How heavy metal and Satan gave us this sticker
Vox・16 minutes read
A 1985 congressional hearing on rock music lyrics sparked a nationwide debate, with critics condemning the industry for lacking morals, while musicians like Frank Zappa defended music as free speech. The Parents Music Resource Center pushed for explicit lyrics warnings on music albums, leading to changes in album content and ongoing debates over music censorship and parental choice.
Insights
- Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) spearheaded efforts to regulate explicit lyrics in music, leading to a Senate meeting and the introduction of an explicit lyrics sticker on albums.
- Musicians such as Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider defended music as a form of free speech, contrasting with critics' accusations of satanic influence and lack of morals in rock music.
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Recent questions
What was the focus of the Congressional hearing on rock music lyrics in 1985?
Morality and explicit content in music
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Summary
00:00
1985 Congressional Hearing: Rock Music Morality Debate
- September 19, 1985: Congressional hearing on rock music lyrics captivates the nation.
- Music expert, reverend, parents, and politicians criticize music industry for lack of morals.
- Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings condemns music as "outrageous filth."
- Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) leads attack on explicit lyrics in music.
- Musicians like Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider defend music as free speech.
- Heavy metal music faces scrutiny for explicit content and portrayal to kids.
- Rock music history intertwines with accusations of satanic influence.
- Heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC incorporate occult themes.
- Televangelists and religious groups condemn rock music as satanic and corrupting.
- Backmasking allegations, like Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," spark controversy and legislation.
14:13
Music censorship debate: Parental choice vs external decisions
- Jay's father did not share his son's passion for music but had no issue with the music he listened to.
- Jason, a profiled kid, expressed his disbelief in heavy metal music being the cause of issues, attributing them to individuals.
- The Parents' Music Resource Center aimed to create a rating system to alert parents to potentially harmful music, leading to a Senate meeting.
- The explicit lyrics sticker, initially resisted by artists, led to altered album content due to pressure from retailers like Wal-Mart.
- Despite the evolution of music censorship, the debate continues between those advocating for parental choice and those accepting external decisions.
