I traveled there as an outsider not knowing anyone, and over several years got to know and to photograph most of the key Norwegian black metal figures. I decided to move back in with my family, save money, and finally travel to Norway for my first time the next year. When I finished college in 2001 I had a very strong feeling that I should travel to Norway and attempt to document this scene. I grew up in Texas and followed the scene from afar. You grew up a far cry away from this scene, how did you get involved in that? You are well known for your images of black metal icons thanks to your first book, True Norwegian Black Metal. A few months into shooting this, I decided that I should bring in a human element which shows the maniacs who make them along with genuine, heartfelt moments within heavy metal culture.
Originally I planned to make a book of only vest photos – kind of like a still life photography project. I tend to go in musical cycles, and where I am physically and mentally plays a part in what I listen to.
I do love black metal, but I’m not listening to too much at the moment. The other patches are a mix of different metal sub-genres with lots of bands like Heavy Load, Ashbury, Eternal Champion, Cirith Ungol, and some of my Norwegian friends, to name a few. Of the three vests I currently have: One has an Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time back patch, another with Manowar - Fighting The World, and one with the classic Motorhead logo back patch. Pages 138-139 in the book show two of the more over-the-top vests that I’ve made. Since then I’ve made three more elaborate patched versions. I had a very basic version in 1989 with some Metallica and Anthrax buttons. I discovered Iron Maiden, Metallica and Guns N' Roses in the late 80s when I was in Elementary school through MTV and from my local 'tape store.' These days I’m listening to lots of classic rock, metal and old school country music.ĭo you or did you ever have a battle jacket? My music tastes have been all over the place throughout my life, but heavy metal was my first real musical obsession. Are you a metalhead yourself? What were the first metal bands or albums you discovered?
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