My problem with metal

Well, I like most kinds of metal, lately I'm also really into technical/Prog Death like Death,Opeth and the likes.
But when I visit the Metal Bar in my town I get the impression that,while there's lots of great music in this genre , that  it's mostly listened to by such, who always try to appear as evil as possible, behave awfully disrespectful and whose lifes seem to be only about alcohol and headbanging. This also applies to the grown up metallers, who listen to really talented bands like meshuggah.  It may sound like the typical prejudices against metal, but by now they seem to be true. So I like the metal music, but I find the metal scene/culture(however you call it) atrocious. I'm not really sure if I should like music that seems to be mostly listened to by morons ~_~

I have felt that, too...Some metal fans, specially in the US, leave a lot to be desired...In my country, power metal, for example, is a genre mostly heard by a) guitarists; b) low-income angry violent youth...I've felt confused and lonely many times, loving a genre when I see many people love it for all the wrong reasons (or just all the wrong people)... It's normal, it's more violent music than your general radio stuff...And low-income people sometimes have resentment against society for supposed and true injustices, so one of the best channels they can use is music, to express than anger... Also, the shock value appeals to them , too. Whn you're dressed in black or leather, have long hair and the such, you tend to stand out (for better or worse) ina crowd, and some metallers want exactly that, just to piss off the "establishment" .

I've been to countless gigs, clubs and gigs all over the UK for the past 15 years and have never experienced any problem with metalheads, who usually are a lot milder than their outward persona would imply and are surprisingly polite and respectful. All the gigs I've promoted I've never felt the need for security or had any trouble (even with alcohol). In the UK the neaderthals follow different musical genres.

Listeners are way different than lifestylers, although they are not mutually exclusive.  It applies to listeners of all genres.  I work with listeners of country, hip-hop, metal, reggae and smooth jazz. But in the professional environment they don't wear cowboy hats, m16's, frayed denim jackets, tams or wine spritzers (yeah, I know, 2 of those items aren't clothing, but you get the point).  The key is, a bar is not a place where large numbers of intelligent people hang out, regardless of musical interest.  I know there are a few here and there, but they are the exception to the rule. And it's no different anywhere in the country I have been, or for that matter, the world.

I'm not a big metal guy, but I know a few people who are into it. Two people I work with are big metal fans. They are both very intelligent, and pleasant individuals.

Bj-1 wrote: I know lot's of metal enthusiasts and they're some of the nicest people I know actually, and they're not the evil worshipper kind either even though they wear black. They listen to metal because they like it. In Norway, many metalheads are like that actually, at least based on the people I've met.

metalheads are ok as long as they don't stick obsessively to metal music only. regarding the way they behave, well, generally fans like to go nuts at gigs but in "real life" most of them are as normal as it gets. I'm a metalfan, for instance, and i do not even drink alcohol. But when it comes to gigs, , i am not quite the most pleasent person to be standing next to.

Wuschel wrote: Well, I like most kinds of metal, lately I'm also really into technical/Prog Death like Death,Opeth and the likes. But when I visit the Metal Bar in my town I get the impression that,while there's lots of great music in this genre , that  it's mostly listened to by such, who always try to appear as evil as possible, behave awfully disrespectful and whose lifes seem to be only about alcohol and headbanging. This also applies to the grown up metallers, who listen to really talented bands like meshuggah.  It may sound like the typical prejudices against metal, but by now they seem to be true. So I like the metal music, but I find the metal scene/culture(however you call it) atrocious. I'm not really sure if I should like music that seems to be mostly listened to by morons ~_~

MikeEnRegalia wrote: micky wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ every music scene has its morons ... metal too of course, thanks to cliche and stereotyping (Beavis and Butthead, anyone?). sure .... since you ask Nice idea, but I don't think there are too many people who like prog metal and love Beavis and Butthead. Personally I could laugh about some of the jokes, but ultimately I don't like them.

man I LOVED that show..

Wuschel wrote: Well, I like most kinds of metal, lately I'm also really into technical/Prog Death like Death,Opeth and the likes. But when I visit the Metal Bar in my town I get the impression that,while there's lots of great music in this genre , that  it's mostly listened to by such, who always try to appear as evil as possible, behave awfully disrespectful and whose lifes seem to be only about alcohol and headbanging. This also applies to the grown up metallers, who listen to really talented bands like meshuggah.  It may sound like the typical prejudices against metal, but by now they seem to be true. So I like the metal music, but I find the metal scene/culture(however you call it) atrocious. I'm not really sure if I should like music that seems to be mostly listened to by morons ~_~

I agree, most metal shows I go to you'd stand out if you weren't wearing a black shirt and there are morons who say the band's name in death grunts and act like douches and stuff and people who try and be/look all evil and such.

 I'm a massive metal fan and it's kinda lame that stereotypes about metal are perpetuated by dunderheads who want to be more evil than other people or who act like asses or have superiorty complexes or are satanists and stupid stuff like that. I'm lucky that I have some good friends who enjoy extreme metal that look and act like fairly normal, nice people as I myself try to be.

Sure all genres have their share of lame fans it's just metal has a whole lot more than most. I'd say prog is one of the best, there are quite a few dream theatre/tool fanboys and those pretentious types who feel the need to try and prove they are smarter than others but for the most part prog fans are a very open minded and welcoming bunch as is evidenced by the people of this forum.