Moshing
Audience members at a concert moshing in front of the stage
Genre	Punk dance/metal dance
Inventor	Fans of hardcore punk and heavy metal
Year	Late 1970s–present
Place of origin	Orange County and Los Angeles, California
Related topics	Skank (dance) Pogo (dance)

Moshing, in a strict sense, is a style of dance whose participants push or slam into each other. It is most associated with "aggressive" music genres, such as hardcore punk, rock and heavy metal. It is primarily done to live music, although it can be done to recorded music.^[1]

Many variations of moshing exist, and can be done alone as well as in groups. Common events in moshing would be a "circle pit" or the more extreme wall of death, and are typically done in an area in the center of the crowd, generally closer to the stage, mosh pit or simply pit. A mosh pit can open up anywhere in the crowd by means of "crack-back" (where a group pushes back against everyone around them with their arms outstretched)^{[citation needed]}, people shoving each other into others until space is made, or simply swinging their arms and legs violently until space clears around them. Being asked to help "open the pit" by someone is considered an act of respect.^{[citation needed]}

While moshing is seen as a form of positive feedback or expression of enjoyment,^[1][2] it has also drawn criticism over its dangerous nature. Injuries and a few deaths have been reported. However, it is generally agreed that moshers are not trying to harm one another,^[1] and that they follow an unwritten "moshing etiquette".^[3][4][5][6]

History[link]

Etymology[link]

The term mosh came into use in the early 1980s American hardcore punk scene in Washington, D.C. Early on, the dance was frequently spelled mash in fanzines and record liner notes, but pronounced mosh, as in the 1982 song "Total Mash" by the D.C.-based hardcore band Scream. H.R. of the band Bad Brains, regarded as a band that "put moshing on the map,"^[7] used the term mash in lyrics and in concert stage banter to both incite and to describe the aggressive and often violent dancing of the scene. To "mash it up" was to go wild with the frenzy of the music. Due to his Jamaican-accented pronunciation of the word, fans heard this as mosh instead.^[8]

By the 1980s, the term was appearing in print with its current spelling. By the time thrash metal band Anthrax used the term in their song "Caught in a Mosh",^[9] the word was already a mainstay of hardcore and thrash scenes. Through the mainstream success of bands like Anthrax, Nirvana and The Melvins, the term came into the popular vernacular.

Moshing has became very popular in the "club" scene and is used mainly in teenage clubs in the UK. It may also be referred to as "stomping" or "raving" and each are referring to the bouncing motion, gained from the euphoric style of music, usually to the beat of the bass or beat of a music, and most modern songs have a climax moment where the dancer waits at a beat free moment of the song, and explodes with energy after the tense build up to "mosh" with others.

Origins[link]

Crowdsurfing over a mosh pit.

The first dance identifiable as moshing may have originated in Orange County, California, during the first wave of American hardcore.^[10] Examples of this early moshing can be seen in the documentaries Another State of Mind, Urban Struggle, The Decline of Western Civilization, and American Hardcore, as well as footage from the shows of the era.

Crossover into mainstream genres[link]

By the end of the 1980s, the initial wave of American hardcore punk had waned and split into other sub-genres. The Seattle-based grunge movement was among the many styles of music that directly evolved from hardcore. Through the mainstream success of several grunge bands, the word mosh entered the popular North American vocabulary and the dance spread to many other music genres. According to John Linnell of They Might Be Giants, "it didn’t matter what kind of music you were playing or what kind of band you were; everybody moshed to everything. It was just kind of the enforced rule of going to concerts."^[11]

Forms of moshing[link]

Push-moshing[link]

Push-moshing is a large, usually condensed group of people that are all shoving and pushing each other in any direction, so that people become like pinballs. When someone is pushed into the ring of the pit, they are shoved back into it by those on the ring. It is common for people to run at the ring of the pit, wanting to be pushed back in. The object of this is not to hurt each other, and those who single other people out are usually told to calm down and reminded that moshing is a nonpersonal action. People who continue to single others out are usually themselves thrown out of the venue, or ganged up on by other concert-goers. The unspoken etiquette is key, always. "Push-moshers" heavily look down on hardcore dancers, due to the "flailing" nature and wide space that hardcore dancing requires that will interrupt and bring a halt to the flow of the push-mosh pit.

