Confessions of an Aging Metalhead

I saw Judas Priest in concert last week. It was weird to be reminded that 20 years have passed since I last saw Priest with Rob Halford.

This concert was a bit symbolic for me. Priest was one of the first bands I ever saw in concert. Now since I recently reclaimed my metal-self, I go to see them again... at the same venue no less. When I arrive at the parking lot of Red Rocks Amphitheater I am instantly transported back to 1989, metalheads tailgating, blasting Priest from car stereos. But something is strangely awry. Everyone is old!! Most of the long haired guys are now short haired accountants and dads. Most of the ladies are dressed in jeans and T-shirts, just normal everyday clothes- no more spandex and big hair. (Some things change for the better.)

I recall where I sat the last time I saw JP. Crap, I was 17 years old. My whole life ahead of me. Now here I am completely enthralled in Rob Halford's voice once again. He sounds the same. When I close my eyes I feel like that 17 year old girl once again. But then I open my eyes and see an aging Halford limping around the stage. I don't know weather I am happy or sad.

I am sad because my favorite bands are aging right along with me. If Judas Priest are pushing 60, how many more years of touring are let for them? What defined my youth feels strange now. I want to remember Rob from 20 years ago, and I feel bad admitting that to myself. I start thinking about Rob and I wonder if he is sick of singing "You Got Another Thing Coming". Are Glenn and KK tired of doing the same guitar stuff over and over year after year? I would be if I were them, but then again, they've never known anything else, so maybe they are fine with it.

I feel happy because my favorite band is aging right along with me. There is something admirable about these classic dudes coming on stage and rocking it STILL after nearly 4 decades. Their sound is still amazing and I don't ever remember enjoying KK's playing as much as I did last week. Seeing him was a delight I never noticed before. So maybe that's the key to this aging thing. As time passes, we can learn to appreciate what was, but notice and come to love new aspects of the present time. I will always love Judas Priest. I have such a history with that band on many different levels. They defined the 17 year old me, but they are still a part of the 37 year old me. Priest ushered in at least 2 generations of newer metal music. They were the fathers. Now they are the grandfathers. That makes me feel both happy and sad.

What's Your Type? The Metalhead Personality

Many people have assumptions about metalheads - they think that all of us are male, white, long-haired, tattooed, smokers/drinkers/druggies, leather-clad, and tough and mean. While there are certainly biker-types who are into metal, that's hardly the whole picture of the broad range of metal fans.

I think metalheads come in two main categories - those who express the music externally, and those who keep it internal. I'll try to explain this.

The external types are those who look and act the part of the angry metalhead. These are the ones who tend to fit the stereotype. They express the music into the world around them through wild partying, fast cars and motorcycles, and a certain anti-establishment attitude.

But lesser-recognized are those of us who keep the music inside and use it to paint our rich internal world. We're the ones with the professional outside appearance who blast Iron Maiden in our car. We have the old concert t-shirts hidden in the back of our closets. Metal becomes an expression of what is felt inside, but it's rarely taken into an outward expression. Our tattoos are hidden under a suit or dress.

What is the internal personality of a metalhead? It varies by person, but I think a couple of the underlying themes are a lust for life (the "party all night" attitude) and a desire to overcome obstacles (the "up-yours" attitude). Some use metal to channel anger - others have it as a basis for passion of all types. It's music that makes you feel alive and powerful.

Metalheads can't be lumped under just one stereotype. We just love the music!

The Musician and Money

A lot of talk is brewing on a musician's forum I frequent. Musicians are complaining about not being paid for their gigs at bars. Musicians are wanting to be paid for their time.

There's nothing wrong with an artist WANTING to make some money. But there is something wrong with the way many are going about it. Let's face it, most musicians aren't going to make millions. Unless you're in that top 1%, you probably have a day job and only dream of being a full time musician. But when I go to a bar to check out your band and the only other people there are friends and family and...you want to be paid, you need a reality check. BIG TIME.

Sorry, but an A&R rep from a major label probably isn't going to discover you in a dive bar and offer you a deal. Furthermore, just because you have a myspace page doesn't add to your legitimacy.

If you are a musician and you want to "make it". It is UP TO YOU to make that dream happen, not your fans, not your label. You may not have the skill set for this because you're used to playing music, not marketing and selling. But here's the thing. In this day and age you must must must become a business person FIRST and a musician SECOND.

Here are the top skills you must master to make it out of the "starving artist" lifestyle. (and you should learn these skills, because you're better than that!)

1. Sales 2. Marketing 3. Connecting with Fans

If you can get a strategy for these three area, I guarantee, your odds of quitting your day job increase 200%. So get out of those dead-end bars and enroll in a sales class already!

Here are a few other resources to get you going: Digital Music Summit lecture on successful business models for musicians

Using social media to grow your fanbase