129
"But now, many many lifetimes later,/ lay destroyed,
beaten down,/ only the corpses of rebels/ashes of dreams and blood
stained streets./It has been written,/that those who have the
youth/have the future,/So come now children of the beast,/Be strong
and shout at the devil."
The heavy metal groups themselves state that this is all in fun
and that they are not into Satan worship. Whether this is true or
not is not important. Young people feeling inadequate can have an
instant sense of power from the music and identification closely
with the lyrics. Heavy metal portrays the power and glory of evil.
Adolescents with emotional and/or drug problems, which I treat
every day, become further involved in delinquent behavior, violence,
acts of cruelty and Satan worship. The glamorization of violence,
sex, and drugs leads to further problems with directing young
people's attitudes. Obviously, as a child psychiatrist, that
is what I do, is try to help direct young people's attitudes
and direct parents.
As Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe said in Hit Parader,
"We like to live life to the fullest, and if that means
driving your car into a wall at 70 miles per hour or doing three
chicks at once, that's OK with us." In describing their
form of music, "Yeah, apple pie, Chevrolet, tight jeans,
Mötley Crüe, pizza, drugs and sex."
What is missing in today's teenagers identifying so
strongly with heavy metal music? The music represents power, and
the lyrics give purpose and meaning to those who have not been able
to identify with the values they were raised with. Drugs and
alcohol are often used while listening to heavy metal in order to
feel the power more acutely and escape into the fantasies that are
vividly portrayed on MTV. Escape alone may be harmless, but
drug-induced altered states of consciousness combined with the
message of hatred and violence in heavy metal is dangerous. There
are problems in attitude, changes in thinking and new values
develop. Eighty-three percent of my patients have been listening to
heavy metal for several hours per day, and over 50 percent know the
words and write them down. And in fact, they do that in school,
write down the words to the lyrics.
The drugs make the youngster suggestible to the message of the
song. This is especially true with psychedelic mood-altering drugs,
LSD, PCP and marijuana.
Heavy metal is presented to kids as a religion. The adolescents
are vulnerable because their sense of identity has not been formed.
Their sense of meaning and purpose in life is missing. They sense
in themselves a need to rebel. The topics are sex, violence, and
the power of evil. The emotional hunger in these young people is
met in the form of music, chemical use, and promiscuous sexual
behavior, the crazier, the better. The term "partying"
refers to being under the influence of drugs and listening to the
heavy metal music and lyrics. Drug dependent teenagers often party
alone, soaking in the lyrics and allowing it to influence their
attitudes.
In heavy metal evil acts are glorified to new heights in
concerts. Gunpowder is lit, people are hung and placed in coffins,
demonic figures are produced, and property is destroyed. There are
many
|
previous | next | contents