*Controversial opinion alert* – I proper hate moshing.
I’m a bit of a loser you see. I’m not one for unnecessary acts of violence. It really stresses me out.
According to the history books, Mosh Pits started roughly around 1975 – 1980 In Los Angeles from the Punk Sub Culture. It started with the Punk Pogo where Punks would dance and bounce up and down at concerts and gigs – How very interesting!
It is intended to be energetic and full of body contact. Variations on the traditional mosh include “pogoing”, “circle pits” (where the participants bump and jostle each other as they move in a circle) and the more extreme “wall of death”. Some ‘moshers’ swing their arms back and forth and move their legs in a rhythmic fashion. – Who new violence could be so poetic and meaningful?
Apparently Researchers from Cornell University (who obviously had nothing better to do) in Ithaca studied the emergent behavior of crowds at mosh pits by analyzing online videos, finding similarities with models of 2-D glasses in equilibrium.
I think my undying hatred for moshing began at a Circa Waves concert of all bloody places. I was with my current girlfriend at the time and my 6ft6 monster of a friend when Rat Boy came out after support from Clean Cut Kid. One chord strung later and some fat f**k and his mate thought it would be funny to start a mosh. Next thing I know, the girlfriends on the floor, my 6 foot mate has the fat kid by the throat and I had to rush my girlfriend out of a sold out Brixton Academy from practically the front of the stage – Cracking night. I still haven’t managed to see Circa to this day! Fuming.
I also had a chat with some of our writers here at IndieCentralMusic about their experiences with Moshing…
“I broke my glasses while moshing at magic gang, not a good timeo” – Harry Curtis
“fell over three times in a catfish mosh pit but they’re always so fun anyway” – Sahera Walker
“Some guy decided to repeatedly hit me round the head during an All Time Low gig and security eventually kicked him out” – Emily-Jade Young
“Moshing is either the best or worst thing, when the crowd mosh at the right moments it’s great. but for example at catfish at Wembley: during the support (July Talk) it was a constant mosh and I couldn’t enjoy the set got turned so my back was facing the stage and couldn’t move. I fell over and people got hurt.”
“Got my nose ring ripped out but was totally worth it” – Beth Dean
“There was a fight in our Fratellis mosh” – Alex Pearson
Although moshing is just a bit of a laugh, it can be incredibly dangerous. Apparently some poor lad died at a Smashing Pumpkins concert in Vancouver on September 24, 2007. He was only 20!
I guess the message her is, be considerate of your fellow man or woman. If they look uncomfortable or seem like they’re having a bit of a rough time. Do the right thing and help them out. We’re all there to have a good time – and most importantly – to enjoy the music.
If you have any hilarious and or scary stories to tell about moshing at gigs feel free to tweet us and or comment below!
