Heavy Metal Monk

It’s not every day that one seeks life advice from a monk who loves heavy metal and has his own band, but why not? Brother Cesare (aka Brother Metal) is a 62-year old monk living in Milan, and something happened about 15 years ago that changed his life: He attended a Metallica concert. “I was overwhelmed and amazed by the sheer energy of it,” he says. Check out the accompanying video to this BBC article and see his energy in action!

Heavy metal has long been associated with anger and even the devil, so a monk of any kind embracing it will be controversial to some. Brother Cesare’s general message and reason for sticking with heavy metal is, “I do it to convert people to life, to understand life, to grab hold of life, to savour it and enjoy it.”

In your own pursuit of being happier, Brother Cesare’s story is a reminder that happiness and fulfillment can be found in the strangest of places, but finding where your passions lie will surely lead you there. Do you have any quirky or surprising interests that bring you happiness? Tell us!