Many people judge and stereotype the genre of heavy metal music. People say that heavy metal encourages violence, ritual Satanism, and uncleanliness, meaning that metal fans don't shower or take baths. A lot of the stuff that people stereotype metal fans with is not true at all. As a metalhead myself, I've come to notice these stereotypes have proved many people wrong based on my appearance and other factors in my life. Here are some stereotypes of heavy metal that I have proven to be false.
1. All metal fans worship Satan.
Not true. I happen to be a Roman Catholic, however, I mainly see myself as a Christian.
2. Ronnie James Dio invented the "Devil Horns."
Actually, he didn't really invent them. He incorporated them into the heavy metal culture. The truth behind the "devil horns" goes back to Italy and other places in the Mediterranean. Originally called malocchio, the sign of the horns is protection against the evil eye, and you can also give someone the evil eye with the gesture as well. Ronnie James Dio adopted the symbol from his grandmother.
3. All metal fans wear black, have black hair, and have pale skin.
Ok, pause! Look at Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar for a second. Not all of their fashion sense is black and there is plenty of color in their clothing choices. Also, Garth is blond! As for me, I enjoy wearing my Lily Pulitzer outfits on Sundays while my blond hair flows through the wind, thank you very much!
4. Heavy metal music incites violence.
We have all heard about the horrors of mosh pits and murder. As for someone who has witnessed mosh pits at concerts myself, it does get rowdy, but when someone says "stop" or if someone is knocked down, fans will pick that one person back up, give them a pat on the back, and keep moshing. As for murder, people who commit crimes sometimes like to blame the music genre for their actions. This makes me so angry. Individuals should be held accountable for their actions and should not blame music for something they did. The metal bands said it plainly: "We're just making music and we do not condone acts of violence."
5. Heavy metal fans are just nerds who wear makeup and are trying to act tough.
Uh, makeup and being tough? These guys do their makeup better than I do and I'm a girl! Also, look at the muscles on these guys!
6. Heavy metal is only for white people.
This statement also makes me angry. Pictured here is a heavy metal band from Iraq, called Acrassicauda. Despite the challenges they faced in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, they overcame those challenges, created a metal band, and lived to tell the tale of one of the most amazing stories I have heard from heavy metal culture.
7. Heavy metal is only for men.
Here is a picture of the band, Halestorm. They have a female vocalist, Lzzy Hale. Look at it, men! Look at it!
8. All members of metal bands are jerks.
Here are two bands that I am pictured with, the first one is Accursed Creator and the second one is Hasten. All members of both bands had to be some of the nicest people that I have ever met. They also give nice hugs!
Heavy metal is a music genre that has faced judgement and has been stereotyped throughout the ages. However, if a sorority girl can listen to metal, so can anyone else. I've always wanted to debunk these stereotypes and give a new light to heavy metal. These are the inner thoughts of a female metalhead and I hope that I gave the music genre some justice.
