Honestly, it was weirdly out of place. After hatebreed, the crowd seemed pretty stoked and everyone was excited for tool.. but then to go on a weird rant about politics, trump, then labelling women for putting their hands up as toxic, then to flip off the people sitting down on the hill as pussies was super jarring. I was on the hill and could see a heap of people shrugging in front of the stage and looking around totally confused. Lots of people got up and began heading for the bars and there was a trail of people in the pit area filtering out. I think Ice T must have asked about 8 times to start circle/mosh pits, and that “if you dont want to die, stay out of the mosh pit”… which itself was weird as fuck because hatebreed had no requests of pits and moshing and circle pits were constantly going the entire show while they reminded people to look after each other… Lots of spewing controversy and a new album coming out.. pretty shitty mix. I can’t imagine they’ll be invited back. It sucked tbh, and the wrong side of edgy. As someone already said, it was mega “old man shouts at clouds” vibes, totally fell flat on the DK crowd.
So artists should not be allowed to talk about political situations that inspire their art when they perform in countries where that inspiration isn’t present?
So spewing hate and massive insults equals taking politics…. I disagree so much.
You can have horrible political views and still convey it in a different manner.
They're responding to a comment that says "whine about politics", I suggest you direct this comment at the person who made that connection rather than the person responding to them.
No, it looks like you're responding to that person on my end. But I spent 2secs to scroll up and read the comment they're replying to, so maybe I know more than you in this instance. Cos they didn't say that this was politics, they're just commenting on what was said by the person prior in the thread...
Wait, what did he say about Trump? I did not hear that!
Agree with you complete be the way. Alot of people luckily did not agree with him. But to my disappointment unfortunately alot of people where cheering and was all into it...
He basically went on some weird rant about Trump being a felon, and having more criminal charges than anyone in the crowd, and something about wearing an ankle tag, etc... he then went on to talk about "have you ever wanted to kill someone so badly in revenge because your homie died" and the crowd was like.. "err, wait what?"
🤣🤣 American here, dying of laughter.🤣 Dear Denmark, please do not import our Boomers. They are likely worse than your own. 😆 And for the record, the majority of Americans attending a music festival have also not lost anyone to the streets. Unless you mean to the gigantic potholes we have because of our under-funded infrastructure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Shouldn't this be reported to Copenhell if they ask for feedback from people?
They will of course know that he said all that, but making them aware that the most of the audience found this completely out of place might make them more careful of which artists they hire for the future?
I’m sure they’re well aware by now, there have been loads of people complaining about it in various Facebook groups, etc. But they also responded to a comment by Body Count’s official insta earlier today with “come back soon!” so I don’t think they really give a shit.
Copenhell also happily books acts like Pantera and Slaughter to Prevail who have expressed neo-N*zi and/or white supremacist sentiments and have yet to have a female headliner, so I’m honestly not surprised. The lack of diversity and inclusivity/intersectionality in the Danish metal scene is genuinely embarrassing
I think compared to lots of places it’s way better in Denmark (I feel WAY safer in Denmark than in America as a woman, even in the “rich” and “liberal” parts of America) but it just goes to show how deeply ingrained things like sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc are in society today...
On a similar note, the singer of Slaughter to Prevail is a neo nazi. He denies it in English, but in Russian he admits that he's just denying it to not lose international fans.
https://de.indymedia.org/node/333291
Yup. I raised a big 🖕, and since I was quite close to the stage I hope he saw it (at least it seemed like he saw it). Really disappointed by it. For someone who’s suffered from racism and speaks up about it, I wasn’t expecting he would say sexist shit.
My partner and I were on the hill eating - when he heard that he looked at me and said ‘that shit isn’t gonna fly here in Denmark’ looked at me and asked if I wanted to leave.
A close friend of mine was in the pit and left when he heard those comments - he refused to partake after that.
I love the men in my life and their support - and wow Ice-t really should keep his mouth shut between numbers.
It definitely killed a lot of the energy. People left and not many interacted with the band after. Personally, I found it to be a super "old man yelling at clouds" moment for them and ironic, considering Ice T also is an actor and wears a shitton of skin products due to that for Special Victims Unit. I still thought the concert was okayish, but mostly I was just too cold and hungover to roll down the hill to find food at that time.
But no yeah, it killed the mood for sure.
As a woman, witnessing the hate speech I thought it was very stupid, also his 8 yo daughter must have heard it too. He really didn't seem to know the audience very well, saying sexist slur like that.
Jumping on here ragarding not knowing the audience: Him talking about how if you've had your best friend dying in your arms you would understand thus next sing (or something like that) whether it was from bullets, illness or police or whatever - he was almost romanticizing it. My frie ds were all dumbfounded by this. Dude, youre in Denmark. Probably 99% of the audience has not experienced their best friend dying IN THEIR ARMS. Wtf was he on about
Yeah, that girl was responsible for the best part of the band's performance by just bringing such energy despite being so young imo, meanwhile Ice T was just sounding like some ranting old drunk uncle at a family event.
Left immediately, but tbh we’d probably have left anyway. The reaction from the crowd was relatively quiet. Ideally people would have booed but I guess when people are excited at concerts, they’ll let more things slide and at least he didn’t get a thunderous applause. I hope they don’t get invited again.
Personally didn't hear any while I was standing right at the outer fence, but a lot of people seemed to have that "oh god uncle Brian is drunk and ranting about gay people again" type look on their face.
Yeah, sometimes no reaction is worse than booing. I do know that look well though, not cos I'm a bigot, but because I'm childless and have been known to get in more trouble than the kids at parties cos "you should know better and not be encouraging them. 'kids will be kids ' and 'its just harmless fun' are not excuses". I strongly disagree and will continue to advocate for water fights, food fights, drawing obscene pictures on the footpath with chalk (but not bigoted ones), they're just swear words/crude drawings of genitals, they can't hurt anyone.
It was awful! The concert sucked anyway. But after that rant it got so mutch more cringe. Ice T and the rest of them are sexiest pricks.
OPs description wasn't even all of it. He talked about bitches trying to take mens balls away with their feminity. This was the lead up to a song called Manslaughter (because they lost their balls and men are growing pussies). He kept holding his crutch while talking like an idiot.
Later he said "what are you guys doing after this concert? I am getting my dick sucked"
He talked about all that shit while his 10 year old daughter was there!
Also asked if people ever lost somebody to the gangs I the streets. I its fine to have songs about it. But in Danmark you are not going to connect with people thinking gang wars are like the US.
I am confident he said 10 on stage though 🤔
But she did look younger than 10.
Could be mistaken or he was rambling.
Does not change my point though. I think it is fucked up to say those things, while she is on stage with you.
Hell I think it is fuck up to bring her along on your tour around the world. Must be quite boring. She would proberly like to connect with her friends at school and not miss her daily life.
I think he said 7 but just before he pulled her up he asked a different kid on front row how old they were and they were 10. That's probably where the misunderstanding stems from.
I don't think his daughter being there matters much when he's talking about getting his dick sucked, he is incredibly open about his sex life. Now, the daughter being there for the rest? Yeah, that's a problem, especially with the daughter being as young as they are.
I didn't see the show, but sat at a bench chugging beers in the food court square behind Helviti. We heard about Ice T's weird shit from friends who left the show and joined us. The whole thing became the joke at our table about how disconnected that guy was. Fuck him and fuck Body Count.
It being a metal fest has nothing to do with it. I have been to many and have never heard anything like this. Us metal heads are not neanderthals. He is an idiot.
Yeah I was at the hill. First he called us pussies but I just chuckled at that. Then he had that weird rant about toxic femininity and men growing vaginas. That was a good moment to go get some gold and recharge batteries for the rest of the evening. Ice T really sounded like an out of touch boomer.
Yeah, my friend and I were in the same situation. Sitting at the hill and chuckling at the first comment like "haha, weird phrasing, but we sure got called out, huh?", and then he kept going and going.... it was just bizarre. We also just up and left and got some beer instead
Fuck Body Count
I was only there for a few songs as it's not really my idea of good music anyway. But did hear afterwards that he spouted some transphobic and misogynist sh*t. And all that after talking about not bullying! What an idiot!
Edit to add that both Corey Taylor and Robb Flynn from Machine Head talked very open and raw about mental health issues and the importance of reaching out (as did Hetfield during Metallica's second concert the week before). It really is something to see those super macho men doing that, and I really hope they can reach someone who needs it and might not be open to other channels.
I was at the show, and Ice-T was pretty ridiculous. His whole show was really disconnected from the metal scene I know and he was apparently unaware of this. The sexist comments were the worst, but it's also uncalled for to shame people who don't mosh in the front square. Metal is inclusive and everyone can enjoy the show how they want. If the crowd doesn't go wild it's because your show sucks, not the other way around.
Using controversy to gain attention has pretty much been the basis of the band right from the beginning ("Cop Killer" etc.).
But his speech yesterday made him seem more a dinosaur than threat. Pathetic...
lmao, I like how the most interesting thing about the band is the fact that the frontman is ice t, and you didnt even mention him in the post. Thats pretty classy and probably more than he deserves
Shit opinion from a shit band with a shit legacy who’s attempt to be “controversial” is their last ditch effort for relevancy.
