Why do we listen to and appreciate bands such as Opeth? Are we hardwired to listen to certain types of music or is it a result of what we experience in our upbringing? In short - is there a Metal Gene?
Whenever I consider a nature vs. nurture question, I usually cop out and just say it's probably a little of both. Some of you may feel the same. I'm asking you to take a side, or at least to say which you think is more influential.
For my own experience, I grew up in a house largely deviod of good music. My father listened to the news. He did like jazz and classical, but not in any way that I was exposed to it on a regular basis. My mother listened to oldies and top-40. As a result, I know the words to every song written between 1978 and 1989. Thanks a lot mom.
Anyway, I didn't hear any metal until I saw Metallica on MTV in 1988. For some reason, One appealed to me. Then it was Guns n Roses, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Testament, Overkill, Sepultura, and before I knew it, I was 19, had hair halfway down my back, and was a fulltime metalhead.
Now I'm 30, and have mellowed some. But I discovered Opeth a few years ago and they are the only band in the past 5 or 10 years that has really knocked me for a loop. I'm also getting into more of the progressive bands such as Rush, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd and Camel.
So, was the lack of influence from my parents proof that I am somehow internally wired to like metal music? I'm not really sure. There must be something to it, though. But I also know of people who grow up in situations where they are heavily influenced, yet don't end up going in the same direction, be it in musical taste or whatever.
In the end, I would have to vote for nature as being a little more influential than nurture. Obviously, experience has a lot to do with it. But I just know too many people who are nothing like their parents or friends when it comes to musical taste.
What say you?
Whenever I consider a nature vs. nurture question, I usually cop out and just say it's probably a little of both. Some of you may feel the same. I'm asking you to take a side, or at least to say which you think is more influential.
For my own experience, I grew up in a house largely deviod of good music. My father listened to the news. He did like jazz and classical, but not in any way that I was exposed to it on a regular basis. My mother listened to oldies and top-40. As a result, I know the words to every song written between 1978 and 1989. Thanks a lot mom.
Anyway, I didn't hear any metal until I saw Metallica on MTV in 1988. For some reason, One appealed to me. Then it was Guns n Roses, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Testament, Overkill, Sepultura, and before I knew it, I was 19, had hair halfway down my back, and was a fulltime metalhead.
Now I'm 30, and have mellowed some. But I discovered Opeth a few years ago and they are the only band in the past 5 or 10 years that has really knocked me for a loop. I'm also getting into more of the progressive bands such as Rush, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd and Camel.
So, was the lack of influence from my parents proof that I am somehow internally wired to like metal music? I'm not really sure. There must be something to it, though. But I also know of people who grow up in situations where they are heavily influenced, yet don't end up going in the same direction, be it in musical taste or whatever.
In the end, I would have to vote for nature as being a little more influential than nurture. Obviously, experience has a lot to do with it. But I just know too many people who are nothing like their parents or friends when it comes to musical taste.
What say you?
