The German TV documentary ARD , Heavy Metal Saved My Life , shows the fundamental role that heavy metal plays in people's lives, helping them overcome various problems. The series by Andreas Krieger and Mariska Lief consists of two episodes.
In the first chapter, the audience learns the story of Andy , who struggled with heroin addiction. Iron Maiden , " Fear Of The Dark ," was essential during this difficult period, giving him strength. Meanwhile, Mexican artist Zyanya reveals that the track inspired her to overcome depression after being sexually abused and to pursue her passion for playing drums.
The second chapter explores the LGBTQ+ community's connection to the musical genre.
The episodes also feature appearances by artists such as Bruce Dickinson , Rob Halford , and Roddy Bottum of Faith No More .
Brann Dailor , from Mastodon , who lost his 14-year-old sister to suicide as a teenager, is one of the other guests on the documentary. He explains the commitment of the project: “The interviews are like therapy sessions in many ways. You can talk about these things that you put into your songs and the things that inspired those songs. You can kind of understand them… Talking about the things that played a big role in what helped create those songs helps” (via Loudersound ).
The musician also commented on the positive impact of heavy metal: “There are more passionate fans in metal than… well, I don’t want to belittle other types of music, but the fanbase is extreme and lifelong. If you find a band you love, you’ll be there until the end. It becomes part of your identity, your tribe. Many metal fans feel out of place, as if they are excluded from society, and we come together because of that. It’s important to value these people and make them not feel alone; metal provides that: love, friendship, and camaraderie.”
Watch the two episodes of Heavy Metal Saved My Life :
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