How heavy metal and Satan gave us this sticker

Summary

In the 1980s, a cultural battle unfolded as the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) pushed for the censorship of rock music, particularly targeting heavy metal. The debate reached a peak with a dramatic 1985 congressional hearing, where music experts, politicians, and parents clashed over explicit lyrics and the alleged dangers of rock music. Key figures like Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver defended artistic freedom, while the PMRC's moral crusade sparked fears of censorship and its impact on the music industry. This era also gave rise to the iconic 'explicit lyrics' sticker, marking a shift in the way music was marketed and consumed.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 1985 congressional hearing on rock music lyrics, led by the PMRC, became a pivotal moment in the debate over music censorship in the U.S.
• 😀 The PMRC, led by Tipper Gore and others, aimed to regulate explicit content in music, particularly lyrics related to sex, violence, and the occult.
• 😀 Heavy metal music, with its dark imagery and controversial themes, was disproportionately targeted in the PMRC’s 'Filthy Fifteen' list, including songs by bands like Prince, AC/DC, and Twisted Sister.
• 😀 The debate over rock music censorship sparked intense public conversations about the role of government, parents, and artists in regulating music.
• 😀 Rock musicians, including Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider, defended their right to free speech and criticized the PMRC for censorship and moral policing.
• 😀 The PMRC’s push for a rating system for albums led to the iconic 'explicit lyrics' sticker, which has since become a widely recognized symbol of censorship in music.
• 😀 The rise of backmasking (reversed messages in songs) led to widespread paranoia, with claims that rock music contained hidden satanic messages.
• 😀 The religious right, including televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart, contributed to the moral panic around rock music, often linking it to youth violence, suicide, and Satanism.
• 😀 The controversy around rock music and heavy metal coincided with a surge in youth suicides, particularly among teenagers, which led to heavy scrutiny of the genre.
• 😀 Despite the controversy, the explicit lyrics sticker and censorship efforts never fully stopped the rise of rebellious music, with later generations of artists like N.W.A. continuing to push boundaries.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the September 19, 1985 congressional hearing on rock music?

The main focus of the hearing was the portrayal of explicit lyrics in rock music, particularly how it impacted children. The hearing featured a music expert, a reverend, a group of parents, and politicians criticizing the music industry for its lack of morals.

Who led the campaign against explicit rock music lyrics, and what was their goal?

The campaign was led by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), which was founded by the wives of Washington politicians, including Tipper Gore. Their goal was to pressure the music industry to adopt a system for labeling explicit lyrics to protect children from harmful content.

What was the PMRC's 'Filthy Fifteen' list, and why was Prince’s 'Darling Nikki' included?

The PMRC's 'Filthy Fifteen' list was a compilation of 15 songs deemed to have the most explicit content. Prince’s song 'Darling Nikki' was included due to its explicit sexual content, which was seen as inappropriate for children, according to Tipper Gore who had bought the album for her child.

What was the controversy surrounding backmasking in rock music during the 1980s?

Backmasking referred to the supposed subliminal messages embedded in songs when played backwards. Religious groups claimed that rock albums contained satanic messages when reversed, leading to widespread fear and accusations, such as the myth that Led Zeppelin’s 'Stairway to Heaven' contained the message 'My Sweet Satan' when played backward.

How did heavy metal music become a central target for censorship during the 1980s?

Heavy metal music, with its dark, rebellious themes, occult imagery, and controversial lyrics, was particularly scrutinized during the 1980s. Many bands, like AC/DC and KISS, were accused of promoting Satanism and violence, contributing to the backlash against rock music by religious groups and conservative politicians.

What role did MTV play in the rise of heavy metal culture and its backlash?

MTV, which launched in 1981, played a crucial role in popularizing heavy metal by broadcasting music videos. The network's core demographic of mostly white suburban teenagers consumed heavy metal alongside pop, and the genre's intense imagery, often featuring occult themes, sparked controversy, especially among religious groups.

Why was the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) concerned about the influence of rock music on youth?

The PMRC was concerned that rock music, particularly heavy metal, was contributing to youth violence, suicide, and moral decay. They believed that explicit lyrics and violent imagery in music were negatively influencing young listeners and encouraging dangerous behavior.

What impact did the explicit lyrics sticker have on the music industry?

The explicit lyrics sticker, which was introduced in 1990, had significant effects on the music industry. Retailers like Wal-Mart refused to sell albums with the label, leading record labels to create censored versions of albums. This also led to album covers and song titles being altered to remove explicit content.

How did rock stars like Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver respond to the PMRC’s accusations?

Rock stars like Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver defended their right to free expression and argued against censorship. They emphasized the importance of personal choice and free speech, criticizing the PMRC’s attempts to control what children could listen to without considering parental responsibility.

How did the religious right influence the 1980s rock music censorship debate?

The religious right, including televangelists and fringe religious groups, played a significant role in the 1980s rock music censorship debate by warning that Satan was influencing rock music. Their extreme claims, such as rock bands promoting suicide or violence, gained national attention, fueling the moral panic around rock music.