The euphoric state about the return of a ‘Legend’ – We are all hypocrites

Last Sunday, Willem Rebergen, or better known as Headhunterz was welcomed like a lost son when he played for the last time in front of his beloved hardstyle family. The whole crowd went absolutely mental the minute Headhunterz showed his face on stage as tears were shed in disbelief of this astonishing spectacle. Under the name ‘Defqon.1 Legends’ in collaboration with The Prophet and Technoboy, Headhunterz blasted famed tracks out of the speakers and into the ears of thousands of weekend warriors, marking one of the greatest moments ever in Defqon.1 history. In this hour, a man who has been stepped on, mocked, insulted and hated by a large portion of the scene retook the honour he always deserved. For many people this comeback was a beautiful moment, showing the affection and love of a scene still remembering his legends. However, as this exhibition unravelled I could only think to myself: ‘we are such hypocrites…’

Nowadays, Headhunterz is deemed one of the most influential hardstyle producers of all-time; however it hasn’t always been like this. Around one year ago and when Headhunterz bid farewell to the Hardstyle scene, fans were not so understanding and tolerant to his new creative endeavours. At that time, a new aesthetic wave of raw Hardstyle was reshuffling the scene, throwing Hardstyle as we knew it into a curveball. With his eternal melodic style, Headhunterz slowly became the victim of this darker and rising style and although he remained true to his own sound, people slowly started to turn their backs on him.

Group ties between members of your own become stronger once a common enemy has been formed and for some of the rawstyle fans Headhunterz sadly became this common enemy.

Listen to his track “Doomed” and the story unfolds: “Once upon a time, in a faraway land a young producer lived in a shining studio. He had everything his heart desired. And the music he wrote came from the heart. But then, one winter’s night, a group of haters came to his weblog and offered him their love if he would make a rawstyle track. Repulsed by their haggard appearance, the producer sneered at the gift and turned the haters away. As a punishment they placed a powerful spell on him. If he would make a raw track the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain hated forever.”

These lyrics show how a part of the rawstyle scene was continuously harassing Headhunterz, persuading him to change his style. In this matter, “Doomed” can be seen as a big f*** you, as well as a sign of surrender. What really happened in the months before Headhunterz switched to the dance-scene remains unclear. What is clear is that these people set in motion Headhunterz his inglorious downfall in the hardstyle scene.

With his comeback at the 14^th edition of Defqon.1, Headhunterz seemed to have finally washed away the spell and retook the honour a producer with his status and experience deserves. As he wrote on his Facebook: “(…) to the unforgettable experience of being welcomed with open arms once more by my hardstyle family at Defqon.1. All confusion, all negativity, all judgement and frustration just completely melted and I felt connected to all of you like I have never ever in my life felt connected with people.” By all means, we can detect a beautiful story of forgiveness and eternal love in all of this. Headhunterz once more is hot in the scene and even the most little signs of his comeback (he reverted back to his old hairstyle) are perceived as clues for a longer stay. Again, the scene is craving for his kicks, melodies and overall musical legacy. Happily ever after, isn’t it? But I do not detect a fairy-tale; I detect the story of hypocrisy.

It was this very negativity and continuous mocking that pushed Rebergen to quit and now in a euphoric state he’s made a triumphant return to the scene for one last hoorah. Whilst he was still present in the scene people took his vision for granted, however after distancing himself for years and making a grand return the former ‘haters’ suddenly pay their respects. This is pathetic. Some big questions that members of the scene need to ask themselves are: How do we treat the producers in times odds are against their favours? Will we turn our backs at them when they go through hell? Are we going to stab them in their backs the minute a new alternative walks by? Are we going to do the same with artists like Digital Punk, Frontliner, Radical Redemption, Frequencerz, Wildstylez and Warface as we did with Headhunterz? Is this really how we want to treat the most influential producers of our time?

On the grounds of the inglorious downfall of Headhunterz, I cannot see his comeback as a beautiful moment. I perceive it as one of the darkest moments in Hardstyle’s history becoming painfully clear again – a time where we let one of our greatest producers down…