Book Of Historic METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER, EXODUS Bay Area Metal Photographs Due This Fall

March 3, 2011

Legendary San Francisco Bay Area metal photographers Brian Lew (Whiplash fanzine) and Harald "O." Oimoen (D.R.I.) have joined forces to create the large-format hardcover photo collection "Murder In The Front Row: Bay Area Bangers And The Birth Of Thrash Metal". Coming this fall from Bazillion Points Books, this intense look at early hardcore headbangers features some of the first photos of the "Big Four" and their extended family of thrash metal bands. With hundreds of candid, live, and studio shots, Lew and Oimoen celebrate the unique wild-eyed spirit and atmosphere of the historic S.F. Bay Area heavy metal scene: pinpointing clubs (The Old Waldorf, The Stone, Ruthie's Inn, The Omni); hangouts (The Record Vault, the infamous Metallica Mansion); and beloved local figures like fearless stage diver Toby Rage, manager Debbie Abono, and the unrivaled metal ringmaster Paul Baloff of EXODUS.

Among the jaw-dropping moments in heavy metal history on display: Cliff Burton's first rehearsal with Dave Mustaine-era METALLICA; Kerry King of SLAYER performing with early MEGADETH; METALLICA and SLAYER's first Bay Area shows; the first meeting of SLAYER and METALLICA; original uncropped prints of POSSESSED's blood-spattered "Seven Churches" band photo shoot; some of the earliest photos of VIO-LENCE and DEATH ANGEL; TESTAMENT (then called LEGACY) dressed in religious stage outfits; the crazed front row faces from legendary Ruthie's Inn; and METALLICA's triumphant takeover of Day On The Green in 1985.

At roughly 300 pages, filled with unpublished images and rare flyers, this incredible visual time capsule stems from a friendship that started when Brian Lew and Harald O. first met as camera-wielding teenage metalheads. Both later contributed to Ron Quintana's infamous Metal Mania fanzine.

Says Harald O.: "I am so psyched on getting these photos out there. The camaraderie and great friendships forged between all the bands and the fans was so cool-there literally wasn't much distinction. Everybody was pals with everyone else, and it was a magical time to be a metalhead living in the Bay Area. People are gonna freak on what what we're gonna show them. This is a dream come true!"

Says Brian Lew: "This will not be a history book, but rather a time machine back to the 'bonded by blood' days of the original Bay Area metal scene. Before they played the Bay Area, SLAYER wore makeup onstage; after that first Bay Area show they never wore makeup again. This book will show people why."

"Murder In The Front Row: Bay Area Bangers And The Birth Of Thrash Metal" will be released this fall via Bazillion Points Books, America's smallest but heaviest book publisher.

For more information, visit www.murderinthefrontrow.com.

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).