Music News Headline Answers With Hair Puller's
Steve Seal
December 10th, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you, Steve, for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s 3rd installment of Recent Music News Headline Questions. Before we get started though, tell us a little about your band. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Steve Seal: This is Steve from Hair Puller. We play noise rock or hardcore or metal, depending on who you ask. The band is Ledena (bass/vocals), Zack (guitar/vocals), and me (drums/sweating). Right now, we’re getting ready to record a batch of new songs in January and we have a few fun shows coming up between now and February. I’m looking forward to recording the new stuff because it will be the first time recording with Zack.
MPAP: So, just in case you or the reader are new to this, and to make sure everyone is on the same page on how this works, we’ve pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions and get your answers and reactions. We’ve been doing this for a couple of months now, with different headlines each time, and it has been fun to read everyone’s answers so far. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go.
1. Real Housewife Wearing Metallica Shirt Asked To Name 3 Of Their Songs, She Cannot
MPAP: Some talk show, on the Bravo! channel had The Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard as a guest. She was wearing a Metallica’s Lady Liberty, ‘And Justice For All’ shirt, and a caller called into the show and asked the host of it if Candice could name three songs by Metallica. She pretty much had no clue who the band was, and obviously, she couldn’t name three songs by them either. Do you believe if you wear the band’s shirt, you should at least know maybe who the group is?
Steve: Meh. I believe I understand where people are coming from when they get upset by this, but it’s not the sort of thing that bothers me. Like, I’m personally stoked whenever I see someone in a Hair Puller shirt or spot a sticker in the wild. I feel that same happiness when I see someone wearing a shirt from a band I like. I don’t feel as happy if the person doesn’t like the band for the same reasons I do, namely the music, but even appreciating a band’s visual aesthetic is cool. I guess I’m saying that I’d rather metal be a big party than an exclusive party.
2. Mosh Pit & Wall Of Death Break Out During The Village People’s Set At Riot Fest
MPAP: You would have never really expected something like this too of happened now, would you? And to be honest, I didn’t know The Village People were still together and performing, but they are. That just shows you metal music fans can always have fun even if it is moshing to songs like "Y.M.C.A.," or "Macho Man" by The Village People at a music festival. Now, what is something you’ve seen happen while performing, or while at a show that you weren’t expecting to see or have occurred?
Steve: I remember seeing a guy going to town on a big burrito while we played at the Kenton Club in North Portland. He wasn’t sitting at a table in the back or anything – he was in the crowd. The dude was trying to shake his head a bit to the music, but his attention was clearly devoted to the burrito. It stands out for me because Kenton doesn’t sell burritos, and I don’t know of any taquerias nearby. The person brown-bagged a burrito into the club and just loved his cold dinner during our set.
3. Reminder: Metallica Will Never Play The Super Bowl
MPAP: Every year when the Super Bowl announces who is going to be their half time show, metal music fans are pissed off because it’s never a metal band or even a hard-rock band for that matter. For almost five years fans have wanted Metallica to host the Super Bowl halftime show. Fans also started a petition to get them to play at the 50th Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. Metallica would be an excellent choice to be a part of it, they’ve won Grammy awards, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and have toured just about everywhere in the World, and just recently they were named the World’s biggest touring act. What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think metal music is always going to get snubbed at the Super Bowl?
Steve: This is news to me. They seem like a good choice, as long as the NFL doesn’t make them do a duet with the Black Eyed Peas and that guy from Maroon 5. My question is this: Super Bowl performances tend to suck, right? I’m not an expert, but my general recollection is that even good artists seem to stink during these halftime shows. I wouldn’t personally want to watch my favorite artist suck. The desire to see Metallica at the Super Bowl screams of a need for validation in the same way that does people getting pissy that someone can’t name songs of the band on their t-shirt. My take is that we don’t need the validation. We’re fine where we are. If the mainstream wants to move to embrace us, then good. But we don’t need to move to embrace the mainstream.
4. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Doesn’t Believe Drugs & Alcohol Makes You Write Better Music
MPAP: What are your thoughts? Do you think drugs and alcohol bring out the creativity in a musician or can kill it?
Steve: I don’t believe anything can help Corey Taylor write better music.
5. Steel Panther Frontman: If I Could Bring One Musician Back From The Dead, It’d Be Motley Crue’s Vince Neil
MPAP: This headline started some mudslinging between both of the bands because obviously, Vince Neil isn’t dead; he’s just a bit overweight and can’t sing like he used to be able to do as he did in the 80s and 90s. I don’t see them ever going out on tour together anytime soon, but anyway, if you could bring any musician back from the dead, who would you choose, and why?
