Question 786

The term X came into use in the early eighties American hardcore scene in Washington, D.C. Vocalist H.R. (Paul Hudson) of the band Bad Brains, regarded as a band that "put X-ing on the map," used the term mash in lyrics and show stage banter to both incite and describe the act of X-ing. Due to his affected Jamaican-accented pronunciation of the word, fans heard this as X instead. By the mid-eighties, the term was appearing in print with its current spelling. Through the connectedness of hardcore, crossover, and thrash in the early years of these genres, the word X spread across the spectrum of these musics. By the time East coast thrash metal band Anthrax used the term in their song Caught In A X, it was already a mainstay of hardcore and thrash scenes. Through the mainstream success of bands like Anthrax and the later success of Nirvana and The Melvins, whose sounds and culture were directly rooted in hardcore and punk, the term came into the popular vernacular. What term?

Answer: "moshing" in rock concerts