Black Metal Bassist Elected to Greek Parliament
Here's something you don't see or hear every day. Giorgos Germenis, the bassist for Greek black metal outfit Naer Mataron, has been elected to a seat in Greece's parliament. Wait...what? No, we're not kidding.
According to Blabbermouth, Germenis, aka Kaiadas when on stage, is a representative of the Golden Dawn party, which is considered one of the most extreme far-right parties in Europe.
However, let's put this in perspective. Naer Mataron are not like the Mayhem or Burzum or Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir of Greece, so it's not like, say, Varg Vikernes or Dani Filth has a seat in a governing body. Naer Mataron are largely an unknown act. However, their bassist's political aspirations and viewpoints are not far removed from the more extreme and politically-minded black metal acts on the fringe of the genre. Despite the perception, not all black metal acts focus on religious nihilism. Politics do come into play, lyrically and beyond.
The Golden Dawn party has actually drawn comparisons to the Germany's neo-Nazi National Democratic Party, courtesy of its anti-immigration stance. On top of that, the Golden Dawn logo has been noted for its similarities to the Nazi party's infamous swastika.
Naer Mataron are by no means a popular black metal band, as Stefanos Stefanopolous of Rockway.gr webzine went on record with PRI's The World to say that Giorgos isn't a "well-known musician here in Greece" and even the webzines were ignoring the band, which he labeled "mediocre" and "just another black metal band."
Well, with his parliament seat, the lack of attention could change.
Greece is in the throes of an economic meltdown and Germenis offered up his
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