Steve: That is an A+ burn. There are too many dead musicians to choose just one. I guess it would have to be someone who made a massive impact very quickly while still having a lot of promise for future work. I don’t know.
6. Green Jelly Track Down Deadbeat Promoter And Get Paid
MPAP: A promoter stiffs Green Jelly after they performed at Old East 765 Bar & Grill in Canada, and vocalist Bill Manspeaker, as he states in his cellphone video made looking for Marcus the promoter, 'I ain’t the guy to fuck with.' So, the band tracks down the promoter and finds his home and demands the money owed to them. It’s funny to watch because at one-point Manspeaker is knocking on his door, saying, "Little pig, little pig, let me in." In the end, Marcus ends up paying the band half of what money was owed to them, but at least he walked away with kneecaps still in place. So, has anything like this happened to you before, and would you do something like this?
Steve: I hassle people for money too much in my day job to get too bent out shape about cash in my hobby. But I respect Green Jelly for not being pushovers.
7. Morbid Angel & Obituary Featured As An Answer On Jeopardy!
MPAP: Jeopardy has featured answers on other episodes about popular metal bands such as Megadeth, Rob Zombie, and Five Finger Death Punch, but never had any answers quite like this one. One of the writers on the hit television show has to be a metalhead for sure! So, in case you missed this episode, Alex Trebek said, 'Morbid Angel and Obituary are popular bands in this genre,' and contestant Dhruv Gaur answered with 'What is Death Metal.' Pretty cool when things like this are showing up on a popular television show. Now, if you or your band were to be mentioned on Jeopardy, what would the answer and question be? Let’s see how creative you are.
Steve: 'It was Hair Puller,' and 'Who farted?'
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbors
MPAP: Someone at Budapest’s Puksas Arena just happened to leave the sound system on blasting the song "Deutschland" all night long, over and over. It’s an open-air stadium that’s under construction, so the loud music bothered all that lived nearby. That worker should have had a bigger playlist than just the one song; maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad then, right? So, since the subject of the headline is about something that annoyed people, let’s find out from you; what annoys you, whether it’s out on the road, at a show, in the recording studio, or even when you’re at home, what annoy's you the most?
Steve: I hate when people standing in front of me at shows film the entire fucking night on their cell phones. Screens are inherently distracting, so it’s really difficult to look past the screen to see the stage. I’m grateful whenever I see snippets of our shows posted online, but people should be discrete about it.
9. Tool Threatening To Eject Fans From Shows If They’re Caught Using Their Phones
MPAP: Once again, cellphone use at concerts makes the headlines. If you don’t remember, but a couple of years ago during a performance of Maynard’s other band A Perfect Circle, 60 people were kicked out for filming the show with their phones. And even Jack White (The White Stripes) has a no cell phone policy at his shows. So, what’s your take on it? Are cellphones that much of a distraction to where the fan should be kicked out? Do fans need to watch the show instead of looking at their phones? Does it even matter since they paid for their ticket already?
Steve: Damn, see my last answer. I remember seeing a standup comic a few years back who asked the audience not to take pictures or record his set, but offered to pose as if he were mid-joke for 15 seconds so everyone could get a snap shot. Maybe bands could take a lesson from that and find a happy medium. I mean, it’s 2019 and you can’t put the smart phone genie back in the bottle. People expect to be able to document their activities. But they shouldn’t be pricks about it. Same goes for bands.
10. Windhand Robbed In Houston, Posts List Of Stolen Gear & Belongings
MPAP: This happens way too often, it seems. It’s hard enough to make a living being a musician, and then you have a douchebag, or douchebags, break into your trailer or van and steal all your stuff while you’re out on the road. So, when you are out on tour, what extra precautions have you taken so that this hopefully doesn’t happen to you?
Steve: First, I can’t front as if I’m a road dog. We hardly ever play out of town, and we don’t go on long tours. When we do travel, we try to park in secure spots (inside a garage, not on the street) or we bring the most expensive/irreplaceable gear inside with us. I also have my shit insured.
