During an interview with Full Metal Jackie (via Loudwire), Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has revealed he felt stage fright for the first time in nearly 18 years ahead of his spoken word tour, which accompanies the release of his book Just Beyond the Light. This feeling, which he describes as both intimidating and exciting, had not manifested itself since a career-defining moment: their performance at Download Festival in 2007.
A memorable memory: stage fright at the Download Festival 2007
Randy recounted one of the few times he felt intense fear before going on stage. It was in 2007, when they first appeared on the main stage at Download Festival. “As we drove up, we turned a corner and I saw this huge crowd of 70,000 people. It was impressive.”
He remembers this moment with emotion: “The driver asked me if I was okay. I said, ‘Yes, but that’s a lot of people.’ He replied: ‘Yes, indeed. Now go ahead and be sure.’” Despite the initial nervousness, Randy explains that once on stage, the adrenaline took over: “Coming off stage, I felt invincible, like Wolverine. It was incredible.”
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-The return of stage fright for a new adventure
With his spoken word tour, Randy rediscovers this feeling that he thought he had left behind. “It’s just me, without my group, without the comfort of pyrotechnics or collective energy. My group is like my security blanket,” he jokes, before adding: “But I have some good stories to tell, and I’m going to build on them.”
To prepare, he surrounded himself with advice from experienced friends like Anthrax’s Scott Ian and professional comedians. “They gave me great advice, and I’m confident it will be a good show. But yes, I’m nervous, and I’m not going to hide that. Maybe it will even be part of the show.”
A reflection on fear and creativity
Randy also explores the concept of fear in his book Just Beyond the Light. He shares a powerful story, that of a young fan suffering from leukemia who deeply inspired him with his calm in the face of death. “The courage with which he faced his mortality changed my perspective. It taught me that, even in the worst moments, it is possible to find a form of serenity.”
