Banger Films Official Blog

In the classic spirit of Central and South American metal (can you say Dictatorshit!), here is a story of Metal music inspired by continued oppression and rampant political brutality and corruption. Ever since Sam kicked a football around with a hoard of Guatemalan children while studying for his thesis, it’s been common knowledge that the Guatemalan people have had their challenges receiving fair treatment by their own government. In a story too often repeated through the Americas, Alfonso Portillo, the Guatemalan president from the years 2000 – 2004 managed to steal tens of millions of dollars from his people including a $1.5 million donation from Taiwan, a sovereign and independent country. The story below outlines a song inspired by brutal corruption and hypocrisy. Thanks for sharing this with us Carlos!

The story behind: “Bring the F**kers Down”:

By Carlos Pepió

Here in Guatemala, in the year 2000, Alfonso Portillo, presidential candidate from the FRG (which stands for Guatemala Republican Front) was elected on his second attempt at the Presidency.

From the very beginning it was nothing but the most barefaced, corrupt government we’ve ever had… and we’ve had some very corrupt ones.  I mean, it got so corrupt, that General José Efrain Ríos Montt, an ex-military who headed a previous coupe and who’s accused (and most probably guilty) of the most heinous genocide in Latin American history (around 150,000 massacred) was elected President of Congress fully backed by Portillo to the extent, that because constitutionally  he couldn’t be registered as the next Presidential Candidate, he threatened to “lose control” (according to his own words) of the FRG supporters and that they could turn violent.  And violent they turned just a few days later on July, 24^th and 25^th 2003, as truckloads carrying hundreds of “farmers”, armed with sticks, machetes and firearms took hold of the whole of Guatemala City and terrorized the most important parts of the city threatening anyone who dared come close.  One senior reporter died of a heart attack while running for his life trying to escape the FRG hordes, skillfully lead by FRG congressmen wearing ski masks.  As ridiculous as it may sound, they were videotaped by brave reporters hiding who caught them taking the ski masks off, and even with all that evidence they all escaped from justice thanks to the also bought judges.

Meanwhile, as all the non-official media was bravely covering the riots, the 4 most powerful TV channels, who are sold-out to whoever is in power where looking the other way even as their own reporter got killed.  All through this mayhem, all over the radio and printed media people were clamoring for the “authorities” to intervene.  But neither the President nor the Police Chief ever did anything about it for two long days.

During these two days I got so furious and felt so helpless that the only way I could release my frustration was writing the main ideas of this song in which I was wishing to see this fucker brought down someday, along with all his crew.  Little did I know that what I wrote back then would ultimately come true, as it is the very first time a Guatemalan ex-President spends a night in jail.

I could bore you telling you more about Portillo and his thievery, but right now you can easily read about it in the news or the internet.   He’s accused of stealing and laundering several million dollars which he stole during a time when tragedies almost like Katrina stroke Guatemala and people needed international money sent to help the desperate.  He stole money from donations, the GDP and anything he could get his hands on, and didn’t practice any discretion at it.  The General is still considered untouchable down here.

I usually write Metal in English first, since it feels more natural that way, but then I translated the song to Spanish for my countrymen to truly enjoy it.  It is called “Ya cayó el Maldito” which means different from the title in English but the whole song conveys the exact same message line by line.  It means “The Damned one has fallen”.  I sang the song live countless times all around Guatemala with my previous band called EGO between 2004 and 2005.  I’m putting my new band together and will start playing it again as soon as we’re ready.

I personally feel this song expresses not only a Guatemalan’s anger against governmental brutality, corruption and abuse, but any country’s person who’s experienced disappointing Presidents like so many recent history has seen worldwide, like George Bush, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Mahmud Ahmadineyad, and so many others who accuse and blame each other of being the bad one, but they’re all the same shit.
You can hear the song in both languages along with Broken (Libre in Spanish) on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/carlos.pepio?v=app_19935916616&ref=profile
Want to check out some other gig’s videos:
http://www.youtube.com/dtruemetallian

I’ve decided to post this as its own topic as I felt it could stand on its own. Thank you for teaching us a little about your town and keeping us informed about the massive metal scene which is vibrant and growing in India. Please read and comment!

Hi fren,
i am jeffrey kharsyntiew from a small town of Shillong, Meghalaya in north east India. i am a true metal fan who wanted to keep alive the metal faith in us and in our next generation. I was a graduate in economics honours and PG degree in adult and continuing education from North Eastern Hills University. I am recently working under a university project but at the same time trying to film a documentary about our band but as we know that we do not get help and inspiration for these kind of music but one day a time will come for us to shine and bring fame to our land through music.

i was searching for your email ID but it was difficult and then i saw your documentary on global metal and when you reach india, i was so ashamed of myself seeing mumbai and those bollywood stuff, but fren what you miss the most is your visit to shillong which is becoming the new rock capital of india overtaking bangalore. Shillong was a capital of Meghalaya, a small tribal christian state of india. We are very different with the way of life compared to the rest of india. The main reason is becoz we are christian and we follow western ideology. Our place has been a state popular in western music but it was isolated from the country due to cultural and religious belief. The centre does not pay attention to the western music especially when it comes to metal and rock.

