![]() ![]() ![]() To him, slam dancing – as they called moshing on the US west coast – evolved as the only real physiological reaction to punk music. Veteran punk musician Greg Graffin, the Bad Religion frontman, turned author and professor of evolutionary science, is cynical about bands attempting soft changes to the punk scene. Shows can be quite an experience for people who are suffering.” “Some fans are bottled up with emotions without expressing them, you might end up depressed or angrier. “Moshpits are so accepted and popular in our scene because these people don’t have that outlet in real life,” guitarist Sean Long explains. While She Sleeps … ‘People don’t have an outlet in real life.’ Photograph: Rex/Shutterstockįor While She Sleeps, a UK metalcore band, there is real cathartic healing in that. Sløtface’s vocalist, Haley Shea, says: “I have always loved the chaos and feeling of being able to blow off some steam without being judged on your dancing, how sweaty you are or any of the other superficial things you get judged on a lot, especially as a young girl.” Yet, the majority of rock bands want moshpits to stay. Most women I know who go to shows are either agnostic or hate them. The biggest defenders of moshpits are usually straight men. The bands bringing in these changes most enthusiastically tend to be those with female and LGBT members. These harassment rules don’t just apply to the real world – the same rules apply in rock shows as well.” He says that now Sløtface are always looking out from the stage for any behaviour like this, and will throw out the perpetrator in a second.Ĭrucially, anything to do with safety at shows is always a gendered conversation. “Unfortunately, things such as groping can happen to girls in moshpits, which is absolutely unacceptable. Tor-Arne Vikingstad of Norwegian punk band Sløtface believes that a sense of entitlement from certain men can extend to moshpits. “This is pretty common, as people don’t feel comfortable reporting situations to staff at the venue, or they get ignored.” “Sometimes, we go and do a stint on the merchandise stand on the night, and, aside from the selfies and band chat, it can be a good place for people to talk to us about anything wrong at the show,” says Rory Loveless from Drenge, who first s poke out against sexual harassment at gigs back in 2015. I sense a sea-change, however: recently, everyone from Slaves to Swim Deep and Drenge have come out to condemn such behaviour at their shows. I remember numerous occasions while I was growing up when male crowd members rubbed against me or touched me inappropriately – it was just accepted as part of the experience. Girls Against, a group of young women, has been successful in campaigning against – and spreading awareness of – sexual harassment at gigs. With aggressors frequently being held accountable on social media, making women feel unsafe has started to be collectively shamed. Even within metal and hardcore – where moshing is a crucial part of the live experience – these arguments are becoming less alien, and women’s stories have helped make bands and male audience members understand what it’s like to be a female rock fan. ![]() Such bold moves hark back to the days of “riot grrl” in the 90s where the war cry demanded “girls to the front” as a reaction against the macho punk scene. ![]() A very masculine type of aggression is being rejected here, in order that minorities – women, trans people, people of colour and so on – are able to feel free. When I went to my first PWR BTTM show last year in London, everyone was dancing and laughing, and it felt like a party more than a gig. “We get to feel safe on the stage, and we want to extend that feeling to our audience.” And there is something undeniably warm about being in these spaces. “At least at our shows, we’re trying to create a safer space, and, right now, I can’t see a way to have moshing that’s completely respectful of everyone there,” says Diet Cig’s Alex Luciano. ![]()
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