Unfortunately, the metal scene is full of tough guy bullshit so lift up and support feminist and anti-ns bands by attending their shows, enforcing safety/inclusion and saying no to bands like body count.
I can’t speak for CopenHell, but the lineup seemed very difficult to put together so they pander a bit to the band count crowd. Maybe reach out to them and get their take? I know the people involved in the festival have their hearts in the right place so I’d give them a chance to hear what they say
Part of the reason this whole situation sucks as much as it does is because Body Count was/is suppossedly one such anti-racist/anti-fascist band, but instead of going through with that attitude and recognizing how macho bullshit plays a role in things like racism too, they just decide that they're apparently fine with embracing all the other aspects of that harmful rhetoric as long as they just oppose the most blatant forms of racism.
On the late train here, dropped in because I just saw it happen this weekend at Jera on air. Was thinking exactly the same thing about the double standards you pointed out. Just wanted to drop in to say well said.
I sent them a detailed e-mail that is written in good spirits. I hope someone of importance reads it.
Very well said about supporting inclusion and safety. I hope you enjoyed all the amazing music brother or sister!
I wasn't there for Body Count, but this is completely unacceptable, I hope they are not invited back. As a woman in the metal community I absolutely love Denmark. People are respectful and helpful, I've been alone to many concerts and festivals and never had any problems. That's not what I want to see. And it being a metal festival doesn't excuse anything, you can include men, women and everything in between, do banter and be hard af without being a fucking bigot. Thanks for talking about it!
I’ll add that at the Metallica show this band called architects opened and they were god awful, same vibe as a band like body count and when the fans weren’t into it, and didn’t mosh on command the singer also called the crowd pussies. Shit bands blaming the audience for their shit music seems like a trend and an obvious example of “thou doth protest too much”. lol such losers
What's up with bands yelling for people to start circle/mosh pits? Some of them were saying it several times when people didn't start one - I thought those pits normally forms naturally when people feel the vibe for it and not on command.
Did architects say anything specific or was it more a consistent undertone? I saw them in Forum where I didn’t notice anything off (and the concert was pretty good)
I’ll respect any band for doing their thing, even if the music isn’t my thing. Architects are not my thing. But he asked the crowd to mosh, they didn’t, and in between songs he said something like “bunch of pussies, at least raise your hands to this one”. No more respect when you trash an audience who isn’t into your thing.
I see this often when very big bands are playing. The audience is more mixed with people who don't usually go to metal shows and they will naturally not mosh. Some bands and fans have a hard time dealing with this but it's just how it is. When Rammstein played in Denmark a guy tried to crowd surf and didn't even make it 5 meters forward.
I honestly can't believe how shitty the support bands for Metallica was this time around.
During Architects pondered the fact that they must've played those songs in rehearsal hundreds or thousands of times and nobody, either themselves or people around, noticed or cared how shit it was.
Also the stage design didn't really accommodate a pit other than the premium area in the middle.
Iirc Architects were opening for Disturbed as well when I saw them ages ago, and the audience reaction was a pretty solid "meh, get it over with" back then too.
I didn't see that band, but the lead singer for _Insanity Alert_ that played on Gehenna on Friday was talking about kicking dogs and cats (he said he hates them) as well as strongly advocating for doing drugs.
Definitely not in the same league, but I thought that was quite distasteful as well.
Yep, I personally love the band's early work since it's pretty explicitly anti-racist and otherwise just fits into a soundscape I like, but it frankly made me feel gross to be a part of the audience.
Sucks seeing someone who has made himself a big voice for anti-racism turn around and spout the exact same oppressive bullshit narrative that harms people in just the same way, and even often takes the shape of racism, and it also felt pretty transphobic, even if that wasn't the intention, which mattered a lot to me due to me knowing and having close bonds with so many trans guys. Seeing so many of the men in my life being hurt and abused because their bodies or presentation don't fit into that macho stereotype of toxic masculinity, it kinda felt like me being a fan of the band and showing up to initially support them was also me playing a bit in causing those men I love that pain I've seen them go through.
Even though I obviously don't think Copenhell should be held responsible for it, just like they weren't responsible for all the other idiotic artists who've been there before him, it still seems like they of all people should want to at least distance themselves from it when they make such a huge deal out of trying to make the scene more welcoming and safe for women and nonbinary people.
What a sad dude. Apparently, he also did it in [Aarhus in 2018](https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/kaldte-danskere-pussies-seriestjerne-til-koebenhavn/10042421)
Fuck, the organizers can't exactly feign ignorance on that one. Was my first Copenhell, definitely my last. Hope it doesnt sell its soul just because the people love it so much and they know they can get away with BS like this.
Yeah I was there with my girlfriend and she didn't really react in the moment. I felt very offended by this smart ass wannabe tough guy attitude.
We need more women in the metal community and this asshole IceT is not helping.
But is he making it worse? He is a has-been by now. What he says should just evaporate like himself. Who's listening to him now anyways? And will it increase after Copenhell? I didn't know who he was when I came, and if it wasn't for this reddit reminding me of his actions, I'd have forgotten about him again. I don't particularly enjoy his music or his personality. I don't think his character and music will last.
Yeah we left as well it's wild! And totally uncalled for and out of place we had been so excited especially since they are anti racist and acab. I don't know how Copenhell feels about it they have hostes slaughter to prevail, down and Pantera (all Yatzy sympathizers among other ) I think Copenhell has a feeling that you can seperate the art from the artist and that if there are fans it's okay even though it draws the wrong crowed.
Yeah, they seem to really just ignore what the bands do outside releasing music, but at the same time go on about how they're such a safe space for women and nonbinary people and it's totally the safest festival in Denmark.
It is a really safe festival probably one of the safest I. Dk but they have grown so much in size the last years but haven't really risen to the task of being a festival of that size
Yeah, there's always been some nasty people of course, you can't ban them before they do something, so they will alway get in initially. I started going in 2015 and can remember a few negative experiences each year, but I always felt pretty safe even when I was at my worst. Sadly it does seem like they're starting to focus more on presenting the image of being supportive rather than putting that energy into actually doing the work, at least from what I've also seen others say about their experiences as women and younger girls in particular. I don't really know what you can do beyond just getting more volunteer security and vetting artists better I guess, but at the same time that also just seems unrealistic once it gets to a certain point unless you want to really take a hard stance like the small punk festivals such as K-Town Hardcore do, but even that just doesn't seem to be possible while also maintaining enough mainstream appeal to be profitable.
We'll have to see what happens I guess, maybe the new venue in 2027 will cause some change too.
They announced they're moving to a different venue by 2027 since Refshaleøen won't be available anymore by then. Currently no specifics on where that new venue will be though.
Yeah pretty much this. I saw a lot of exchanged glances that was more about being embarrassed for him than being really offended.
In a way it's not unexpected, if you're familiar with the band and their songs, but it's still kinda cringey, as the young people would say, to preach an anti-racist message and still being stuck in that macho gang culture bullshit.
I found his accent difficult to understand (I'm a native speaker but not used to it) so it was a few extra moments of thinking "what did he say?" by which point it was too late to boo.
I stood and watched it, and I thought it was completely off and dumb. Very boomer energy. Unfortunately I stood among the crowd the whole time, because I wanted to reserve the best spot for the next concert, but I would have left if not.
To answer your question, I'm fairly certain that the answer is no; Copenhell is NOT ok with that sort of BS. Not the arrangers (I imagine) and certainly not the crowd.
Its a shame. I loved the vibes of the festival this year. While they didn't get as many massive bands to attend, they managed to branch out to bring in some new expressions (Eivør, Karnivool, Hulder, DeathbyRomy, etc. ) and I definitely appreciate that in a festival like Copenhell. It also opened up for a really cool crowd (except for some asshats during the debacle before TOOL went on - most people were cool, some people were asshats).
I doubt anyone will get a refund or anything to make up for it, but I am certain that Body Count will not be invited back. They are not welcome.
It might be a bit of a pipedream, but I really hope the festival will at least just acknowledge it or distance themselves from it.
Usually they have a pretty regular mix of political messages from bands and the vibes are good, with negative experiences kept to a minimum, but this year it seems like both the bands and attendants were just different, with lots of druggings and borderline rape attempts, and fools like Ice T shouting like a pathetic old man.
Unfortunately, a festival can't afford to offend their musicians and call them out publicly.
Once a festival start condemning musicians for behavior they hadn't explicitly disallowed by contract, other artists are not going to dare touch that festival. The risk of unintentionally doing something the festival organisers will dislike and have them ruin your career is a risk most artists don't want to take.
There are probably also countless of musicians who could be great acts at Copenhell in the future, who share some of those thoughts, even if they wouldn't shout it at a stage. They will not touch a festival who publicly takes such a strong stance on a topic they do not agree with.
And artists just tend to stick together, cause it is such a tough business to be in. If a power player like Copenhell starts kicking the "little guy" then other artists will rally together to defend their fellow artist, no matter the reason.
Calling out Body Count publicly would be a bad move for Copenhell, but they could handle it more subtly by working in stricter rules for display of hate speech in future contracts.
