CORNERSTONE 11/2
A tribute show for the late Mike Wasco, Bay Area metal scene OG, hosted by many familiar faces in the 80s scene
NPZ #1 — NOVEMBER 2024 — PAGE 7
Anyone heard of Murder in the Front Row? If you haven’t, it’s a book and documentary created by two photographers Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew who photographed a lot of the thrash bands in the Bay Area during the 80s, including Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, etc. I haven’t watched the doc yet, but I picked up the book from a library recently and loved looking through so many photos, especially of Metallica in their early days. But I’ll talk about MITFR at a later time, this is just a preface.
The week before 11/2 I saw the Instagram for MITFR post about a show celebrating the life of one Mike Wasco, who I believe was the roommate of Oimoen and familiar to many in the scene. I don’t have any personal connection to anyone from those days, but I decided to go check out the show, especially as I wondered if I might be able to run into the Metalliphotographer himself, Harald O. Hopped on the Bart, and headed out to Berkeley on my own with a battery pack and my small, plastic, point and shoot film camera.
I got to the Cornerstone just as people were saying words about their passed friend. There was a sense of community and loss in the air, and I definitely felt a little like an intruder upon the scene. I also recognized the vocalist of Back Stabbath who I’d seen a few months ago in Sac, Tony I believe, who also had a few words of honor. The crowd would yell together, “WASCO!” and toast to him. Also an echo would follow anytime someone said “ever”, “EVER!”
I saw Harald O on the side of the room, having seen his face on instagram before. However, I was on the fence about approaching to ask selfish questions about the old days when the whole event was to honor a fallen friend. So I decided to keep to myself.
I did recognize a guy from a show at Thee Parkside I’d seen, and he had a fucking snake with him! Mr. White, an albino ball python. Danny, as I later learned from a different guy (more on that later), the snake-wearing human. I also found out that Danny (Shipman?) is a host of Reality Check TV, a broadcast show in the area with a pretty significant history and presence in the area. This was the first I’d heard of it, so I’ll have to check it out more myself.
Getting into the show itself, I’m a little ashamed to say I didn’t recognize most of the songs they played besides “War Pigs” (Black Sabbath), and a “chicken pot pie” parody of Guns ‘N’ Roses “Live and Let Die” wherein Harald O wore a chicken outfit and serenaded a REAL CHICKEN. I was really feeling my age and my stranger status as I saw people embracing and singing along with every lyric. But the music was good, the performances were fun, and have to give props to the blonde British guitarist who was on the younger side, but giving pure 80s metalhead and some amazing solos. Sorry for the lack of good journalism, but I’ll have to find his name out at a different time.
I’d pretty much decided that I wasn’t gonna say anything to Oimoen that day. He was clearly at the center of organizing the event, and I don’t wanna insert myself into the situation. I know I’m a newcomer, and I know there’s time and place. So by the time the music was wrapped, I headed out without sticking around for longer; also, the M line stops after midnight and it was getting close.
Photos: (Top to Bottom) LIBRARY COPY I HAVE HOSTAGE (Murder in the Front Row); Danny (Shipman?) and Mr. White; Harald Oimoen serenading the chicken
