Interestingly, Motörhead's web site mentions the band hosted a party in 1980 that was called "The Over The Top Heavy Metal Brain Damage Party"!
Rock on with care!
Bill
After reading for years about concussions in football and other sports I really have to wonder how rare it really is. Headbanging may be fun now but I have to wonder how many will it later in life when they get various sfflictions related to their brain smashing against the skull. Right now they don't know hoe many concussions a person can with stand.
Junior Seau was a football player. Folks who knew him estimated
he suffered 1500+ concussions in his football career. And it eventually led to him taking his own life. I have to wonder if
the same applies to headbangingm, after all you've still got the brain smashing into the skull which probably is not good for the brain.
Am I the only one curious about this?
I've heard/read numerous medical reports over the years indicating that any sort of rapid jerking of the head or neck can result in serious harm. There was a lot of press some years about about the increased incidence of stroke in persons such as dancers who jerk their heads rapidly. I've long suspected that the bungee jumping fad would result in a lot strokes.
Oh, so maybe this explains why I've lost so many brain cells over the years. (LOL)
- Ken
(typing on my boss's computer in Castro Valley right now....)
Think about it. When you headbang your brain is smashing against the inside of the skull. That can't be good for the brain and I would have to think it leads to damage to the brain.
As someone who put on numerous rock concerts in college I would point there is no problem with Heavy Metal music itself. The problems occur with the headbanging, and the loudness of the music.
I got into the habit early on of putting ear plugs in to cut down on the potential hearing damage. When the band is playing in the lower level of the building and the music is very loud three floors up you know that that can't be good for your hearing.
As far as headbanging, i have to disagree with the doctors in this article. Having your brain smash against the skull can't be good for the brain. Just look at all the athletes who have effects later in life from concussions. Headbanging is not as rough as foot ball but you're still smashing the brain against the skull.
You're going to have bleeding and brain damage. You may not notice it the day of the concert or the days after, but you'll most likely notice it 30-50 years from now when feel the effects. Brett Farve had a very eye opening interview recently. He was saying with all his concussions over the years he attended many of his daughters soccer games but was unable to remember any of those games. Football players make a lot of money in their career, is all that money worth it when you can't enjoy watching your kids grow up? I have to think the same thing
applies to head banging. Remember the only thing protecting your brain is the skull, the same skull your brain smashes into.
As the doctors say, this problem is extremely rare.
I'm not sure they can really say thst with any certainty.
Ok you've got people headbanging at a rock concert, they're aged
22 at the time of the concert. The real test is what will these
22 year olds be dealing with when they reach the age of 75?
These doctors won't be alive then to confirm there is no lasting
brain damage.
Between athletes, folks in the military, etc. we've got a long way to go to really understand the effects of head injuries.
Ultimately these doctors won't be alive when they are proven right or wrong. So they have nothing to risk when they make
a prediction about the effects.
Well, along with many others, I did a lot of hedbanging 30-40 years ago, so I imagine many of us are older then the doctors! I don't have any braindamagebraindamagebraindamage!!!