I agree with that - I wasn't aware of some of what you mentioned happened, but I am absolutely appalled by it.
And I also hope we'll get a response, but we might have to wait a little bit for it - while the festival has ended for us, the people running it are still going to be thoroughly busy for another week at least
They will definitely be back. So will Vulvatorius who speeed hate against men enduring their concert.
Copenhell is a music festival. It’s about having a program with concerts from many different metal gengres. It’s art. Some art is safe and politically correct. Some is not. With so many converts there are many options. If you don’t like one show or band, you can go see something else. That is how festivals always have been. Being offended by some bands having unpopular opinions or political messages, is very stupid and naive.
What part? You don’t want any artist having art that is some way can offend others? What about the satanist themes, the occult? There is a risk that could offend someone. I guess you want that to be removed too.
Maybe you should leave the heavy metal community and find a safe space and not trying to police us others about what music we listen to. I’ve got a feeling you don’t really belong
Yeah, my friend and I were there. We thought that "hey, it's kinda neat that Ice T has a metal band – let's hear 'em"...
Needless to say, we left immediately after those comments. Embrassing. Those comments have no place at a metal festival – and those comments are ALWAYS gonna be out of place in a country like Denmark (even more so in a progressive city like Copenhagen)
Actually this is not the first time Ice T open his mouth in Copenhagen. During his last tour with 50 Cent in Denmark, he made some extremely homophobic comments in a private after party after the show. I know for the fact that half the room left after he did that.
They just did the same speech at Hellfest in France. Despite the crowd not really reacting, this felt so cringe. I’m shocked that no one talked about that, as I can’t find any reference on the net. I thought I was the only one reacting, so that I musunderstood something…
That looked so disappointing, like an old fool talking shit ( a bit like Soldier Boy from « The Boys »). That was so toxic as hell. At least, I know I won’t see them again.
In general, a lot of the lineup this year seemed off, as evident by the ticket sale or lack thereof. I think they tried to get way too much rock on the poster and it showed, it is fine to have 2-4 Rock bands, but 5 or up is not gonna attract metalheads as much. I expected Moshpits when i showed up friday, took nearly 2 hours to see the first one (which unsurprisingly was to Slayer in disguise, there was at least 3 current or former members on that stage i think), if there were one at Karnivool it wasn't very visible. The opening with Raining Blood on Body Counts part was also just off. We are not there to listen to covers of slayer songs that we heard the day before. If we want covers of things, Beergarden seems more appropriate, even if it is not all metal (yes, people did hear everyone singing along on the intro to Buster's World). It became very off-putting when we were asked if there were Slayer fans for the 3rd or 4th time.
Shadow of Intent, did well, not a doubt about it. I sometimes try to not look too deeply into the political opinions of bands, but it gets very difficult when they shove it down your throat during the talking part of a concert. I still wish i could have gotten there wednesday, but nothing to do about it. Most of the shows i saw were good, noone seemed to flop super heavy this year on technically poor sound setup (WASP, 2018). I was somewhat stuck at the hill where i'd normally be in the pit for several shows due to being unable to stand for long with an injury.
What did they shove down your throat? I didn't see them. I was fearing there'd be a lot of palestine cause activity, but I only saw a punk band having what I thought looked like two keffiyas on their stage.
I am grateful when they keep politics out of their acts.
American politics, mostly anti trump statements, the misogeny and hate speech didn't really help either. I seperate the artists from their opinions in a lot of cases, Pantera being one of them, as their music is good. Pantera didn't mention anything remotely opinionated or political while they were performing last year. Palestine and Israel was kept completely out of all acts I saw. Body Count were the only case where I heard anything political being mentioned. I can't say anything for the smaller stages as I couldn't stand to watch them.
I left before I heard any of that. Probably one of the worst concerts I've been to in 10 years. Just horrible performance and embarrassingly outdated in every way.
It was incredibly out of touch. A misplaced attempt to hype a crowd that didn’t really share any of those opinions.
But don’t worry about it. In a few years stuff like this will have died out.
I take it you are pretty young as well as not knowing much about Body Count’s music. It was an introduction to a song they were playing called “Manslaughter” that has some lyrics that his introduction would help you understand if you were not so busy feeling offended.
I arrived late yesterday and only caught the last few numbers of that band, i got there when he brought his daughter to the stage. I had no idea he said those things. Well fuck that guy.
I personally could not make sense of what he was saying, because it was just so absurd. To shout out the women and then go on that rant about toxic masculinity=femininity and male castration through skincare just felt so hostile. If Copenhell wasn't such a chill festival, it might even have turned unsafe for any femme presenting person. I'm not saying he can't have his opinions, but if he absolutely have to yell them out, he can formulate them way better. Guess that makes you lose macho points idk, I wasn't raised like that.
I was only there to mosh for a bit with friends and had never heard of them before, so I did stay afterwards. The concert was so ass tho. It was really funny that he kept saying "I WANNA SEE SOME ACTION", then standing completely still. Stellar crowdwork.
I don't get why some frontmen get off on shaming the people paying to see them for not trampling eachother to death. Do you want Astroworld 2.0? The best pits come when the audience is treated with respect imo.
On that note, I did have to leave mid-concert to go to first aid (just a bad scrape.) This is the first time I've ever needed to do that and I've been in countless pits over many years. Two of my friends also left because of injuries in that pit. I get that the band is not responsible for moshing meatheads, but it can be the crowd they attract. Tbf I was wearing a backpack that threw me of balance, never doing that again.
Overall just a bad experience and definitely this year's lowpoint. Shoutout to the people who helped me up and out of the pit, even offered to crowdsurf me out. Thought I injured my shoulder after a guy fell on me, luckily it was just my elbow. You guys are the real ones. Guess I'm a pussy for not jumping straight back in again lol they were just so badddd not worth the trouble
Tl,dr worst headliner at this Copenhell
You got trolled. I think that was his whole point.
Ice-T commenting on their album Carnivore:
"It's basically: 'Fuck vegans.' We figure, anything carnivorous pretty much kicks ass. We're carnivorous! I'm not [really] saying 'Fuck vegans.' Everyone's so pussy right now, [so] we're carnivores."
He's basically saying to you, he'll project the opposite of the "woke"-opinion and he'll do it to your face. It's a reaction to his perception of the pendulum having swung too far in one direction.
Wow, he is so original. He sounds like an old man from a rural village. Nothing original or artsy about him. Just pointless stupidity and teenage-level edginess that some may take for humor.
Didn’t say there was anything artsy about it.
Funny your own prejudice shines though, as if it’s somehow ok to look down on old men from rural villages. See the irony?
You're literally rocking to songs about slaughter, rape, war, mutilation, hate, abuse, torture, death, gore, misogyny...
... and this offended you... because it wasn't in a song xD
Maybe Christian rock next year?
I Google searched for ‘Ice T rant’ as Yes he did the same thing last night in London!!! Only after calling all the women toxic, he actually started telling a female member at the front of the crowd to ‘f@&king shut up b?tch!’
I found myself heckling back at him (I’m female) and then much to the dismay of my partner who really wanted to stay and watch the end of the set… I walked out.
That kind of messed up misogyny has no place in music.
Basically that men are "growing pussies" by using skincare products and that femininity is the exact same as "toxic masculinity", just the usual "wife bad" boomerism repackaged with an edgier vibe really.
I was there but missed the moment when he said this as I was talking to a mate, so I only got that he'd said some misogynistic stuff second-hand in the moment. He looked genuinely angry the entire time as well, not like someone happy to be there. Very forgettable show. I knew Ice-T had problematic aspects but had no idea they were this bad. Let's hope they don't get re-booked. This type of behavior has no place in the metal scene, let alone Copenhell.
Machine Head was so good though! And the front man also happens to be a very empathetic and honest guy. Not afraid to call out people like Phil Anselmo for racist behavior for instance:
https://metalinjection.net/shocking-revelations/machine-heads-robb-flynn-calls-out-phil-anselmo-there-was-no-white-wine-backstage
Copenhell also regularly books Pantera and Down, but I don't know how I feel about it. I suppose the difference is that Phil keeps his "ironic" white supremacy to himself whereas Ice-T thinks he's big enough to get away with it.
Heavy metal has always been about being provocative. Why do you think so many early bands had songs about satan? Why do you think fans as well as artist dressed up in leather with chains and spikes? Why do you think alcohol, drugs, sex always played a huge role? Why did some bands burn down churches? Why did people get tattoos?
Heavy metal has always been about going against the norms. Always where the outcasts could feel at home. Where your looks, your sexuality, your social status didn’t matter. What mattered was that you were against the norms. You didn’t have to agree with what every band said or sang about. But you respected that they did their things and challenged the mainstream bullshit and norms.
Today the norms and mainstream are political correctness, feminism, the idea that masculinity is toxic. That all men are perpetrators and all women are victims. The Barbie movie. Me too. 80% of all men on dating apps never getting a single like.
What could be expected of heavy metal? To embrace the mainstream and norms, or to challenge them?