As years goes by, shillong became one of the first Indian state to accept metal and rock music. due to the effort of our state businessmen and politicians we for the first time invited international band to the state and that was PETRA. after that, Fire House came and we were shocked to see the crowd. People of all ages flooded to the J.N Stadium. From that moment we realized that Shillong people will proved better to the rest of the states. Micheal Learns to Rock came after that followed by Paul Daino, the original vocalist of Iron Maiden. Air supply reached too which was then followed by Eric Martin of Mr. Big. Guess What after that SEPULTURA came which was my most memorable moment to see them performing live. The most important moment for us is the coming of The Scorpions to Shillong which make the people mad just after announcing their visit. Nearly 55,000crowded flooded to the stadium and many fans from the other parts also came to witness. from that time, Bangalore was erased from being the rock city of India and Shillong replaced it. A year after that “A mother of all concert” was organized which is the biggest concert with two bands performing live at one stage.. that is Fire House for the 2nd time and White Snake. The crowded reaches 50,000 to 60,000 which holds the largest number for a concert. in our state bollywood was never accepted by all as we do not speak hindi language and that is why the main language for communication here is english and this pave a way for western music. We have our death and metal bands like Project blend, Native rules, prisoner of choas, nemesis, and other bands which follows the footsteps of lamb of god, kreator, slayer, death, sepultura, etc….

Today the 28th Dec, 2009 we have an open air free metal and rock concert in which Parikrama, the metal band of the country will performed along with other rock and metal bands of north east india.

brother i hope to get a response from you so that we will be able to change the country through our work and finally my dream to put shillong in the metal map of the whole world will come true.

thanks.

This is the first of what I hope to be many stories submitted by YOU! As you may or may not know, Sam and Scot did make attempts to visit Iran to film sequences for Global Metal. Given the atmosphere and the nuclear concerns and pressure from some of the world leaders including Canada, the lads weren’t able to acquire tourist visas.
Well, given the vast diversity of the fans that are visiting our Banger Films and Sammy FaceBook pages, I thought we should tap into your unique and challenging experiences as metalheads in countries where persecution is a party of daily life. Something that we in the west and most of Europe rarely ever come in contact with.
Our first story comes from a young fellow from Iran who shared with us some brief experiences of being a Metal supporter in Iran. I’ve removed any names just because. Please enjoy a few words from LORD LUCIFER .

Well, Metalheads in iran are facing lots of restrictions like:

The Religious Authorities:

In all universities in all schools the clergimen are trying to misguide the youth about the reality of metal music. They abuse the religious thoughts of people in order to lead them away from truth. Below are some the shits I’ve heard:

1. Metal music appreciates satan and all of metalheads are enemy of God!

2.The bands fear not any guilt! like slaying people right on the stage and raping the children and ….

3.metal music equals drug addiction!!!!! All metalheads must be blind drunk and must use drugs in order to enjoy music!

4. They call many bands to be satanist! bands like Metallica Slayer Megadeth Children Of Bodom and many more are known to be satanist and criminals

Police:

Yes you heard me right POLICE. We have MORAL POLICE in Iran!!!! They pick on the girls with non-Islamic clothes or boys wearing metal shirts and so on. Let me tell you a real story.

I had a friend on the internet who had long hairs and an electric guitar. Once he was walking in the street the moral Police caught him and started beating him in the middle of street. Then they took him to their office and shaved his head and broke his guitar!
they told him that your instrument is HARAM (forbidden in Islam!).

He was lucky enough not to be imprisoned!

The People!

Fortunately ( you will realize later about it) people are mostly fan of pop music and rap or hip-hop shits.That’s because these kinds of music are not complex and they are can be called lovesongs. people just wanna dance or use them in the parties. So they don’t want the essence of music which is the identity,the community,and the prosperity of the music.
they just listen to singer for today and throw the CD tomorrow!
It’s like an old shirt for them.
But metal becomes more precious day by day.

So metal community in Iran is too small to be compared to other stuff.
But I am happy with it. I feel so good when I compare my iPod songs with those ordinary people. Yes, I am not an ordinary person cuz I listen to an extreme extra-ordinary music.
It feels so good to be different from the society and knowing things that others don’t.
In my idea, Metal is not meant to be listened and loved and understood by all people.
and also people block everything western. They label everything western to be bad or anti-moralistic or anti-islam!!

Wow! I wrote too much! I’m sorry dude.

Well let me talk about myself a little bit!

I’m *****, 21 and I study English Literature and Iive in Qeshm Island which is very very
close to Dubai!

There are lots of foreigners from Dubai who come to qeshm for few month in order to re validate their visa.

I think it’s easy to enter Iran this way. It’s one of my fucking dreams to meet you guys here and talk about everything METAL.

I have been listening to metal for about 8 years or so. Before that I wasn’t into music at all. But now music is a part of me.
The only way I can get the albums is by downloading them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it. But it’s more essential than food for me more than any kind of vitamin… I am addicted to it and I think it’s the best type of addiction in the whole universe.
My friends know me as LORD LUCIFER. It’s my artistic and metal identity.
I have written some poems in English and I have quit Islam and set myself free.
God, religion,prophet,heaven,hell are summed up in one word for me: METAL.

Enough said! I talked too much..

Send my regards to Dear Sam And other fucking Metal crews.

Take care and bye.

with best METAL wishes,

(LORD LUCIFER)

“Thanks LL. We appreciate you sharing your story with us -Admin”