The Media and Metal Circa 1987

[My Man Mahmoud]

1987 20/20 Segment on Heavy Metal Pt. 1

1987 20/20 Segment on Heavy Metal Pt. 2

There's an interesting phenomenon at work here that I've noticed before. While the mainstream media has always failed to adequately distinguish between actual metal and pale imitations in promotional stories, it seems to have no such trouble where polemics against the music are concerned. Other than Tipper Gore's brief reference to Motley Crue and maybe 10 seconds of stock footage, all of the references focus on actual metal: Metallica, Maiden, Ozzy and SOD.

Maybe I am becoming paranoid...

 

[Jim LotFP]

Maybe I am becoming paranoid...

Nah, it's an easy distinction. They were obviously going for the violence and suicide angle... If they'd gone for the graphic sex part of the "problem" I'm sure the bands highlighted would have been different. Even a mainstream news program can't screw THAT up.

More fun with people being "concerned" about the content of music:

Frank Zappa on Crossfire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ISil7IHzxc

Jello Biafra vs Tipper Gore on Oprah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzJEqcHvNs

... and Oderus Urungus and Beefcake the Mighty on the Joan Rivers show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWRKlNlRsgI

 

[My Man Mahmoud]

Possibly, but this isn't the first time I've seen the media be remarkably accurate in its definitions in an anti-metal polemic.