Being a metalhead in America.

[Arsen]

Is it just me or is it a curse? It seems that all over the world these great acts and musicians get to perform. All countries in Europe, many in South America, Japan, Asia in general, the Middle East...Hell, for some strange reason even Mexico is given more respect and a time of day than North America gets.

And whenever they do come to North America they typically stick to major cities that are way out of the way for the average fan. I am grateful that many bands do tour here, however I wish more energy would go into the overall attempt to come to the states.

Specifically, yes I know there is a lack of a major fanbase and an immense crowd here, but at the same time if rare acts showed up and we didn't get bands like Sonata Arctica and Lamb of God every weekend I think there may be a future for it in the end.

Nonetheless, it's painful loving this music and having to drive a thousand miles just to watch a single act perform.

Europe, you have no clue how lucky you are to have it.
I have flown from Florida to Ohio just to watch Iron Maiden play. Let me tell you, it was all worth it. But I still had to fly all that way...

I know this country is quite big and all that jazz, but in the end if many acts just simply got together and made a great tour worth coming to many would jump at that opportunity.

Your thoughts?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Britian still secretly hates you, so all our good bands are told not to make an effort to tour America...

Yeah...wish you'd lost the revolution now don't you.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

You could always move.

I don't go to concerts... so that's all I got, sorry.
Although there might be a reason they only go to major cities.

 

[Chewster]

When talking about Canada, this is generally the case for most musicians, as there is a vast amount of geography to cover and traveling it costs some amount of change. A good portion of non-local music ends up only touring in and around Toronto and Montreal.

I would expect it would be similar for the US, considering the vast geography. For many groups, going on tour costs some hardcore coin, and doing a tour in Europe, where you can drive across some countries in a day, it makes more financial sense. And since metal is generally ignored by the mainstream music scene in America, it doesn't make a lot of sense to go on a lot of tours there, since the high turnouts necessary to recoup traveling expenses and make a profit would be risky.

 

[Arsen]

You could always move.

I don't go to concerts... so that's all I got, sorry.
Although there might be a reason they only go to major cities.

Language barriers. Friends and family. Yeeeaahhh...

I'd choose Ireland or Scotland though, Great Britain seems overcrowded last time I checked.

 

[Gabanuka]

I live in England so i'm only ever a 4 hour drive from some gig.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

And since metal is generally ignored by the mainstream music scene in America, it doesn't make a lot of sense to go on a lot of tours there, since the high turnouts necessary to recoup traveling expenses and make a profit, would be risky.

Really? I had always got the impression that metal was very popular in the US, almost mainstream. Maybe I'm just stuck in the 80's/90's.

 

[Nepeccel]

I'd choose Ireland or Scotland though, Great Britain seems overcrowded last time I checked.

Ireland (Northern) and Scotland are in Great Britain. Google is your friend.

On topic, USA is a big place and only one country, unlike Europe which has lots of countries to tour around. So when a band is organising a tour, they go to the major towns and cities of various countries. To put it bluntly, a European band won't care if they miss out most of the states in the USA as long as they hit a couple of cities. It sucks, but the country (and Canada) is just too big for it's own good.

It may not be the case but it seems that metal is a bigger influence in music in Europe. Metal bands regularly top the charts in Finland for example. This means that bands will want to tour more in countires that they know will give them a good welcome and will have good gigs.

 

[Arsen]

I'd choose Ireland or Scotland though, Great Britain seems overcrowded last time I checked.

Ireland (Northern) and Scotland are in Great Britain. Google is your friend.

On topic, USA is a big place and only one country, unlike Europe which has lots of countries to tour around. So when a band is organising a tour, they go to the major towns and cities of various countries. To put it bluntly, a European band won't care if they miss out most of the states in the USA as long as they hit a couple of cities. It sucks, but the country (and Canada) is just too big for it's own good.

It may not be the case but it seems that metal is a bigger influence in music in Europe. Metal bands regularly top the charts in Finland for example. This means that bands will want to tour more in countires that they know will give them a good welcome and will have good gigs.

Only per naming, not in spirit.

I know, I know...just often generalize England as GB.

 

[Withard]

To tour America is such a MASSIVE commitment. The reason alot dont do it is because of time, money & Distance.

 

[anthony87]

Hey being a metalhead in Ireland isn't the best either.

Ridicule and what have you.

 

[Nepeccel]

For Scotland bands will tour Edinburgh and Glassgow. Better to move to England, plenty of places to see music!

 

[reg42]

Wow.
America gets a lot of concerts, even if you do have to drive a bit, they're still there.
We get about 1 or 2 international concerts a year and they're either far away, in an over 18 club, expensive as hell, or all of the above.

 

[AvsJoe]

As a Canadian I'm pretty lucky for concerts. The same 6 cities get represented in Canadian tours (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto) and I've always lived near or in one of them.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I live in England, spare me a thought. You get it way better than we do over here.

 

[FranzTyphid]

I live in Edinburgh which dosent really have many good concert halls apart from the HMV picture house.But you guys seems to have a knack for making money out of music

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Britian still secretly hates you, so all our good bands are told not to make an effort to tour America...

Yeah...wish you'd lost the revolution now don't you.

God, your never supposed to tell them this... Your cast out from the secret order I'll need your badge and parking license and that peanut we gave you on your first day.

DUDE! You told them about the secret order! We'll both be assassinated for this!

 

[Withard]

Britian still secretly hates you, so all our good bands are told not to make an effort to tour America...

Yeah...wish you'd lost the revolution now don't you.

God, your never supposed to tell them this... Your cast out from the secret order I'll need your badge and parking license and that peanut we gave you on your first day.

DUDE! You told them about the secret order! We'll both be assassinated for this!

LOL!!! But you know about it now! Your gonna be kille....oh wait