Hey Mr DJ: Head Ballbangers Edition

We’ve had some bitter arguments lately over a vast array of topics.  There’s a wide national controversy over topics as varied as Trump and Russia, Trump and Hollywood sex abuse, Trump and Gold Star Family abuse,  Trump and the NFL, Trump and North Korea, Trump and white supremacy, Trump and Puerto Rico, Trump and health care, Trump and taxes, Trump and Iran, Trump and gun control, Trump and his wife’s stunt double, and Trump’s suspicious silence over the Las Vegas Shooting.

But even though we discuss these issues and more day after day, I don’t let them intrude on my happy place.  See, this is for me as good as it gets, right now.  To me, Heaven and Hell are simply states of being.  More of a state of post-life consciousness than actual places with clouds or fire and shit.  When I die, I hope to enter a perpetual Heaven where it’s always late afternoon on a cool and cloudy Friday in October.  I’m sipping a Fall beer and thinking about which horror film I want to watch as I burn a not-at-all-faggy pumpkin spice candle.  This is my happy place.  And today, you’re all a part of it.

An older happy place of mine, from my early teen years, was staying up late on Saturday nights and watching Headbanger’s Ball on MTV.  Riki Rachtman era, of course.  Who among us aging Gen-Xers can ever forget what MTV once was before rap pushed rock aside and Andy Milokinositosismeccahineyho and pregnant teenagers took over?  It’s an experience that’s gone and can never come back.  It’s dust in the wind.

But you know what?  I admit that I try to capture the spirit of the old Headbanger’s Ball with these DJ threads.  If we can’t have a show that entertains us each week with good music, banter, and humor we can sure as hell make something like it for ourselves.  We’ve done a pretty good job of that over the past few months, haven’t we?

Let’s settle in to this week’s categories.  This week is all about joy and pleasant memories.  And fire and murder.  Because Metal.

1. Death to All But Metal: Take me back to when Rock Ruled the Earth.  I want Heavy Metal complete with leather, spikes, dragons, war, hairspray, and humiliation at the hands of Dave Mustaine.
2. Glory Days, Well, They’ll Pass You By: Are there any songs that take you back to a more magical and happier time?  Share your memory with the song, please.
3. Nope.  Just 1. and 2.  I’m keeping your options limited this week.  Fascism!

Let’s get it on with these dedications.

pfluffy: This is my favorite video of the 20th Century.  There was a period over several months that Young Proto-Thrill would watch Headbanger’s Ball obsessively just to see it. You are most worthy of it as a dedication.  Sweating Bullets by Megadeth

Santino: This one came well after the end of Headbanger’s Ball.  It takes me back to when I had a wonderful night rutting this 8/10 lass on the floor in her house while this video was on.  The part where everything goes green is spectacular in a dark room.  It cuts off a bit early, but the good bits are there. This video is a very close second to pfluffy’s dedication as one of my favorite videos of the time.  Really, the video’s great.  I’m not in love with the song though.  Perfect Drug by NIN.

spootyjim: Another beloved song and video of mine.  The video used to confuse me however.  Is he trying to rape his mother?  What is this?  Whatever it is, it’s dark and it works.  Mother by Danzig.  What do you think, is Danzig the single most divisive figure in Metal?  I’ve never been able to firmly decide if he’s incredibly awesome or a complete tool.  Sometimes I’ll waver between one or the other within the same hour.  Give me some clarity.

WVR:  One of the greats of the Headbanger’s Ball era who never really went as far as they should, IMHO.  This video is probably one of the most visually representative of the show that I can imagine.  It has a Liquid Television vibe also.  Everything is perfect.  Who Was in My Room Last Night? by Butthole Surfers.

Zurvan: Back when I was in high school, I drove with some friends down to the West Bottoms in Kansas City where they have a bunch of “haunted houses”.  You know, old warehouses they set up like fun houses with actors jumping out and scaring the shit out of everyone.  On the way down, we got lost and ended up driving around in circles for a bit.  It was a tremendous adventure, but we made it.  When we left the first haunted house, I the one girl in our group who I had a crush on was good and shaken up and she gave me a big hug and just held on (believe it or not, I used to be quite the white knight).  She ended up becoming my very first serious girlfriend.  And I remember this playing on my crappy car’s cassette player from that night.  Cemetery Gates by Pantera.

Grendel: I used to love this whole album, but I confess it’s far from this band’s best work.  This was one I was banging my head to quite a bit around the time I started working my first job.  Not sure why it sticks out from that time or why I had such a hard-on for this particular album.  Hy Pro Glo by Anthrax.

Next week: Halloween DJ thread with pfluffy!