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Threads concerning heavy metal: music's true nerds?

#282
Spectrum said:
Doesn't this apply to all music that isn't mainstream? Metalheads, prog rock, electronica, punk/college/alt rock, stoner/doom etc. etc. They all argue all day about who is the "real thing" or which is the "purest". Which band invented heavy metal? I saw Social Distortion playing Ring of Fire and claiming that punk was invented by Johnny Cash. If you say so.

This applies to all subcultures, not just music. Trekkies and sci fi fans, of course, but also goths and others.

Metal is great. And it's fun to argue about, as long as the arguing is just for fun, like arguing about sports. Punk rock fans are similar, but they add in some politics and anger to make it even more contentious. That sort of thing discourages outsiders from getting into your music, but maybe that's the idea after all.
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Call me crazy/old, but in my area, metal was NOT popular and it wasn't wise to try to argue against fans of the other genres. I was never really into death metal, but I think the average death metal fan and I could at least agree that Iron Maiden is cool.
 
#283
GeneralElectric said:
I listen to a lot of music and I abhor band shirts. Because we both like "insert band name here" doesn't make us friends. It just means we both like to give bands free advertising. On the rare occasion that I do wear a band shirt, its usually a cool design I like with the actual band's name in small font somewhere in it.

I think its a cop out to identify yourself by what kind of music you listen to and make into some perverse mockery of a lifestyle. Is it so much to identify yourself by who you are and not what you listen to?

I played sports in high school, I listened to music, I played in bands, did extremely well in school, and I did a lot of drugs. I didn't identify myself as a jock, **** head, band guy, nerd, or druggie/stoner. I identified myself as GeneralElectric, while most just called me a bit weird. I had a hot girlfriend too for all of high-school, although she was a metal head:scowl: She eventually started dressing normal.

As a college student, I've learned to avoid those who embrace the vestiges of metal still.
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Even though this thread is quite old, I feel obligated to post my opinion on this as a metal-head college graduate...

Who cares!? Seriously?

The bolded statement makes you seem self-righteous, elitist, and above others who enjoy metal music and see it as part of their overall identity. Or anything else for that matter. Having common interests is how friends were made since the beginning of man for all we know. How did YOU make friends, if you are so opposed to the concept of openly sharing or displaying your mutual interests with people?

Also, why do you care what your girlfriend wears so much?! If you really loved her, you would not give two hoots about her choice of clothing and let her wear what she damn well pleases. It is no ones business but her own. And no one cares what you did or did not partake in during high-school. It is completely irrelevant.

You have made an ass of yourself for saying what you said. As a college student at the time, you should have known better...

This is THE musical genre that inspired me to pick up the bass over six years ago. What is so wrong in being loyal to something you enjoy that makes you happy?

Based on your statements, you would do well to avoid me, as I will forever embrace Metal as my favorite musical genre. Band shirts and all.

Good day, sir.
 
#290
Wergrun said:
Lol, my older brother thinks I'm closed minded about metal because I reject most of the music he shows me.

I just don't take influence well, I like to find my own way through the music maze.
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My brother makes fun of me for listening to a wide variety of music then calls me close minded because I can't tell the difference between Sweedish progressive death metal bands and Nordic progressive death metal. :eyebrow:
 
#293
If metalheads are the true nerds of music, then what are bands such as Alt-J? That is, bands whose members are actual nerds who write music about films and literature that few people understand, are progressive, and not afraid to whip out a toy xylophone and use it as a serious instrument.

I'm not saying you are wrong, per se, because their drummer used to be in a metal band. But even he is unusually odd and plays a kit with no cymbals of any kind. He uses a cowbell instead of a high hat. I mean, come on... THESE are your nerds.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRBMgvKVWPa7X5jPd9nOgtygFW3BxVBQqPB5RGI-Hx6nknvijS.jpg
 
#294
Nev375 said:
If metalheads are the true nerds of music, then what are bands such as Alt-J? That is, bands whose members are actual nerds who write music about films and literature that few people understand, are progressive, and not afraid to whip out a toy xylophone and use it as a serious instrument.

I'm not saying you are wrong, per se, because their drummer used to be in a metal band. But even he is unusually odd and plays a kit with no cymbals of any kind. He uses a cowbell instead of a high hat. I mean, come on... THESE are your nerds.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRBMgvKVWPa7X5jPd9nOgtygFW3BxVBQqPB5RGI-Hx6nknvijS.jpg
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I agree with this. Metalheads are not "really" nerds per-say, we are just overly passionate about our genre of choice. :D
 
#296
Nev375 said:
If metalheads are the true nerds of music, then what are bands such as Alt-J? That is, bands whose members are actual nerds who write music about films and literature that few people understand, are progressive, and not afraid to whip out a toy xylophone and use it as a serious instrument.

I'm not saying you are wrong, per se, because their drummer used to be in a metal band. But even he is unusually odd and plays a kit with no cymbals of any kind. He uses a cowbell instead of a high hat. I mean, come on... THESE are your nerds.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRRBMgvKVWPa7X5jPd9nOgtygFW3BxVBQqPB5RGI-Hx6nknvijS.jpg
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Maybe look into Ron Jarzombek :
 
#297
Generally metalheads = Love fantasy and sci-fi in any form and horror films. Sometimes mainly horror films. At least those i've known. Some are also very science minded (it tends to depend on their level of education)

Its weird because i've always had really geeky interests, i've been a gamer for all my life, i like fantasy (big into Tolkien and Robert E Howard) and sci-fi, i have a collection of gamebooks that counts 400 books (if you don't know what they are see Fighting Fantasy or Lone wolf on wikipedia, basically single player RPG books structured like choose your own adventure books with simple rule systems that dont require separate rule books, the vast majority of them are fantasy or sci fi themed...i'm on a gamebook collector forum and at least 80% of the people on there are metalheads. I also collect toy cars but thats not very metally..though they ARE muscle cars) The thing is i just dont like songs to be themed around these things (which i do realise not all metal is but they tend to often evoke similar themes). Its true however I don't have a huge interest in horror films but i still enjoy them. I just don't like the geeky nerdy stuff to seep into my music. For my taste, music is separate and should not really be (too) geeky/nerdy.

More often than not what really turns me off metal is when its overly technical (relies too much on solos) AND mainly the vocals. The metal bands i do sorta enjoy (not big on it at all but i do have some mp3s here and there) all have actual singers. Not necessarily good ones but they don't scream at least. And theres just something about taking on a kind of sinister voice that just seems too...well...geeky to me. I dont know why you can't do metal with more or less of a straight voice. There's always have to be some "character" to it. I think my ideal metal band would sound sorta like Megadeth and be just instrumental. Does something similar exist?
 
#299
I'd have to say that the true nerds are the prog fans, but metal -- and especially very fannish power metal such as Rhapsody of Fire or Blind Guardian -- is pretty nerdy too. Which makes Ayreon the nerdiest thing ever?

(I'm both a prog fan and a metalhead, btw.)

Actually, the nerdiest of the nerdy would be the genres and artists that musicians are into but the general public isn't.
 

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