The Dark House
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10 July 1999 - The Big Day Out - Milton Keynes Bowl, England
The organisers of this event will have no cause to fear being sued under The Trade Descriptions Act. They promised 'Big' and delivered on that promise to the swell of spectators who turned up in the searing heat to witness the day's proceedings .
Loads of bands went through their paces on a conveyor belt system: when one act played their last note/trashed their instruments on 'The Kerrang' stage, another fired up instruments/vocal chords on the main stage. With 13 acts to get through in 11 hours there was not much chance of getting bored. Even when there was a break between the bands (notably between Marilyn Manson and the headlining act, Metallica) time could be happily filled people watching or stuffing your face with all kinds of delicacies which were on offer. As my memory does not serve me as well as it used to I will only recall those bands which made the biggest impression upon me.
Mercyful Fate were first to take to the stage. The singer, King Diamond, with his white painted face, reminded me of the scary voodoo witchdoctor who rises from the ground in that Bond movie 'Live and Let Die'. King Diamond's mike was mounted on a cross structure which he wielded for added dramatic effect. His voice alternated between deep bone crushing tones and high eardrum awakening screeches. To the initiated, this chopping of tones probably didn't sound out of place but I became musically disorientated. Nevertheless, the band were entertaining to watch.
Symposium's brand of pop rock made them stand out from the other bands, not being in the same heavyweight league. I suppose the same could be said of Terrorvision, especially if the recent mainstream chart success of 'Tequila' is anything to go by. But the boys (sporting nice white shirts and trousers) steered clear of 'Tequila' and instead opted for older classics such as 'Discotheque Wreck' and the slightly disturbing 'Alice, What's the Matter?' By now, the crowd were warmed up and raring to go.
In my view, Monster Magnet was the best of the bunch of the not hit the big time yet supporting acts, Monster Magnet's set being hard hitting but 'catchy' with it. The band seemed quite keen on pyrotechnics and I am told (I did not witness this myself due to crowd numbers having increased to such an extent that my view was blocked) that guitars met an untimely end in the blaze that saw the band take their leave of the audience.
I could not pen a review of The Big Day Out without mentioning Marilyn Manson. There, consider yourself mentioned MM.
The crowd waited patiently for Metallica. Synchronised plastic bottle throwing helped to keep the punters entertained in the intervening period. Whilst on the subject of bottles, I understand MM may have a word or two to say about these ... Getting back to Metallica, I can safely say, back in the comfort of my own home, that their performance was worth waiting for (although at the time I couldn't have said anything safely, concentrating all my efforts on keeping my wits about me for fear of getting squashed in the mosh pit). 'Seek and Destroy' and 'Enter the Sandman' went down with the punters like lager on a scorcher of a day (like it was). When the first strains of 'Nothing Else Matters' were audible the audience went from thrusting/jumping automatons to gently swaying zombies. It was a sight to behold. The band also had a fondness for fireworks and spectacular they were too.
All of the bands which took part in the event (even those which I have not mentioned) contributed to the electric atmosphere of the day and for that reason I feel it would not do justice to the bands to rate them individually. Instead I have opted to rate the event as a whole.
Rating: ****
You begin to feel a little uneasy. You can leave The Dark House or go to the study where you might pick up fresh clues since you were last in the house or you can recap on previous clues which are hazy in your memory.
Last updated: 25.07.99
©1999 Dors Productions
