There were some points where it seemed as if I'd ended up on the movie set of Underworld. Since my bottled holy water was already opened and not in a six-pack soft cooler as regulations say for the Ford Amphitheatre, security guards wouldn’t let me in with it, so I had to embrace my garlic necklace the entire time … just in case.
The Polish band Behemoth played an intriguing set, with all members of the band dressed like maids of the devil, headbanging until you could hear the cracking in their necks. How those guys continued to play an energetic set, the world may never know.
After witnessing that, I knew it was time to move onto another set. Walking around the festival, I noticed a lot of people wearing dark, elaborate clothes. I would have been better off wearing a giant black trash bag and slowly dehydrating myself than wear 15 garments of black-on-black with fishnet somewhere on top in that weather.
When Cannibal Corpse came on, all I wanted to hear was Dethklok, is that wrong of me? I mean, I’d watch Adult Swim cartoons over a metal set any day, but luckily for Cannibal Corpse I left my portable DVD player in the car, so I was forced to take part.
After growls, grunts and words that not one man could understand, I started to “sing” along. Using one-word syllables I felt as if I was doing a better job than frontman “Corpsegrinder.”
Killswitch Engage got me with its matching dress shirts but get this: they weren’t actual dress shirts. They were the kind of shirt that has a tuxedo printed on it. You know — the ones most likely provided by Hot Topic. Clever.
Maybe Killswitch didn’t have a chance to do laundry the day before, or maybe their luggage got left behind at a previous venue and got picked up by Dave Matthews (who by the way had been chasing the Mayhem tour all over the US since the start). I’ll never know why they all came out on stage with matching shirts — maybe to express their unity as a band: one entity playing in a harmonizing tone, with death shrieks in-between!
I am in no way bashing this tour. OK, maybe just a little, but come on — it was a humorous day. Out of a comfort zone is always enticing!
I met up with other photographers in grisly weather, attempting to dodge 6-inch-thick rain droplets on the way to the main stage to shoot Slayer. I forgot my booties and that giant black trash bag. It made me think: “Self, why am I wasting my time, and my extremely well-groomed hair, to see this band?’
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- Kerry King with his chains hanging low.
After the first note was played, I knew why I was there: Slayer owned. I may never fathom why these forefathers opened for Manson, especially after seeing his set, and the world may never know.
Kerry King was the most diverting piece of work to watch at Mayhem. Come on people, Kerry King, who can miss an opportunity like that? Slayer gave the fans a run for their money, with the exception of closing with “Raining Blood” and not actually raining blood.
And yes, then there’s the main act: Marilyn Manson.
What an interesting fellow! Now, I have always wanted to catch one of his shows, because I have always heard disturbing things about his act. Who wouldn’t want to miss a freak show? Well it wasn’t a freak show. Marilyn, what follows is not a threat to you nor your fans, so please don’t show up at my door. This is a review, not judgment at the gates of hell.
Dear Marilyn,
I presume that your set was meant to entertain your fans. From what I witnessed, you saw it as a chance to hump the stage and shove towels down your pants, wanting your fans to fight over who gets to rub it on their face. Don’t get me wrong, the festival was somewhat tolerable, but your set was highly disappointing. Where was the reverend of The Church of Satan?
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- Marilyn Manson without his cute knife-mic.
For the longest time I have always respected what you do and how you do it, but after watching your performance at this year’s festival, you have shown me that you aren’t the entertainer everyone says you are. That’s why I went to the show — to be entertained and see what all your hot fuss is about. ZZZZZZZ … I know next time to go into a show with very little expectations. Is it also because I’m not a Manson fan? No. I have always seen you as this soulless character consumed by the devil and to me that’s entertainment.
Your set list was great, though, playing hits such as “Beautiful People,” “Disposable Teens” and “Tourniquet." My teenybopper MTV days were spent watching your music videos and every media personality in the world bash your name and what you do.
Hell, I was even there for Eminem’s video debut of “ The Way I Am” because you were in the video. But I don’t see where they can blame anything on you anymore. A preacher hat and burning of a bible, that’s not really entertaining to me. Your stage setup was lifeless, but maybe that was your intention. Killswitch Engage had more stage props than you, and they just had a stage on top of a stage. Come on guy — where was Satan?
Go ahead and write about me on your myspace, I won’t mind. And when you come to Tampa next time, instead of telling us this was the town where you first took drugs, bring some for the rest of us so we can enjoy your set.
Yours Truly,
Mike Wilson