11. Machine Head Show Paused, Partially Ruined After Fan Throws Beer On The Soundboard
MPAP: This happened at a show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, England, and a fan, more like an asshole, threw a 32-ounce beer on the soundboard. After a 20-minute delay, Machine Head was able to finish the show, but not with the highest quality sound after that. First off, what a dick move to do something like that, almost ruining it for a sold-out crowd, and second, I’m sure soundboards aren't cheap, and third, who throws a 32-ounce full beer? I don’t know what beer costs there in London, but in the US, a beer that size would cost more than likely $30. So, what a waste to throw a beer. Anyways, has this ever happened to you where you saw something was thrown from the crowd, and it abruptly stopped the show for a while, and what happened?
Steve: Years ago, I was playing a show when someone threw a glass bottle that shattered against the wall about a foot from my head. I ended up going into the crowd to fight the guy. I’m not proud of my response, but it was fucking scary and I was responding to that. The show continued after we were separated, and we ended up playing a fucking killer set, but the incident still kinda sucked. I wish people had better mental check lists to the effect of 'if I do this boorish thing, will it make the night better for myself and the people around me?'
12. Australia To Shut Down Highway For AC/DC Tribute Bands In 2020
MPAP: How cool is this? On February 19th, 2020, marks the 40th anniversary of vocalist Bon Scott’s death, and the city of Perth is celebrating by shutting down six miles of the Canning Highway to celebrate so AC/DC tribute bands playing live on slow-moving trailers can drive through like a festival parade. In your hometown, what would you like the city to shut down for you or your band so everyone can celebrate?
Steve: Tear down the condos and bougie stores that have wiped out too many venues and rehearsal spaces, but make it a permanent celebration.
13. Brazilian Researcher Names New Spider Species After Iron Maiden, Scorpions, & Angra Members
MPAP: Christina Rheims is a researcher in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and recently discovered four new spider species and happens to be a big fan of heavy metal music. Can’t get any better than that. She named the four new species Extraordinarius bruceickinsoni, Extraordinarius klausmeinei, Extraordinarius rickalleni and Extraordinarius andrematosi, after Iron Maiden's vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine, Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen, and Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. If she happens to find another species of spiders and you’re next in line to be named after, what would you wanted the spider’s scientific name to be?
Steve: I’d want it named after the band, not a member.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Steve, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Hair Puller, does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
Steve: Thanks a lot for thinking of Hair Puller. This was fun. I hope I don’t sound like too much of a curmudgeon or hippy.
Steve Seal
December 10th, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you, Steve, for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s 3rd installment of Recent Music News Headline Questions. Before we get started though, tell us a little about your band. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Steve Seal: This is Steve from Hair Puller. We play noise rock or hardcore or metal, depending on who you ask. The band is Ledena (bass/vocals), Zack (guitar/vocals), and me (drums/sweating). Right now, we’re getting ready to record a batch of new songs in January and we have a few fun shows coming up between now and February. I’m looking forward to recording the new stuff because it will be the first time recording with Zack.
MPAP: So, just in case you or the reader are new to this, and to make sure everyone is on the same page on how this works, we’ve pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions and get your answers and reactions. We’ve been doing this for a couple of months now, with different headlines each time, and it has been fun to read everyone’s answers so far. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go.
1. Real Housewife Wearing Metallica Shirt Asked To Name 3 Of Their Songs, She Cannot
MPAP: Some talk show, on the Bravo! channel had The Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard as a guest. She was wearing a Metallica’s Lady Liberty, ‘And Justice For All’ shirt, and a caller called into the show and asked the host of it if Candice could name three songs by Metallica. She pretty much had no clue who the band was, and obviously, she couldn’t name three songs by them either. Do you believe if you wear the band’s shirt, you should at least know maybe who the group is?
Steve: Meh. I believe I understand where people are coming from when they get upset by this, but it’s not the sort of thing that bothers me. Like, I’m personally stoked whenever I see someone in a Hair Puller shirt or spot a sticker in the wild. I feel that same happiness when I see someone wearing a shirt from a band I like. I don’t feel as happy if the person doesn’t like the band for the same reasons I do, namely the music, but even appreciating a band’s visual aesthetic is cool. I guess I’m saying that I’d rather metal be a big party than an exclusive party.
2. Mosh Pit & Wall Of Death Break Out During The Village People’s Set At Riot Fest
MPAP: You would have never really expected something like this too of happened now, would you? And to be honest, I didn’t know The Village People were still together and performing, but they are. That just shows you metal music fans can always have fun even if it is moshing to songs like "Y.M.C.A.," or "Macho Man" by The Village People at a music festival. Now, what is something you’ve seen happen while performing, or while at a show that you weren’t expecting to see or have occurred?