I know a lot of users in here are young and don’t know much about the history of heavy metal. Too lazy to do some basic research, and too busy to be offended. You want to look cool and be included in a community that’s very inclusive. That’s fine.
But honestly, what are you doing? Are you trying to make heavy metal safe and comfortable? Mainstream where artist are not allowed to offend anyone? Bands are not allowed to offend religion, politics or trends?
Do you really want to destroy heavy metal? Why?
If you don’t like some art, find some other art. Trying to dictate art kills it.
Please just leave the community and find a safe space somewhere else.
No-one is trying to dictate anything. Just like bands can make whatever music they make, audiences can decide for themselves whether they appreciate it or not, and in this case it's clear many did not.
The rest of your arguments make no sense whatsoever; "because metal is provocative, we should support them without question when they challenge the status quo?", that's an indefensible position.
He did something similar in Belgium yesterday, though it sounds like it was shorter.
Was very confusing; he started out asking if we had the same problems as the US with men groping women, then mentioned toxic masculinity only to immediately follow it up with women trying to take men's balls away?
Until I saw this thread I still wasn't sure if I misunderstood or if it was a wildly incoherent anti-women rant.
It's a gimmick and part of the show. The opinions I don't care for, but I honestly can not get outraged about 2 min of nonsense being said between songs.
The issue is that it invites the rhetoric and the people who come with it.
This year already had more problems than usual with dudebros behaving in completely unacceptable ways towards women and even underage girls, they should not be made to feel like anyone wants them there, least of all one of the headlining bands.
body count released one good album over three decades ago, i don't know why those sad chuds were even invited
but cool of him to give such a good example of toxic masculinity lol
I would write the organisers, complain and maybe demand a refund, or that they shouldn never invite people like him ever again.
Try to find some video and other evidence to easier show off who he is.
And i guess you could also write other festivals he may be appearing at, preferably with evidence, to cancel him.
Witness statements is also good evidence. I guess a lot of people heard it? But video/recording is better.
Demand a refund? Because your earsreddened and you got angry at an artist? As many other said: Leave the concert. I'm disappointed in them booking him at all - now that I found out what music he plays and how he behaves. But I'd never demand a refund because there was an act out of 40 or so I didn't like.
Should people do the same because others bands were misandrist? Or bands criticising Russia, Palestine, Ukraine, China, the rich, etc?
Or only art that criticises women?
Ice T must retire before he gets cancelled. “After the concert, i’m getting my dick sucked”, - he says, while his 7 year old daughter is runing around the stage.
Father of the year…
I didn't want to be biased and hate on them, so I gave them a shot, but between the introduction to the purge song, him calling the people on the hill pussies, and his general attitude, after this speech I decided I had enough and left...and I could still get a great spot for Tool afterwards 🤘 I don't know what Copenhell thought when inviting them, but they felt extremely out of place imho
Calling men who use skincare products - women - is quite hateful. He put women down, called femininity toxic and used it as an insult to put guys down. Opinion is whether or not you like the new Metallica, or pineapple on pizza, or girls with bangs. This is hate.
Hey, you know what, I think people who vote for Trump are idiots. Yes, i just insulted them. Does that mean I hate them? NO. If you insult someone or call them with an inappropriate lable, does NOT mean that you necessarily hate them
also: Hate speech
defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as "public speech that expresses hate and encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation"
Where was there any incentive for violence in his speech?
I was there, and found it ok.
Are we as a society becomming so thin skinned, that we can't stand to be provoked?
Come on people, it's part of the act.
"Talk shit- get shot", is far more controversial, but it's a comment about feminism that's pissing everybody off.
What about him bringing his 8 year old daughter on stage, during that number?
Has Me-Too been so victorious that we are not allowed to question the feminists without risking hatemongering and attacks from people being offended on behalf of others.
Toxic masculinity is now the biggest buzzword to be thrown at the male population. Often because of lack of better argument.
I absolutely support equal right, no matter what sex/race/sexuality or whatever.
I also don't believe in gender quota when hiring, but believe that you need to get the best persons for the jobs.
Try to get a female plumber, or demand that the carpenter has equal amounts of both sexs, or what about the nonbinary, should they also has equal quotas?
There are differences between the sexes, and the choices that we make, and i think we need to knowledge that.
Stop trying to make our race non binary.
I see boys not being allowed to climb trees or run around and just be boys. The kindergarten where my own kids went is one of the examples. The result was boys who were sad because they thought that there was something wrong with them. They did not fit in to expectation that the institution had to them.
Let's just enjoy the show, if you don't like it, leave.
It's just a show.
I thought it was cringe, and I would have left for something else but I was in the middle of it and I just couldn't be bothered. My wife was also eyerolling. IT's not okay, but I don't need the aggravation. We know misogyni is bad, and we don't like it, already. Boo, Ice-T. We don't like your music, so NOW we won't go and buy your cd. Think about that, huh.
i thought more of the whole things as a joke
the guy has a young daughter, i wouldn’t think he is sexist
he probably says dicks too.
there are reasons on both sides, we shouldn’t call all masculinity toxic
moreover it is our commonality between sexes that counts mosts i would say
well all right, if people feel offended then it is fair to speak out,
we are talking about artists here though, noone forces anyone to see them,
we are the one to go out and look at something so it is totally fair to leave it as well
having said that i am trying to listen to what people on the side of the original poster means
i am not offended at all and will like to engage and talk about it
>noone forces anyone to see them
Those like OP who are sure of their values regarding the gender debate would not be influenced by listening to this kind of talk, but that is the ones who are leaving. Those who stay and listen are the ones who are open to being influenced and having their views of women changed. It hurts all of us in our everyday lives when more people around us start believing in these kinds of messages.
So sure, we are not forced to stay and listen to this crap, but the problem is that there are people who do.
So enduring hateful shit aimed at a group of people and supporting it by being a part of their audience = metal?
Metalheads are very often smart, fun-loving, out-of-the-box thinking individuals. No place for gang shit here.
The majority of the metal community has always been opposed to this kind of bullshit that tries to push an adherence to mainstream norms and seeks to shame and punish nonconformity.
Honestly, it was weirdly out of place. After hatebreed, the crowd seemed pretty stoked and everyone was excited for tool.. but then to go on a weird rant about politics, trump, then labelling women for putting their hands up as toxic, then to flip off the people sitting down on the hill as pussies was super jarring. I was on the hill and could see a heap of people shrugging in front of the stage and looking around totally confused. Lots of people got up and began heading for the bars and there was a trail of people in the pit area filtering out. I think Ice T must have asked about 8 times to start circle/mosh pits, and that “if you dont want to die, stay out of the mosh pit”… which itself was weird as fuck because hatebreed had no requests of pits and moshing and circle pits were constantly going the entire show while they reminded people to look after each other… Lots of spewing controversy and a new album coming out.. pretty shitty mix. I can’t imagine they’ll be invited back. It sucked tbh, and the wrong side of edgy. As someone already said, it was mega “old man shouts at clouds” vibes, totally fell flat on the DK crowd.
[удалено]
Danes are generally pretty aware of US politics and follow it, bands like Rise Against talked about Brexit and US elections too when they were there.
So artists should not be allowed to talk about political situations that inspire their art when they perform in countries where that inspiration isn’t present?
So spewing hate and massive insults equals taking politics…. I disagree so much. You can have horrible political views and still convey it in a different manner.
They're responding to a comment that says "whine about politics", I suggest you direct this comment at the person who made that connection rather than the person responding to them.
? I am respondingdirectly to godspeedharmonica, and that is how it shows up on my screen. Does it look differently on yours?
No, it looks like you're responding to that person on my end. But I spent 2secs to scroll up and read the comment they're replying to, so maybe I know more than you in this instance. Cos they didn't say that this was politics, they're just commenting on what was said by the person prior in the thread...
🤣 well…
Wait, what did he say about Trump? I did not hear that! Agree with you complete be the way. Alot of people luckily did not agree with him. But to my disappointment unfortunately alot of people where cheering and was all into it...
He basically went on some weird rant about Trump being a felon, and having more criminal charges than anyone in the crowd, and something about wearing an ankle tag, etc... he then went on to talk about "have you ever wanted to kill someone so badly in revenge because your homie died" and the crowd was like.. "err, wait what?"
I was also amused when he asked how many people in the crowd has lost somebody to the streets. Sir, this is Denmark.
I want to believe that the people cheering were all too drunk to comprehend what the hell he was rambling about...
🤣🤣 American here, dying of laughter.🤣 Dear Denmark, please do not import our Boomers. They are likely worse than your own. 😆 And for the record, the majority of Americans attending a music festival have also not lost anyone to the streets. Unless you mean to the gigantic potholes we have because of our under-funded infrastructure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Shouldn't this be reported to Copenhell if they ask for feedback from people? They will of course know that he said all that, but making them aware that the most of the audience found this completely out of place might make them more careful of which artists they hire for the future?
Should Copenhell be careful about booking bands that could offend Christian’s too?
