By Michael Hojjatie
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 30, 1998

Writer doesn't get metal scene

To the Editor:

I utterly resent the comments that were made in James Casey's preview of the King Diamond concert on Apr. 26 ("Here comes the metal King," Apr. 23). The concert was nothing short of phenomenal.

As a local purveyor of metal and underground music with a nationwide reputation, I don't think Mr. Casey is in any position to attempt to behave like a metal historian. Such remarks as "bands like Tool use elements of death and black metal" are totally false, because Tool is far from the metal genre and are a lame trend for high-school kids to follow while they run into Spencer's at the mall and buy the band's shirts. I don't even feel at liberty to give this guy examples of real death and black metal.

Also, where did he get his information that Poison, Skid Row and Motley Crue used to wear wash-off face paint? I have absolutely no recollection of seeing them wear anything outside of some lipstick and eyeliner, common practice among the Trent Reznor and Perry Farrell trends of today. And for Mr. Casey to say that Vince Neill is cool once again, I've yet to see it, so maybe in his little dreamworld of unsubstantiated misinformation, this is happening.

Mr. Casey's blatant disrespect of King Diamond by saying things like "I prefer to call him KD" and "lock up your daughters, the King is coming" would never come from anybody with any passion for this music anyway. So finally, James, I'd like to warn you about what you put in print before you decide to represent a particular scene, because it doesn't make you look very good falsifying what it's really about. In the meantime, I hope you and all your drinking buddies enjoy your stupid and trendy sources of entertainment like Marcy Playground, "Chasing Amy" and "South Park."

Michael Hojjatie
Media Arts sophomore