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going to extreames to put on a memorable show.

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xxfaux_punkxx

Mar 18, 2010
1,054
18
Indiana
#1
Probably going to be flamed for this pretty harshly but it's whatever.

So my question/theory/etc. is this....

I'm thinking of getting self violent on stage to add to the intensity of the stage performance (burning myself with lit ciggettes, cutting, breaking glass bottles over my body, etc.) I'm just not sure the proper venues for this kind of stuffs. My playing is solid (enough) and I'm able to move around while keeping rythm but I want to give more then just the standard musical performances. I think of bans like kiss, black sabath, the sex pistols where they've all done similiar acts of violence on stage.

Also considering that I'm not the only member in the band I would like some input on how other band mate might react if they saw something like this.
 
#2
yeah, you have to make sure you're playing the right place... look around at local venues, see if you can find lists of the bands that have played there. that'll give you an idea of how the crowd might react. also, try to avoid really extreme stuff... don't cut yourself. stick with burning/breaking bottles on yourself. break the bottles over your clothes, so you don't stick yourself with any broken glass. and wear boots. as for your band... ask them how they feel about it. make sure you're playing the right kind of music... if i were in a beatles cover band, i wouldn't even think about this sort of stuff, but if i were in a hardcore/emo sort of band... then maybe. again... if you must do it, do stuff that people will actually notice... no one will notice you taking a cigarette to yourself, but people will notice if you have your lighter out or are breaking glass everywhere. So... do your research, and be safe w/ yourself. also, a good trick is to stick a lit cigarette in the headstock of your guitar... eddie van halen did that sometimes. it just kind of looks cool.

as for bands that have done this... i've seen KISS live. they're great. but it's all a well constructed stage show; they're not actually mutilating themselves or causing themselves any real harm. if you're sure it's something you want to go for, you could fill a small, skin colored package w/ fake blood, then cut that w/ a knife so it looks like you're bleeding. stuff like that so you aren't actually hurting yourself. as for bands like the sex pistols.. well, they may very well have been hurting themselves... i don't think they ever went as far as actual cutting/self mutilation. they were pretty self destructive though.

good luck... i guess.
 
#5
the irony of all this is I have F.A.K.E on my knuckles and "faux" in my sn but I hate being fake so i'd rather avoid the fake blood. I do like the idea of the lit cig in the head stock though. In a poorly lit bar that could look pretty interesting. The cutting probably will screw up my playing though/deaden my strings if the blood got that way (which it probably would). Don't want things to be to rehearsed but at the same time I really need to be aware of the do's and dont's.

As far as the band goes - old school punk band.
 
#6
alright. old school punk a la Pistols/Ramones? well, if people are coming to see that kind of show... then go for it, as long as your not hurting yourself. yeah, blood is usually not that good for basses. so, no real cutting, i would say. if you can take being burned by a cig or two... i guess you could. this is all your preference.


go around 50 seconds into this video. look at the cig in eddie's headstock. looks kind of cool. probably, just sticking it under the strings behind the nut should work. try it with an unlit cigarette.
 
#9
Personally I wouldn't do it... I think that kind of stuff has been done and should be left in the past. Stuff done for shock value only works if you shock people. Since it's already been done, that's not shocking. I think people are more sophisticated now. Plus, it's a gimmick and isn't really going to build a career with longevity. Very few of the greats that have been around forever, resorted to gimmicks. I'm actually kind of amazed at how little stage shows have progressed over the years. Considering how affordable projected imagery and other things are now days, I'm surprised at how many bands still just stand there in front of their amps doing the same old thing. If I was a kid starting out, I'd be looking to be as innovative as possible. Who cares what the old guys use to do... Blaze your own trail.
 
#10
Xray66 said:
Personally I wouldn't do it... I think that kind of stuff has been done and should be left in the past. Stuff done for shock value only works if you shock people. Since it's already been done, that's not shocking. I think people are more sophisticated now. Plus, it's a gimmick and isn't really going to build a career with longevity. Very few of the greats that have been around forever, resorted to gimmicks. I'm actually kind of amazed at how little stage shows have progressed over the years. Considering how affordable projected imagery and other things are now days, I'm surprised at how many bands still just stand there in front of their amps doing the same old thing. If I was a kid starting out, I'd be looking to be as innovative as possible. Who cares what the old guys use to do... Blaze your own trail.
Click to expand...

like setting off pyrotechnics at a crowded bar show! :D
 
#11
Xray66 said:
Personally I wouldn't do it... I think that kind of stuff has been done and should be left in the past. Stuff done for shock value only works if you shock people. Since it's already been done, that's not shocking. I think people are more sophisticated now. Plus, it's a gimmick and isn't really going to build a career with longevity. Very few of the greats that have been around forever, resorted to gimmicks. I'm actually kind of amazed at how little stage shows have progressed over the years. Considering how affordable projected imagery and other things are now days, I'm surprised at how many bands still just stand there in front of their amps doing the same old thing. If I was a kid starting out, I'd be looking to be as innovative as possible. Who cares what the old guys use to do... Blaze your own trail.
Click to expand...


well said. Originallity is pretty much dead though. Pyrotechnics, gore, costumes... all done.

As far as shock value goes... meh I could care less if I surprize anybody. I'm more concerned in giving people what they want and we as human beings (or any living creature for that matter) have an attraction to violence. Its shown more often however with more aggressive.
 
#14
xxfaux_punkxx said:
well said. Originallity is pretty much dead though. Pyrotechnics, gore, costumes... all done.

As far as shock value goes... meh I could care less if I surprize anybody. I'm more concerned in giving people what they want and we as human beings (or any living creature for that matter) have an attraction to violence. Its shown more often however with more aggressive.
Click to expand...

buy some stuff you can kick around and destroy on stage. like... empty speaker cabinets, so people think you're destroying your stuff but you're actually not. as much as that would be "fake".... i don't think it's worth $500 for every show to buy new cabs to trash :smug:
 
#17
Saw a classic hardcore band whose original image was form the singer beating himself with the mic stand. Except this was 20 years after it was cool and they were opening for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (ska and ska-core). There was a guy in the front row with a white suit on doing his best not to get bled on. WRONG venue. My girlfriend and I (also in the front) don't trust some 40-year old dude bleeding on us either. We were thinking "AIDS?" not "COOL!"
 
#19
Originality is far from dead, just not as obvious as it was. That said, avoid gimmicks, save that stuff for huge arena shows n such. For small clubs, no ones going to care about gimmicks, they are there to drink and enjoy some music. Also things like your describing, will seem fake anyway, because it's no longer spontaneous. Then people will know your trying too hard just to get attention, which is lame. Your better off to just be yourself and play the best you can.
 
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