Being a metal head is pretty much a full time job.

Those of us lucky enough to be remunerated for our keen interest in the devil’s music have to keep our eyes and ears peeled at all times – it’s not easy but someone has to do it!

So when it comes to being the complete fan, you can’t leave out the most vital component – the merchandise.

Metal has had the t-shirt market sewn up for decades, so why not top and toe it with the next logical choice… shoes…

Yep shoes.

 

One more way for the fans to part with their hard earned… and being the obsessed metal fan I am, it’s not a matter of maybe, it’s a matter of when.

Here are my favourites I’ve collected over the years along with an accompanying audio treat.

It should also be known, like the bands themselves these bad boys will live on forever as they all went straight to the pool room.

The first pair of ‘band’ shoes I ever got – early 2000’s I think.

Love these shoes, particularly because of the rubber trim around the bottom – looks like you’ve been standing in blood…..after it’s been Raining Blood.

I really wish I’d kept the box – look how much they are worth now!

I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with the band – great guys whose musicianship, dedication and pioneering attitude will live on forever.

 

Saw them in an outlet store in Smith st a few years ago and HAD TO HAVE THEM!!

Barely worn (Chuck Taylors might look cool, but are soooo bloody uncomfortable….) I just loved the fact that they had acknowledged the Volume 4 album (criminally underrated), and the classic Ozzy pose with the tasseled jacket. The 30 year wait came to an end last year when Sabbath finally returned to Australia – it was worth the wait…… “My name is Lucifer, please take my hand”…..

 

I’ve been a Van Halen fan since I was 10 years old. The 1984 album was massive, ‘Jump’ was No.1 for weeks……but it wasn’t until I heard ‘Panama’ on the radio one night that I became totally obsessed…… Another band I waited and waited and waited to see live….I had to  go to Boston MA in 2012 to see them with DLR…….4 rows from the front….worth every minute…still can’t talk about it without getting a bit teary……

Very cool kicks in the Chuck Taylor style, the unmistakeable Eddie Van Halen ‘Frankenstrat’ design…..and of course the 5150 on the back. Nearly wore them to Boston…..

 

The Kings.

My favourite band of all-time – seen them live 24 times, in two countries, over 25 years…have stuck with them through good times and bad (except for Lulu, when I actually disowned them for a small period of time).

For a band that has cornered the tshirt market for many years, they were a bit late to get on the shoe band wagon…and it was with mixed results, but here’s a couple of the better ones. The Hetfield high tops (as worn on stage) above and the Lars slip ons below – still looking for the Kirk and Rob versions (FYI: I’ve got a birthday coming up!).

 

A nice addition to the 300 plus Metallica t-shirts in the cupboard… We’ll save that story for another day.

-Simon M