new thread
I'm a fan of heavy/black/death metal; I'm also a longhair. I'd like to know what the thing is about metalheads growing their hair long... I started listening to metal AFTER I grew my hair, but I know of many metalheads who did things the other way around. What is it supposed to represent, and how/when/where did it start?
It`s a long traditional dating back in the 60ies I believe.
Nobody knows for sure why long hair is associated with Rock/Metal, but it`s symbolic.
Rock music, when it came out, was supposed to be a rebellious music. Even the Beatles were considered to be "anti-social". The long hair represents an element of this "rebellion".
Long hair is also associated with the Hippie Rock movement and here again it`s supposed to symbolise a refusal of society`s norms.
And I believe that it`s still the case now.
I agree with your comment about long hair in heavy metal being symbolic. As a matter of fact, I recently attempted to post a reply to Michael Ode's question citing a refrence to Dr. Deena Weinstein's Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology - which actually covers the symbolism of long hair in rock - but apparently my post is pending to the board's censorship. I'll have to wait and see whether it shows up or not...
If SHORT hair is the norm.. BABY I don't wanna be right!
Im a big fan of heavy metal too. I don't know if thats oen of the reasons im growing my hair out, but a lot of my freinds who listen to metal have long hair or are growing it out.
i guess it's a personality type-thing. ever since i was little, i imagined myself with long hair. much later in my life, i discovered metal (esp. black & death).
\m/ It is such a cool effect \m/
Great question. Might I recommend that you check out a book entitled Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology by Dr. Deena Weinstein? I read that title three or four years ago and was facinated by some of the insightful understaindings that the author arrived at by observing heavy metal culture from a sociologically detatched perspective. Long hair and 'headbanging' are topics that I remember reading about, so I think you may find your answers there. Don't check out the book simply for answers to the question you posed; the book offers a very interesting read, but only if you allow yourself to approach it with an open mind. Even if you find that the author's observations about long hair are not to your satisfaction, I can almost garuntee that you will get a kick out of her commentary about neo-conservatism in the United States (Such as TIPPER GORE's PMRC in the late 80s) and its attempt to suppress freedom of expression , particularly with regard to Heavy Metal music. A very stoic commentary is provided surrounding the ignorant damnation which Ozzy Osbourne received from Mrs. Gore over her blatant misinterpretation of the lyrics to "Suicide Solution". Be sure to check it out, if you can find it, that is (Being an academic title, I doubt many mainstream bookstores would have it in stock).
I agree with other posters in the sense that it is a "rage against social norms" type of thing. I am also a fan of metal. In specific, I enjoy death, thrash, speed, grindcore, some black, celtic, and etc. I've been listening to much of the new stuff coming from Sweeden. However, there are also a lot of bald heads in metal as are there terminal gotees. The rage against social conformity theme is reflected in a lot of metal music as some bands get quite brutal in lyrics as well. I've listened to metal before I decided to grow my hair out. I think seeing metal bands perform was a key incentive in my choice. I remember thinking the guitarist of In Flames looked awsome with his long hair. The only metal artist whose hair I do not like long is Devin Townsend (strapping young lad). He's almost completely bald on top despite being only in his thrities. I just don't think the hair fits him. It's not just metal, though. Long hair is popular in rock, urban (commonly briads), new age (yanni), and even boybands. It's almost unfair catagorizing long hair with metal as it is a music thing in general.
... Here's my attempt to re-post I message I tried to send a day or two ago, but had blocked by the board (I guess I can't speak of a certain one of Ozzy's song titles):
Great question. Might I recommend that you check out a book entitled Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology by Dr. Deena Weinstein? I read that title three or four years ago and was facinated by some of the insightful understaindings that the author arrived at by observing heavy metal culture from a sociologically detatched perspective. Long hair and 'headbanging' are topics that I remember reading about, so I think you may find your answers there. Don't check out the book simply for answers to the question you posed; the book offers a very interesting read, but only if you allow yourself to approach it with an open mind. Even if you find that the author's observations about long hair are not to your satisfaction, I can almost garuntee that you will get a kick out of her commentary about neo-conservatism in the United States (Such as TIPPER GORE's PMRC in the late 80s) and its attempt to suppress freedom of expression , particularly with regard to Heavy Metal music. A very stoic commentary is provided surrounding the ignorant damnation which Ozzy Osbourne received from Mrs. Gore over her blatant misinterpretation of the lyrics to "Solution". Be sure to check it out, if you can find it, that is (Being an academic title, I doubt many mainstream bookstores would have it in stock).