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Body Count feat. Ice-T at Z7 Pratteln - 9 June 2015
Heavy metal fans in Basel were blessed by the appearance of legendary 90s MC Ice-T performing with his metal band Body Count from South Central Los Angeles.
The show was held at Pratteln’s Z7 venue, which is known as a mecca for metalheads. When we first walked into the Z7, I was amazed at how large it was. I should mention that not only have I never been to the Z7 before - I’ve never been to a metal concert in my life, so this was a big night for me.
I was so excited that I demanded of my peers that we stand in the front for the duration of the show. My friend had warned me what happens at the front at concerts like this, but I didn’t want to hear that at that moment.
Little did I know what I had gotten myself into.
As Ice-T and Body Count entered the stage, there was a huge cheer from the crowd. As soon as the music began, I swear I saw a few two-meter tall Vikings emerging from the crowd as massive mosh pits started left, right and centre. As a person who usually goes to hip hop events, this was something new for me.
Being stuck in the pit at a heavy metal concert was an experience in itself - we freed ourselves after twenty minutes so we could focus on the music.
The concert was fantastic. Body Count made sure the crowd was roaring from the get-go. Many of the songs played were from their album Manslaughter, released in 2014. Songs like Institutionalized 2014 and Enter The Dark Side kept the energy high.
The band also played some of their old hits: Hey Joe from 1994 and the classic There Goes The Neighbourhood from 1992. When they played Body Count’s In The House, I could have sworn I felt the floor shaking. The band didn't shy away from playing the controversial Cop Killer, either.
What was interesting to me was to see how a rap legend like Ice-T managed to keep the intensity of a heavy metal crowd going. It seemed like the people watching could not get enough and would have continued to mosh until sunrise if Body Count had been allowed to play that long.
Before leaving the stage, they played their most well-known single from the Manslaughter album, Talk Shit Get Shot. I was amazed at how many people knew the lyrics.
Body Count are not super famous in the United States, but in these parts of the world, they seem to be very well-known.
After witnessing a mosh pit first-hand and seeing Body Count live, I can guarantee that I will be back at the Z7 Pratteln soon!
- Alex Pasquale
More photos on flickr.
