A couple of months ago I noticed a storm brewing. There I was at my mom's hometown in Batu Gajah during Raya (Eid) when I noticed a copy of local tabloid magazine 'Mastika', the type of tabloid that claims stories of girls who have sex with demons and such. This time, however, I noticed something that hit a lot closer to home. Inside the magazine was approximately 15 to 20 pages devoted to the whole 'black metal' fiasco.
To those not in the know, in mid-2001 Malaysian police and government officials went on a public witchhunt, looking for 'black metal' devotees. They claimed the kids 'wore black t-shirts and sacrificed goats to Satan' whilst playing 'black metal' music. It got so widespread that anyone (I repeat, anyone) wearing a black t-shirt was in danger of being arrested. Even other genres of music weren't safe. It was a bad time, but thankfully it all dissapeared.
Or so I thought.
Looking back, I should have realized from that incredibly stupid and highly ignorant article (which claimed that 'true black metallers eat pork') that the storm was brewing again and the media would once again latch upon us underground music types for a story.
Who'd have thought it would happen on New Years Eve.
On December 31st 2005, at approximately 10.30pm, local music venue 'Paul's Place' was raided by the Brickfield's police under the charges of hosting a black metal gig.
Together with the police were a TV3 camera crew hoping to uncover some evil, satanic black metal congregation. All attendees, band members and random people who were within 10 feet of the premises (and had absolutely nothing to do with the gig) were detained by the police. All equipment (both Paul's and the organizers) were confiscated.
Among those detained together with the attendees and random folk who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time were the band members of Malaysian bands Cassandra, Second Combat, Devilica, Uphold, The Falling Grudge, M.U.Z.E, Net Restraint, Crestfallen, Singaporean band Force Vomit and Japanese band Crystal Lake.
NONE of these bands play anything remotely 'black metal'.
Also detained were David (Paul's partner who was taking care of the gig at the time), the organizers of the show and a lawyer from law firm Edwin Lim &
Suren Advocates and Solicitors.
(Arrest the lawyer. Very clever.)
Paul was (luckily) nowhere near his place as he was playing drums for my band, Triple 6 Poser, in Hartamas. Otherwise he would have probably been arrested too.
After the police were unable to prove any hint of black-metal-ness at the gig, they then tested everyone for drugs (considering most of these people can't even afford a beer what makes the cops think they can get a bag of PCP?) and released those that tested negative (which, if I'm not mistaken was almost everyone).
David, the organizers and the lawyer are still detained and will not be contactable till they stand trial on Tuesday under the charges of hosting an illegal gathering.
The facts:
1. The police had no warrant to enter Paul's Place and make any arrests/confiscate equipment.
2. An illegal gathering consists of more than 500 people. Although reports from sources differ, I'm almost 100% sure the total number of people there did not exceed 300+.
3. A congregation at a private premises can't exactly be called an illegal gathering, now can it? Otherwise open houses on Raya would be illegal.
4. Paul's Place is the only live music venue that is not prejudice to different genres of music and is not a bar. Every other venue in Malaysia has a liqour license, making it illegal for people under 21 to attend/play the gigs. Numerous bands have gotten their chops at Paul's Place (especially my bands. Triple 6 Poser was born and nurtured at Paul's Place). Paul's Place is the one and only place where live music is not connected with the consumption of hard liquor, giving younger musicians a chance to get their music out there and a younger audience the chance to enjoy the music.
5. According to Rafil, who went to the police station together with Ben from Ben's Bitches, one of the younger policeman said, whilst watching this entire fiasco unfold, "if I was off-duty today I'd probably be detained for going to a gig too".
A press conference was held today at Paul's Place. I'll be getting the details soon and posting as I find out more.
No comments:
Post a Comment