In an era where VIP concert packages have become a significant revenue stream for many bands, Thomas “Angelripper” Such of German thrash metal legends Sodom has taken a strong stand against the practice. During an interview with RapidMetalFire, the bassist and vocalist disapproved of paid meet-and-greets, soundcheck access, and other VIP perks. His stance reflects a traditionalist approach to heavy metal’s roots.
“I hate it. I don’t want it. We had it when we played with Kreator at the ‘Klash Of The Ruhrpott’ festival, with Destruction and Tankard. They did it. If they’re gonna do a signing session, fans have to pay for it,” Angelripper said.
“In my opinion, it’s not my way,” he continued. “When I do a signing session, I do it for free. I don’t want money from it. Or I stay in a hotel, whatever. But I never came up with the idea of taking money for a signing session or taking money for a stage walk. Do you know what is a stage walk? People pay money to get on the stage. I’d say, ‘Okay, here’s a drum kit. Here’s the guitar amp. Here’s a backline.’“
“I hate it. This has nothing to do with metal. Some bands sell backstage tickets, so fans get the chance to say hello to the musician or get a plaque or whatever, and pay 500 euros, whatever. With KISS, they’re gonna do it. And if you get one photo with KISS, you pay $2,000, and they go to the next fan. This has nothing to do with heavy metal. This is not what I have learned in the metal scene.”
Angelripper emphasized his commitment to engaging with fans without additional costs. “And we’re gonna stay till the last one,” he said. “Sometimes we just have a half an hour, an hour … There are]hundreds of people coming for signing sessions, for autographs, make a picture, and we say, ‘Okay, make a picture, go,’ because we wanna get everyone get this autograph in the end, but I never take money for it. That’s stupid. The people, they’re gonna buy the tickets, they’re gonna buy the new album, they pay the price, and they don’t need to pay when I sign or make a handy picture. We wanna give something back. That is very important.”
He closed his comments with a firm declaration: “Sodom is the only metal band who would never make money with signing sessions or photo sessions.”
Angelripper’s statements highlight a divide in the music industry. For some artists, VIP packages are a way to supplement income in a challenging industry landscape. For Sodom, however, staying true to the ethos of heavy metal means prioritizing accessibility and community over additional revenue.
