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From: mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: HEAVY METAL (DAZE)
Message-ID: <167@mhuxr.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 17:07:44 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxr.167
Posted: Fri Dec 14 17:07:44 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 01:59:35 EST
References: <558@aluxe.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 33

> 
> For you headbangers out there who are interested in the derivation of the term
> "Heavy Metal", the following article appeared in the September 1984 issue of
> Musician Magazine.  It is, of course, printed without permission.
> 
> 	The term "Heavy Metal" was first used to describe the style of
> 	pop music played by Lester Bangs in Creem.  His inspiration was
> 	Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" which contains the phrase "Heavy
> 	Metal Thunder."  The etymology of "Heavy Metal" is less certain.
> 	The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock credits William Burroughs
> 	for corning the term in his novel "Naked Lunch;" however,
> 	scientists used the same label to designate certain radioactive
> 	isotopes well before that.
> 
> 	Mostly, "Heavy Metal" seems to be a matter of attitude, stressing
> 	underdog loyalty, communal pride and cathartic aggression within a
> 	culturally conservative perspective.  Most stylistic developments 
> 	have been related to notions of intensity.  Ten years ago,
> 	intensity was generated by lengthy guitar and drum solos, while
> 	today it is mostly a function of rhythm guitar drive and vocal 
> 	acrobatics.

Gee, I remember that article as saying something to the effect that
heavy metal was a music for "worthless puds" and other bizarre characters. (:-)

> 
> Now that you know the what, when and where's of "Heavy Metal" how about a
> discussion of the who's. <....>

"Heavy Metal" is the American edition of French magazine Metal Hurlant (:-)

Marcel "I myself am into listening to airplanes take off at close range" Simon
..!mhuxr!mfs