In the 1980s, The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), an organization co-founded by Tipper Gore and the wives of several other Washington power brokers, launched a political campaign against pop music, hoping to put warning labels on records that promoted Sex, Violence, Drug and Alcohol Use. Along the way, the PMRC issued “the Filthy Fifteen,” a list of 15 particularly objectionable songs. Hits by Madonna, Prince and Cyndi Lauper made the list. But the list really took aim at heavy metal bands from the 80s — namely, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, W.A.S.P., Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, and Venom. (Interesting footnote: the Soviets separately created a list of blackballed rock bands, and it looked pretty much the same.)
Above, you can watch Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider appear before Congress in 1985 and accuse the PMRC of misinterpreting his band’s lyrics and waging a false war against metal music. The evidence 40 years later suggests that Snider perhaps had a point.
A study by psychology researchers at Humboldt State, Ohio State, UC Riverside and UT Austin “examined 1980s heavy metal groupies, musicians, and fans at middle age” — 377 participants in total — and found that, although metal enthusiasts certainly lived riskier lives as kids, they were nonetheless “significantly happier in their youth and better adjusted currently than either middle-aged or current college-age youth comparison groups.” This left the researchers to contemplate one possible conclusion: “participation in fringe style cultures may enhance identity development in troubled youth.” Not to mention that heavy metal lyrics don’t easily turn kids into damaged goods.
You can read the report, Three Decades Later: The Life Experiences and Mid-Life Functioning of 1980s Heavy Metal Groupies here. And, right above, listen to an interview with one of the researchers, Tasha Howe, a former headbanger herself, who spoke yesterday with Michael Krasny on KQED radio in San Francisco.
Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in July 2015.
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Your picture depicting ’80s metalheads one of the kids is wearing a slip knot t‑shirt their first album wasn’t released until 1999 come on now.
Ofc this makes sense usually those niche groups or clique are usually listed in that environment and they learn about being rejected, grow up, and learn to have thick skin to the abrasive world vs. Jocks and popular kids that don’t know rejection until they are in the real world and thus are ill-adjusted to adapt.
Not to mention that I see scene culture style in the girls wardrobe so it’s at least 2004-05
I was a rocker from the ’80s.
I remember watching the pmrc hearings. Hell yeah we’re well adjusted and stable.
Unlike some of the other forms of music rock isn’t really degrading some can be but most is inspirational that’s why 70’s and 80’s rock ruled the world. Those two decades will never be matched again.
We knew exactly who and what we were and where we wanted to go. You have more garbage out there today that’s degrading.
I don’t need a study to tell me the best adjusted adults today grew up listening to rock. Our generation that came up to the 70s and ’80s gave us everything we use today on computers the first cell phones microwave oven our generation will never be matched again.
Really? The only picture I see has dudes in Saxon and Maiden shirts. And I think I also recognize them from the Heavy Metal Parking Lot movie. Maybe we have different photos for this article?
I started listening to Skid Row and Metallica in the 80s, now I’m a senior software engineer and a home owner.
I was one of those metal-head kids doing my teenage years in a little country town that was heavily aligned with the reasoning of the PMRC. And I was very lucky to have parents who let me listen to whatever I wanted to, as long as it was in the home and they were the first point-of-contact when questions came up.
Anyway, the PMRC’s crusade was single-handedly derailed by the one man whom everyone thought represented the goodness in America, conservatism, and the family. That same man also turned out to be more anti-censorship — and anti-PMRC — than any of those Washington Wives could have ever suspected.
His name was John Denver (1943–1997).
I’m not sure this article writer knows what a groupie is …
I was in ’80s metal kid, didn’t actually cut my hair until I was 43, now I’m 56. I’m retired earlier than most of my high school class, and was in a group of less than 25% that completed college. I had a successful career in petroleum, and currently have a family consisting of three daughters and six grandchildren that are all black sheep just like I was. Couldn’t be more comfortable in that. Life teaches correction, and I learned that there was a fine line between success and groceries, versus Hardline teenage ideology. We are just fine, and all the younger generations are going to be fine as well. I watch the rebellious attitude in my grandchildren and just giggle to myself and say right on! Lol.