Hardcore dancing[link]

It has been debated whether moshing and hardcore dancing are the same thing if hardcore dancing is a type moshing, or vice versa. Some people will refer to hardcore dancing as moshing incorrectly though some just refer to it as another type of moshing. Regardless, this form of dancing originates from Boston and Los Angeles. Hardcore dancing is widely known to occur during breakdowns. Hardcore dancing is done, usually, with certain techniques, or dance moves, such as the 2-step, windmill, 'cash-grabs'/ 'star-grabbing', 'OG'-style arm swinging, spinkicks, and other forms of aggressive movements. The dance move of a windmill consists of the dancer spinning his/her arms in a circular motion forward or backward, similar to a windmill. A kick is a move that is used when the dancer kicks forward, which usually leads into a swing backwards or forwards, backwards which typically is used at the end of a dance, or does a spin kick where they kick as high as they can while making a full rotation. Countless other moves, as well as variations of flips as well as moves distinct to certain locations are well as "Mosh Crews" are also common. Many members of the immediate crowd outside a hardcore dancing pit will move moshers towards the middle of the pit by shoving them when the dancers become too close, or extending their fists/elbows to keep the pit from expanding and to protect themselves. It must also be noted that, while hardcore dancing is of a violent and aggressive nature, participants try not to hurt one another, and are forgiving when it comes to hitting each other. Adding to this, hardcore dancing is often described as a release of anger and other negative emotions, in a safe place, which can contribute to the positive demeanor of Hardcore as a genre and it's fans. ^[12]

Pits that contain hardcore dancing are known widely as "hardcore pits" or "dance pits".^[13][14] Outside of hardcore culture, hardcore dancing is often frowned upon.^[15][16]

Circle pit[link]

The circle pit is an event that is usually started when people begin to run around an opening in the crowd, usually tapping people that are on the ring of the pit on the shoulder to "invite" them into the pit. Bands will signal for a circle pit to start by waving their hand in a circular motion in the air.

In the circle pit, people begin running in around in an opening in the crowd, or "pit". Shoving and pushing is not mandatory, but it often happens anyway. Trampling is not usually an issue, as when someone falls they are usually lifted by another person out of respect and the unspoken code of etiquette that is usually followed. There is an empty space in the middle of the pit where tired people, or those trapped inside, can stand. This can be referred to as "the center" or "the eye" of the pit. Once a circle pit has run its course, it will almost always deteriorate into a hardcore dancing pit.^{[citation needed]}

Wall of death[link]

In wall of death, participants are directed away from the center of the standing area by the vocalist of the band until a large, rectangular area is cleared, and, upon the band giving the go ahead, the two sides of the space sprint at each other and collide in the middle. A wall of death, upon collision, creates a large crowd of pushing-moshing, shoving, and sometimes hardcore dancing.

This form of moshing is the most lethal and dangerous. Trampling is much more common, as the dense crowd makes it much harder to lift a fallen person. Elbows are commonly regarded as the most dangerous of all things in any form of moshing, but they are even more of a risk in the wall of death as they can collide with heads much easier if the person tries to raise their arms in defense.

Criticisms[link]

This notice at a Pearl Jam concert in Los Angeles prohibits moshing and crowd surfing.

Among the first musicians to criticize moshing publicly was Ian MacKaye, frontman of Minor Threat, founder of Dischord Records and early promoter of the straight edge lifestyle. Beginning in the late 1980s during his time in Fugazi, MacKaye became well known for his opposition to "violent dancing" at shows (despite having done so during Fear's Halloween 1981 performance on Saturday Night Live).

Consolidated, an industrial dance group of the 1990s, stood against moshing. On their third album, Play More Music, Consolidated included the song The Men's Movement, which proclaimed the inappropriate nature of slam dancing. The song consisted of audio recordings during concerts from the audience and members of Consolidated, arguing about moshing.

In the 1990s, The Smashing Pumpkins took a stance against moshing, following some especially tragic incidents. At a 1996 Pumpkins concert in Dublin, Ireland, 17-year-old Bernadette O'Brien was crushed by moshing crowd members and later died in the hospital, despite warnings from the band that people were getting hurt.^[17] At another concert, singer Billy Corgan said to the audience:

Another fan died at a Smashing Pumpkins concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on September 24, 2007. The 20-year-old male was dragged out of the mosh pit, unconscious, to be pronounced dead at a hospital after first-aid specialists attempted to save him.^[18][19][20]

At the Columbus, Ohio stop of Gigantour 2006, Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe chastised the crowd for moshing after someone was hurt in the mosh pit, commenting that: "The world looks at a show like this and thinks we are just a bunch of violent motherfuckers who try to hurt each other. Well, that's not what we are about. Next time someone hits the ground, pick them up or I will stop the band."

