Saturday, June 4, 2011

The Gathering

    Ok so it has been a few months since my last post but I have had a lot on my plate!  This post is about The Gathering of the Juggalos and how it has become a mecca of sorts for all Juggalos.  First off for those who don't know The Gathering is a once a year 4-day festival held in Cave-In-Rock, IL by Psychopathic Records.  They bring in a huge number of bands, comedians, wresters, actors, etc. and just cut loose and have fun.  So this year once again ICP has done it by brining in the man himself, Ice Mutha fuckin cube!  This will be his second appearance I believe.  Over the years, several hundred artists have performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos. Outside of the label's roster, notable artists who have become a common stay at the event include Project Born, Kottonmouth Kings, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Vanilla Ice, Zug Izland, Esham, Tech N9ne, Wolfpac, 2 Live Crew, Rehab, Necro, Haystak, King Gordy, Prozak, Three 6 Mafia, Afroman, Bizarre, Big B, and Coolio.
Notable guest performances include Mack 10, Bubba Sparxxx, Dope, Killah Priest, Bushwick Bill, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Kurupt, Powerman 5000, Digital Underground, Drowning Pool, Too $hort, Ying Yang Twins, Mushroomhead, Andrew W.K., Ice Cube, GWAR, Scarface, Naughty by Nature, Spice 1, Method Man & Redman, Above the Law, Warren G, Tila Tequila, Tone Lōc, and Rob Base.
  ICP has stated they try to bring a lot of variety to the Gahtering because they want Juggalos to not only enjoy the music they put ouut but want them to be open to all genres and accept everyone.  There have been several artists who performed at the gathering that did not work out and once a year they recieve a booby prize or award based on not being a successful act at the Gathering that has been lovingly called the Bubba Sparxxx award since he was the first to recieve it.
  The Gathering has garnered main stream attention from SNL as they have made several spoof Gathering commercials which have run on the show.
  As I was watching a TV show about motorcycle gangs and Sturgis I made a connection to Juggalos and the Gathering.  Sturgis is the most widely known motorcycle gathering and it was only because Sturgis, SD has accepted the fringe society known as bikers.  The Gathering has the same roots.  For years ICP moved location to location trying to find a place to call home.  For years we have been pushed out cause we are outcasts, punk kids, gangsters, etc.  Until Cave-In-Rock opened their doors.  And I can safely say we cannot thank them enough.  Without their support the Gathering would be a nomadic event and while that would be ok we love having a place to call our own.  Now Juggalos we need to keep our minds right.  We need to ensure we do not go into the small town that has accepted us and ruin it with stupidity and dumb decisions.  We have to change how people think of us.  We have to be the example of fans who are accepted everywhere.  There are a lot of us and there will always be a few bad apples, but we need to put out such a positive vibe that those small problems do not even matter.
  So am I telling you not to drink, smoke, or have fun hell no!  Go do it up, just be smart.  We juggalos and juggalettes need to keep our relationship with Cave-In-Rock positive and awesome.  We will be welcomed there for years to come as long as we do it the right way.  Much love to the fam and all who might be just checking me out.


Juggalotus