Music is probably the most important thing in my life. I have been and still am involved with the true underground heavy metal culture and have connections with some very important people in bands or people who were very pivotal of the scene who have been around during the 1970s and 80s. Derived by both the 60/70s rock n' roll culture and biker culture (for example the Mods and Rockers or the Hells Angels), appearing since the early to mid 70s when heavy metal was born, 'Hardrockers', also known as Metalheads or Headbangers, can be noticed by usually having long hair, wearing denim and leather, wearing t-shirts of their favourite heavy metal/rock n' roll bands, and usually worn out or dirty hi-tops. The 'Battle Vest' is the most infamous piece of clothing and acts like a sort of uniform for headbangers, it's a denim (or some cases, leather) jacket with the sleeves cut completely off and filled with patches and pins of bands we support. This is how we recognise each other and knowing that they are for real and not 'posers'. While sadly, fashion companies have made fake battle vests for the mainstream demographic, usually consisting of fake patches and fake designs. It is very easy to spot the fake ones over real ones.
One huge inspiration for the photos I took were the pictures taken of the Bay Area Thrash Metal scene in the 80s in the book, 'Murder In The Front Row'. It is a great example of what we are about and has great photography. |