Alex Terrible, vocalist of the metal band Slaughter to Prevail, recently delivered a pointed message to fellow rock musicians about treating fans with respect. He shared his thoughts in a statement posted on Instagram.
The statement addressed what he sees as problematic attitudes among established rock stars toward their fanbase, particularly younger fans.
“A message to all rock stars with huge egos and big dicks. Come back down to earth! Humble yourselves a little,” Terrible said. “Do you even understand that the beautiful life you have is only thanks to the listeners? I hate it when rock stars treat their fans carelessly.”
He emphasized the importance of maintaining boundaries while still showing appreciation for supporters.
“Yes, I get it — everyone should respect personal boundaries and be respectful and adequate. But when big stars forget why they’re so big and who made them that way, it really annoys me,” he continued. “You’re just like everyone else. You’re no different.”
Terrible shared a personal anecdote from the Louder Than Life festival to illustrate his point about supporting younger musicians.
“We were playing at the Louder Than Life festival, and my guitarist came up to me. He said there’s a band called Chained Saint and their set got cut short today because of the weather,” he explained. “He told me they are huge fans of ours. ‘Would you mind if the band’s vocalist came on stage with you today and did a part of one of our songs?’ I was like, what the hell? Who are they? Why should we do that?”
The singer described how his perspective changed when he met the young musicians.
“But then I saw them. They’re teenagers playing metal. And I immediately remembered myself at that age, being a fan of this music genre and different bands,” he said. “And how much success they’d already achieved just by performing at this festival. For me, it’s nothing. But for them, it could mean the world! Of course I said, ‘Let’s do it!’ I even had tears in my eyes realizing how easy it is to make people a little happier — and for you, it costs nothing.”
The statement concluded with a direct appeal to established artists to remember their roots and support emerging talent.
Terrible’s message carries particular weight given his own journey from fan to established artist. His advocacy for humility reflects the path that brought him to prominence in the metal scene.
The Metal Verse reported that Terrible initially gained a strong online following by posting vocal covers on YouTube before Slaughter to Prevail even released their EP in 2015. This demonstrated how grassroots fan support helped launch his career. This early experience with building a fanbase from the ground up likely shaped his perspective on the importance of treating supporters with respect.
The band’s rise was marked by perseverance through significant challenges that many emerging artists face. WKNC documented that Slaughter to Prevail encountered early touring difficulties, including visa issues that could have derailed their momentum. Despite these obstacles, they eventually secured tours with major acts like Whitechapel and Chelsea Grin. They gained respect through relentless effort rather than ego.
The Russian metal band’s journey from underground covers to international recognition illustrates the very dynamic Terrible addressed in his statement. Chaoszine noted that Terrible has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining high energy and connection with audiences during performances. He views his role as serving the fans rather than being served by them.
This philosophy of service over stardom appears to drive Terrible’s criticism of artists who lose sight of their relationship with supporters. His willingness to invite unknown teenage musicians on stage at a major festival exemplifies the approach he advocates for established artists in the metal community.
