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Suzan/EMPICS Entertainment

Man headbangs so hard at Motörhead gig his brain bleeds

Though headbanging is generally harmless, doctors have said it can cause some serious injuries.

THIS MIGHT BE the most metal thing that has ever happened.

Doctors in Germany have given details today of a 50-year-old patient last year who developed bleeding in his brain after headbanging at a Motörhead gig.

The report published in the Lancet describes how the man had two weeks of constant and worsening headaches affecting his whole head. He had no previous head trauma but four weeks before he had been at the Motörhead concert, headbanging along with his fellow metal fans.

A cranial CT confirmed the man had a chronic subdural haematoma – bleeding in his brain – and surgeons removed a blood clot through a hole, draining it for six days after his surgery.

Thankfully, his banging headache subsided and he was well again on his last examination two months later.

The medical journal describes headbanging as “the violent and rhythmic movement of the head synchronous with rock music, most commonly heavy metal”. Although it is generally considered harmless, headbanging-related injuries include carotid artery dissection, whiplash, mediastinal emphysema, and odontoid neck fracture.

This was the first reported case showing evidence that it can cause chronic bleeding in the brain.

Dr Ariyan Pirayesh of the Hanover Medical School said this case “serves as evidence in support of Motörhead’s reputation as one of the most hardcore rock’n’roll acts on earth, if nothing else because of their music’s contagious speed drive and the hazardous potential for headbanging fans to suffer brain injury”.

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15 Comments
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    Mute RI Twing
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:02 AM

    Now that’s Overkill

    145
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    Mute Emmet Power
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:20 AM

    “You know I’m born to lose, and gambling is for fools,
    But that’s the way I like it baby,
    I don’t wanna live forever,
    And don’t forget the joker!”

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:24 AM

    Beat me to it Emmet! :-D

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    Mute Emmet Power
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:48 AM

    Couldn’t resist !

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    Mute Johnner!
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    Jul 4th 2014, 8:37 AM

    The only mentions of metal in Irish media are condescending articles such as this. The guardian had slayer yesterday…. Slayer and anthrax played here this week and not a mention in our Media.

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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:05 AM

    Lemmy say, that’s mad!!

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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Jul 4th 2014, 8:08 AM

    I love the way the Medical Journal has a definition of headbanging!

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    Mute Frank
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    Jul 4th 2014, 10:57 AM

    Fortunate guy….he could have been killed by death.

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    Mute Sean Claffey
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    Jul 4th 2014, 8:25 AM

    What a legend

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    Mute Patrick Moran
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    Jul 4th 2014, 7:51 AM

    He looks a bit like the ace of spades.

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    Mute Malcolm Lackey
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    Jul 4th 2014, 10:44 AM

    That’s some claim to fame.

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    Mute Brianog2
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    Jul 4th 2014, 10:05 AM

    So it’s a type of”shook baby syndrome”

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    Mute Tom Kiely
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    Jul 4th 2014, 8:19 AM

    He looks like the baddie from superman

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    Mute spartacus
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    Jul 4th 2014, 2:48 PM

    A 50 year old…..50 …..ffs… i like some metal music but im of an age when i can just nod along to it not go mental like i used to in my 20′s and 30′s …….50 …

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    Mute RI Twing
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    Jul 4th 2014, 4:26 PM

    Ah ya poor sap. You were probably too old for all this in your 20s

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