Drinking Dilemmas by Thomas Thurnell-Read

Author:Thomas Thurnell-Read [Thurnell-Read, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138931145
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2015-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

'It helps that everyone in the scene drinks': the role of alcohol in the Leeds metal scene

Under the dimly lit street lamp a group of young men gather outside the entrance of the Royal Park pub, cigarette smoke lightly resting above their heads as they chatter over their pints of ale.3 I make my way into the pub and amongst the regular crowd I spot a few heavy metal fans, leaning over the bar ordering drinks. Their long hair concealing the bar rail as they shove their hands into their pockets to reveal an assortment of coins, the colourful tattoos imprinted on their skin, and their patched vests, studded belts, vulgar band t-shirts and leather jackets stand in stark contrast to the everyday embellishments of the patrons. I order a beer and the foam spills over the lip of the glass, coating my hand in a cold, sticky liquid. I walk towards the back of the pub where the Cellars venue4 is located. Pulling back on the large black door adorned with metal gig posters, it is the symbolic entrance into the metal underground and before I enter I can already hear and feel the thumping of the kick drum and the electric roar of a guitar riff. Making my way down the narrow, steep, darkened flight of stairs I’m immediately confronted by the pungent stench of urine, beer, stale air and body odour. My shoes stick to the cement floor and the room is cloaked in darkness, with only the stage being illuminated by soft coloured lights which emanate warmth to the long-haired fans below. Suddenly a visceral cacophony of sound erupts, people start colliding into one another, bouncing from side to side, hair is whirling around me, the vibrations rattle my ribcage and I feel electrified. In front of me people hoist their pint glasses in the air, the hairs on the back of my neck begin to rise, my heart beats rapidly, and my clothes are sodden with sweat. Someone plunges their arms into me from behind and I bend sideways like a flower getting battered by the wind. After regaining my composure I look down and realise that half my pint has spilt all down the front of my new metal band t-shirt!

After the band finishes their set I head back upstairs to the bar where a group of metal fans are gathered in a semicircle. I recognise Curtis, who is a well-known promoter and musician within the metal community. He has organised the gig tonight and as a token of my appreciation I offer to buy him a pint. As we wait in the queue I ask him about his initial experiences of getting involved in the scene. Curtis, as he curiously surveys the room, admits that when he first got involved in the scene he would only converse with people he knew at gigs but as he attended and performed at more shows and mingled with a wider group of metal fans, which was

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