Some pundits would argue that Chicago instrumental metal band Pelican should be disqualified from this week’s Headbangers Ball viewer’s vote for artist from last week’s show to return on Saturday’s program. This argument stems from the fact that the band’s overwhelming victory clearly had something to do with a little post on its MySpace that read “Vote to Rerun Pelican on Headbangers Ball.”
Is this cheating or clever campaigning? Clearly, Pelican fans stuffed the ballot box, but how different is the band’s strategy than that of politicians who travel from town to town, give speeches, kiss babies and spout fountains of lies, all in the hopes that the local residents will show up at the polls and cast their vote in a the candidate’s direction?
Should we punish Pelican for being ambitious? If we don’t, maybe sets up a bad precedent that could result in mounds of other artists sparking their street teams into action. And if we do disqualify the artsy rockers, we run the risk of disenchanting those who were dedicated enough to care and optimistic enough to determine that their vote really would count.
Considering all of this, we decided to return Pelican’s “Dead Between the Walls” to the airwaves on Saturday, not because the band won the right fair and square, and not because their disqualification might have some sort of chilling effect on our readers. No, we simply chose to re-air Pelican because they rock, and in the end, what better qualifies a band for accolades from the Headbangers Ball Blog. Tune in Saturday and click on the “comments” link to send your hateful thoughts our way.
And if you can’t wait until Saturday, here it is now:
