With long hair and a denim jacket emblazoned with band logos, Jonathon Kardasz began attending heavy-metal concerts in 1980s' Bristol. At first he was afraid of being attacked by mods or skinheads because of the tension between musical cultures, 'You either liked one music or another; there was little room for crossover.'

Jonathon enjoyed seeing bands at Colston Hall including Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motörhead. Ozzy Osborne's first solo gig in 1980 was especially memorable because the crowd were still chanting and cheering after two encores, 'The story goes that he was dragged out of the shower backstage and came back to perform one more song in his underwear!'

Jonathon enjoyed belonging to a vibrant music scene. 'The crowds at gigs were always friendly and passionate; it was great to be part of such a close-knit community. Wearing the jacket was a good conversation starter, we could share our knowledge and discuss the music.'

It was a coup to wear a t-shirt from a sell-out show. Jonathon remembers, however, not being served in some city centre pubs because of his appearance, which contrasted with the safe and welcoming environment of the concerts, 'On countless occasions I have just left the jacket at the back of the venue, knowing it would be perfectly safe.' Jonathon still enjoys gigs and notices that it is harder to identify specific fans. 'When I was young things were much more tribal. These days young people are far more liberal and open to different genre.'