A Field Guide to the Metalhead

The largest congregation of metal fans this side of North America descended upon the Empire Polo Field in Indio last weekend to watch Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax play ear-bleeding guitar riffs for seven freakin' hours at the Big 4 festival. If you weren't there, don't cry: Check out our handy-dandy guide to spotting the average Big 4 fan instead.

Marla Campbell

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• Big 4: Let There Be Metal
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• DOs and DONTs at the Big 4 Festival
  April 21, 2011
• Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax at Big 4
  April 25, 2011
• Five Great Eats at Coachella 2012
  April 20, 2012
• Megadeth at the Gibson Amphitheater, Feb. 24, 2012
  February 27, 2012

More About

• Slayer (Band)
• Anthrax (Band)
• Indio
• Metal and Hardcore
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

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1. Long, greasy hair that's not in a ponytail

2. A look of surliness from being out in the sun

3. Goatee

4. Hands perennially curled into devil sign

5. Gut from drinking too much beer while playing World of Warcraft

6. Baggy jeans

7. Big river shoes

8. Metal-stud bracelets

9. Iron Maiden T-shirt (one of five)

From an April 22 Heard Mentality blog post.

This column appeared in print as "Anatomy of a Metalhead."