It's not usual for a metal band's performance to be preceded by a panel discussion, but what's interesting is that the whole band, says Ivan, Craving's frontman, was there and joined in the discussion. The topic: “Why is metal so male-dominated, and what has to happen to change the status quo?” The status quo that evening: It was complicated.

The JuZ, i.e. the youth center, is located in a Bamberg backyard and is apparently a place for people who want to do things right and prove it with stickers and posters: for vegan solidarity cuisine. Against fossil fuels. Against racism, fascism, homophobia. “Fight like a grrrl,” it also says, and the “Women’s Fight Day Bamberg” wants people to check their privileges.

Topless, against the house rules

However, it was a man who fought for the girls and women that December evening, at least that's how he understood it.

Afterwards, the headlines spoke of a “scandal”; In any case, it was an evening that left fundamental questions about metal, mindfulness and art.

What happened there can be seen on video: four men in their mid to late thirties, Wanja on the drums, Ivan on the microphone, Stefan on the bass, Jonas on the guitar. The music is appropriately hard and violent, the audience is close. In the middle of a song, a man steps up to the stage, waves his arms, wants to say something. They keep playing. The man wants to go to the guitarist, grabs the instrument, pulls a plug on it, the man says something indignant, Ivan the singer says something indignant, the concert is interrupted, the police come later, what happened?

The guitarist had taken off his T-shirt.

Which was against the house rules.

Signs of male dominance

The news site BR24 reported the view of a senior employee at “Innovative Sozialarbeit gGmbH” (iSo), which runs the youth center: The JuZ man classified the removed T-shirt as a provocation, a sign of male dominance. He intervened, which was right. He had to enforce house rules.

That raises questions. Waiting for answers from innovative social work, you get in touch with the band.

The band doesn't want to be visited, but rather respond in writing, together.

So male-dominated metal, where does that come from? What do you think?

Wanja the Drummer refers to early musical education and the tendency to “introduce children to musical instruments depending on their gender. The effect is that there are few female drummers." But actually, he thinks, it would be "much more interesting to ask women this question."

The T-shirt, why do you take it off? Because it's a ritual? A symbol for something? Because you look good? Because it's hot?

They think it's all a bit true.

The well-being of others

Wanja, drums: »A ritual based on musical models, a symbol of freedom and light-heartedness.«

Jonas, guitar: »I actually always work up a sweat. A stripped-down T-shirt goes well with a wild stage show.”

Stefan, bass: »The situation is strange. On stage you are a persona that only partially corresponds to your own self. Rituals serve well-being. But they shouldn’t belittle the well-being of others.”

The stage characters in metal are dark. On the other hand, it is said that the metal scene in particular is made up of particularly friendly people, what?

Wanja: »My theory about the nice metalheads is that they have an outlet for anger, aggression and so on in music and are therefore more in tune with themselves than someone who suppresses such feelings.«

You read the thoughtful, mindful answers and would like to know how Bamberg youth work sees what is happening. Why the ban on moving out? Why the scandal?

The JuZ does not answer. The senior ISO employee writes that she no longer makes comments and wants to concentrate on her core tasks.

Act as a fictional character

You look for clarification on the internet and find an old incident with the punk band Feine Sahne Fischfilet in Bielefeld. It was the drummer who took off his clothes. There was a heated debate on the internet as to whether he was allowed to do that; Reasons for the ban on undressing: It is a lack of solidarity when men do something that is taboo for women and trans* people. It is offensive for people who have experienced sexual violence if they unexpectedly see half-naked men.

Appeared as fictional characters, treated like normal men - you think you can hear a sigh when Wanja, the drummer from Craving, writes: "We have no problem at all when a youth center has the rule that you should be top-dressed."

The most dangerous nipples in Bamberg

They write that they were not informed about the house rules. When they understood, the guitarist with a T-shirt continued playing. They then called the police themselves to document the incident.

They were then insulted as sexists by what they described as a “national feminist group from the greater Munich area”. They will be denounced “until you are no longer allowed to play anywhere.”

They keep playing. They brought out a T-shirt with the “most dangerous nipples in Bamberg” on it, i.e. Jonas’ nipples. They write that they increased the proceeds of 231.58 euros to 300 and donated them to the White Ring victims' organization.