At A Glance Author Magician Contact The_Magician_666@yahoo.co.uk IAM Magician When Six months ago Artist Sarge / Vampy / Metal Fatigue Crew Studio Metal Fatigue Suscon IV Location Norwich, UK When I first got connected to the Internet about 9 years ago, almost the first search I did was for 'piercing'. This led me to the BME and there I found pictures of Superman and Coma Suspensions. As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to do it - except I never thought I'd get the chance.
Then last Sept, I finally had my first body piercing - a PA (followed by 7 other piercings over the next 4 months). I posted pictures of some of these to the BME and joined IAM.
One of the first pages I found on IAM was for Prodigy who had his first suspension the year before at a Metal Fatigue Suscon. I read about his experience, looked at his photos and more than ever wanted to suspend (and yes, a Crucifix Suspension does look beautiful and very tranquil).
I saw Metal Fatigue Suscon IV in the event list for May in Norwich. I was determined to go even though I had no idea what the event would be like. Also, reading information on the Metal Fatigue Forum, I realised that, as a total stranger, they might not let me suspend at all.
So starting out at 3.00am on Sat 1st May 2004, I drove 320 miles from Swansea to Norwich. The first suspension I saw that afternoon was a 1 hook Suicidal Suspension by Wormy. This was followed by a 4 point Suicidal Suspension with a bike(!) by Lefrog. Then an eight point Lotus suspension (that ended as a 4 point Suicidal) by Serenity and finished with a 2 point Suicidal Suspension by MisterCrumbs (which I didn't realise was his first). Seeing static pictures on the BME didn't give me any idea of what watching a suspension in real life would be like. Each of the suspensions was completely different and absolutely amazing to watch, but also (to my surprise) had a huge emotional impact - I felt each one of them.
However, while this was happening, I was trying to find out if I had a chance of being suspended myself, especially as I could only stay for the Saturday & Sunday (to drive home on Monday). I first talked to Dispel who said I needed to ask Vampy. I had a long talk with Vampy who, in the end, said I would need to talk to someone else before I could have the okay. Finally, at about 9.00pm, I had a half hour talk with Sarge about life, suspensions, piercing and everything, at the end of which he said he would let me go up tomorrow. He also said I wouldn't sleep - he was right!
I returned the following day at about noon to find preparations being made for a Superman Suspension by Darko. I asked Dispel if I could go up as soon as possible and he said fine, you can go up next. I felt absolutely terrified! Not so much of actually having the suspension, but of the possibility of failing to go up after waiting so long and having come so far.
As Darko finished, Sarge came and led me inside to get ready. For my 4 point Suicidal, 4mm hooks were used. I'd never had such large gauge piercings before and was prepared for it to be painful. I wasn't disappointed! After the first 2 hooks were in I had to ask Sarge hold on for a minute to get my breath back. Then the next to hooks went in and it was finished. It was one of the more painful set of piercings I've had, but by the time I'd walked back outside, the pain was gone.
Suspendees get to choose their music, mine was Rammstein's 'Mutter'. I walked upto the scaffolding to 'Mein Herz Brennt' and Sarge attached my hooks to the rigging. Vampy then started to slowly walk me forwards and backwards, the ropes and hooks tightening as I did and Darko & Wormy on the ropes taking up the slack each time until I was airborne. Beforehand, I was very worried that as the ropes tightened, the pain would just keep getting more and more intense, but as I was walked up, all I felt was some discomfort and a little pain, which after waiting (and relaxing into it) lessened and I carried on. I can't actually remember much about getting airborne, I didn't realise until afterwards that I was concentrating so intently, all I was aware of was Vampy.
The next thing I remember was my feet leaving the ground, which was a very strange sensation, gripping Vampy's hands more tightly and saying "Don't let go!". I did feel uncomfortable and kept telling myself to relax (and then immediately tensing up again). After a minute or 2, I finally felt relaxed, there was no pain or any discomfort and I felt very calm. I was then able to take in the surroundings and see people watching. Sarge turned me round so I could look around. I do remember asking someone to turn the music up a bit and then asked Sarge to give me a push. I spent the next 15-20 mins swinging and spinning around either getting Sarge to push me or pushing myself off the scaffolding (although reaching upwards to grab the scaffolding did pull on the hooks a bit). I just played around, until in the end, I couldn't think of anything else to do and said I was ready to come down. I can't help thinking that I probably looked like a complete idiot messing around up there - but it was fun!
I was lowered to the ground, Sarge unhitched me from the rig and I started to make my way back inside to have the hooks removed. There was no pain or discomfort afterwards, except when I reached too far to pick something up (which pulled my back a bit). And although I was worried my back might be uncomfortable driving back the next day, there was no problem at all.
I can't say it was a spiritual experience, but it did have an emotional impact on me. I'm not an openly emotional person, but as I drove back from Norwich the next morning and it slowly dawned on me that I wasn't going back to the event and I wouldn't see the crew again, I had a lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face! I spent the next 20 mins trying to dry my eyes while driving and I felt very emotional for days. Nothing has ever had such a profound effect on me before.
I have to say a big thank you to the whole of the Metal Fatigue Crew for letting me join them and being so friendly and supportive to a total stranger. You're a great crowd and I don't think the experience would have been anywhere near as positive with anyone else. I can't wait for the next Suscon - I wanna go up again! PS. Thanks to Prodigy and Trifo for taking some great photos.
I also want to say thanks to Bigcat for letting me pester him last year with questions about his piercings until I finally had the nerve to get my PA. Without that I'd never have joined BME, IAM or suspended. Cheers man!
If anyone has any questions or wants to contact me - either Message me (IAM:Magician) or email (The_Magician_666@yahoo.co.uk). It's very hard to express what I felt in words. It was an amazing experience and writing this now, it's hard to believe it wasn't just a dream and I that I really did it!