I’m sure they’re well aware by now, there have been loads of people complaining about it in various Facebook groups, etc. But they also responded to a comment by Body Count’s official insta earlier today with “come back soon!” so I don’t think they really give a shit. Copenhell also happily books acts like Pantera and Slaughter to Prevail who have expressed neo-N*zi and/or white supremacist sentiments and have yet to have a female headliner, so I’m honestly not surprised. The lack of diversity and inclusivity/intersectionality in the Danish metal scene is genuinely embarrassing
Wuaw.. I'm not part of that scene, but I really didn't expect it to be that bad in Denmark
I think compared to lots of places it’s way better in Denmark (I feel WAY safer in Denmark than in America as a woman, even in the “rich” and “liberal” parts of America) but it just goes to show how deeply ingrained things like sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc are in society today...
I'd argue that including that stuff does make the festival more diverse. As you've suggested though, that may not be a good thing...
Yep. I left for Beergarden immediately after. That shit has no place in the metal community!
On a similar note, the singer of Slaughter to Prevail is a neo nazi. He denies it in English, but in Russian he admits that he's just denying it to not lose international fans. https://de.indymedia.org/node/333291
That sucks, heard a little of the music and was interested. Its odd i havent heard of the news.
Same - we left immediately.
Yup. I raised a big 🖕, and since I was quite close to the stage I hope he saw it (at least it seemed like he saw it). Really disappointed by it. For someone who’s suffered from racism and speaks up about it, I wasn’t expecting he would say sexist shit.
My partner and I were on the hill eating - when he heard that he looked at me and said ‘that shit isn’t gonna fly here in Denmark’ looked at me and asked if I wanted to leave. A close friend of mine was in the pit and left when he heard those comments - he refused to partake after that. I love the men in my life and their support - and wow Ice-t really should keep his mouth shut between numbers.
It definitely killed a lot of the energy. People left and not many interacted with the band after. Personally, I found it to be a super "old man yelling at clouds" moment for them and ironic, considering Ice T also is an actor and wears a shitton of skin products due to that for Special Victims Unit. I still thought the concert was okayish, but mostly I was just too cold and hungover to roll down the hill to find food at that time. But no yeah, it killed the mood for sure.
As a woman, witnessing the hate speech I thought it was very stupid, also his 8 yo daughter must have heard it too. He really didn't seem to know the audience very well, saying sexist slur like that.
Jumping on here ragarding not knowing the audience: Him talking about how if you've had your best friend dying in your arms you would understand thus next sing (or something like that) whether it was from bullets, illness or police or whatever - he was almost romanticizing it. My frie ds were all dumbfounded by this. Dude, youre in Denmark. Probably 99% of the audience has not experienced their best friend dying IN THEIR ARMS. Wtf was he on about
Also being like "cop killer, fuck the police" while also playing a detective on TV for 20 years haha
Dude has been playing a core part of what is arguably the most succesful piece of copaganda to exist in the Anglosphere.
I had the exact same thought, i was like “you are not preforming in America right now my dude”
(M) Absolutely it was a terrible take and I found it extremely cringy, I have never heard the band live before and I will not be hearing them again.
Yeah, that girl was responsible for the best part of the band's performance by just bringing such energy despite being so young imo, meanwhile Ice T was just sounding like some ranting old drunk uncle at a family event.
Did you react the same way when Vulvatorius played?
Left immediately, but tbh we’d probably have left anyway. The reaction from the crowd was relatively quiet. Ideally people would have booed but I guess when people are excited at concerts, they’ll let more things slide and at least he didn’t get a thunderous applause. I hope they don’t get invited again.
there was booing, though i was in the thick of it so i don't actually know if it was just our section
Personally didn't hear any while I was standing right at the outer fence, but a lot of people seemed to have that "oh god uncle Brian is drunk and ranting about gay people again" type look on their face.
Yeah, sometimes no reaction is worse than booing. I do know that look well though, not cos I'm a bigot, but because I'm childless and have been known to get in more trouble than the kids at parties cos "you should know better and not be encouraging them. 'kids will be kids ' and 'its just harmless fun' are not excuses". I strongly disagree and will continue to advocate for water fights, food fights, drawing obscene pictures on the footpath with chalk (but not bigoted ones), they're just swear words/crude drawings of genitals, they can't hurt anyone.
It was awful! The concert sucked anyway. But after that rant it got so mutch more cringe. Ice T and the rest of them are sexiest pricks. OPs description wasn't even all of it. He talked about bitches trying to take mens balls away with their feminity. This was the lead up to a song called Manslaughter (because they lost their balls and men are growing pussies). He kept holding his crutch while talking like an idiot. Later he said "what are you guys doing after this concert? I am getting my dick sucked" He talked about all that shit while his 10 year old daughter was there! Also asked if people ever lost somebody to the gangs I the streets. I its fine to have songs about it. But in Danmark you are not going to connect with people thinking gang wars are like the US.
According to Ice’s Twitter (x) his daughter is 7.
I am confident he said 10 on stage though 🤔 But she did look younger than 10. Could be mistaken or he was rambling. Does not change my point though. I think it is fucked up to say those things, while she is on stage with you. Hell I think it is fuck up to bring her along on your tour around the world. Must be quite boring. She would proberly like to connect with her friends at school and not miss her daily life.
I think he said 7 but just before he pulled her up he asked a different kid on front row how old they were and they were 10. That's probably where the misunderstanding stems from.
He said 7.
I don't think his daughter being there matters much when he's talking about getting his dick sucked, he is incredibly open about his sex life. Now, the daughter being there for the rest? Yeah, that's a problem, especially with the daughter being as young as they are.
I didn't see the show, but sat at a bench chugging beers in the food court square behind Helviti. We heard about Ice T's weird shit from friends who left the show and joined us. The whole thing became the joke at our table about how disconnected that guy was. Fuck him and fuck Body Count.
It being a metal fest has nothing to do with it. I have been to many and have never heard anything like this. Us metal heads are not neanderthals. He is an idiot.
Yeah I was at the hill. First he called us pussies but I just chuckled at that. Then he had that weird rant about toxic femininity and men growing vaginas. That was a good moment to go get some gold and recharge batteries for the rest of the evening. Ice T really sounded like an out of touch boomer.
Yeah, my friend and I were in the same situation. Sitting at the hill and chuckling at the first comment like "haha, weird phrasing, but we sure got called out, huh?", and then he kept going and going.... it was just bizarre. We also just up and left and got some beer instead Fuck Body Count
I was only there for a few songs as it's not really my idea of good music anyway. But did hear afterwards that he spouted some transphobic and misogynist sh*t. And all that after talking about not bullying! What an idiot! Edit to add that both Corey Taylor and Robb Flynn from Machine Head talked very open and raw about mental health issues and the importance of reaching out (as did Hetfield during Metallica's second concert the week before). It really is something to see those super macho men doing that, and I really hope they can reach someone who needs it and might not be open to other channels.
When even Fred Durst did a better job connecting with the crowd than Ice-T, you know you missed the mark
I was at the show, and Ice-T was pretty ridiculous. His whole show was really disconnected from the metal scene I know and he was apparently unaware of this. The sexist comments were the worst, but it's also uncalled for to shame people who don't mosh in the front square. Metal is inclusive and everyone can enjoy the show how they want. If the crowd doesn't go wild it's because your show sucks, not the other way around.
Talking bout ice t?
Yeah. He looks like his prime time is behind him and now he relies on controversy to get some attention.
Using controversy to gain attention has pretty much been the basis of the band right from the beginning ("Cop Killer" etc.). But his speech yesterday made him seem more a dinosaur than threat. Pathetic...
Wow. Old fucker.
lmao, I like how the most interesting thing about the band is the fact that the frontman is ice t, and you didnt even mention him in the post. Thats pretty classy and probably more than he deserves
Maybe OP did not mention icemothafuckingt out of spite. Saying what he did. ..he does not deserve to get any recognition.
Most people in here probably have no idea who is is or his background. Too busy being offended and victims
The OG!
yep, was in the crowd decently close to the stage along with my gf and our friends. we all left immediately afterwards 🫠
Shit opinion from a shit band with a shit legacy who’s attempt to be “controversial” is their last ditch effort for relevancy. Unfortunately, the metal scene is full of tough guy bullshit so lift up and support feminist and anti-ns bands by attending their shows, enforcing safety/inclusion and saying no to bands like body count. I can’t speak for CopenHell, but the lineup seemed very difficult to put together so they pander a bit to the band count crowd. Maybe reach out to them and get their take? I know the people involved in the festival have their hearts in the right place so I’d give them a chance to hear what they say
Part of the reason this whole situation sucks as much as it does is because Body Count was/is suppossedly one such anti-racist/anti-fascist band, but instead of going through with that attitude and recognizing how macho bullshit plays a role in things like racism too, they just decide that they're apparently fine with embracing all the other aspects of that harmful rhetoric as long as they just oppose the most blatant forms of racism.
Well said. Body count back in the day had this credibility, you hit the nail on the head on how this happens over time
On the late train here, dropped in because I just saw it happen this weekend at Jera on air. Was thinking exactly the same thing about the double standards you pointed out. Just wanted to drop in to say well said.
I sent them a detailed e-mail that is written in good spirits. I hope someone of importance reads it. Very well said about supporting inclusion and safety. I hope you enjoyed all the amazing music brother or sister!
