Taste of Acid, Myth of Hope
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The news is almost laughable these days ý especially when the terror level has been heightened from yellow to orange. I call it almost laughable cause I shouldnýt be laughing at such grave matters of security. Nevertheless, after what I experienced last Thursday night, the alert of terrorism sounds absolutely ridiculous to me.

A week before we decided to go to ozzfest, my cool-junkie friend had asked me about the status of security. Apparently, he wanted to bring some fresh ýtacosý from up north. I warned him honestly saying that there were security checks even in trains with those vicious sniff dogs. ýhmmmý he had motioned. He was too cool a junkie to let go of nirvana due to some heightened security. His ýhmmmý itself was very profound.

Anyways, when we saw swarms of police officers outside the venue, my warning was justified. We had been so paranoid about the whole scenario that we didnýt bring any bags, cameras, or gadgets like other folks. But it was only momentary. After that, everything fell into place. There were no security checks. The only check was for the authenticity of the tickets. The guard who went over my body, distinctly felt the cell phone in my jacket. He didnýt even bother to ask what it was. For a sold out concert with approximately 25-30 thousand people jampacked for the whole day, this to me was incredible. It even angered me a bit. But it was ozzfest after all. What was I complaining about ý fest that defies everything mainstream.

Soon, I found myself screaming in unison with thousands of other screaming fans. Amidst what I would normally call weirdos, psychos, and white trashes, I found one implicit truth. This was the mecca of music. Noone really gave a damn about someone setting off the trigger for the bomb or the gun. The only thing I saw getting triggered were lighters to set off their bongs, pipes and ciggies and everyone achieving their utopia.

At the heart of the electrifying ear deafening metal music, a security helicopter hovered past the ampitheater. A man, perhaps in his sixties, who had come with his entire family, including his two teenage daughters raised his middle finger to the helicopter. If u r an orthdox person like me whoýs not too much into the cult of music, but not completely out of it, this would seem absolutely uncalled for. Rebellion is perhaps the soul of heavy metal, but even within this rebellion, they refuse to yield to or live in paranoia like thousands of us go through in this great country. If this were some other place, even from distance, me and my friend would only fit the profiles that FBI do random checks everyday. Here, noone moved an inch ý noone even gave me a look like they did in Connecticut especially when I had my French beard growing. This sixty year old even passed his joint to my friend. The only thing that prevented me from accepting this gift was my microbiology class.

Even in that intoxicating lethal blend of music, beer and smoke laden lawn, my mind was using its rationale to find that divide, row and the rift that exists in the world today. Suddenly, I came to the most outrageous conclusion. I wondered scholars, political pundits and worldwide leaders who seek to end terrorism and bring peace to this world are the very culprits who help to fuel the world with hatred, anger and cause that irreparable rift with one another through their very work of scholarly acclaim, indepth research and twists and turns of facts into subtle messages of fear. That was the only thing that made sense to me at the time. Even after the show having to spend 5 hours in the cold train station for the morning train, noone bothered us. If 25 thousand or so junkies donýt see any difference among us and shout in unison and follow what they enjoy, why canýt we the conscious-educated-peace seeking creatures embrace peace and live in harmony. I donýt know but I couldnýt hold back anymore. I raised my fist and made that gesture of index and little finger up for ozzy succumbing to their satanic cult. If the very dark frenzy of music can unite people together, this gesture to me was the sign of peace and hope. That was the most gratifying feeling I have had ever since my venture into the west. If someone were to look to ozzfest culture than just from the perspective of mayhem of drugs and appetite for destruction of the junkies, thereýs a lesson to be learnt ý perhaps a very important one.

Kudos to slayer, judaspriest and black Sabbath !!They rocked.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...

:)

This is a masterpiece ! Very well written. Pheri leknus hai. By the way have you thought about pursuing journalism as your career.

..all that and no setlists????..Just kidding man, I exactly know what you mean.But, No toke because of Micro??
Hmmmmmmmmmm...:)

Very very very well written Oys, and well presented. I envy you on chance of getting a taste of Judas Priest and Black Sabbath (ofcourse, if Ozzy is there). Was Rob Halford there?

I wondered scholars, political pundits and worldwide leaders who seek to end terrorism and bring peace to this world are the very culprits

I think you are right too a larger degree. Ofcourse the fear is not baseless but politicians have a knack of manipulating fear for their own gain. Hindu-Muslim war in India, Pakistan is a perfect example. Look at Kerry's campaign, he is represented as a 'War Commander' to guide the American citizens to the victory. Fear of terrorist activities were manipulated in reasoning America's decision to invade Iraq.

Sometimes such manipulation works for the better cause and other times it just makes life more complicated.

