At any rate, I don’t think metal awards shows are even valid to begin with; indeed, I think most award shows are largely meaningless and the controversy surrounding this one, I feel, only proves my point. Anyone who’s truly interested in rewarding excellence and achievement in the genre would better serve the community as a whole by having something more akin to a night of celebration, rather than a popularity contest, a horse race, or a dog-and-pony show. (If you’re attempting to discern which category I deem the Revolver awards to fall under, I will say only, pick one.) Seriously, I realize most metalheads probably missed out on getting little plastic trophies after baseball and soccer games and feel their childhoods lacked for not having had that experience, but come on! Wouldn’t it be more meaningful for a credible agent/catalyst/whatever (I don’t know what word I’m looking for here) to organize a scenario whereby the musicians can have their night celebrating the community’s achievements as a whole, throw down with their peers, and allow the fans to be a part of it all somehow? The entertainment industry as a whole has a gluttony of different vehicles for everyone getting together and congratulating themselves on how awesome they think they are and handing out a bunch of awards to people, seemingly just because they showed up. The metal community has a few events like this of their own. WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER just because a few people think we Americans should have one so we’re not left out.

We fans debate ad naseum the various merits of our favorite and loathsome bands, here and in other mediums, so we’re already taken care of on that end. [And I still like this: http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2009/03/30/guest-blog-cannibal-corpse-bassist-alex-webster-plays-favorites/ Bands compete every night to try to blow each other off stage for the best fan reactions and the give-and-take that comes from connecting with a crowd, and then they go throw down backstage – usually with the same people they were trying to upstage earlier in the night. Why not celebrate the music from THAT angle, rather than “my band/riff/cred is better than yours”? (Or, my keyboard player has bigger tits. Nothing against Maria or her band, because I really don’t care about them. I just resent the Hell out of those stupid categories, but THAT one most of all.)

Clearly, he thought exposure was one of the benefits.

By the way I totally liked ISIS better before they sold out.

and what exposure was that? red carpet photos and interviews? as far as i can tell they didnt take any part in that. their acceptance speech wasnt even aired on tv. if i remember correctly, their drummer said the only reason they did it was because maynard was going to present it to him. how many of you would turn that down?