It’s an oft-cited fact, but metalheads have fab hair.

Here at Fort Canning Park last Friday to witness an admittedly un-park-like activity in the form of heavy metal outfit Megadeth, I first bore witness to stray shouts of “F*** Metallica!” — a nod of respect to frontman Dave Mustaine (left), who formed Megadeth in 1983 after the then- estranged lead guitarist of Metallica was expelled — peppering the slightly windy evening.

I also got coif-slapped by sudden head jerks from impatient fans with long hair.

Then, when Megadeth finally got on stage after 50 minutes of waiting, hair flying all over the place, it looked like invisible hairstylists were up there on the stage with them, teasing their straggly locks from left to right. In this case, no less than four powerful fans punching delicate wafts of air on stage — the A/C powered ones, not Megadeth fans —did the job.

Starting their set looking somewhat whacked (that rhymes!) the quartet trolled about on stage in a bewildered state of mind but remained steadfastly defiant while synchronising head/ hair flips. Two songs in, the animated crowd cheers had helped them acclimatise to the Singaporean humidity and heat…

Then, the lights went out, as if to signify the end of the gig.

Teases, all of them, this Megadeth bunch. When the lights came on, frontman Dave Mustaine left the music and took to the mic, exchanging pleasantries like “This is a beautiful country” and “I feel right at home here.”

Now, Mustaine mews like a cat and pouts like a Zoolander, and when he speaks, it’s as if he’s delivering a sermon to a rapt audience. When his arms are outstretched, it’s as if he’s saying: “My children”.

Responding to rumours that Megadeth might cancel the United Abominations tour due to the San Diego wildfires, frontman Dave Mustaine said the situation back home was now under control: “It would take more than fire to keep us playing for you!”

The crowd bravo-ed back in approval touchingly. Loud cheers, as if to say, “What took you so long?” The amount of intimacy displayed there and then was much, much more than the love I’ve seen between some friends who are attached, I kid you not.

Metalheads are an agreeable bunch. When they headbang, they nod. How not to like them?  

Back to business, the menacing sounds generated by guitar trio Mustaine, Drover and pedal-crazy bassist James LoMenzo were straight out of classical tragedy as they flogged their guitars like metal gods with wanton lyres, while drummer Shawn Drover built up the wall of noise with his totally immodest drum kit bellowing sounds of a dying piano.

In short, Megadeth had a field day out on Fort Canning Park.

So did I.

When my foot was stepped upon by a big bloke wearing a ripped leather vest with grotesque skull patches and shouty ones of bands like HIN, System of a Down, Slipknot on it, he turned to me and sprung… not demon horns, but a sheepish “Sorry!” Then he beamed, like a girl who knows she’s beautiful and can get away with just a smile.

In this case, this bloke knows we are all in this metal experience together. I beamed back.

Mustaine: Man of words 
What he said onstage 

"I wish for one second you could be on stage with me and see how beautiful you look.”

"I hope you had a good time, because we did.”

 
SETLIST

Sleepwalker
Take no prisoners
Wake up dead
Skin o' my teeth
Washington is next
A tout le monde
Darkest hour
Hangar 18
Gears of war
Kick the chair
Tornado of souls
Ashes in your mouth
Never walk alone
Symphony of destruction
Trust
Peace sells
Holy wars

PHOTOS: Muhammad Farhat Kamal 

- View full Flickr set -

Average user rating

   (0 vote)