Steve: I remember seeing a guy going to town on a big burrito while we played at the Kenton Club in North Portland. He wasn’t sitting at a table in the back or anything – he was in the crowd. The dude was trying to shake his head a bit to the music, but his attention was clearly devoted to the burrito. It stands out for me because Kenton doesn’t sell burritos, and I don’t know of any taquerias nearby. The person brown-bagged a burrito into the club and just loved his cold dinner during our set.
3. Reminder: Metallica Will Never Play The Super Bowl
MPAP: Every year when the Super Bowl announces who is going to be their half time show, metal music fans are pissed off because it’s never a metal band or even a hard-rock band for that matter. For almost five years fans have wanted Metallica to host the Super Bowl halftime show. Fans also started a petition to get them to play at the 50th Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. Metallica would be an excellent choice to be a part of it, they’ve won Grammy awards, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and have toured just about everywhere in the World, and just recently they were named the World’s biggest touring act. What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think metal music is always going to get snubbed at the Super Bowl?
Steve: This is news to me. They seem like a good choice, as long as the NFL doesn’t make them do a duet with the Black Eyed Peas and that guy from Maroon 5. My question is this: Super Bowl performances tend to suck, right? I’m not an expert, but my general recollection is that even good artists seem to stink during these halftime shows. I wouldn’t personally want to watch my favorite artist suck. The desire to see Metallica at the Super Bowl screams of a need for validation in the same way that does people getting pissy that someone can’t name songs of the band on their t-shirt. My take is that we don’t need the validation. We’re fine where we are. If the mainstream wants to move to embrace us, then good. But we don’t need to move to embrace the mainstream.
4. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Doesn’t Believe Drugs & Alcohol Makes You Write Better Music
MPAP: What are your thoughts? Do you think drugs and alcohol bring out the creativity in a musician or can kill it?
Steve: I don’t believe anything can help Corey Taylor write better music.
5. Steel Panther Frontman: If I Could Bring One Musician Back From The Dead, It’d Be Motley Crue’s Vince Neil
MPAP: This headline started some mudslinging between both of the bands because obviously, Vince Neil isn’t dead; he’s just a bit overweight and can’t sing like he used to be able to do as he did in the 80s and 90s. I don’t see them ever going out on tour together anytime soon, but anyway, if you could bring any musician back from the dead, who would you choose, and why?
Steve: That is an A+ burn. There are too many dead musicians to choose just one. I guess it would have to be someone who made a massive impact very quickly while still having a lot of promise for future work. I don’t know.
6. Green Jelly Track Down Deadbeat Promoter And Get Paid
MPAP: A promoter stiffs Green Jelly after they performed at Old East 765 Bar & Grill in Canada, and vocalist Bill Manspeaker, as he states in his cellphone video made looking for Marcus the promoter, 'I ain’t the guy to fuck with.' So, the band tracks down the promoter and finds his home and demands the money owed to them. It’s funny to watch because at one-point Manspeaker is knocking on his door, saying, "Little pig, little pig, let me in." In the end, Marcus ends up paying the band half of what money was owed to them, but at least he walked away with kneecaps still in place. So, has anything like this happened to you before, and would you do something like this?
Steve: I hassle people for money too much in my day job to get too bent out shape about cash in my hobby. But I respect Green Jelly for not being pushovers.
7. Morbid Angel & Obituary Featured As An Answer On Jeopardy!
MPAP: Jeopardy has featured answers on other episodes about popular metal bands such as Megadeth, Rob Zombie, and Five Finger Death Punch, but never had any answers quite like this one. One of the writers on the hit television show has to be a metalhead for sure! So, in case you missed this episode, Alex Trebek said, 'Morbid Angel and Obituary are popular bands in this genre,' and contestant Dhruv Gaur answered with 'What is Death Metal.' Pretty cool when things like this are showing up on a popular television show. Now, if you or your band were to be mentioned on Jeopardy, what would the answer and question be? Let’s see how creative you are.
Steve: 'It was Hair Puller,' and 'Who farted?'
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbors
MPAP: Someone at Budapest’s Puksas Arena just happened to leave the sound system on blasting the song "Deutschland" all night long, over and over. It’s an open-air stadium that’s under construction, so the loud music bothered all that lived nearby. That worker should have had a bigger playlist than just the one song; maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad then, right? So, since the subject of the headline is about something that annoyed people, let’s find out from you; what annoys you, whether it’s out on the road, at a show, in the recording studio, or even when you’re at home, what annoy's you the most?
