Can we talk about Matt Heafys guitar strap?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimAnsell
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I'm not king shit of anything, but i've experienced this first hand, and i'm sure alot of other members here have too

You don't even have to "dress up" or anything, it's just about NOT looking like a fucking dork

I don't know how many times i've heard "man you fucking killed it, you ate the opener guy alive" when i did no such thing, and was drunk or sloppy or shredding at inappropriate times, and the opener guy played everything perfectly. It's all because of the combination of the music you're making with the image youre projecting into people's heads.

And it's all simply because you dress appropriately to the music you're making and the presentation youre creating

I don't know how many inexperienced musicians i've had arguments with this about, as if it's somehow going to compromise your artistic integrity to WEAR FUCKING PANTS like an adult and put on some semi-stylish shoes

Totally. You don't have to put on a costume, just... look cool. And yes that means putting on some fucking pants. A stage is no place for fuckin shorts lol.

And before somebody goes off saying "but Dimebag wore shorts" yeah maybe but most people aren't Dimebag. He also had a gigantic star shaped guitar and hair the size of a beanbag so his particular brand of outrageousness was a thing of its own. There were some things he could get away with most people just can't.

Also his shorts weren't pleated fucking khaki shorts that came up to his balls and puffed out in the gunt area like most TGP shorts-defenders wear.
 
Totally. You don't have to put on a costume, just... look cool. And yes that means putting on some fucking pants. A stage is no place for fuckin shorts lol.

Obviously it changes from genre to genre, but it's really not difficult or some huge "ask" by the audience

And then these dudes playing hard rock/metal wonder why they aren't taken seriously or getting an audience reaction when they play

Well lets see here, you're playing in a supposed metal band and wearing new balance 608s and cargo shorts and THIS fucking t shirt:

71hIVgrqvqL._AC_SX466_.jpg



Really, people aren't taking your serious metal band seriously while you're wearing your riding lawnmower outfit? NO FUCKING WAY
 
Obviously it changes from genre to genre, but it's really not difficult or some huge "ask" by the audience

And then these dudes playing hard rock/metal wonder why they aren't taken seriously or getting an audience reaction when they play

Well lets see here, you're playing in a supposed metal band and wearing new balance 608s and cargo shorts and THIS fucking t shirt:

View attachment 387044


Really, people aren't taking your serious metal band seriously while you're wearing your riding lawnmower outfit? NO FUCKING WAY
I don't think the flames shirts aren/t a well thought out idea either. Check my sig line, that guy. :LOL:
 
Thank goodness for the direction of this thread. Agree with most of the comments here. Absolutely cannot stand the I don't belong on this stage look. It's worse as time goes on, and I just don't get it. Part of showmanship is looking the part. I can see not putting on your GWAR wear for rehearsal, but don't stand there on the stage in your 8th grade (or lawn mowing outfit :ROFLMAO:) clothes coming off like you would rather be somewhere else. Because at that point, so would I. Unless you're Iron Maiden. :ROFLMAO:
 
Thank goodness for the direction of this thread. Agree with most of the comments here. Absolutely cannot stand the I don't belong on this stage look. It's worse as time goes on, and I just don't get it. Part of showmanship is looking the part. I can see not putting on your GWAR wear for rehearsal, but don't stand there on the stage in your 8th grade (or lawn mowing outfit :ROFLMAO:) clothes coming off like you would rather be somewhere else. Because at that point, so would I. Unless you're Iron Maiden. :ROFLMAO:

Even the octogenarians from maiden dress like they are playing a heavy metal concert, and not like they're going to a monthly PTA meeting

I seriously cannot believe the assholes on TGP who tried to pull the "that's not true to me as an artist" card about this

Yeah, well that explains why no one fucking cares about you as an artist Mr novelty T-shirt, clip on tuner, Teva sandals with socks, and tommy bahama button up
 
I remember him telling that he uses this double strap because he has some back issues, but he still wants to play full sized les pauls...
I dont really mind that...if it works for him...

As for the comments....the majority of guitarists nowadays dont even have a strap...they enjoy playing guitar in their race car look like chairs...
I d rather see someone have a 3 point strap and play standing up rather than play sitting in a f chair in their f modeler....
 
I remember him telling that he uses this double strap because he has some back issues, but he still wants to play full sized les pauls...
I dont really mind that...if it works for him...

As for the comments....the majority of guitarists nowadays dont even have a strap...they enjoy playing guitar in their race car look like chairs...
I d rather see someone have a 3 point strap and play standing up rather than play sitting in a f chair in their f modeler....