Reel Big Fish's 1998 album Why Do They Rock So Hard? included their mosh-criticizing song "Thank You for not Moshing," which contained lyrics that suggested that at least some individuals in the mosh pit were simply bullies who were finding conformity in the violence.

Mike Portnoy, founder and ex-drummer of Dream Theater, and the session/touring drummer for Avenged Sevenfold in 2010 criticized moshing in an interview published on his website:

Groove metal group Five Finger Death Punch had an incident when, during the last song of a concert, a young man received a compound fracture on his ankle in a mosh pit. Ivan L. Moody, the band's lead singer, leaped into the crowd with Zoltan Bathory, the band's lead guitarist, and carried the injured fan onto the stage, where he was taken to the hospital. Moody stated "I've felt bad because of what has happened. I miss the old Pantera kids who would just throw each other. Just respect other people; come on." Bathory stated: "Because he broke his leg I threw down my guitar. We just finished when he broke his leg, and I came out and I stayed with him until the paramedics picked him up. These are my people and that's how it is."

UK punk band Hacksaw came out against moshing after an incident at a 2006 gig caused several fans to suffer serious injuries. This resulted in a song on their 2007 album, Vote Hacksaw, titled "Amateurs in the Pit", wherein they condemn all moshers as "brain dead morons who wanna stamp on kiddies".

Joey DeMaio of American heavy metal band Manowar has been known to temporarily stop concerts upon seeing moshing and crowd surfing, claiming it is dangerous to other fans.^[22][23]

See also[link]

• Headbanging

References[link]

External links[link]

• Berger, Tom (2004) In the Pit - How to survive mosh pits and bodysurfing! (online book)
• How to Mosh in a Mosh Pit on wikiHow (detailed listing of steps to follow, tips, and warnings)
• A Guide to Moshing and Concert Survival by Jon Testrake and Nick White, on YouTube, April 4, 2007 (humorouos video with some serious and useful content, time 8:53)
• "Crowd Surfing and Moshing" on SafeConcerts.com (includes information on injuries sustained)
• Moshing and Wall of Death in the Urban Dictionary (collection of publicly-contributed definitions and description, both lauding and criticizing moshing)
• Campino, Die Toten Hosen longest mosh - Longest mosh ever caught on tape! (video)

DJ Fresh
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Stein
Also known as	DJ Fresh, Fresh, Mosquito, Absolute Zero
Origin	England
Genres	Drum and bass, Dubstep
Occupations	Record producer, DJ, Musician
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Breakbeat Kaos, Data Records, Ram Records, V Records, Valve Recordings
Associated acts	Bad Company UK, Pendulum, Tenor Fly, $pyda, Adam F, Andy C, Deekline & Wizard, Ivory, Soundweapon, Stamina MC, Koko, Ce'Cile, Sigma, DJ Shadow, DJ Hype, Darrison, Mary Byker, Baron, Swift, Valkyrie, Sian Evans, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal.
Website	http://www.thedjfresh.com/

DJ Fresh (born as Daniel Stein) is an English Drum & Bass and Dubstep producer and DJ. He was one of the principal members of drum & bass supergroup, Bad Company,^[1] alongside Darren White (dBridge), Jason Maldini, and Michael Wojcicki (Vegas). He also owns and runs the pioneering drum & bass label Breakbeat Kaos with Adam F.

Career[link]

Early success and 'Escape from Planet Monday' (1998 - 2008)[link]

The cover for Escape From Planet Monday

Along with the three other members of Bad Company, Fresh founded the record label BC Recordings, as well as the website Dogs On Acid.^[2] Bad Company are heralded as one of the finest drum & bass acts ever, having produced numerous genre-defining tracks. Undoubtedly their most renowned track is "The Nine", a track released in 1998 when Fresh was just 21 years old. "The Nine" was later voted the greatest drum & bass track of all time by readers of Knowledge Magazine^[3]

Resuming his solo career in 2002, Fresh founded Breakbeat Punk, which merged with Adam F's Kaos Recordings to become Breakbeat Kaos in 2003.^[4] In 2004 Dogs on Acid was given its own imprint.

