Matewan Massacre & Battle of Blair Mountain / Byzantine

The Battle of Blair Mountain and Matewan Massacre of the West Virginia Coal Wars are featured in this video of heavy metal history. We would like to thank Byzantine for letting us use their great song "Red Neck War". If you want to know the reasons behind our name and logo here it is. The men and women from our state have been fighting for safer and better jobs forever. West Virginians are hard people who will always fight for what is right and their independence. We only hope we can do them proud and stand on their shoulders as we tell their story. Hillbilly Proud is not just a name, it is a belief and tribute to our blue collar heritage.

Thanks to Eastern Regional Coal Archive for their pictures and our designer Brian Pickens for his illustrations.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• blair
• mountain
• west
• virginia
• coal
• mine
• wars
• matewan
• massacre

[hillbillyproud]

Hadn't watched this video for a while. After watching it again it is one of the ones I am I am most proud that we have made. Some teachers use this in schools to get kids interested in their history. That is humbling.

Keith

[tarheel1217]

is it really respecting the memory of this even with a slideshow and some idiot screaming horribly to bad music i worked these mines i find it insulting and shows complete ignorance

[hillbillyproud]

Sorry you feel that way. Not sure why you think it shows complete ignorance. The goal is to make the history of our state interesting to kids who otherwise wouldn't watch the History Channel or PBS. So many have told us that they had never heard of these events and have been thankful that we took the time to make a video about it. We are also thankful for a metal band such as Byzantine that records music about their history instead of lyrics about nonsense or evil. We salute your hard work.

[Mindcrime68]

I also worked these mines. I worked on Blair Mountain for 10 years . My grandfather was in this very battle. To say this is disrespectful because you dont like this style of music is ridiculous and shallow. I for one swelled with pride when I came across this. Good Job Byzantine. Keep up the good work. We could use a few more mountaineers who are proud of what they are.

[Gamespider10567]

damn fine video surprised by all the hate shown by 4freespeech, stashkingjunior, and tarheel1217 these close minded people are the ones that make all of us look bad

[Gamespider10567]

@stashkingjunior i'd love to see you come here and say that you wouldn't make it out of here nearly everyone has an ancestor would fought in the Mine Wars and i'll be damned if some ignorant jackass like you is going to belittle the entire heritage of an area that made national history for rebelling against all of you damn CEOs from New York, London, and Chicago hell all of the other labor movement don't have shit on us we actually fought against exploitation all of you other pussies took it

[Gamespider10567]

@4freespeech your username is 4freespeech well it's not a fitting name for one who would so willing insutl someone's expression of freedom of speech if you listen to the song and the lyrics it's 100% about the mine wars the guys that made this song are from Logan County it doesn't have to be period music the song is informational about the actual event so maybe you should think for a damn second about what you're saying before you say it

[Gamespider10567]

@tarheel1217 it's called expression believe it or not these "idiots" that make this "bad music" are part of a genre of music that expresses a political ideologies that other wise would not be expressed by any other musical genre these "idiots" play this "bad music" that no one else has the skill or ability to play and express an intelligent ideology and pay homage to their heritage and it's a damn shame that you'd let your personal preferences as to how they should sound get in the way of that

[vudu8ball]

The history of struggle between the corporations and workers has been suppressed in this country. The rich and the corporations have never given a damn about the people they employ. Put any kind of music behind it you want. If it will get kids to watch it bravo!. It kills me when poor people and workers defend the rich and oppose efforts to bring social justice. Makes sick.

[dixieunited]

@bullawaya

you gotta go with real mountain music not man of constant sorrow...

you need something like dont come out of the hole, swing that hammer, or daddys dinner bucket.

[dixieunited]

@bullawaya

you have to be kidding me bubba. the devils music? rele?

have you never heard of christian metal? im a hardcore protestant and i love country, bluegrass and metal.

[fireofenergy]

This is that something cleaner...

oil storm solar

[joshramsey]

I love this video, I love this band. It's great when I see heavy metal being used for educating others

[fireofenergy]

Learned about this JUST today because i read about the anti mountaintop removal... So yes, this is a good video that has real history that should be told. It should appeal to all Americans

Coal was the energy basis, it should not have been controlled by thugs. Now, we ought to replace it outright with something cleaner.