War Stories - Metal Hammer Reunion 2024

On Saturday 27th April twenty-odd people went to a pub. Some were strangers to each other, others had known each other for more than forty years. Some still worked together, others hadn’t seen these former work colleagues for a decade. The one thing they had in common was that they had all worked, in some capacity, at one time or other, at Metal Hammer magazine. There was no agenda and no mission: simply ‘gather’. 

Welcome to the first Hammer Daze - a Metal Hammer reunion.

Back into the fold

When I left London in 2012, I was so done. I had fallen out of love with the music industry and our of love with London. I had gone through a messy break-up and craved the physical and mental space of my native Norfolk. I’d been at Metal Hammer for seven years - 2005-2012 - and I was done.

When your career is driven by your passions, the people you work with aren’t just colleagues, they’re fellow disciples, zealots, comrades, blood brothers (and sisters). For better and worse, these bonds can be stronger.

Hammer team and friends circa 2008

As an apostate, I cut all ties to the music, the sector, the city and almost entirely, the people. It took me a few years to rekindle friendships. Many people had moved on.  I was investing in my new life and looking back felt hindering so reconnection wasn’t 100%.

But the call became stronger. I wanted to listen to the music of that time. I wanted to talk about what were becoming ‘the old days’ - 2005-2012. I wanted to catch up with those comrades.

I wanted to feel the dopamine hit of nostalgia from songs, pictures and people. 

I started to get back in touch with people. Facebook messages were exchanged and little Whatsapp groups emerged. But I’m not a virtual guy, I want to be there, in the room, drinking in the company. 

Last year, four of us went for a pint. It was awesome. We looked at old photos, told stories and agreed, ‘we need to do this again, only properly’.  The fix only made me jones for more time, more people, more stories. And so the idea of Hammer Daze was born.

Hammer reunion 2023. A prototype. Proof of concept.

Hammer Daze #1

Former Hammer editor, Alex Milas led the charge and initiated the bat signal. 27th April 2024, venue TBC.

Lots of people said ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’, but you never know who’ll turn up until the day. We’d booked a couple of tables in a London pub, but wondered whether it might just be the original four of us with lots of space for our coats…

Arriving at the pub, the signs were good and we could see some familiar faces on the pilgrimage.

Big John had ridden through the rain, only to be told the pub didn't serve hot drinks.

After an hour, there were twenty-odd people present. Those I knew like siblings and others I didn’t know - those who had come after me at the mag. All part of the Hammer lineage. It was great to see Jerry Ewing and Dave Ling, the men who started Metal Hammer back in the day and welcomed me into the fold back in 2005 - hearing stories of yore and the intrigues of the day. I wanted more time.

James Isaacs, Sami Westwood, Jerry 'The Gerund' Ewing; me, Dave Ling

I hadn’t seen my co-worker Katie Parsons since 2008-ish. She’s since married the wonderful Matt Hughes and had two children. She doesn’t look as much like Tank Girl as she did when I last saw her but she had me in stitches or gasping at stories and impressions. 

Katie P and me, past and present

Seeing all these people and the likes of Alex Milas, James Isaacs, Vanessa Thorpe (‘mummy’), Jonathan Selzer, Merlin Alderslade, Dave Ling, Joel McIver, Sami Westwood, Paul Henderson, Johnny Mac, Jo Kendall and others was amazing. In some cases it was like no time had passed at all - but I guess everyone says that about old friends.

That’s what makes them old friends, not just work colleagues.

Malcom Dome and Mick Hutson. With us in spirit.

We also wanted to celebrate the memories of our fallen comrades, in particular Mick Hutson and Malcolm Dome. Vanessa, James and Alex had organised two nice prints and frames so that Malc and Mick could be with us in spirit. It was great to hear Dave and Jerry exchanging Malcolm stories. I had my own to tell about Mick, when were both in Ibiza. We went out, got messy and got separated. I woke up in a shitty hotel room. Mine. He woke up on the beach and had to use the pictures he’d taken to find out what had happened the night before.

I love the stories.

Anti-ageing

Many of these people see each other frequently, but there were people there I had not seen for 12 years. It makes your heart swell to be greeted by so many faces beaming as they shout ‘Giiiilllll!’ followed by ‘oh my god!’s - hands aloft, ready for embrace. 

To my eye, there were three groups. Those much younger than me, like Merlin (now also a former Hammer editor), 20-something when I left, is now in his 30s - a significant proportion of his life has happened since I saw him last. It’s not that he looks old, but he’s older, 50% older.

Front table, Neil Kingsbury, Hannah May Kilroy, Tina Korhonen, Merlin Alderslade, Lizzie Scarlett, Louise Hilton, Chris Hilton.

There are those who are in their 40s - like me. I’m 37% older than when I left. We’ve got married and many have had kids. We’re hairier and greyer, and crows’ feet live behind the smiles. 

Then there are the old guard. The people who were in their 50s and even 60s when I left. Only 20% older, they just look the same - not least because many have reduced the seven signs of ageing by kicking bad habits and introducing new ones - such as exercise and vegetables.

Paul Henderson, Jo Kendall, Big John

Ways of working

The media is unrecognisable from the days when Jerry et al set up Hammer in the UK in ‘86. Not only have we seen the introduction of new media but the sector itself has shrunk like the Aral Sea. It’s great to see those who are still able to work in the industry, following their passions and using their talents to sustain jobs they love.

The evening reminded me that we are or were all custodians of the Hammer magazine (I’d hate to say brand). Only looking after it and shaping it for future teams and their audiences. I felt proud. And that doesn’t happen often these days. 

It also reminded me of how much I love working in a room with human people, right there, eyeball-to-eyeball. The energy, the ideas.

What a great group of troopers, casualties, mercenaries, apostates, refugees and prodigal sons and daughters. And what great stories we have to tell. 

Jonathan 'The J Dogg' Selzer, me, Katie P

War stories

The best stories I heard are ones that never made it into the magazine. We were a music magazine, not a music magazine magazine. So many of these stories aren’t written down and will disappear as our ability to remember them also fades.

I love to tell stories and hear stories, so I want to harvest those stories. Maybe I will. Would you want to know about the story of how Bon Jovi threatened one writer or how another ended up face-down in a buffet at Metallica’s afterparty? Would you like to hear what the photographers captured but didn’t (couldn’t) go in the mag? Would you like the real stories about when Dani Filth trashed the office? I would.

Here’s to Hammer Daze 2025. Whether you worked at Hammer or with Hammer, were a PR, freelancer or in a band, I hope to see you there.

Me, Katie P, Johnny 'Mac' McMurtrie, James Isaacs