Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew packed a lot of power in their massive thrash metal photo book Murder In The Front Row: Shots From the Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter. One of the most mind-blowing events pictured took place thirty years ago this month, and both denim-bedecked photographers were there. Part of Eastern Front’s four-day outdoor festival at Aquatic Park in Berkeley, Day In The Dirt - now remembered as the Woodstock of Thrash Metal—took place on August 19th, 1984, and featured a lineup that included Exodus, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Blue Cheer, and a handful of other heavy hitters.

Says Brian Lew: “When Murder... came out I was surprised by the outpouring of nostalgia from people about Day In The Dirt. In hindsight it really was the ‘Woodstock moment’ for the original Bay Area metal scene. I didn’t realize that until I saw how other people reacted to our old photos of the day. My memories are more about the vibe and how it was basically just a bunch of kids hanging out in a park watching bands, some of whom were also friends. At one point I remember sitting in the back of a U-Haul truck (aka the ‘backstage dressing room’) with some band guys, just hanging out, wondering why ‘that old band’ Blue Cheer was playing. It really did have a backyard BBQ feeling and looking at the old photos now reminds me how the vast majority of us were so young, almost all under 21.”

Los Angeles outcasts Slayer and Bay Area heroes Exodus became blood brothers that day, and thrash metal coalesced into the juggernaut that rose to consume metal in the 1980s. No makeup, no barriers, just raw energy and fearlessness.

Tom Araya was part of the party, and he recalls: “We were all trying to do a group photo, and then Toby Rage pulled off an ’80s photo bomb, literally! I remember during our stage set seeing a beer bottle hitting Jeff [Hanneman] square in the chest. As the evening grew darker, truck headlights subbed for spotlights. It was definitely a great day in the park!”

 

 

More Day In The Dirt photos, stories, and evidence of the infamous "Slayer-Exodus-Possessed-Suicidal Tendencies" dog pile feature today on the Bazillion Points blog.