Disproving Metal Stereotypes, or, "We're Not All Meat Heads"

[Burlington]

This was inspired by a thread that got horrendously off-topic earlier today.

This the the second image that comes up when you search Google for "metal":



And, sadly, the guy on the right is what most people, even musicians, think of when they hear the word "metal". A dirty, unintelligent troglodyte.

Why is this? Because of a select few?

Because of Metallica?



Yes. Yes it is.

They made metal huge. And they, acting like a bunch of drunk guys they are (or were), attracted lots of drunk fans.

Loud, drunk people. Loud drunk annoying people.

"Man, bro, this band is so rad and they're all about partying too! They rule!"

That's exactly what happened.

I'm not trying to talk trash about them. They changed music forever. They made "metal" a household term. They did great things.

And they gave everyone that image in their heads when they think of a metal fan.

When I thought about making this thread, I wanted to disprove the metal stereotype. The the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true. Most metal fans, and, dare I say, metal musicians are people who want to seem tough. They see this as a scene, feel they will get respect, and admiration, because possibly they've never been in a position like that before. This is sad, and it gives metal in general a bad name.

Like all stereotypes, they are not true in all cases. I will not attempt to disprove this, I will simply show examples of metal that is not so simple minded. "Thinking metal" if you will. But keep in mind, it's not all like that. No, most of it is not. Most of it sucks. It's absolutely terrible. I really do love metal, but watching a bad metal band full of drunk guys that suck is the most painful thing ever. I'd honestly prefer seeing any other band, of any genre and skill level than that.

I'm referring to local bands here. My band has been gigging for over a year now and we've played, by my estimation, roughly 40 shows. I'm not saying we're the best band around this part of the state, but we've only played with 4 to 5 bands that I actually enjoyed. Most of them are just bad. A surprising amount are signed. They lack skill and songwriting ability. All if not most of the songs sound exactly the same. Hell, we play with one band frequently, they're really nice guys, but I cannot stand their music. They have one song that is around 5 minutes long and is literally ONE RIFF. The drummer goes to half time a few times in the song. That is it. I have actually listened to it all the way through just so I could confirm this. It was hard.

They play 1-2 gigs a month on average. They. Get. GIGS.

Metal is about an attitude. When some people hear that a few metal bands are playing at the local bar, they will go, no matter who said bands are. Because they enjoy the scene, the attitude etc of a metal show. The music sadly does not matter.


Is this what we have come to? Is all lost? Is metal just about a bunch of drunk bros shoving and sweating all over each other?

No, it's not. Far from it. Metal is some of the most beautiful, versatile, and (although it really doesn't matter) technically challenging music in existence. It is a huge genre with bands calling themselves anything from "deathcore" (which we will touch upon in a later part of this thread) to "adult contemporary progressive death metal".

In my next post I will show you some bands that break this stereotype. Bands that will make you think, make you wonder "how did they play that?" They might make you actually enjoy metal.... if you have an open mind.

[bolophonic]

I might have to skip this thread once all the know-it-all's who don't listen to heavy metal start typing their opinion on heavy metal. Personally, I think it is the greatest form of music ever invented.

[s_mcsleazy]

its the same for punks in many ways. the older genaration are too eletist (not in all cases but in about 60% they are) and theres the younger genaration who think greenday and blink 182 are punk when really there just watered down vertions.

[Righteous Thunderer]

Originally Posted by bolophonic

I might have to skip this thread once all the know-it-all's who don't listen to heavy metal start typing their opinion on heavy metal. Personally, I think it is the greatest form of music ever invented.

+1

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

its the same for punks in many ways. the older genaration are too eletist (not in all cases but in about 60% they are) and theres the younger genaration who think greenday and blink 182 are punk when really there just watered down vertions.

well what was punk besides watered down musicianship....it was an atavistic endeavor from jump street.....when viewed as a musical genre punk never got off the ground.....when viewed as social phenomena,rebellious youth,lifestyle etc it became something ...no one went to listen to music....

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Because of Metallica?

Yes. Yes it is.

They made metal huge. And they, acting like a bunch of drunk guys they are (or were), attracted lots of drunk fans.

That makes sense, because before Metallica, rock bands never acted like a bunch of drunk guys, attracting lots of drunk fans.

And they gave everyone that image in their heads when they think of a metal fan.

College kids gave everyone that image.

No, it's not. Far from it. Metal is some of the most beautiful, versatile, and (although it really doesn't matter) technically challenging music in existence.

That's how I felt about KISS. I remember having this same discussion with my dad, in 1978.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by fdeck

That makes sense, because before Metallica, rock bands never acted like a bunch of drunk guys, attracting lots of drunk fans.

I never said they did.

Originally Posted by fdeck

College kids gave everyone that image.

Metal fans go to college?

Originally Posted by fdeck

That's how I felt about KISS. I remember having this same discussion with my dad, in 1978.

That is sad.

[JoeVictim]

I really didn't start listening to "metal" until recently when I felt that the punk scene had became stale and I was getting to the point where everything I wanted to listen to was recorded before 1990. I have been listening to stoner metal mostly, Sabbath, High On Fire, Black Cobra and the like and I saw my first "metal show" a few months back when HOF headlined. I totally didn't get that vibe at all. Everyone seemed to just be having a good time. Some people drink to have a good time and some don't. That is life.

[Atticus]

It's a bit unfair to give Alcoholica all the credit for inspiring metal stereotypes. Metal has been around for a lot longer than they have. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill were going nuts with booze and drugs when James and Lars hadn't even hit double digit ages.