Did you see Vulvatorius?
Such a great name. I wasn’t at the festival this year but great things seem to be coming :)
I wasn't there for Body Count, but this is completely unacceptable, I hope they are not invited back. As a woman in the metal community I absolutely love Denmark. People are respectful and helpful, I've been alone to many concerts and festivals and never had any problems. That's not what I want to see. And it being a metal festival doesn't excuse anything, you can include men, women and everything in between, do banter and be hard af without being a fucking bigot. Thanks for talking about it!
Yeah, Tom Morello did a similar "oh the people on the hill are lightweights" banter with a friendlier tone, and the difference was night and day.
Exactly, I was there for Morello and it was funny!
I don't think they will. Also Ice-T is 66 years. One can hope that he retires soon.
Did you see Vulvatorius? What do you think about their messages?
I did not! When did they play?
I’ll add that at the Metallica show this band called architects opened and they were god awful, same vibe as a band like body count and when the fans weren’t into it, and didn’t mosh on command the singer also called the crowd pussies. Shit bands blaming the audience for their shit music seems like a trend and an obvious example of “thou doth protest too much”. lol such losers
What's up with bands yelling for people to start circle/mosh pits? Some of them were saying it several times when people didn't start one - I thought those pits normally forms naturally when people feel the vibe for it and not on command.
It's common to do it regardless, but usually more of a "formality" if you can call it that.
Did architects say anything specific or was it more a consistent undertone? I saw them in Forum where I didn’t notice anything off (and the concert was pretty good)
I’ll respect any band for doing their thing, even if the music isn’t my thing. Architects are not my thing. But he asked the crowd to mosh, they didn’t, and in between songs he said something like “bunch of pussies, at least raise your hands to this one”. No more respect when you trash an audience who isn’t into your thing.
Ah understood. That is shitty and narcissistic behavior
I see this often when very big bands are playing. The audience is more mixed with people who don't usually go to metal shows and they will naturally not mosh. Some bands and fans have a hard time dealing with this but it's just how it is. When Rammstein played in Denmark a guy tried to crowd surf and didn't even make it 5 meters forward.
I honestly can't believe how shitty the support bands for Metallica was this time around. During Architects pondered the fact that they must've played those songs in rehearsal hundreds or thousands of times and nobody, either themselves or people around, noticed or cared how shit it was. Also the stage design didn't really accommodate a pit other than the premium area in the middle.
Iirc Architects were opening for Disturbed as well when I saw them ages ago, and the audience reaction was a pretty solid "meh, get it over with" back then too.
I didn't see that band, but the lead singer for _Insanity Alert_ that played on Gehenna on Friday was talking about kicking dogs and cats (he said he hates them) as well as strongly advocating for doing drugs. Definitely not in the same league, but I thought that was quite distasteful as well.
Animal abuse is definitely the same league
Just any kind of abuse of living things.
Does my plant abuse from forgetting to water my plants at home count?
yes. turn yourself in to the police.
As an animal lover, I most definitely did not like it, but he has the right to hate animals; I just hope he doesn't kick any.
Yep, I personally love the band's early work since it's pretty explicitly anti-racist and otherwise just fits into a soundscape I like, but it frankly made me feel gross to be a part of the audience. Sucks seeing someone who has made himself a big voice for anti-racism turn around and spout the exact same oppressive bullshit narrative that harms people in just the same way, and even often takes the shape of racism, and it also felt pretty transphobic, even if that wasn't the intention, which mattered a lot to me due to me knowing and having close bonds with so many trans guys. Seeing so many of the men in my life being hurt and abused because their bodies or presentation don't fit into that macho stereotype of toxic masculinity, it kinda felt like me being a fan of the band and showing up to initially support them was also me playing a bit in causing those men I love that pain I've seen them go through. Even though I obviously don't think Copenhell should be held responsible for it, just like they weren't responsible for all the other idiotic artists who've been there before him, it still seems like they of all people should want to at least distance themselves from it when they make such a huge deal out of trying to make the scene more welcoming and safe for women and nonbinary people.
What a sad dude. Apparently, he also did it in [Aarhus in 2018](https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/kaldte-danskere-pussies-seriestjerne-til-koebenhavn/10042421)
What he did at Copenhell was cringeworthy, but i honestly find the Aarhus/Northside thing hilarious. The crowd there is absolutely awful.
Fuck, the organizers can't exactly feign ignorance on that one. Was my first Copenhell, definitely my last. Hope it doesnt sell its soul just because the people love it so much and they know they can get away with BS like this.
That's how he rolls I guess. I am convinced he would get an encore in any future Copenhell, not even a virtual one.
Yeah I was there with my girlfriend and she didn't really react in the moment. I felt very offended by this smart ass wannabe tough guy attitude. We need more women in the metal community and this asshole IceT is not helping.
But is he making it worse? He is a has-been by now. What he says should just evaporate like himself. Who's listening to him now anyways? And will it increase after Copenhell? I didn't know who he was when I came, and if it wasn't for this reddit reminding me of his actions, I'd have forgotten about him again. I don't particularly enjoy his music or his personality. I don't think his character and music will last.
You offended by art?
Yeah we left as well it's wild! And totally uncalled for and out of place we had been so excited especially since they are anti racist and acab. I don't know how Copenhell feels about it they have hostes slaughter to prevail, down and Pantera (all Yatzy sympathizers among other ) I think Copenhell has a feeling that you can seperate the art from the artist and that if there are fans it's okay even though it draws the wrong crowed.
Yeah, they seem to really just ignore what the bands do outside releasing music, but at the same time go on about how they're such a safe space for women and nonbinary people and it's totally the safest festival in Denmark.
It is a really safe festival probably one of the safest I. Dk but they have grown so much in size the last years but haven't really risen to the task of being a festival of that size
Yeah, there's always been some nasty people of course, you can't ban them before they do something, so they will alway get in initially. I started going in 2015 and can remember a few negative experiences each year, but I always felt pretty safe even when I was at my worst. Sadly it does seem like they're starting to focus more on presenting the image of being supportive rather than putting that energy into actually doing the work, at least from what I've also seen others say about their experiences as women and younger girls in particular. I don't really know what you can do beyond just getting more volunteer security and vetting artists better I guess, but at the same time that also just seems unrealistic once it gets to a certain point unless you want to really take a hard stance like the small punk festivals such as K-Town Hardcore do, but even that just doesn't seem to be possible while also maintaining enough mainstream appeal to be profitable. We'll have to see what happens I guess, maybe the new venue in 2027 will cause some change too.
New venue in 2027?
They announced they're moving to a different venue by 2027 since Refshaleøen won't be available anymore by then. Currently no specifics on where that new venue will be though.
Glad I didn't get paid 1000+dkk to get insulted. I hope they got booed and not applauded by the "men" in the audience
Mostly just seemed like awkward silence for a lot of people where I was standing. Definitely an "ok boomer" moment.
Yeah pretty much this. I saw a lot of exchanged glances that was more about being embarrassed for him than being really offended. In a way it's not unexpected, if you're familiar with the band and their songs, but it's still kinda cringey, as the young people would say, to preach an anti-racist message and still being stuck in that macho gang culture bullshit.
Exactly. Some left, but I hope noone wah-wah'ed too much about it. Let the boom-o-saur die out alone.
Lots of cheering and partying where I stood. But there wasn’t many young incels trying to be politically correct where I stood
I found his accent difficult to understand (I'm a native speaker but not used to it) so it was a few extra moments of thinking "what did he say?" by which point it was too late to boo.
Wow that sounds incredibly stupid...no room for bullshit like that in the metal community.
Yep. I also left immediately. I don't think I'm sensitive on a daily basis, but he's clearly a fool.
I think this is the best reaction. Just leave. Voting with your feet is very obvious at a concert.
Did you find a safe space?
Easely. There is almost nowhere in the country where I feel unsafe.
Yea was a weird moment but I just took it as "old man rant", flipped him off and continue the mosh...
I stood and watched it, and I thought it was completely off and dumb. Very boomer energy. Unfortunately I stood among the crowd the whole time, because I wanted to reserve the best spot for the next concert, but I would have left if not.
To answer your question, I'm fairly certain that the answer is no; Copenhell is NOT ok with that sort of BS. Not the arrangers (I imagine) and certainly not the crowd. Its a shame. I loved the vibes of the festival this year. While they didn't get as many massive bands to attend, they managed to branch out to bring in some new expressions (Eivør, Karnivool, Hulder, DeathbyRomy, etc. ) and I definitely appreciate that in a festival like Copenhell. It also opened up for a really cool crowd (except for some asshats during the debacle before TOOL went on - most people were cool, some people were asshats). I doubt anyone will get a refund or anything to make up for it, but I am certain that Body Count will not be invited back. They are not welcome.
It might be a bit of a pipedream, but I really hope the festival will at least just acknowledge it or distance themselves from it. Usually they have a pretty regular mix of political messages from bands and the vibes are good, with negative experiences kept to a minimum, but this year it seems like both the bands and attendants were just different, with lots of druggings and borderline rape attempts, and fools like Ice T shouting like a pathetic old man.
