Each week, HEAVY will run a fresh list of 15 things to do with metal. They could be anything from metal karaoke songs to bands that have been banned from playing to horror-themed metal bands. You name it, if there are 15 or more of them out there, then HEAVY will assemble them into a list for you! This week’s list is Metal Bands Your Parents Hate. What’s more, at the bottom of each weekly list, we will tell you the subject of next week’s list and how you can use it to win yourself a signed CD from Better Noise Music artists.
While they swear they have only our best interests in mind, from the dawn of time, our parents have always had bands they just don’t want their kids listening to. It could be overly sexual, overly violent or religious or just too loud, but whatever it is, dear Mum and Dad just HATE some bands. And wait until Nanna hears you’re listening to them… HEAVY had heaps to choose from, but here’s our 15 List.
W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. didn’t do themselves any favours here, with their confrontational style and explicit lyrics putting them at odds with religious and political groups. Throughout their career, they received death threats, bomb threats at gigs and earned the wrath of many.
They were considered overtly sexual, aggressive to the point of violence and bad role models for children, hence their making the list. When Johnny took Chainsaw Charlie to school for show and tell, shit really hit the fan.
VENOM
Venom put a target on their own backs with the use of Satanic themes and imagery, especially in their lyrics. They explored taboo subjects such as the occult and witchcraft, using their album covers to convey images that disgusted parents and religious folk alike. While they later claimed their approach was just a gimmick, the damage had been done, and parents the world over were still left burning any semblance of Venom in their households.
When Johnny was asked what football team he supported, and replied he was already In League With Satan parents started looking for an antidote to Venom, but unfortunately came up short.
MERCYFUL FATE
Another band who were shunned due to their Satanic and occult imagery and references. Released in what was dubbed the Satanic Panic era, songs like Into the Coven appeared on the PMRC’s Filthy Fifteen list of objectionable songs.
When asked what he considered the essence of the afterlife, Johnny shrugged and told his Sunday School teacher to Burn In Hell, and that went down even worse than expected.
GREEN DAY
Green Day were/are hated because of their general disregard for convention and themes surrounding alcohol, drug use and political apathy. They encouraged a generation of kids to ‘bite my lip and close my eyes‘ to get them to ‘paradise‘, which naturally pissed parents off who had to wash their kids socks…
IRON MAIDEN
Another band to fall victim to the Satanic Panic plague that swept through the 1980s. Parents shunned the band’s imagery and lyrics, deeming it too loud and fast for their children’s tender ears. It was when children started a mass exodus to Run To The Hills that parents really cracked down.
ALICE COOPER
Albums like Love It to Death, Killer, School’s Out, and Billion Dollar Babies turned them into superstars, producing legendary hits like I’m Eighteen, Elected, School’s Out and No More Mr Nice Guy, but parents hated Alice Cooper because of his perceived violent acts and provocation of rebelliousness through the bands’ music.
It didn’t help that their live show included a public beheading and sexually suggestive set pieces. These theatrics were in direct contrast to the conservative values of the time, with parents taking particular umbrage when their kids glared at them and sang No More Mister Nice Guy.
KISS
KISS are the band everyone loves to hate, parents included. But this time it was more from the husbands who were scared that Gene Simmons would steal their wives with a flick of the tongue. Their make-up and costumes were considered too over the top, and their songs promoting free love and open sexuality were seen as a threat to anyone who knew how to work a moral compass.
The band oozed sexuality and were not afraid to spread their message to the masses. When children started to Rock and Roll All Night and Party Every Day that was the last straw. Also going against them was the widely held belief that KISS stands for Knights In Satan’s Service.
AC/DC
Another band whose name invoked sheer terror amongst parents and religious groups, with many claiming it means Anti-Christ/Devil’s Child. A hard-rocking and carefree Australian group, AC/DC were hated most during Bon Scott’s period as vocalist, with Scott likely being the person for whom the term Lock Up Your Daughters was coined.
Songs like The Jack were thought to be about a sexual disease, and when little Johnny shaped up at school one day and snarled If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It at his maths teacher, parents united in global protest against AC/DC‘s impact on their kids, but unfortunately were unable to do stuff all about it.