Steve: I hate when people standing in front of me at shows film the entire fucking night on their cell phones. Screens are inherently distracting, so it’s really difficult to look past the screen to see the stage. I’m grateful whenever I see snippets of our shows posted online, but people should be discrete about it.
9. Tool Threatening To Eject Fans From Shows If They’re Caught Using Their Phones
MPAP: Once again, cellphone use at concerts makes the headlines. If you don’t remember, but a couple of years ago during a performance of Maynard’s other band A Perfect Circle, 60 people were kicked out for filming the show with their phones. And even Jack White (The White Stripes) has a no cell phone policy at his shows. So, what’s your take on it? Are cellphones that much of a distraction to where the fan should be kicked out? Do fans need to watch the show instead of looking at their phones? Does it even matter since they paid for their ticket already?
Steve: Damn, see my last answer. I remember seeing a standup comic a few years back who asked the audience not to take pictures or record his set, but offered to pose as if he were mid-joke for 15 seconds so everyone could get a snap shot. Maybe bands could take a lesson from that and find a happy medium. I mean, it’s 2019 and you can’t put the smart phone genie back in the bottle. People expect to be able to document their activities. But they shouldn’t be pricks about it. Same goes for bands.
10. Windhand Robbed In Houston, Posts List Of Stolen Gear & Belongings
MPAP: This happens way too often, it seems. It’s hard enough to make a living being a musician, and then you have a douchebag, or douchebags, break into your trailer or van and steal all your stuff while you’re out on the road. So, when you are out on tour, what extra precautions have you taken so that this hopefully doesn’t happen to you?
Steve: First, I can’t front as if I’m a road dog. We hardly ever play out of town, and we don’t go on long tours. When we do travel, we try to park in secure spots (inside a garage, not on the street) or we bring the most expensive/irreplaceable gear inside with us. I also have my shit insured.
11. Machine Head Show Paused, Partially Ruined After Fan Throws Beer On The Soundboard
MPAP: This happened at a show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, England, and a fan, more like an asshole, threw a 32-ounce beer on the soundboard. After a 20-minute delay, Machine Head was able to finish the show, but not with the highest quality sound after that. First off, what a dick move to do something like that, almost ruining it for a sold-out crowd, and second, I’m sure soundboards aren't cheap, and third, who throws a 32-ounce full beer? I don’t know what beer costs there in London, but in the US, a beer that size would cost more than likely $30. So, what a waste to throw a beer. Anyways, has this ever happened to you where you saw something was thrown from the crowd, and it abruptly stopped the show for a while, and what happened?
Steve: Years ago, I was playing a show when someone threw a glass bottle that shattered against the wall about a foot from my head. I ended up going into the crowd to fight the guy. I’m not proud of my response, but it was fucking scary and I was responding to that. The show continued after we were separated, and we ended up playing a fucking killer set, but the incident still kinda sucked. I wish people had better mental check lists to the effect of 'if I do this boorish thing, will it make the night better for myself and the people around me?'
12. Australia To Shut Down Highway For AC/DC Tribute Bands In 2020
MPAP: How cool is this? On February 19th, 2020, marks the 40th anniversary of vocalist Bon Scott’s death, and the city of Perth is celebrating by shutting down six miles of the Canning Highway to celebrate so AC/DC tribute bands playing live on slow-moving trailers can drive through like a festival parade. In your hometown, what would you like the city to shut down for you or your band so everyone can celebrate?
Steve: Tear down the condos and bougie stores that have wiped out too many venues and rehearsal spaces, but make it a permanent celebration.
13. Brazilian Researcher Names New Spider Species After Iron Maiden, Scorpions, & Angra Members
MPAP: Christina Rheims is a researcher in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and recently discovered four new spider species and happens to be a big fan of heavy metal music. Can’t get any better than that. She named the four new species Extraordinarius bruceickinsoni, Extraordinarius klausmeinei, Extraordinarius rickalleni and Extraordinarius andrematosi, after Iron Maiden's vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine, Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen, and Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. If she happens to find another species of spiders and you’re next in line to be named after, what would you wanted the spider’s scientific name to be?
Steve: I’d want it named after the band, not a member.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Steve, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Hair Puller, does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
Steve: Thanks a lot for thinking of Hair Puller. This was fun. I hope I don’t sound like too much of a curmudgeon or hippy.
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