Metal Anarchy

Trivium’s Matt Heafy recently reflected on meeting Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix for the first time at the 2005 UK Download Festival. He says the kindness Shaddix showed him “stuck with [him] forever.”

Here’s Heafy’s full statement:

“Back in 2005, I remember finishing download festival – one of our greatest shows ever – but I remember it being bittersweet because while the fans were insane, I had the lingering situation that most of our favorite bands in the metal scene hated our guys and bullied us in person when we’d tour with them.

I met Jacoby backstage at download – he was super kind and said how he dug our band – I thanked him but somehow I knew I could mention the bullying and crap we were dealing with. He told me “f the haters” and that if we stick to our guns and stay true to ourselves – we’d rise above all of that. That kindness of one of my musical childhood heroes stuck with me forever.

I ran back into Jacoby after years at Rock am Ring last week ish – he was just as amazing a human as ever.

We were invited to do a show with them in Budapest. Their entire crew, org, and band treated us like kings.

Jacoby and Papa Roach and their entire org are an example of how everyone should do this. Treat everyone as equals and with respect and kindness.

Jacoby. You’re a true star in every sense of the word. Seeing all the band’s kids out rocking to their parents made me so happy and excited for the future when my kids could one day join me on stage overseas as well.

Y’all are incredible. I hope we can do more shows together.”