Slipknot Live @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia

The Heretic Anthem

I started shooting live music in 2009. You start off small in dimly lit venues with bands no one has ever heard of – or is likely to ever hear of. But you need to learn and refine your skills and you need to push yourself and your camera to the extreme to get a hang of this beast. It isn’t easy but if there is a burning passion and drive, you’ll learn and you will continue to learn with each and every single shoot you do.

A friend of mine commented the other day about just how lucky I am doing this. And for a moment, the comment took me aback a little. On the surface, live music photography looks so incredibly glamorous and exclusive, but scratch away the gloss off the perceived surface a little and underneath you’ll have a glimpse of the long hours, the thankless efforts and all the wounds, bruises, nicks and cuts of being battered from pillar to post in the pit and out of the pit. Sure it is fun. It’s a blast actually, but to get to that point where you are in front of the artist you have desperately wanted to photograph for as far back as you can remember – is a long and arduous process. It may take years.

And here I was. Years later. Deep in the confines of Rod Laver Arena with an opportunity to finally photograph one of my absolute fave bands of the past decade or so… Slipknot!

Unfortunately, the night did not get off to a perfect start. I got to Rod Laver Arena a little later than expected and missed my cue to shoot opener’s Trivium. Once I got to the Box Office to sign in and get my photo-pass, Trivium were already half way through their set. I waited in the designated area and after 10 minutes or so, my fellow photographers were returning after having just shot Trivium.

After exchanging the hellos and what not’s, we all stood in the confines of the stage-door room and waited for what seemed like an eternity. I must confess tho, this is a fun time. We’re all there for the same reason and many of the photographers present, I have shot alongside for many, many gigs so there is an incredible camaraderie among everyone. I like observing them all as each and every one goes through their own unique pre-game ritual but the mood is always pleasant and light.

Ten minutes before Slipknot were scheduled to hit the stage, the road manager comes and collects us all. I always make it a habit to walk in at the end of the line as we’re led down the hallowed inner sanctum of Rod Laver Arena. Down this long hallway to the right, I caught a glimpse of the entire Slipknot entourage in a group hug getting ready for tonight’s show.

We’re immediately led onto the side of the stage. The array of lights is simply breathtaking and I pause for a moment to take it all in. There is a hum in the air as the crowd sense that the band is not too far away now. The hum starts to become an inaudible unholy crescendo as the road manager gives us instructions for the night.

Apparently we were only to be allowed to the pit four at a time which effectively cuts our three song access to about one! The collective groan and complaints from the gathered photographers could be heard over the crowd I can assure you.

We were also forewarned that there is extremely dangerous pyro which will kick off the first song and for us to make sure we are nowhere near the front of the stage lest we lose a limb or two.

As if on cue, the band members slowly walk onto the stage as the intro music signals the mayhem that is to follow.

The searing flames feel as if they are an inch away from your face so intense was the heat they were generating. And then the pyro goes off and sounds deafening even through fully wedged in earplugs. The smell of gun powder and gas quickly fills up in your nostrils and as if at battle it is your turn in the photo pit.

You scramble forth, jockeying for position among a sea of security and photographers. I can’t even begin to describe what’s going on through your mind at this point.

Slipknot are literally on fire and the amazing light show has lit up the stage in all sorts of gorgeous colour and spectacle. It is true mayhem up there as the band take command of every square inch of the stage and proceed to beat Melbourne to a pulp!

In the photo-pit, you literally do not know where to look or where to concentrate on. There are photo opportunities everywhere around you. The stage, the light, the audience and the band seem to all be performing for you and you are there with your camera to disseminate it all and capture what you see fit.

Its night like these were all the slogging and late nights seem so worth your while and renders my previous whining pretty much ineffectual and void. The adrenaline rush is something money can’t buy as you are left feeling a sense of euphoric accomplishment that is so hard to describe.

From the very first time I saw Slipknot live a few years ago on their last Australian tour, all I ever wanted to do was to have a chance to photograph them. It was that very show which piqued my interest in shooting live music as I sat at the back of the arena taking pics with an iPhone!

Tonight I got to shoot them from the photo-pit and achieved a dream several years in the making.

Seriously, you can’t wipe the grin from my face. It was a very long week of work – and shooting gigs after work but at the end of the day… I wouldn’t change a solitary thing!

Thank you to the gang from Metal Obsession for the passes tonight! Always a pleasure shooting for you!