The Origin Of Claw

Claw action, while difficult for some to understand, is a commonly used method of communication in the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. This blog will delve into its institution, and attempt to understand the meaning of 'claw' and 'claw action'. Here is Lee Dorrian on Never Mind The Buzzcocks throwing claws:


One has to contextualise this image in order to fully understand why the former Napalm Death and current Cathedral front man threw such claws. At this point in the program, Lee had been correctly identified by a panel as being the person in a video clip from 1989. As the audience applauds, Lee steps forward and, in turn, cusps his hands upwards, with fingers fairly relaxed, to form what are referred to as 'doom claws'. Why does he do this? This blog will endeavour to answer this question.

Here are two claw shots from a music festival in Cork City. One can ascertain from these two photographs, that the formation of a claw is sometimes accompanied by an unusual facial expression.

Here are some photographs of claws captured in Youngstown Ohio. Exhibit one details a LH90clockwise. Exhibit two is quite a rare shot, in that a claw has either just been formed or is in the process of being stood down.

The last photograph from Youngstwon details rock band Sunn O))) with the drummer of Japanese three-piece Boris on vocals. Although difficult to see, he has his left hand clasped, while two members of the audience raise their hands. One is seen to form a claw, whereas the other throws what would appear to be a sign of the devil.