U2 vs Dethklok

I've blogged before about the virtues of Metalocalypse, a strange and disturbing cartoon series about a fictional metal band. It is so absurd, that the group in question, Dethklok, could only be a fictional band. Or could they? I'm starting to wonder.

So, I've taken the liberty of using Metalocalypse's rather eloquent Wikipedia page as a starting point to draw some rather disconcerting (and/ or, tenuous) parallels. Stay with me on this.

DETHKLOK: "In the series, Dethklok is a band which enjoys a popularity level unheard of in reality, ranking as the seventh largest economy on Earth by the second season."

U2: Rich-list botherers U2 are probably the nearest the non-animated world can get to this. The Irish are STILL protesting about the fact U2 are cheeky asset-protecting tax exiles. The Rolling Stones earn more, as it happens, but they don't tend to spend their spare time changing the world on the side.

DETHKLOK: "...Its popularity is such that impressionable fans will do anything its songs tell them to, even if that means death, which is usually the case..."

U2: Ixnay on the fatality, but "if you think U2 has played a role in changing the worlds of music, entertainment, popular culture, humanitarian relief, peace and social justice efforts - or has changed the world in you - then come join the conversation," welcomed North Carolina Central University. At their U2 ACADEMIC CONFERENCE held earlier in the year.

DETHKLOK: "If Dethklok endorses a product or service, competitors are quickly driven out of business."

U2: I noticed that U2 have managed to have the opposite effect, managing to jump into bed with Blackberry and iPod at once. It will probably make it easier for them to take over the world when the time comes.

DETHKLOK: "Organizations worldwide, ranging from governments to businesses, go out of their way to avoid hindering Dethklok..."

U2: Kind of like Blair, Mandela, Bush and the entire G8. In the course of my research (ie a quick google), I even found this, BONO'S POLITICS, which appears to be serious and has a genuine link to an Irish website which claims "give [Bono] the bully pulpit of the presidency of Ireland and he could transform it into a wondrous thing -- even match Barack Obama in terms of his world stature and influence."

DETHKLOK: "...to the point that the band is allowed to maintain its own police force..."

U2: Editing papers and liasing with world leaders can't be far off stamping one's authority all over the planet, et tu, Bono?

DETHKLOK: "..and can get away with any crime imaginable with virtually no repercussions, albeit the band is often too ignorant to even notice that they are committing illegal acts."

U2: Okay, so U2 don't go that far. But Bono's lyrics can definitely constitute a crime against music most of the time (lest we forget he once rhymed "mole" with "hole").

DETHKLOK: "The members of Dethklok tend to cause disaster wherever they travel, and anything remotely associated with them likewise tends to attract civil unrest simply by existing.."

U2: Again, not quite such a big deal, but go back to the tax exile thing. The small minority of Irish folk who don't live up the band's collective bum really aren't happy and it's been THREE YEARS.

DETHKLOK:"... Dethklok concerts are so notoriously violent that those attending are required to sign "pain waivers" at the entrance, releasing the band from legal liability in the very likely case they are killed or maimed. "

U2: U2 concerts are so notoriously large scale that those attending are required to take out a second mortgage to cover the cost of being allowed to be there.

DETHKLOK: "...For example, in the premiere episode, Dethklok's concert begins with a giant metal box that serves as the band's stage being airlifted and parachuted onto location. It misses the landing area and crushes much of the audience, both by virtue of its landing and subsequent opening."

U2: sees Dethklok and raises them with the 360 tour:

(pic from the BBC)