Photo Gallery Heavy Metal Virus
If you were a virus, would you go near this guy?
Schleswig-Holstein to heavy metallers: please do not kiss.
Officials at the northern German state's Health Ministry are warning that "hygienic conditions are limited" at the Wacken festival.
They call it a circle pit. It involves fans of a band getting close to the stage and then forming a sort of violent dancing "whirlpool." Whatever you do though, please don't touch.
Advice from the ministry: "Avoid greetings that involve close contact -- such as hugs, hand-shaking and kissing cheeks."
Heavy metal fans should follow the advice of the authorities.
But can they control themselves: At the 2008 festival, crowdsurfers inadvertently touched other concertgoers. Will the 2009 fest become party time for both people and viruses?
Wacken Open Air from above: An estimated 75,000 heavy metal fans camp on 200 hectares worth of paddock.
Those heavy metallers taking the ministry's advice seriously may want to take a leaf out of this book on creative beer drinking.
Young man, please don't pass that beer glass around.
This guy arriving on Thursday, at least seems to have the right idea.
