Does anyone remember Pen Bangers?
One of my favourite instagram profiles at the moment is moshermags. Identifying as she/her, the woman behind moshermags posts gems from UK rock and metal magazine issues that were published in the 90s and 00s. So right during my heyday and the heyday of many elder millennials. Everything scanned is posted on instagram for everyone's nostalgic pleasure.
One of her most recent posts is an instalment of what Metal Hammer called "Pen Bangers!" Pen Bangers was this weird thing where 14-22 year old would write in hoping to make friends with other heavy metal fans. Usually by means of finding friends, searching for band mates or meeting up at concerts. Whether this was ever successful is anyone's guess but it just goes to show the 90s-00s was a strange time, man.
The crazy thing is these "Pen Banger" entries were published along with names and addresses. Imagine doxxing yourself, right? Thankfully, Moshermags made the right decision in editing these out.
Check out these scanned beauties below and be sure to go follow moshermags for your heavy metal nostalgic hit:
I'm a 14-year-old looking for anyone into Machine Head, Pantera, NIN, Nirvana, Korn, Soundgarden, Deftones and Pitchshifter who is going to Ozzfest '99. I need people to hang out with, otherwise my mum will accompany me. ARGH! Write to: Mitchell, Ramsgate, Kent
16-year-old male drummer and 15-year-old guitarist into punk and metal, especially System Of A Down, Green Day and Metallica, seeks bassist and lead vocalist (preferably able to play lead guitar) to form punk/metal band in Northampton area. Any age, 15+, but must be ambitious. Write to: Ben and Max, Northampton
18-year-old female into Mr Bungle, Faith No More, RATM, Radiohead, Nick Cave and early Manics. I live for music and seek people to exchange mindcandy with. e-mail: theranch
13-year-old male into Korn, Marilyn Manson, Backyard Babies, Marilyn Manson, seeks M/F of any age to hang out with - preferably drummer or bass guitarist for hip new band. If you live in the area or are looking for a freak to write to. Send letters to: Pete, Washington, Tyne & Wear
Metal-starved 19-year-old male student in need of nice people to talk to. I'm into Korn, Bad Religion, SOAD and Rancid, among other baggy pants bands. e-mail: funkymunky1
21-year-old male who was in Penbangers last year but couldn't reply due to illness but is fine now, seeks 14-22 year olds interested in Rammstein, Coal Chamber, Fear Factory, Soulfly, etc. Write to: Shane Riggall, Queensland, Australia
Bisexual androgynous female, 30, seeks M/F contacts to share common ground, eg, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, NIN, Ministry, Rob Zombie, Cradle Of Filth, Sisters Of Mercy. Am also into writing lyrics and portrait sketching. Write to: Wendy Marianne, Caversham, Reading
17-year-old metalhead/goth rocker into Type O Negative, COF, some Iron Maiden and just about anything, seeks fellow fuckwits 15-18 to talk to and exchange thoughts about our world and other important things. e-mail: TheNinjaSquirrel
Pensive, melancholic male, 17, living through the likes of Deicide, Sepultura, Dimmu Borgir, Slayer, Dissection, Obituary, Emperor, Machine Head and loads more, seeks M/F any age for musical, reflective, poetic and general exchange of thoughts. Write to: Oliver Holm, Roskilde, Denmark
19-year-old Norwegian females seek penpals who are into Korn, Metallica, Deftones, Sepultura, Life Of Agony, Type O Negative and more heavy stuff. Write to: Krisin Lien, Oppdal, Norway
If you are 15 and are pissed off with life and are into Korn, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, NOFX, Rancid, Nirvana etc, write to: Momo, Bury
16-year-old female seeks M/F metallers to write to. I'm into Metallica, Nirvana, Pantera, Korn, Deftones, Marilyn Manson, Sex Pistols and more. Write to: Zara, Westmeath, Ireland
Mad bitch, 15, into vampires, blood-swapping, Tura Satana, Korn, Deftones and other shit, seeks penpals. Write to: L Biggins, Scotland
15-year-old female metaller into Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Green Day, Backyard Babies, Fear Factory, Metallica and silverchair. Write to me if you're M/F, 14-17, and fucked off with everything. - Kat, Kent
23-year-old male into Metallica, Aerosmith, Ozzy, silverchair, Terrorvision, Monster Magnet, seeks M/F to write to. - Mark Kentfield, London
What did you think of these Pen Bangers write-ins?
Would you respond to them if it was still the year 1999?
Let me know your response in the comments below.