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Why are so many geeks in to metal?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I often get the feeling that most people in to heavy metal (and surrounding genres) I have met are quite geeky/have geeky interests...
Obviously I have no issues with geeks, but I was wondering why there's a following in the subculture.
Does metal often have intelligent lyrics? Do some geeks just vent their anger at gigs?
Obviously I have no issues with geeks, but I was wondering why there's a following in the subculture.
Does metal often have intelligent lyrics? Do some geeks just vent their anger at gigs?
Post edited by JustV on
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also, most of the people i know that love metal also love wwf. hmmm
World Wildlife Fund ?
As a massive metalhead I pretty much think this covers it, though there is a bit more to it. I wouldn't say all metalheads fit the "geek" label, but it is, and has always been, music largely for outsiders. Loath as I am to use that term, as it implies I was an emo, it's the best way to describe it. The French word "étranger" captures the sentiment better than English.
I personally got into it through my dad's love of bands like The Who, the Stones, Cream etc. and got progressively heavier in my tastes. I find metal immensely cathartic, both playing it and listening to it. When you meet metalheads, whilst they may look scary, they are generally the most mellow and chilled people you ever meet. This is part of the reason I love metal clubs so much; few people go there to get smashed and pull as with mainstream clubs - people go for the music.
As for intelligent lyrics, yes, some metal, often the very best of it, has some unbelievable lyrics. Iron Maiden and Motorhead spring immediately to mind. Certainly better lyrics than any of that RnB and pop shite. Not exactly plumbing the depths of the human experience... Furthermore, it has provided some of the most technically gifted musicians of the 20th century, of any genre.
Essentially, it is music for outsiders and to some that may be part of the appeal. It has got me through some of the toughest times in my life, when without it, I might well have hit someone or worse.
Sam Dunn, in his excellent anthropological study into heavy metal called "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" sums it up better than I ever could. Even if you're not into metal, it's a fascinating and extremely well made film, with interviews with the great and the good of metal thrown in for good measure.
ETA: and pop
world wrestling federation
WWF (wrestling) is now WWE
what :nervous: ok maybe im not
I googled Sam Dunn and found he directed/is directing a film about Rush. Well, funnily enough I just uploaded a video of my brother drumming to Rush, so I thought I'd share
Personally I've always liked metal, but I guess I've always been a bit of an outsider too. I don't think my parents influenced it much, as my dad was a glam rocker!
Had a look but couldn't find it.
I did however find an interesting article on one of the omnipresent themes in metal, the tritone. The devil, as they say, has the best tunes.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Steroid enchanced muscle buckets
At a similar age, I was into Breaks + Jungle, people at school called me a chav purely based on the fact that I wasn't into indie or metal. One good thing did come out of that in the end; I got introduced to oi / punk.
But yeah, massive geek not into metal at all. I work with a guy who is.