fivecats journal

Slaughter
March 11, 1990  Washington, DC
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[To quote myself from a comment made to drood earlier today: "Just remember, these next ones were displays that (a) were manditory and (b) photographic proof that they had been done and were displayed in the store had to be sent to the head office. This meant that the distain I felt and displayed had to be subtle."]

Let me start off by making one thing abundantly clear: I am a music snob.  That having been said, one of the types of music I cannot abide involves 80s Heavy Metalic Hair Bands.  Pure and unadulterated garbage in my book.  All pretense and hairspray, posing and posturing, looking pretty for the MTV swooping camera for the 5 minutes of fame (not even 15) that their one crappy single managed to gain them through payola-ed VJ airplay.

When the word came down from corporate that we had a manditory display due for a new Heavy Metalic Hair Band I took one look at the materials and rolled my eyes.  Big hair from big cans of hairspray, and cover art featuring a scantily-clad woman bound to a board with throwing knives dangerously close to her head.  I remember glaring at the band's name, "Slaughter" and thinking, "Typical.  Oooh, we have a scaryscary name so you know we're, like, really ba-a-ad dudes, man."

That's when my devious mind started gearing up to the challenge. 

Okay, so the "T" in "SlaughTer" is shaped like the business end of a dagger.  Well, clearly it needed to be stabbing at least one of the band.  Front Man with the leather jacket opened the length of his torso would be just a bit too obvious.  Background Guy, with the wider exposed chest area would do just fine.  A quick slit in the poster, just wide enough for the blade of the "T" to fit in and that was that.

Being something of a word-guy I kept looking at the band's name, thinking there was something I was missing.  "Slaughter."  "Slaughter."

Then I saw it.  Take the "S" out of "Slaughter" and you're left with "Laughter."

I was beside myself with joy.

As I recall, the company rep who came by one day to view it did a double-take before giving me a disappointed look.  Being unapologetic I simply shrugged and told her that the band deserved it.

(The original polaroid is pretty dark so I edited the two "Laughter"s to the  point where they're admittedly garrish, but at least they're visible)

This is really the better of the two.  If you're really interested in seeing the other one, just ( click on through to the other side )

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