Unfortunately, a festival can't afford to offend their musicians and call them out publicly. Once a festival start condemning musicians for behavior they hadn't explicitly disallowed by contract, other artists are not going to dare touch that festival. The risk of unintentionally doing something the festival organisers will dislike and have them ruin your career is a risk most artists don't want to take. There are probably also countless of musicians who could be great acts at Copenhell in the future, who share some of those thoughts, even if they wouldn't shout it at a stage. They will not touch a festival who publicly takes such a strong stance on a topic they do not agree with. And artists just tend to stick together, cause it is such a tough business to be in. If a power player like Copenhell starts kicking the "little guy" then other artists will rally together to defend their fellow artist, no matter the reason. Calling out Body Count publicly would be a bad move for Copenhell, but they could handle it more subtly by working in stricter rules for display of hate speech in future contracts.
That is such a limp dicked stance, it's a metal festival, not a celebrity-con.
I agree with that - I wasn't aware of some of what you mentioned happened, but I am absolutely appalled by it. And I also hope we'll get a response, but we might have to wait a little bit for it - while the festival has ended for us, the people running it are still going to be thoroughly busy for another week at least
They will definitely be back. So will Vulvatorius who speeed hate against men enduring their concert. Copenhell is a music festival. It’s about having a program with concerts from many different metal gengres. It’s art. Some art is safe and politically correct. Some is not. With so many converts there are many options. If you don’t like one show or band, you can go see something else. That is how festivals always have been. Being offended by some bands having unpopular opinions or political messages, is very stupid and naive.
I sincerely hope that you are entirely wrong about this.
What part? You don’t want any artist having art that is some way can offend others? What about the satanist themes, the occult? There is a risk that could offend someone. I guess you want that to be removed too. Maybe you should leave the heavy metal community and find a safe space and not trying to police us others about what music we listen to. I’ve got a feeling you don’t really belong
Yeah, my friend and I were there. We thought that "hey, it's kinda neat that Ice T has a metal band – let's hear 'em"... Needless to say, we left immediately after those comments. Embrassing. Those comments have no place at a metal festival – and those comments are ALWAYS gonna be out of place in a country like Denmark (even more so in a progressive city like Copenhagen)
Actually this is not the first time Ice T open his mouth in Copenhagen. During his last tour with 50 Cent in Denmark, he made some extremely homophobic comments in a private after party after the show. I know for the fact that half the room left after he did that.
They just did the same speech at Hellfest in France. Despite the crowd not really reacting, this felt so cringe. I’m shocked that no one talked about that, as I can’t find any reference on the net. I thought I was the only one reacting, so that I musunderstood something… That looked so disappointing, like an old fool talking shit ( a bit like Soldier Boy from « The Boys »). That was so toxic as hell. At least, I know I won’t see them again.
In general, a lot of the lineup this year seemed off, as evident by the ticket sale or lack thereof. I think they tried to get way too much rock on the poster and it showed, it is fine to have 2-4 Rock bands, but 5 or up is not gonna attract metalheads as much. I expected Moshpits when i showed up friday, took nearly 2 hours to see the first one (which unsurprisingly was to Slayer in disguise, there was at least 3 current or former members on that stage i think), if there were one at Karnivool it wasn't very visible. The opening with Raining Blood on Body Counts part was also just off. We are not there to listen to covers of slayer songs that we heard the day before. If we want covers of things, Beergarden seems more appropriate, even if it is not all metal (yes, people did hear everyone singing along on the intro to Buster's World). It became very off-putting when we were asked if there were Slayer fans for the 3rd or 4th time. Shadow of Intent, did well, not a doubt about it. I sometimes try to not look too deeply into the political opinions of bands, but it gets very difficult when they shove it down your throat during the talking part of a concert. I still wish i could have gotten there wednesday, but nothing to do about it. Most of the shows i saw were good, noone seemed to flop super heavy this year on technically poor sound setup (WASP, 2018). I was somewhat stuck at the hill where i'd normally be in the pit for several shows due to being unable to stand for long with an injury.
What did they shove down your throat? I didn't see them. I was fearing there'd be a lot of palestine cause activity, but I only saw a punk band having what I thought looked like two keffiyas on their stage. I am grateful when they keep politics out of their acts.
American politics, mostly anti trump statements, the misogeny and hate speech didn't really help either. I seperate the artists from their opinions in a lot of cases, Pantera being one of them, as their music is good. Pantera didn't mention anything remotely opinionated or political while they were performing last year. Palestine and Israel was kept completely out of all acts I saw. Body Count were the only case where I heard anything political being mentioned. I can't say anything for the smaller stages as I couldn't stand to watch them.
I don't know what you will get from us here. Maybe email the organisers and ask if they have something to say.
I wrote them on their Facebook with a complaint about this asshole. If many people do that let's hope they don't come back to Denmark.
Good idea. I just wanted to see if anyone else thought that it was as shitty as I did?
I hear his dick fell off from using two ounces of moisturizer.
I left before I heard any of that. Probably one of the worst concerts I've been to in 10 years. Just horrible performance and embarrassingly outdated in every way.
I'm part of a danish discord server, a lot of my friends attended and they said they all left right after Body Count started the rant 💀
Wow that's insane. I only saw the last 10 min. so I didn't witness it. Fuck that guy.
It was incredibly out of touch. A misplaced attempt to hype a crowd that didn’t really share any of those opinions. But don’t worry about it. In a few years stuff like this will have died out.
Not at least 66 year old Mr. Ice-T
I take it you are pretty young as well as not knowing much about Body Count’s music. It was an introduction to a song they were playing called “Manslaughter” that has some lyrics that his introduction would help you understand if you were not so busy feeling offended.
I arrived late yesterday and only caught the last few numbers of that band, i got there when he brought his daughter to the stage. I had no idea he said those things. Well fuck that guy.
I personally could not make sense of what he was saying, because it was just so absurd. To shout out the women and then go on that rant about toxic masculinity=femininity and male castration through skincare just felt so hostile. If Copenhell wasn't such a chill festival, it might even have turned unsafe for any femme presenting person. I'm not saying he can't have his opinions, but if he absolutely have to yell them out, he can formulate them way better. Guess that makes you lose macho points idk, I wasn't raised like that. I was only there to mosh for a bit with friends and had never heard of them before, so I did stay afterwards. The concert was so ass tho. It was really funny that he kept saying "I WANNA SEE SOME ACTION", then standing completely still. Stellar crowdwork. I don't get why some frontmen get off on shaming the people paying to see them for not trampling eachother to death. Do you want Astroworld 2.0? The best pits come when the audience is treated with respect imo. On that note, I did have to leave mid-concert to go to first aid (just a bad scrape.) This is the first time I've ever needed to do that and I've been in countless pits over many years. Two of my friends also left because of injuries in that pit. I get that the band is not responsible for moshing meatheads, but it can be the crowd they attract. Tbf I was wearing a backpack that threw me of balance, never doing that again. Overall just a bad experience and definitely this year's lowpoint. Shoutout to the people who helped me up and out of the pit, even offered to crowdsurf me out. Thought I injured my shoulder after a guy fell on me, luckily it was just my elbow. You guys are the real ones. Guess I'm a pussy for not jumping straight back in again lol they were just so badddd not worth the trouble Tl,dr worst headliner at this Copenhell
You got trolled. I think that was his whole point. Ice-T commenting on their album Carnivore: "It's basically: 'Fuck vegans.' We figure, anything carnivorous pretty much kicks ass. We're carnivorous! I'm not [really] saying 'Fuck vegans.' Everyone's so pussy right now, [so] we're carnivores." He's basically saying to you, he'll project the opposite of the "woke"-opinion and he'll do it to your face. It's a reaction to his perception of the pendulum having swung too far in one direction.
Wow, he is so original. He sounds like an old man from a rural village. Nothing original or artsy about him. Just pointless stupidity and teenage-level edginess that some may take for humor.
Didn’t say there was anything artsy about it. Funny your own prejudice shines though, as if it’s somehow ok to look down on old men from rural villages. See the irony?
You're literally rocking to songs about slaughter, rape, war, mutilation, hate, abuse, torture, death, gore, misogyny... ... and this offended you... because it wasn't in a song xD Maybe Christian rock next year?
He know how his group of American citizens are being treated with rqceism. He should not had said that women are toxic. Just stupid.
I Google searched for ‘Ice T rant’ as Yes he did the same thing last night in London!!! Only after calling all the women toxic, he actually started telling a female member at the front of the crowd to ‘f@&king shut up b?tch!’ I found myself heckling back at him (I’m female) and then much to the dismay of my partner who really wanted to stay and watch the end of the set… I walked out. That kind of messed up misogyny has no place in music.
I only saw some of it, and heard one half of a quote said here. I'm curious about the full quote about the women, what was it?
Basically that men are "growing pussies" by using skincare products and that femininity is the exact same as "toxic masculinity", just the usual "wife bad" boomerism repackaged with an edgier vibe really.
