Here I am - back and ready for more! I'll continue where I finished last time, shall I?
So, where was I...? Ah yes, my introduction to the metal culture! As soon as I entered the arena at Download I could tell that things were different here with these people. There was a special bond that I hadn't really seen before, due to the lack of Metal exposure in my younger years. There was unity, togetherness, acceptance. It was obvious that it didn't really matter how heavy you like your music, how you dressed or what colour your hair was, everyone was there for the same reason; to take part in something that they have a passion for, to show their dedication and love for a genre of music and lifestyle that is quite unlike any other.
I have to admit that it really didn't take long for me to want to become more of a part of this culture. It intrigued me, and I had to have some more! Each time we go I find myself becoming more involved. Every year since 2011 we've returned to Donington Park, eagerly awaiting the line up announcements as they are drip fed from the Download team at Live Nation in the months beforehand.
The culture that I have become a part of has taught me a lot. I was brought up to be polite, respectful and non-confrontational, and those are qualities that I would never want to lose on the most part. However, one of the most important things I feel that I have learnt from Metal is the confidence to stand up for myself and my beliefs, and sometimes that means being a little less polite and a lot more confrontational! From the way I compose myself in different situations to the way I dress, Metal has inspired change in a number of different ways, and these changes weren't because I felt like I had to, they were because I realised that I could express myself in whatever way I wanted to and be the person that I want to be, not the person that others want me to be.
So that's it, a brief story of how I got to where I am today. As for the future, who knows? I just hope I can keep learning and continue to be part of this diverse culture that we are all involved in.
Keep those horns up \m/
