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The press, failing to understand the complex cultural characteristics and subgenres that the style possessed, began to associate the image of Heavy Metal with violence, drug abuse, and Satanism.
By Juninho
In the mid-1960s, some young people from Birmingham, England, formed a band. Their guitarist, Tony Iommi , noticed that long lines frequently formed at the horror movie screenings in the city's cinema. According to Ozzy Osbourne in his book "I Am Ozzy," the idea of making a different kind of music at the time came from Iommi; after all, if horror movies were successful, perhaps music that provoked fear could also achieve the same fame. That's how Black Sabbath ended up creating what many consider the first heavy metal album in history.
Obviously, the name Heavy Metal emerged later, but it is believed that the future followers of this style preceded it. Bands that played the heaviest sound of the time, such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, were already filling concert halls with people who listened and "banged" their heads. They were the first headbangers. Anthropologists who study urban subcultures believe that, in addition to the dark characteristics of Black Sabbath (riffs, album art, dark colors, song themes, etc.), a decisive factor in the identification of headbangers with the band was the fact that its members took this behavior to the stage: the quartet also "headbanged" live.
It was in the late 70s/early 80s, with the style already known as Heavy Metal, that the nickname Headbanger or Metalhead became established. It was also during this period that the typical style and clothing became definitive, once again with a band as a reference, Judas Priest.
Young people who enjoyed heavy metal music would be able to see their idols performing live for the first time.”
During the 1980s, Metal was certainly one of the most widespread musical styles in the world. At this time, Brazil was experiencing the final period of the military dictatorship, which had planned a "broad, general, and unrestricted opening," followed by the criticized government of José Sarney. The feeling of freedom of expression grew, exiles returned to the country, and we began to have, albeit limited, access to cultural material from abroad. Specifically in the global Metal scene, Iron Maiden stood out as the greatest exponent of the period. They were the most widely known band in Brazil, which was beginning to discover "heavy rock," as the mainstream media then promoted it. This scenario is certainly reflected here even today, where Iron Maiden is definitively the biggest influence on the style.
In 1985, for the first time in history, a Latin American country hosted a festival that would feature the biggest Heavy Metal stars of the time. Rock in Rio was born, conceived and organized by businessman Roberto Medina. Young people who enjoyed heavy metal could finally see their idols performing live.
"The time has passed when you were judged for wearing band t-shirts, rings, chains, bracelets, patches, or having tattoos."
Of course, with an event of such gigantic proportions, the involvement of the mainstream media was inevitable. And that's exactly what happened, with Rede Globo television having exclusive rights to broadcast and cover Rock in Rio. However, how to explain to the masses of the time, a group that included a staggering number of people with minimal access to education and information, who these young people with long hair and dressed in black were, even in the intense Brazilian heat? The solution was to invent the term "Metaleiro" (Metalhead), which initially had no derogatory connotation.
It was clear that even the most famous and supposedly best-prepared Brazilian journalists were unprepared to address the subject on national television. The first reports completely and unnecessarily mixed politics and heavy metal, portraying the new scene emerging in the country in a confused and unrealistic way. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for sensationalism to begin based on isolated exaggerations that didn't reflect the behavioral reality of Brazilian headbangers. The press, failing to understand the complex cultural characteristics and subgenres of the style, began to associate the image of Heavy Metal with violence, drug abuse, and Satanism. The consequences of this are still being felt today (not long ago Arnaldo Jabor made unfortunate comments about the tragedy involving the death of Dimebag Darrell, one of the saddest and most regrettable episodes in the history of Metal).
Due to this completely misguided interpretation by the Brazilian media, it is common to see Brazilian headbangers rejecting the label of "Metalhead," placing the blame on the biggest telecommunications company in the country: Rede Globo.
Headbanger, Metalhead, or Metalhead, which is best? It doesn't matter. Opinions don't change quickly. Demanding to be called something else won't make any kind of prejudice disappear. Strengthening the scene with good, solid content and consistently conscious and coherent attitudes is essential. In this way, the possibility of gradually changing the absolutely distorted common sense that exists about Heavy Metal and all those who follow this philosophy here in Brazil becomes more concrete.
We no longer live in times of ignorance. Today, access to information is easy and immediate. The time when you were judged for wearing band t-shirts, rings, chains, bracelets, patches, or having tattoos is long gone.
May common sense prevail!
Hugs to all!
\,,/
Juninho
*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.
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