DEF LEPPARD
Def Leppard make the list simply because they were a rock/metal band that all the boys wanted to be and all the girls wanted to be with. Deemed too sleazy by most parents, their blending of rock and metal was considered a temptation of the devil, and when Johnny came home from school one day and ordered his sister to Pour Some Sugar On Me, shit really hit the fan…
TWISTED SISTER
The moment Twisted Sister declared We’re Not Gonna Take It and children the world over started repeating it to their parents, was the moment they made it onto the official naughty list. Their flamboyant nature and violent imagery sent conflicting messages as well, while offensive content in their lyrics brought Twisted Sister to the attention of the PMRC. At one stage, frontman Dee Snider testified at a 1985 Senate hearing against censorship and the proposed labels on albums.
The last straw broke when kids ran into the dining room, guitar in hand, screaming I Wanna Rock over Sunday roast.
JUDAS PRIEST
The knives sharpened for Judas Priest the moment kids began to find pleasure in Breaking The Law.
That, coupled with the band’s attire of leather and studs and alleged subliminal messages in one of their songs put Judas Priest firmly on the radar. Their music was put on public trial, while lyrics were scrutinised for double meanings.
When Rob Halford smiled and proclaimed to the haters, You’ve Got Another Thing Coming, parents backed off a bit, concerned for their welfare and becoming more concerned looking over their shoulder in order to catch a glimpse of whatever was coming before it converted them to the dark side.
MOTLEY CRUE
When kids started standing in circles chanting Shout At The Devil over Christmas lunch, parents, religious folk, and even people on the fence united to try and run Motley Crue out of town. Parents hated that their children could be seduced by the sexual nature of the Crue‘s music and lifestyles in general, with public displays of violence and drug abuse putting a target firmly on every part of Motley Crue‘s life and career.
When Johnny was asked what he wanted for Christmas and demanded Girls, Girls, Girls he was grounded for one month and the public outcry to have Motley Crue removed from this Earthly plane grew deafening, but they didn’t give a shit. They just kept Smoking In The Boys Room, then drank more JD…
BLACK SABBATH
Black Sabbath were deemed to be purveyors of the dark side, thought to be in league with Satan and other creatures of the night that weren’t good enough for children. Ozzy Osbourne‘s public antics, such as snorting ants with fellow naughty kids Motley Crue, didn’t help, and despite being told they were just Paranoid, parents pointed to the fact Black Sabbath were friends with Mr Crowley to make their point. Did Black Sabbath care? Um… no.
BODY COUNT
Their confronting, honest, and brutal lyrics ensured Body Count made the naughty list before releasing their debut album. Ice T was already shunned by parents because of the rawness and perceived hostility in his rap tunes, but when given greater depth by blending his music with heavy metal, the forces of good found common ground to solidify the fight.
Not that Body Count ever gave two shits, with the song Cop Killer being banned before release because it was seen to be anti-doughnut due to the early reference to jelly cream doughnuts being a means of distraction to the LAPD. Upon hearing this, Johnny was heard to moan There Goes The Neighbourhood with his parents promptly putting him on house arrest so he didn’t get involved.
SLAYER
With album titles like South Of Heaven and Hell Awaits, Slayer never had a hope of getting an invite to the family Christmas dinner. Their violent and provocative lyrics were seen to be an affront to the portals of Hell, and imagery of pentagrams on album covers led to Slayer facing bans of various measures.
When Johnny was told it was bedtime, and he barked at his Mother Death Will Come And I Will Follow parents all over the world took up arms against Slayer, who simply shrugged it off as yet another case of people taking things the wrong way.
Next week, HEAVY will be assembling a list of 15 Bands That Have Been Banned, and if you want to be in the running to win one of three weekly draws for a signed CD from Better Noise Music artists, including Bad Wolves whose album Die About It Deluxe is out now, simply sign up to the free weekly digimag HERE. Then email [email protected] and tell us three bands you think should be in our list of 15 Bands That Have Been Banned. Please put Bands That Have Been Banned in the subject area. Existing subscribers just have to email the three bands. Does it get any easier?
