaign's over, Black Metal warriors. Stand down. Dagbladet reports (article dated yesterday, sadly, I wish I thought this was an April Fool) that Euronymous's family have vetoed the use of his image (translation, as usual, hereI am genuinely furious, not to mention heartbroken. I can

Comments

[ironlord]

And already there are people crawling out of the woodwork to say "He didn't make it! Good!" I snarl in their general direction

[faithinfire]

Yeah. I think people underestimate metal fans' capacity for loyalty and devotion precisely because a lot of metal fans are guys who aren't naturally emotionally demonstrative, so we (as a rule) don't go fawning sentimentally over our heroes the way that, say, pop fans do. Ironically, of course, pop fans are often the first to spin around and savage their idols when the wind changes - conversely, it takes a hell of a lot to unseat a metal fan's loyalty, and adversity tends to only bring us closer. On a day-to-day basis we bicker and poke at each other's tastes, yes, to our shame... but when one of our own is in trouble, we step up to help; when one of our own dies, we turn out to grieve; and when one of our own has a shot at glory, even an outside one, then by gods we get behind them. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Can I spread this post around?Please, yes, by all means. Everything above comes straight from the heart - if I wasn't willing for it to be read, I wouldn't have posted it. Indeed, thank you very much for wanting to

[ironlord]

Ironically, of course, pop fans are often the first to spin around and savage their idols when the wind changes - conversely, it takes a hell of a lot to unseat a metal fan's loyalty

Although, enough of them have tried! Metallica, Morbid Angel, and now Opeth... still, I doubt there are too many who cast their copies of Master Of Puppets, Altars Of Madness and Still Life to the flames, because the present can't change the past.

when one of our own dies, we turn out to grieve

With the future exception of Varg, and the way he's going now, I suspect also Dave Mustaine.

[faithinfire]

Mmm... but this isn't the time or the place for counter-examples. The principle's what matters, and there are a thousand bands who are loyal to their fans for every one who for some reason decide to stick it to us. <3

[neojezebel]

It's April 1st. I refuse to believe anything anyone tells me today.

[faithinfire]

If the Dagbladet article weren't dated 31/3/2012, I'd love to agree with you. Sadly I have a bad feeling about this one... but if it turns out tomorrow that I'm wrong, I'll be the first to call myself a puffin, trust me.

[ironlord]

I will wait until tomorrow to spread this, just in case.

[faithinfire]

*curious* Did you repost this anywhere in the end?

[hellbound_heart]

Someone posted this to metal_community before I went to bed last night - without comment, mind - but I felt too irritated that this is the way metal vox populi always goes to pass comment of my own. You said it better than I ever could, though. He died in horrible circumstances but he's surpassed that and has a life beyond his life. I can't say how I'd feel as a relative categorically as thankfully, no one in my immediate circle has been murdered by a total bellend, but it's not insignificant that he has this legacy and it's a real shame this nod to that won't come to pass.

[faithinfire]

"The way it always goes"? Not sure I get your meaning - there've been a goodly number of resounding victories for metal vox pops over the last half-decade, after all! In theory there's no reason why this one couldn't have been a success too - this is a proper fucking curveball we've been thrown.

I can't say how I'd feel as a relative categorically as thankfully, no one in my immediate circle has been murdered by a total bellend,

Amen to that, and true, but even so the fact that they've effectively just given said bellend a reason to gloat should have in itself been a counter-argument to their decision...

[hellbound_heart]

Sorry, to clarify - the response to this sort of thing is often embarrassment and backpedalling, and the Euronymous thing is no exception. I'd quite like to hear more directly from his family what's going on, and it would be good if they could see this as a coup de grace against his murderer, though sadly it's not looking like it'll go the way it should.

[faithinfire]

Thing is, I honestly have no idea how Euronymous's family felt about him and his band/lifestyle/etc in the first place. Could have been anything from "we love you but please grow out of this heavy metal nonsense" to "you little bastard, you're a disgrace to the family and we hate your skeevy black-wearing friends, GTFO" or even just "we don't give a damn what you're doing as long as you don't forget your granny's birthday". I've never seen any data on the subject that I can recall.

But either way the argument should hold. If they didn't care about him, then why not just ditch the responsibility for his legacy onto those of us who do; and if they did care about him, then why can't they find it in their hearts to be proud of him and glad that so many people regard him with such admiration?

Unless of course (*sudden horrible thought*) they're hardline Christians or something. That'd shove a spanner in the works right enough...

[blackheart666]

Shame that.

And I join Jim in the snarling at certain people... or light poking as is the case over on M_C...

[ironlord]

You do the poking, I'll continue the ignoring. I was going to do my Grand Announcement Of Finding A New Mod yesterday in the hope that the "wrong" people would think it was an April Fool's trick, but I couldn't be bothered, even then...

[blackheart666]

Depending on who it is, I will be following you right out the door.

Based on how interested people are in talking actual metal over there lately, you're not missing much, and I won't be either.

[blackheart666]

I don't really have a side in this .... ever the mercenary...

But the lest time I really paid attention, Norwegians were particularly price and stand offish... it could ne they just wont want the attention.