In Ozzy's own words:
And here we are still fighting for our lives

Watching all of history repeat itself, time after time.
I am just a Dreamer, who dreams of better days

Well written. My hats off to OC..keep up the good work and Yeah dil mange more!

good one Oys bro u are the best ;o)....
ani so is this the reason u were gayab for so long..?

masti gardai..wah wah wah...ramro ni :o) ma chai metal fan hoina..so OZZ fest ta well mero calender ma chaina hehe..but dyam...must have been one hell of a fest there....dyam wanna go to a warp tour...when will i?:oS....euta maan parrney band soming next mth..where is confused bro?hehe Blik182 is coming here..but urghhh too broke to get a tik...:oS...i mean i can spare some $$ for it..but i dunno i think too late bho jasto cha...tiks sold out hola...dyam..should have asked me frens to get one more for me 1st....hyaaaaaaa

anyways good to hear some ppl are enjoyin ;o)...oys bro more hai..:o)..

have fun..:o)

Well done OC! Though I don't necessarily agree with your assertions, I admire your lucid presentation. Keep these posts in the hub. Sometimes sajha gets too drab, but you surely chilled it this time, mate! A huge heavy-metal fan myself, I would loved to have been there; for now, I will have to do with this thread, I guess.

N.B. -- Could you please also write about other concerts you have been to, they need not, of course, carry a moral lesson -- if you are comfortable with the idea, that is.

Oys bro Hadigaule bhaikana sajjan chha. Ma jasta ek dui jana arule jasto taso Hadigauko bido thamne kam gardai chham nabhaye ta euta pachhi arko hadigaule sudhrera identity crisis ma nai parna lai sakyo gathe afno pyaro harigram.

Well written Oys. I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, jatra ko jasto maja aayo.

hi wateva hmmm :)

preeti rana, pheri lekhne re? eheh! journalism? I am a semester behind changing major almost three times in four years. kaha journalism. But maybe a book..i have always thought bout that....maybe in 20 or so years ;) stay tuned hai.

Disco, the taco had been passed through almost fifty other people's mouth. After microclass, u tend to be paranoid bout everything. i even started washing my hands with soap rubbing for 30 seconds :P

DWI bro,
Black Sabbath was the only thing I wanted to see to begin with. Since we got only in the evening, we missed the second stage concert which featured slipknot. Slayer to me all rite, as i am not a big fan of deathmetal. Our own UgraKarma of Nepal would give them a run for their money ;) (optimistic!)
But when judaspriest made their entry, it was mindblowing. Rob halford was there. The band supposedly reunited after 20 odd years or so. That guy's electrifying vocals! man that was something. Though I had never even heard of that band, I became their instant fan. besides, I got to see through the binoculars of all the riffs the guitarists were showcasing.
Black Sabbath made their entry which was scintillating because the band had original line up. they still beared that dark charisma that they were infamous for. However, ozzy seemed incongrous to the band as seeing him in TV so often, it seemed like he had lost his charisma. but his vocals were still up there. and the guy has some energy. jumping up and down throughout the show. It would have been great if he bit some fake bat or sth. eheh....anyways, they only did few of their numbers. Iron man seemed to take the crowd to frenzy

Sofaking bro, remember u r to burn me those cds of mukti n revival :) make them ready for next week!

dannanh and budobaccha, it was actually my first major concert like thing in my life. I am not a big big fan of heavy or deathmetal to begin with..i listen to music very sparingly, but ozzfest nevertheless was quite a experience. There was eric clapton coming to town one of these days, but now I have given up guitar..so not much inspiration to see. about morals, everything u do in life has a moral...sometimes explicit, sometimes subtle! :P

Deep bro, handigaon ko bido khoi kasar thamne ho. Its getting way too modernized if u ask me. Hamro dear galli has been widend to sadak no none of the residents own a car. Last time i talked to maami, she told me due to the pressure of the neighbors, we had to cut down our parijaat tree.....something I always associated home with. its gonna be very different when i get back......and with four years and counting, it seems like it'll be eternity before i go back again. america does certainly suck you up like a quick sand doesn't it. all we can do is revive memories and hope we haven't lost our identity among disputes of precious nepali men and women ;)

Oys_Chill, thanks for the clarification, Dherai jutho bhakoo takoo pareechaa. :), but that was a great piece, and also you might already know, The Machine is playing in Syracuse NY, if you are around, Norbert Stachel from Roger waters Bad is the guest but with or withought him, Machine is greeeatt!!!, I think its August 13th.

Awesome piece!

Disco, I would do anything to see ROGER WATERS.....but I am still in the west till then...especially AUG 13--- friday the thirteenth.... ;) I have a date with LUCIFER :P

TMA, that was quite a poem....

X thanx...

taremaam!