For fans who enjoy rock music, the chances that you head-bang are fairly high. It can be dangerous when your favorite jam comes on suddenly and you’re going all out right from the beginning. The next thing you know, you’ve hurt your neck just one song into the show and you stand there and hoping for the show to end soon. You may feel a little better knowing that you are not the only one who has hurt themselves by head-banging. From a survey we had in January, we found roughly 70% of our followers head-bang.
When at a rock show, do you head-bang? (Nodding does not count)
— JROCK NEWS (@JROCK_NEWS) January 13, 2016
Dave Mustaine, the vocalist and lead guitarist of Megadeth fractured his neck from all the years of intense head-banging and was almost paralyzed from the neck down. Despite his doctor’s warnings, he went off to play another concert the next day at the risk of breaking his neck. In 2012, he underwent a surgery for his neck and spine condition and he complains about how it affects his singing. Fans of X Japan will also know that thanks to YOSHIKI’s energetic drumming, he also had a neck injury with required surgery in 2009 and was forced to wear a neck brace when playing for a very long time.
Quite often people suffer from painful necks and shoulders after a good gig, so we at JROCK NEWS have decided to give you some tips in how to head-bang safely.
Now, you must be thinking is this going to be like every other safety guide to makes it less fun, but we can save you from neck and shoulder ache the next day, so what do you have to lose? Warning that readers with injuries should not be head-banging in the first place. This guide is a very basic guide to help people to prevent injuries rather than teaching different techniques.
Pre head-bang stretch
Before you hit the air with your head, start off by turning your head slowly from left to right, feeling the stretch in the neck muscles for a few seconds. Do the same again, but moving your head up then down as though you are nodding, then roll your head clockwise and anti-clockwise. Repeat this a couple of times and then you will be ready for a night of rocking out!
Alternatively, you could get your partner to give you a pre-head bang massage to loosen it all up. Head-banging is an exercise and similar to working out at the gym, so you should try to stretch before and after a good work-out to avoid the aches and pains the next morning.
Head-banging stance
Most people would assume head-banging requires the use of your neck, but this is how you are most likely to hurt yourself!
Stand with your feet slightly apart to steady your body weight, and knees bent to take the impact. The motion will come from the top half of your body. Extend your neck out with your chin up, and bring your chest forward, then do a huge nod using your entire top half of your body. As your head comes down and the body comes back at the same time, your neck should roll backwards with your head facing up.
Start repeating this as though you’re moving a handle round with your chin. Doing this greatly reduces my risk of a sore neck, pulled shoulders and slamming your brain inside of your skull. This technique allows for you to go on for longer, it looks good, prevents injuries, and you can also alternate your style with it too.
If you find that you lose balance when head-banging at a fast pace, try placing your hands on your knees for support, or holding onto the hand rail if you are close to one. Another tip is to make the head-bang motion once every two beats of the song.
What about windmilling?
Windmilling is so much fun, but just trying to make your hair move can cause serious neck strain, pulling injuries and a stiff neck. To do this without accompanying injuries, start off by extending your neck with your chin like before and and roll your neck anti-clockwise or clock-wise, using your shoulders to help propel your neck to get a full-action and gain speed. A good windmill uses the centrifugal force and actually requires very little energy to perform, which not only saves your neck but also energy!
But I hurt my neck anyway
If you have not head-banged in a while it can still give you a slightly sore neck, but if you stretch at the start or give yourself a little self massage you can help dissipate the lactic acid that will build up in your neck muscles. This will lessen the pain afterwards so you can head-bang another day. When people hurt their necks when head-banging, it is most likely that your have pulled a muscle so continue to gently massage the neck muscles. If you find that the pain is unbearable and lasts than more than a couple of days, we recommend you see a doctor.
Bonus BABYMETAL Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!!!
Special thanks to Jay for helping write this article.
Have any readers here hurt themselves at a gig? Tell us your story in the comments below!