10 Heavy Metal Loving Footballers
Featuring Iron Maiden, Metallica, Tool and Mastodon
It’s a tired old cliché but the vast majority of footballers have woeful taste in music. Cristiano Ronaldo lists R Kelly’s ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ and Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin La Vida Loca’ as his favourite tunes, for example. Casting aside the countless cheesy dance and R&B loving togger players we take a look at those footballers who like much more intriguing music…
!1. Marcus Hahnemann (Everton) The US keeper says he likes music that’s “the heavier the better” and lists Slipknot, Mastodon, Five Finger Death Punch and Machine Head as his favourite acts to get him in the mood for a game. He told Kerrang! Radio in 2011: “It’s a bit difficult in the changing rooms sometimes, thank God headphones were invented so I can get excited and not want to fall asleep!”
His footballing career has also enabled him elbow into the heavy metal fraternity. “During the World Cup in Germany I had the chance to meet Tool who are my favourite band of all time,” he told us. “Kasey Keller and I went backstage at their show and I’m still really good friends with Justin (Chancellor, Tool bassist) to this day. I’ve seen them I don’t know how many times.”
A true legend, he snuck on stage with Tenacious D at Reading 2010 and earlier this year recorded a track with Reading thrash metallers Malefice called ‘Omega’.
2. Terry Butcher (ex England Captain) The towering, fierce defender didn’t shirk at playing an entire game with blood pouring from a gaping head wound so it’s no surprise he has a penchant for darker music. A close friend of founding Iron Maiden member Steve Harris, Butcher is an avid fan of the band and has even played for the Maiden football team. In a blog for Classic Rock Magazine, Butcher enthused: “(Iron Maiden) have influenced so many others, and been responsible for some of the best music of the last two decades. You have to wonder where we’d all be without them.” Lofty words, indeed.
Hilariously, when Butcher was unveiled as Scotland assistant manager in 2008, his mobile went off during the press conference and Guns N Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O Mine’ echoed around the room. Good lad!
!3. Jonas Olsson (West Brom) The Swedish defender is a keen guitarist and fervent music fan. In fact when he dropped into Kerrang! Radio HQ last year, he joked: “One of the reasons I wanted to play football here was the music scene”. More of a hard rock addict than a metalhead, he cites The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan as his ultimate musical heroes. He says of his passion: “Music is part of my life – no matter what my mood is. The good thing about music and playing the guitar is that I don’t think about anything else. I sometimes even listen to darker music.” Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse, maybe?!
4. Kasey Keller (ex Tottenham, Leicester City, Fulham) Just like his good chum, fellow countryman and musical kindred spirit, Marcus Hahnemann, Kasey Keller is a huge metal fan and was a regular at Download Festival when playing in England. Originally a punk fan as a teenager, Keller developed a taste for metal in early adulthood and as a Premiership goalie used his privileged position to meet his idols.
He told The Seattle Times: “The guys from Disturbed are good friends of mine because their manager is a Scottish guy who is a big soccer (football) fan who was the bass player for Supertramp. So when Disturbed comes this summer, I'll be backstage with the guys and trying not to get bullied into drinking too much Jagermeister.” The 41-year-old also hangs out regularly with close chums Tool and even takes his daughter along to their soundchecks.
!5. David De Gea (Manchester United) Criticised by many for his inconsistent displays between the posts, at least we can’t fault the young Spaniard’s music tastes. In an interview published on Manchester United’s official website, De Gea said: “I like metal and rock bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Metallica. When I put it on in the dressing room, everyone moans! Most of the other players are into hip-hop. I also love [The Stone Roses’) ‘This Is The One’ the song we come out to at Old Trafford – it gives me a big lift for the game.”
6. Slaven Bilic (Croatia Manager) The 43-year-old coach of the Croatian national team and ex Everton and West Ham player has mighty fine taste in music. His favourite bands read like a holy grail of heavy metal; Slayer, Metallica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Megadeth. Indicative of his intense passion for hard rock, he’s also the rhythm guitarist of Croatian rock outfit Rawbau. Ahead of Euro 2008 they recorded the unofficial Croatian anthem ‘Vatreno Ludilo’ (‘Fiery Madness’) which became a number one on home soil. Cast your lugholes on it below: