Let me preface this by saying I’m a big fan of Duran Duran. Ever since I was nine, the eighties version of the fab five ruled my cassette tape recorder as well as my bedroom walls. I recall when Sing Blue Silver came out in 1985 and my mother, who begrudgingly agreed to watch it with me, claimed that Andy Taylor looked high because his eyes were glassy. I argued and cried that they were good guys and that they’d NEVER do any drugs. In my eyes, alcohol was okay because I’d seen my parents drink it after a hard days’ work, but no way could they be into drugs.
Since the days of Ozzfest, metal festivals in some parts of the US are a rarity. We can’t really count Lollapalooza or Riot Fest since it encompasses every genre. There is still Maryland Death Fest, but that’s on the east coast. In fact, I’ve noticed many of the fests either happen on the East or West coasts, leaving fans here in the Midwest with very little. For years I’ve wondered why, because the local metal community would definitely support a show completely dedicated to heavy music. Could it be the money it takes to produce such a show, the issues it presents like security, the venue, and what it would take to get enough heavy hitters on the bill to make such a festival a draw for loyal metal fans? All these are valid points, but I believe given more thought, a major fest would be successful here. Thankfully someone had the forethought to give it a try and create Open Air. Continue reading Are Metal Festivals Making a Comeback?→
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