Authenticity has all the time been a cornerstone of the heavy metallic style. However the rise of VIP live performance packages, providing every thing from backstage excursions to paid photograph alternatives, has sparked a polarizing debate. Thomas “Angelripper” Such, bassist and vocalist for German thrash legends Sodom, has made his stance clear: these practices will not be simply unwelcome — they’re antithetical to the very spirit of metallic.
In a latest interview with RapidMetalFire, Angelripper shared his perspective, reflecting on his expertise on the Klash Of The Ruhrpott competition.
“I hate it. I do not need it. We had it after we performed with Kreator on the ‘Klash Of The Ruhrpott’ competition at Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany in July 2024, with Destruction and Tankard. They did it. In the event that they’re gonna do a signing session, followers should pay for it,” Angelripper recounted.
He additional defined why he opposes charging followers for these interactions: “In my view, it isn’t my method. Once I do a signing session, I do it without spending a dime. I do not need cash from it. Or I keep in a resort, no matter. However I by no means got here up with the concept of taking cash for a signing session or taking cash for a stage stroll. Are you aware what’s a stage stroll? Individuals pay cash to get on the stage. I might say, ‘Okay, this is a drum equipment. Here is the guitar amp. Here is a backline.'”
“I hate it. This has nothing to do with metallic. Some bands promote backstage tickets, so followers get the prospect to say good day to the musician or get a plaque or no matter, and pay 500 euros, no matter. With Kiss, they’re gonna do it. And should you get one photograph with Kiss, you pay $2,000, and so they to go the following fan. This has nothing to do with heavy metallic. This isn’t what I’ve realized within the metallic scene.”
Angelripper‘s stance is rooted in his perception that followers deserve extra for his or her loyalty and help. He emphasised his private dedication to making sure that followers will not be charged for easy gestures like autographs and photographs.
“And we’re gonna keep until the final one will get what she or he needs. Typically we simply have half an hour, an hour to signal stuff and take footage… Typically there are a whole lot of individuals coming for signing classes, for autographs, make an image, and we are saying, ‘Okay, make an image, go,’ as a result of we wanna get everybody get this autograph in the long run, however I by no means take cash for it. That is silly.”
In reality, Angelripper takes delight in Sodom‘s refusal to monetize fan interactions, making it a defining precept of the band’s ethos. “Sodom is the one metallic band who would by no means earn money with signing classes or photograph classes.”
Angelripper‘s opinion presents a stark distinction to a rising pattern within the music trade, particularly amongst bigger acts, for him, it is all concerning the heavy metallic’s roots: a group constructed on mutual respect and a shared ardour for music, not exploitation.
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