After Guitarist's Death, Fans of Metal Adopt Holiday.
In
the wake of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman's death, the directors of
the International Day of Slayer -- the Slayer-centric holiday that
sprang to life on 6/6/06 -- announce a change in the status the
celebration of this year's version of "the world's first heavy metal
holiday."
"With
the passing of Jeff Hanneman, it would be reasonable to assume that
the 2013 celebration of the International Day of Slayer would be a
somber one," said Hessian spokesperson and International Day of Slayer
CEO Jim Tate, "but nothing could be further from the truth. This year
more than any other demands full engagement and celebration from Slayer
fans and hessians across the globe." Tate explained that the term
"Hessian," derived from the long-haired maniacal mercenaries of the
revolutionary war, is a term of cultural self-reference for metal fans.
He
explained that the significance of the International Day of Slayer
goes far beyond Slayer. "The outside world was once again forced to
reckon with us as a cultural movement when they acknowledged the loss
of one of metal's most important figures, so it would be a mistake to
simply hang our heads and close up shop. Jeff made music that was loud
and defiant, and we must continue to uphold this standard in how we
commemorate him and represent the hessian community," said Tate.
Many
commentators view Slayer as the "archetypal metal band" because of
their uncompromising approach, their weaving of a mythology combining
technology and occultism, and their unapologetic pursuit of a lifestyle
apart from what modern society considers normal. In fact, some consider
Slayer the saviors of heavy metal, which was veering toward the
populist path which would lead to its assimilation by rock music, and
absorption into a "metal-flavored" version of rock for sale as a
mainstream product.
International
Day of Slayer CTO Dag Hansen spoke up on this point. "Pizza wasn't
invented in Italy, Chinese restaurant food was invented in New York, Sri
Racha sauce was created in California, Dutch ovens aren't Dutch and
French fries have no relation to France," Hansen. said. "We don't want
metal to become another culture absorbed by the money machine and turned
into a pale imitation of itself."
"We
at IDoS ask you to again stand up in the name of Slayer, in the name
of metal, and in the name of Jeff Hanneman, and remind the rest of the
planet that we are here, and we will not be going away anytime soon,"
said Tate. "Good music is heroic and ultimately immortal, and now more
than ever, the music of Slayer is exactly that. They created the battle
hymns that so many of us have used to navigate our lives, ones we will
continue to rely upon to as the days ahead grow ever darker. We cannot
let these works fade with time. It is sometimes hard to remember that
Slayer is comprised of mortal men like ourselves, but with the proper
dedication and stewardship, their works can last a thousand years and
join the ranks of masters like Beethoven and Wagner. This is what we
must strive for by insisting on bands like Slayer for us and future
generations."
Reminding
listeners that as every year, this year the International Day of
Slayer will be on the same date, with the same agenda. "Join us. It is
never too late to make your voice heard. Metal is the mission, Slayer
is our weapon. On June 6th, stand with us to celebrate as visibly as we
can," said Tate. "Don't go to work, listen to Slayer!"
The International Day of Slayer website exhorts users to:
* Listen to Slayer at full blast in your car.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast in your home.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast at your place of employment.
* Listen to Slayer at full blast in any public place you prefer.
DO
NOT use headphones! The objective of this day is for everyone within
earshot to understand that it is the National Day of Slayer. National
holidays in America aren't just about celebrating; they're about forcing
it upon non-participants.
Taking that participation to a problematic level
* Stage a "Slay-out." Don't go to work. Listen to Slayer.
*
Have a huge block party that clogs up a street in your neighborhood.
Blast Slayer albums all evening. Get police cruisers and helicopters on
the scene. Finish with a full-scale riot.
* Spray paint Slayer logos on churches, synagogues, or cemeteries.
* Play Slayer covers with your own band (since 99% of your riffs are stolen from Slayer anyway).
* Kill the neighbor's dog and blame it on Slayer.
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SLAYER
Started
in 2006 as both a parody of the "National Day of Prayer" and a tribute
to the band that single-handedly brought the intensity back to heavy
metal, the International Day of Slayer is a holiday for all who
appreciate metal music and specifically, the works of Slayer. To
celebrate, go to www.nationaldayofslayer.org and read the instructions there.
ABOUT SLAYER
Slayer
is a speed/death metal band from California who starting in 1983
unleashed a new style of music based on fast tremolo phrasal riffs and
chaotic solos, merging the ideological outlook of punk with the metal
tendency to find mythology lurking behind the behavior of humans. For
more information, visit the band at www.slayer.net
ABOUT JEFF HANNEMAN
Jeff
Hanneman, one of the founding members of Slayer, is credited with
inventing much of the band's sound and metaphorical approach to lyrics,
as well as writing much of its most stirring material. He passed away
unexpectedly on May 2, 2013. A public memorial service was held for him
at the Hollywood Palladium on May 23.
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If
you'd like more information about this topic, or would like to
schedule an interview, please contact Dag Hansen at (512) 553-4544 or pr@nationaldayofslayer.org.
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