[plangentmusic]

Bottom line: Rock and roll of all types is a music of rebellion. Raucous behavior goes along with it.

However...there are millions of kids that think that's all they need -- or they're entitled to be obnoxious because it's cool -- or they have no intention on being professional because they're so awesome they can do whatever they want.

One is a million gets lucky. The rest quit, work at Burger King or actually learn how to play.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by Atticus

It's a bit unfair to give Alcoholica all the credit for inspiring metal stereotypes. Metal has been around for a lot longer than they have. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill were going nuts with booze and drugs when James and Lars hadn't even hit double digit ages.

That is true. I chose them to mention based on the response of 3 of my friends. I asked them the question of what band started the stereotype, they all said Metallica.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

its the same for punks in many ways. the older genaration are too eletist (not in all cases but in about 60% they are) and theres the younger genaration who think greenday and blink 182 are punk when really there just watered down vertions.

18 year old Metalhead here, but definitely not of the "younger generation" stereotype. See, stereotypes exist everywhere. I agree there are some real slack guys who think they are Metalheads, just because they listen to some Metallica or Judas Priest or something, but Metal is a way of life. All my close Metalhead friends and myself are quite intelligent and study a lot of science and mathmatics and such. But we really don't have to prove ourselves to a bunch of guys on a website who couldn't really care about Metal. All I hear all day on this forum is Jaco this and Wooten that. As soon as anyone mentions a bit of Cliff Burton, everyone jumps out of the thread as if a plague-infested rat scuttled in.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by Burlington

In my next post I will show you some bands that break this stereotype.

So then make with the enlightenment already!

[R. Laevinus]

...it's the retards.

Really, it's the punk-*** losers with chips on their shoulders and something to prove, that gave us the stereotype, and, in my humble opinion, so utterly destroyed the scene that it's no longer worth paying attention to.

But don't feel bad: they also did it to punk, to goth, to 80's metal, to hard rock in the 60's and 70's, to indie now, to electronica in the 90's, et al. Really it's only a matter of time, once somebody creates something new and exciting, before the meatheads move in to posture and to pillage.

I don't think metal fans are meatheads. I just think that the metal scene is currently populated by large numbers of meatheads.

But don't worry. They'll move on eventually, once they've ruined everything there is to ruin. And then metal can come and sit in the dark with the rest of the forgotten, once-awesome genres that got ****-ed over by the overwhelming population of idiots in our world.

Cheers.

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by Burlington

When I thought about making this thread, I wanted to disprove the metal stereotype. The the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true.

May want to change the title then...

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

...it's the retards.

Really, it's the punk-*** losers with chips on their shoulders and something to prove, that gave us the stereotype, and, in my humble opinion, so utterly destroyed the scene that it's no longer worth paying attention to.

But don't feel bad: they also did it to punk, to goth, to 80's metal, to hard rock in the 60's and 70's, to indie now, to electronica in the 90's, et al. Really it's only a matter of time, once somebody creates something new and exciting, before the meatheads move in to posture and to pillage.

I don't think metal fans are meatheads. I just think that the metal scene is currently populated by large numbers of meatheads.

But don't worry. They'll move on eventually, once they've ruined everything there is to ruin. And then metal can come and sit in the dark with the rest of the forgotten, once-awesome genres that got ****-ed over by the overwhelming population of idiots in our world.

Cheers.

Indeed. There are the same kinda people in every genre. I think they are already moving on. I see a lot of them in this newish wave of Hardcore/Metal fusion genres. All your Metalcore, Deathcore, Wankcore shite. The amount of "meatheads" as you put it, seem to come in large numbers to real Metal shows and mess things up with their crappy attitudes. I also believe the best Metal bands are already there to be found in the deepest, darkest corners of the Earth. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of Metallica, but give me some Gojira, Opeth or Meshuggah over them anyday. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll get a great local band on doing a better job too.

Edit: There's 3 bands for the OP to add to this so called 2nd post that is meant to be being written.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Burlington

"adult contemporary progressive death metal".

Sting/Elton John meets Opeth/Arcturus? Would love to listen to some of that!

Originally Posted by elgecko

So then make with the enlightenment already!

The emboldened part, here, is important:

Originally Posted by Burlington

In my next post I will show you some bands that break this stereotype. ... They might make you actually enjoy metal.... if you have an open mind.

If so, I could provide a bunch of names here. For a start, how's King's X?

I think an emerging aspect of the metal stereotype is the dirty, unintelligent troglodyte trying to justify himself.

To be a good musician, you need to get rid of prejudices, IMHO. If you don't like a certain kind of music, it's a different matter. But don't diss any certain kind just because you don't like its musical aspects.

[audiophile21]

listen to ANY lamb of god song, you will **** brix

[sloasdaylight]

Metal musicians who look like they should be in an indie band instead.

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Most metal fans, and, dare I say, metal musicians are people who want to seem tough. They see this as a scene, feel they will get respect, and admiration, because possibly they've never been in a position like that before. This is sad, and it gives metal in general a bad name.

IMO Metal musicians and metal fans are of the same cloth really... Those drawn to metal were really outsiders in the beginning. Those that didn't seem to fit in and were different. Metal gave a oneness to them, a place were they had commonality with others. From a group comes strength. Whether perceived or real it made Metal Heads feel good and strong. So if something brings outsiders together and gives them what feels like strength, should that be abandoned? Isn't it they that started it in the first place?