Fresh has worked with artists ranging from Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Apollo 440 to Andy C and Grooverider, and has also held a working relationship with the drum and bass trio Pendulum, whom he signed to Breakbeat Kaos in 2005.^[5]

Fresh has had his own tracks included on a number of remix CDs, including the 2006 release Jungle Sound: The Bassline Strikes Back!, Andy C's Nightlife series, DJ Hype's Drum and Bass Warfare, and Goldie's Drum and Bass Classics.

In 2006, Fresh released his first studio album, Escape from Planet Monday, featuring "The Immortal", "X Project", "Nervous" and "All that Jazz" on Breakbeat Kaos.

A 100% Pure Mix of X Project was featured in the video games Wipeout Pulse (2007) and Wipeout HD (2008).

'Kryptonite' and commercial success (2009 - 2011)[link]

The cover for Kryptonite

In 2009 Fresh released a 12" of "Heavyweight" (with Fantasia on the B side) on the Digital Soundboy label. "Heavyweight" had a different style from Fresh's usual output, and gained positive reviews and a general positive response through the underground scene and within various radio stations.^[6] Fresh subsequently released "Hypercaine" (including a remix from Nero) in September 2009,^[7] and made BBC Radio 1's daytime playlist.

On the 1 August 2010, he re-released his song Gold Dust Featuring vocals from Ce'Cile, Where it peaked 24 in the UK and 39 in Ireland, it marked his first Top 40 hit in both countries. On 16 August, he released his second studio album, "Kryptonite" where it peaked 4 on the UK Dance Chart.

He then released his follow-up single, called "Lassitude" with Sigma and Vocals from Koko. It managed to peak 98 on the UK Singles Chart and 11 on the UK Dance Chart.

Third album, tour and continued commercial success (2011)[link]

The first single from his Third Album, "Louder" was released on July 3, 2011. The song was used as part of a Lucozade Lite advertising campaign in the UK and Ireland. The song features vocals from Welsh singer Sian Evans from the band Kosheen, it peaked number 4 on the Irish Singles Chart and was the first ever Dubstep Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

On February 12, 2012 the second single "Hot Right Now" featuring British/Albanian singer Rita Ora which became his second number one in the UK, and the first Drum & Bass song to chart at Number 1 in the UK. The third single from the album, "The Power",features Dizzee Rascal is due to be officially released on June 3rd 2012.

His third album is due for release in September 2012.

FRESH/LIVE[link]

The poster for the FRESH/LIVE tour.

In late 2011, DJ Fresh began a new aspect of his career by launching 'FRESH/LIVE'. This live show incorporates a drummer, guitarist, vocalist, an MC and Fresh himself on keys to perform identical renditions of his studio-produced hits in live settings.

Fresh handpicked the musicians that made up the band, calling on people he had encountered at various stages of his career. On the drums was Kodish, a man with over ten years experience as a drummer in the drum & bass scene, having performed with such eminent acts as Moving Fusion, Bad Company, and Pendulum. Guitarist Richard de Rosa founded the Ska/Swing band Scubaroots, with whom he has performed to thousands of people at countless festivals. Seemingly a master of all trades, he also produced the band's album, was nominated for producer of the year at the 2011 South West Music Awards, and had previously performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge with Example and Fresh. Vocalist Fleur exploded onto the scene after performing on X Factor to 9 million TV viewers in 2005 and had also previously performed with Fresh on Live Lounge, and with Ms Dynamite on 1Xtra. The MC comes in the form of Drum and Bass' rising star Messy MC, who has previously performed and toured extensively with Pendulum, The EZ Rollers, Nero, Camo and Crooked and the Hospital Records tour nights Hospitality. He also received the Award for Best Newcomer MC in 2010 at the DNBA Awards and was then subsequently nominated in 2011 for Best MC.

The UK-wide tour completely sold out, taking in seven prestigious venues: The Arches in Glasgow, Alexandra Palace in London, The Big Reunion in Skegness, Manchester Club Academy, Waterfront in Norwich, Concorde 2 in Brighton, and the Student Union in Leeds. FRESH/LIVE is set to return in Spring 2012.

Discography[link]

• Escape from Planet Monday (2006)
• Kryptonite (2010)
• Third Studio Album (2012)

See also[link]

• Breakbeat Kaos
• Drum and bass
• Dogs On Acid
• Dubstep
• Jungle
• Pendulum

References[link]

External links[link]

• DJ Fresh on Myspace
• DJ Fresh discography at Discogs
• DJ Fresh at rolldabeats