As a teenager during the late 1970s and 80s, I was enamored by the British NWOBHM heavy metal and also punk rock. Both were very aggressive music with angry lyrics. My best stress reliever! That kind of music helped me to go through my rather rough teenage days. I didn’t become a gangster, psycho or dope addict. I graduated from a local university and became an English language school teacher.Thank you motorhead, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Damned etc.
A lot of them supported Clayface to destroy their children’s futures & end their own free speech because they wanted to see him reference the n word in interviews. How well adjusted are they?
Congress was listening to the bs Topper Gore was spewing, meanwhile she’s doing shots of rubbing alcohol! Like most of these groups,they should be focusing on their own issues and not others perceived ones.
Tipper Gore is a filthy whore.
Amen brother Dee Snyder and yes John Denver with special guest Frank Zapa took down tippy and her goons long live the 80’s
I find this article to be dishonest. There is a huge difference between Motley Crü, Scorps, Skid Row and Slayer, Venom and the tendencies. Born in 69, most of the male kids in my scene listened to the later and mocked bands like SkidRow. Atleast us true metal heads did. To say we grew up to be well rounded adults is a huge reach. Many of my crowd are dead junkies and drunks or in prison. Those of us that turned it around, didn’t get it corrected until out 30’s and 40’s. But maybe I have a different definition of an 80’s metal head.
If I had to pick someone to watch my back, I would ALWAYS pick a metalhead. They’re usually the smartest people in the room, and not afraid to take some lumps.
I think you and I had similar experiences. Seems to be some survivor bias in this study. It certainly doesn’t include the kids that died or are in prison, which was a good chunk of my friend group. I was involved in the hardcore scene in Los Angeles and then adopted thrash and death metal later on. I managed to stay out of prison and eventually turned my life around in my 30s but I’m one of the few.
Fuck Tipper Gore and her swearing is bad/christian bullshit disguised as decency. We’re still doing “studies” because of that asshole’s agenda. This is stupid.
HA! I saw that as well. It should be an Iron Maiden or Dio t‑shirt. I was one of these 80s kids, and I would say I turned out more than just alright. So did all my metalhead friends. Some of us have kids who have kids now. We’ve all done well for ourselves and we still love the 70s hard rock and 80s metal. I’m turning 60 this year and will be comfortably retired by the end of the year.
Mostly look at the environment and where people lived. Most that went bad were city to big city lives. Where to much was going for parents to be parents. I’m a military brat but my parents always raised us in smaller towns off base. I heard the the tales of city/big city life and it doesn’t surprise me that those were problem areas for raising kids to adults.
Thank you! I literally clicked on this just to come here and say THAT!
Previous comment was a reply to the fact that these kids were at best early 00s metal heads because of the Slipknot t shirt. Apparently those people not only don’t know their music, but they also don’t know their JavaScript.
They definitely DO NOT know what a groupie is. Perhaps someone should sent the author some of the more decadent books by Pamela Des Barres. It would probably blow their mind. [evil cackle]
Lol. You need to do better. Just do better. Your getting paid. Out accurate photos. This isn’t college
Wow… Who writes this Crap.. Of Course we’re alright. Gen‑x will always be alright. We Grew up in the “Best Of Times”. We’re a farcry from the posers out n about now.
Nice catch. I was a metalhead back in the day… I don’t consider Iron Maiden and Judas Priest or Metallica as Metal anymore… Just high quality classic rock! I do like Slipknot, ICP and others I refer to as Mental Metal!
The only lasting damage was to my hearing
Yeah , because all of them were able to buy or rent a home because Blackstone didn’t own every home and control rent. Hones weren’t a million dollars.. my car payment is more that your mortgage was
Thank you, I noticed that right off. 🤨
John Denver stood up against a giant for you’re and MY Freedom of artistic speech. NOT Bruce Springsteen, not Boy George, not Lionel Ritchie. Definitely, more artistic minded folks should remember that!! Dee Snider, and Frank Zappa also. BIG FAT ETERNAL THANKS to those fellow brave Americans!!
If well-adjusted means that I am working until I die as a slave in the system…then yeah 😑
I miss the 80s, noone will ever be that free again.
80s metal heads were the best people, in a sea of what was often a bunch of pretty terrible bullies.
