Posted on 07/09/2015 1:01:36 PM PDT by Sopater
Heavy metal was the No. 1-selling music genre in 1989, and parents feared the worst: that Satan worship, drug use, loads of sex, and suicide went along with it, write researchers in the journal Self and Identity. Records were burned, "Parental Advisory" warning labels were born, and some '90s research suggested that teens who were into metal had a boatload of problems. And then decades passed. How did those metalheads turn out? Pretty OK, found the team led by Humboldt State University psychologist Tasha Howe, reports Billboard. It found that while middle-aged metalheads were more likely to have engaged in risky behavior as youths, they in no way differ from both non-metal-loving peers and college students in terms of "life satisfaction and current functioning."
To get to that conclusion, researchers surveyed 377 adults, both metal-lovers (groupies, musicians, and fans), peers who preferred different music, and California college students. It turns out the metal groups' recollections of their youth were "significantly happier" than the comparison groups', and they had fewer regrets (about a third did, compared to 44.9% of students and 51.3% of non-metal peers). As for why they possibly turned out like they did, the researchers point to a "kinship in the metal community ... a way to experience heightened emotions and intense connections with like-minded people, which seemed to contribute to their eventual positive identity development." This suggests, they write, that "fringe style cultures can ... serve a protective function" for youth. The authors do note, however, that "this was a community sample of relatively high functioning individuals who volunteered to participate," which may have skewed the results. (Another study found excessive headbanging could kill.)
Whatta ‘bout Meatheads?
It’s really something to think about. The lyrics were just heavily double entendre’d to hell in that direction and we all knew them, sang them and now feel really ‘funny’ about that ;)
Yup. That always amazed me. Priest and FM are worlds apart. Interesting place to get a cover from for a hard metal band.
If I had hair it would be short. Long hair was a PIA.
How could anyone not know about Halford after this (and this came out in 1977)
Judas Priest – Raw Deal
I made the Spike about nine o’clock on a Saturday
All eyes hit me as I walked into the bar
The spikey leather guys were foolin with the denim dudes
A couple cards played rough stuff, New York, Fire Island
I cased the joint, straining at the scenes
I moseyed up to the counter and the tender came a-grinnin’
I snapped the smile off his face and snarled “Give me a bourbon”
The mirror on the wall was collecting and reflecting
All the heavy bodies ducking, stealing eager for some action
The scene screwed me up, I saw some contact
Then there he was, saw me and knew that
I’d had too much, foolin’ around
Statues alive, seconds are hours
Sex is like a hurricane it grabs and then it shatters
I was barely holding on to this fine body symphony
I guess I dream in pictures, not colors
The true free expression I demand is human rights - right?
I came the light, I am immortal
I’m going, no loss
I’m going, no loss
I’m going, no loss
I’m going, no loss
Nightmare, just a bunch of g-———, rotten, steaming, raw
Deal
WOW!!! I just bookmarked that page. Great song...and that girl can kick a**!
I love this type of music. I’m 52... My husband and I went to a GNR concert in the early 90s..I couldn’t hear for three days afterwards.
I dunno. I can’t even claim a Genesee Beer induced haze because I never saw it sober either.
Basically I think we just didn’t WANT to see it.
That girl is something else. I have seen a few videos with young kids shredding metal/Vai/Satriani type stuff but most are mechanical and have nothing but the speed. That girl nailed the feel completely. If she stays with it I can’t imagine what she will be like by 20-25ish.
‘Sometimes we can be all the same guy. Especially with the country and the punk since most of the good punk rockers are big fans of Johnny Cash.’
__________________________
Johnny Cash...Absolutely! Also loved a lot of punk rock.
My husband is more pure metal; he had Dio ‘tapes’, LOL. Ratt. I just remember tons of songs. I know these are different genres, but I love Ted Nugent and my favorite band (hope I’m still accepted here! is Def Leppard)!
Good music is good music, and I think we can all agree that hip hop or rap just isn’t it.
Although I do think Eminem is really talented. Some of his songs make me cry. The one where he sings about his friend who got killed.
I saw Leppard with Tesla opening on the Hysteria tour. I don’t care what anyone says about them being an MTV/studio band. They ROARED live.
Wow, good luck to your children; I hope your son stays safe.
It sounds like you raised wonderful, hard-working kids. I wish the rest of the population had voted better people for them.
It’s a hily informed opinion. Starting with looks, knowing music preference, and knowing the demographics of the town in question.
Let’s see hands of those of us who still have our long hair.
Cut the hair, hearing’s fine, but I still have a strange craving for the smell of “aquanet” occasionally.
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, could belt.
You do realize that the metalheads of the 80’s are in our 40’s now, right?
50’s for some us there youngster.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.