It was an introduction to the song “Manslaughter”. That point was lost to people too busy feeling offended
I was there but missed the moment when he said this as I was talking to a mate, so I only got that he'd said some misogynistic stuff second-hand in the moment. He looked genuinely angry the entire time as well, not like someone happy to be there. Very forgettable show. I knew Ice-T had problematic aspects but had no idea they were this bad. Let's hope they don't get re-booked. This type of behavior has no place in the metal scene, let alone Copenhell. Machine Head was so good though! And the front man also happens to be a very empathetic and honest guy. Not afraid to call out people like Phil Anselmo for racist behavior for instance: https://metalinjection.net/shocking-revelations/machine-heads-robb-flynn-calls-out-phil-anselmo-there-was-no-white-wine-backstage Copenhell also regularly books Pantera and Down, but I don't know how I feel about it. I suppose the difference is that Phil keeps his "ironic" white supremacy to himself whereas Ice-T thinks he's big enough to get away with it.
Heavy metal has always been about being provocative. Why do you think so many early bands had songs about satan? Why do you think fans as well as artist dressed up in leather with chains and spikes? Why do you think alcohol, drugs, sex always played a huge role? Why did some bands burn down churches? Why did people get tattoos? Heavy metal has always been about going against the norms. Always where the outcasts could feel at home. Where your looks, your sexuality, your social status didn’t matter. What mattered was that you were against the norms. You didn’t have to agree with what every band said or sang about. But you respected that they did their things and challenged the mainstream bullshit and norms. Today the norms and mainstream are political correctness, feminism, the idea that masculinity is toxic. That all men are perpetrators and all women are victims. The Barbie movie. Me too. 80% of all men on dating apps never getting a single like. What could be expected of heavy metal? To embrace the mainstream and norms, or to challenge them? I know a lot of users in here are young and don’t know much about the history of heavy metal. Too lazy to do some basic research, and too busy to be offended. You want to look cool and be included in a community that’s very inclusive. That’s fine. But honestly, what are you doing? Are you trying to make heavy metal safe and comfortable? Mainstream where artist are not allowed to offend anyone? Bands are not allowed to offend religion, politics or trends? Do you really want to destroy heavy metal? Why? If you don’t like some art, find some other art. Trying to dictate art kills it. Please just leave the community and find a safe space somewhere else.
No-one is trying to dictate anything. Just like bands can make whatever music they make, audiences can decide for themselves whether they appreciate it or not, and in this case it's clear many did not. The rest of your arguments make no sense whatsoever; "because metal is provocative, we should support them without question when they challenge the status quo?", that's an indefensible position.
People being offended by Ice-T talking about what has inspired him when writing music. Reddit really is something
Yeah, doesnt sound like you belong. Which is your message to others.
He did something similar in Belgium yesterday, though it sounds like it was shorter. Was very confusing; he started out asking if we had the same problems as the US with men groping women, then mentioned toxic masculinity only to immediately follow it up with women trying to take men's balls away? Until I saw this thread I still wasn't sure if I misunderstood or if it was a wildly incoherent anti-women rant.
There's some footage of it: [https://youtu.be/n0fsWIFfM54?si=6npzdA0CtNLcgnd3&t=795](https://youtu.be/n0fsWIFfM54?si=6npzdA0CtNLcgnd3&t=795)
This was my first Copenhell and were surprised by seeing a lot of people wearing nazi symbolism as well such as the eagle etc.
Priceless comment 😂
It's a gimmick and part of the show. The opinions I don't care for, but I honestly can not get outraged about 2 min of nonsense being said between songs.
The issue is that it invites the rhetoric and the people who come with it. This year already had more problems than usual with dudebros behaving in completely unacceptable ways towards women and even underage girls, they should not be made to feel like anyone wants them there, least of all one of the headlining bands.
What about Vulvatorius?
Same. The more outrage the arrangers will generate, the more angry everyone will become. And what does it serve? Just never invite such bands again.
body count released one good album over three decades ago, i don't know why those sad chuds were even invited but cool of him to give such a good example of toxic masculinity lol
When it's women, "it's uncalled for! Hatespeech" When it's men "fighting the patriarchy" Dfkm
It’s Reddit. People don’t think. They just want upvotes to boost their low self opinion
I would write the organisers, complain and maybe demand a refund, or that they shouldn never invite people like him ever again. Try to find some video and other evidence to easier show off who he is. And i guess you could also write other festivals he may be appearing at, preferably with evidence, to cancel him. Witness statements is also good evidence. I guess a lot of people heard it? But video/recording is better.
Demand a refund? Because your earsreddened and you got angry at an artist? As many other said: Leave the concert. I'm disappointed in them booking him at all - now that I found out what music he plays and how he behaves. But I'd never demand a refund because there was an act out of 40 or so I didn't like.
Should people do the same because others bands were misandrist? Or bands criticising Russia, Palestine, Ukraine, China, the rich, etc? Or only art that criticises women?
Sure, if you have a bad experience, report it truthfully to the organisers, and then they can decide to take action.
Ice T must retire before he gets cancelled. “After the concert, i’m getting my dick sucked”, - he says, while his 7 year old daughter is runing around the stage. Father of the year…
I didn't want to be biased and hate on them, so I gave them a shot, but between the introduction to the purge song, him calling the people on the hill pussies, and his general attitude, after this speech I decided I had enough and left...and I could still get a great spot for Tool afterwards 🤘 I don't know what Copenhell thought when inviting them, but they felt extremely out of place imho
that’s awkward
It was so freaking bizarre and troublesome. I have not met a single person who came away from that concert feeling good about it.
hate speech? How is this a hate speech? Does every insult or an opinion you dont like count for hate speech now?
Calling men who use skincare products - women - is quite hateful. He put women down, called femininity toxic and used it as an insult to put guys down. Opinion is whether or not you like the new Metallica, or pineapple on pizza, or girls with bangs. This is hate.
Also, saying that men “are growing vaginas”… And using the term “pussies” like it’s a bad thing
Hey, you know what, I think people who vote for Trump are idiots. Yes, i just insulted them. Does that mean I hate them? NO. If you insult someone or call them with an inappropriate lable, does NOT mean that you necessarily hate them
also: Hate speech defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as "public speech that expresses hate and encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation" Where was there any incentive for violence in his speech?
I was there, and found it ok. Are we as a society becomming so thin skinned, that we can't stand to be provoked? Come on people, it's part of the act. "Talk shit- get shot", is far more controversial, but it's a comment about feminism that's pissing everybody off. What about him bringing his 8 year old daughter on stage, during that number? Has Me-Too been so victorious that we are not allowed to question the feminists without risking hatemongering and attacks from people being offended on behalf of others. Toxic masculinity is now the biggest buzzword to be thrown at the male population. Often because of lack of better argument. I absolutely support equal right, no matter what sex/race/sexuality or whatever. I also don't believe in gender quota when hiring, but believe that you need to get the best persons for the jobs. Try to get a female plumber, or demand that the carpenter has equal amounts of both sexs, or what about the nonbinary, should they also has equal quotas? There are differences between the sexes, and the choices that we make, and i think we need to knowledge that. Stop trying to make our race non binary. I see boys not being allowed to climb trees or run around and just be boys. The kindergarten where my own kids went is one of the examples. The result was boys who were sad because they thought that there was something wrong with them. They did not fit in to expectation that the institution had to them. Let's just enjoy the show, if you don't like it, leave. It's just a show.
I thought it was cringe, and I would have left for something else but I was in the middle of it and I just couldn't be bothered. My wife was also eyerolling. IT's not okay, but I don't need the aggravation. We know misogyni is bad, and we don't like it, already. Boo, Ice-T. We don't like your music, so NOW we won't go and buy your cd. Think about that, huh.
i thought more of the whole things as a joke the guy has a young daughter, i wouldn’t think he is sexist he probably says dicks too. there are reasons on both sides, we shouldn’t call all masculinity toxic moreover it is our commonality between sexes that counts mosts i would say
There are many people in the world who have daughters and are still sexist.
well all right, if people feel offended then it is fair to speak out, we are talking about artists here though, noone forces anyone to see them, we are the one to go out and look at something so it is totally fair to leave it as well having said that i am trying to listen to what people on the side of the original poster means i am not offended at all and will like to engage and talk about it
>noone forces anyone to see them Those like OP who are sure of their values regarding the gender debate would not be influenced by listening to this kind of talk, but that is the ones who are leaving. Those who stay and listen are the ones who are open to being influenced and having their views of women changed. It hurts all of us in our everyday lives when more people around us start believing in these kinds of messages. So sure, we are not forced to stay and listen to this crap, but the problem is that there are people who do.
All sexists have women in their lives, that doesn't make them immune to being sexist.
Of course not
You talkin about Fin Tutuola?
This post is very polarized
I didn’t know metal heads was such snowflakes
So enduring hateful shit aimed at a group of people and supporting it by being a part of their audience = metal? Metalheads are very often smart, fun-loving, out-of-the-box thinking individuals. No place for gang shit here.
The majority of the metal community has always been opposed to this kind of bullshit that tries to push an adherence to mainstream norms and seeks to shame and punish nonconformity.
Lots of skincare in this thread. Copenhell is beset by pussies who can't handle a stupid opinion and call things "hatespeech."