Fringe Review IX - Andrew O'Neill's history of heavy metal

I am not really a metal head, never have been. There are a few bands that I like but there are also quite a few that... well are not my cup of tea. But I am generally open to that scene and I definitely prefer it over a lot of others. And since I don't know a whole lot about its history a little lesson on that subject seemed like a good idea.

And I was right. Andrew O'Neill is hilarious but at the same time, if you want to you can really learn something about heavy metal. I certainly did. That Metallica's drummer prefers to stand up all the time or that the first distorted guitar sounds were actually made by broken amps for example.

What's great about the show is, that as soon as Andrew enters the stage you know that he knows what he's talking about. He is a proper metal head, with long hair, denim west with band patches and he even brings his guitar. But he also seems a bit like a geek and that combination makes him believable to me, because he probably spends a lot of time researching the stuff he loves.

He actually does tell you the history of heavy metal, from bands that came before and paved the way to all kinds of different genres and their most famous bands. I've heard most of the names of these bands but don't really know what they sound like or where the actual difference between all these genres is. That's where Andrew's guitar comes in. He simply shows his audience what he's talking about. He plays the different kinds of metal. You  really get the idea that thrash metal and black metal are two completely different things... when it comes to music and when it comes to looks (black metallers just look silly).

But what's also cool is that he goes beyond just the plain history of heavy metal, he knows what else was going on in the different decades in the music industry and he knows about the stereotypes and cliches that come with his scene and instead of ranting about them, he is able to make fun of them and of a scene he clearly loves.

One thing he says towards the end of his show, is something that I've never thought about, but is absolutely true: right now is the best time to be a metal head. Thanks to the internet we have the chance to listen to all the stuff that has been released in the past 45 years of heavy metal history. If we'd been around at any other decade during these 45 years we would probably have missed out on one genre or another. Today we can just go on youtube, spotify or any other source and listen to what ever recommendation or new band we come across.

I recommend seeing Andrew's show, if you come across it. Even, if you are not a metal head, even if there is not a single metal band or song you like. You might still learn something.