Honestly it's not even the fact that he uses a both-shoulders-strap itself that bothers me. I mean it kinda is but worse is that he managed to build the dorkiest, dumbest looking harness possible. Like surely there's got to be a better way. He plays a white LP and wraps a black nylon strap over the front of the guitar, under the strings on the front and it's like the equivalent of orthopedic shoes. Just less than zero effort spent giving a shit about how he's presenting himself to people. Like full on autism levels of "yes of course I wear this bib all the time in case I want to eat something and it spills on my shirt, that way I'm protected from stains! What am I supposed to do, not wear a bib and make the slightest effort to not look like a complete asshole?"

Yes. Yes, you are supposed to care about not looking like a complete asshole. Like bro, just do something, anything else. Take that right-shoulder strap and connect it to the bottom guitar strap or something, I dunno. Attach a double layer guitar strap button if you need. Anything other than what you're doing now.

It's just so lame. It hurts to look at.
 
Obviously it changes from genre to genre, but it's really not difficult or some huge "ask" by the audience

And then these dudes playing hard rock/metal wonder why they aren't taken seriously or getting an audience reaction when they play

Well lets see here, you're playing in a supposed metal band and wearing new balance 608s and cargo shorts and THIS fucking t shirt:

View attachment 387044


Really, people aren't taking your serious metal band seriously while you're wearing your riding lawnmower outfit? NO FUCKING WAY
Drew?
????
 
As for the comments....the majority of guitarists nowadays dont even have a strap...they enjoy playing guitar in their race car look like chairs...
I d rather see someone have a 3 point strap and play standing up rather than play sitting in a f chair in their f modeler....

Spot on!

I can’t play sitting down.
 
Totally. You don't have to put on a costume, just... look cool. And yes that means putting on some fucking pants. A stage is no place for fuckin shorts lol.
Agreed. Only Dime, Gary Holt and Anthrax get a pass for that.

I remember discussing this with my own (cover)band, when we played some shows together with international touring acts...When everyone was back stage and these guys would walk out through the venue, just by looking at them, you'd know "These are the artists". And cargo shorts, flip flops and an oversized T-shirt was NOT part of that wardrobe. So, while we already were putting in the 'dressing up' effort, that moment where we all were like 'see, even without them holding their instruments when walking through the venue, you know they are the artists', was a reminder of the importance of looking the part. And I too laugh at all the idiots trying to downplay that shit, like it's not important. I'm like "Look dude, you're the one paying $15-20 to see ME on stage...when your band in your lawnmower garb can only get some aunts 'n uncles and bar staff to see you for free and *maybe* a beer or two."
 
Cmon now lets keep the Metal God out of this!
I'm just saying, just because it's metal, doesn't mean it isn't queer. ??‍♂️
I can accept it, as it is, as EVERYONE knew.

I just thought it was kind of a silly thing to say ... knowing what we all know. Sacred cows or otherwise.

As it is, nothing is off limits with me...I don't put any artist on a pedestal, ever. We all human, some more queer than others, whether we like it or not.

im-super-thanks-for-asking-big-gay-al.gif


P.S. this isn't a political or ideological stance, at all. Just observation. ?
 
Granted I do think it looks ridiculous and I’m not a fan of the band. But man who cares if he wants to use a full body harness to hold up his guitar lol. Apparently two straps is enough to get guys panties in a bunch. There are real life problems out there to go on rants about, this isn’t one of them.
 
I'm deadly serious, clip-on tuners are herpes

Get a peterson stomp or a tc polytune and put it on your pedalboard like a grownup
False. I see old heads say this constantly. Yeah, take up space on the board for something negligible.

Most the time I go play with people, I don't even take my board so.... Yeah, what am I supposed to do here? Take a pedal with me everywhere just to tune?

Also, most tuner pedals affect the way the guitar sounds.

I would say that being so petty about a style of tuner is 'less grown up' than bending to some rando's will and opinion of you.....

If we are speaking purely about accuracy then I am going to get out my huge strobe tuner like with my horns and get to tuning! Then I'll be really grown up!
 
You have a style that very much matches your music. I havent seen the jorts yet. That is pretty much what i wear at work year round, though
Thanks for the compliment. I was trying to write a response last night but when I read it this morning it came off like I was insulting you for wearing jorts when I had been trying to post some Ed Hardy shirt pics above my reply to you that didn't work. I spent all day friday and sat cutting solos for a record so my brain was non functional by last night so if that came off wrong, it wasn't intended.
 
If a guy from a "metal" band had a guitar player that did this in the 80s, everyone would have (rightly) called him gay lol
The 80s were the gayest ever and you guys were all over their dicks, right along with it. So funny to see how the lense changes when viewing others through it.
 
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