I was born in ’82. Although I am generally classified as Gen. Y (later called Millennial), I align more with Gen. X (and regardless of my true generation label, Gen. X is definitely the best generation). My music taste is primarily mid 70’s to mid 90’s with some trickling into the end of the 90’s (high nostalgia and all). I believe we were made highly adaptable. We had power in our music. Very energized.
Heh I managed to catch Dio live at a festival in 2004.
I’m really glad I did now.
Well yea, there’s nothing wrong with people just because they are in a niche or subculture, if anything they better then popular kids due to being bullied and having to deal with being profiled and ridiculed 24/7 just because of something that made them happy. Looking different can really weed out the fake people
I grew up going to shows in the ’80s and ’90s, I’ve seen about 50 concerts. Slayer, White Zombie, Pantera, Ozzfests, Lollapalooza, you name it. I laughed at the title of this article because I am definitely not a well-adjusted adult, but I did have a lot of fun.
Well of course. We learned how to be excellent to each other and party on no matter what we faced.
I was an 80’s metalhead and I still am!
Insanely excited to be seeing Iron Maiden again in London next month!
I can absolutely concur with this headline!
Rock and metal promotes self-expression and authenticity and those factors are conducive to creating a grounded and well adjusted individual.
Up the Irons!!!
Wow, was inspired by this art.
I recall those hearings from my early/ mid teens, and at tim i was a serious metal head, attending EVERY concert, wearing the ‘uniform’+ all that. This segued to punk, new wave and finally Goth. The last had, at least’more potential’, for harm.
That because ’ goth’ was more a lifestyle, than just a music genre. Tha ks to all i involved in this study? Art., and comments.
It’s hilarious “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was on PMRC’s list of the 15 most objectionable songs bc of “Violence.” I googled the lyrics to see if there’s something in it I forgot about or may interpret as violent now that I’m old with my own kids, but nope, there’s ZERO violence in that song! No doubt PMRC’s real issue with it was they didn’t want kids hearing anything that may influence disobedience.
Come back in 40 years & see if it’s the same percentage for rap & drill !!!! That’s if any are still alive to make an example or reference as the above ? Ciao 4 now.
I’d bet everything I own that every single one of those men accusing Dee Snider of immorality and sexism and lecturing about parenting children all had mistresses, a little black book full of hookers and had never once actually taken care of their own kids by themselves (that’s what wives and nannies are for). The Christian Moral Police have proven to be the most immoral (and the biggest freaks) over and over again!!
Yes we turned out fine, not like those ’90s hip-hopsters.
Im 64 now. I still listen to most of that music. I served in the military, got my degree, retired from the fire service. Ive been married to the same woman for 40 years. 3 kids that pretty much listened to my music when they were growing up. 1 served and is a professional now. One is a Family Nurse Practitioner, one is a machinist. I will admit I still dress like I did when I was 12. Jeans, boots, Black T‑shirts and ride a Harley. And I still go to Rock concerts. And listen to alot of Amon Amarth, etc. The kids just know and accept dad is a metal head. 🤣
Soooo To Say That 80s MetalHeads Were Troubled, Is Such A Cliche, And Proves You Know Nothing About Gen X, Of Course Some Were, We Were The Happiest, Luckiest Generation Ever, We Made Every Day Fun And btw, Female Metalheads Are Called Female Metalheads, Not Groupies, Jesus, If You’re Gonna Write About A Generation, Then Perhaps U Should Know A Little Somethin About That Generation, Check Yourself, We Are The Best Generation Ever, And I’m Proud As Hell To Be A Member I Will Always Be A Metalhead
👄☠️🫧🤘🖤🖤🖤🤘🫧☠️👄
They had their way and since the Inclusion of the sticker was made law we saw a decline in lyrics as if the sticker was giving bands permission to be as shocking as they could be. Maybe tipper and Co should’ve kept their noses out and left well alone. Let’s be honest it was a political stunt and was nothing to do with protecting kids.
Aren’t most of these bands played on soft rock stations now
To be part of this subculture at its peak in the middle 80s, you’d have to be about 60 today. And I can tell you that people in that age range are NOT okay. Theyre paranoid, greedy, arrogant, and afraid of everything.
You are kidding, right. John Denver was antiPRMC right up until he was reminded some of his Flying and Space pursuits were controlled by some of the Government people he was about to go head to head with and he rolled over completely.
Amen!!!