Yeah, there are those fantastic bands of course.
But here`s the problem: When you tell the people that you like metal, hardly everyone will think that:
1) You are fat. (Well, I am)
2) You have very long, dark hair. (mid-long, brown-red)
3) You have no friends. (I have 4 'true' friends and many 'normal' friends)
4) You have no girl-/boyfriend. (I`m married)
5) You have/had problems with the law (not until now, but who knows...)
6) You won`t be a big success. (IT-business)
7) ...
I know one song of Helloween (only): The invisible man. They are a rip of Gamma-Ray, aren`t they?
Haha yeah, I think everyone thinks that about metalheads here too. Also, people tend to think that we're stupid... like cavemen... We're more viking than caveman.
Also, half the members in Gamma-Ray were once in Helloween (I believe Kiske was Helloween's 2nd singer).