Metalheads: How did you get into metal?

United States
March 24, 2007 7:42pm CST
Metal is a very interesting genre of music that a lot of people start listening to because of an experience they've had or someone has introduced it to them, because (from my experience and friends' experiences) metal is usually not something most people grow up listening to with their family (maybe with some exceptions for the classic stuff like Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, and Van Halen), and it's also not a real mainstream genre that gets as much airplay as other genres of music. Anyway, my experience started with Metallica's S&M album (Metallica and the San Francisco Orchestra performed some classic Metallica songs and a couple of originals). My mom had actually bought the album (she's dabbled in some Metallica and she listens to regular rock, but I wouldn't venture to call her a "metalhead") when I was around 9 or so (the edited version, although the unedited version isn't real bad), and I liked it a whole lot. Well, it got scratched up probably within a year and we didn't listen to it that much, so I went on and almost forgot about the band, pretty much just listening to whatever was on the radio (when I even listened to music, which at that time really wasn't very important to me), until high school. Right at the beginning of freshman year, I was digging around in our attic looking for something, when I found an old, scratched-up CD lying face down in the bottom of a box. It was Metallica's 2nd album, Ride the Lightning. I listened to it later and miraculously it worked perfectly, even with an abundance of scratches of all different sizes. I asked both of my parents, but neither one of them knew where it came from, so I claimed it, and ever since then, I've had an addiction to both Metallica and heavy metal in general. They're still my favorite band of all time, but I listen to just about all types of metal now(well, I'm not really into grindcore or black metal, but pretty much everything else).
1 person likes this
4 responses
• United States
25 Mar 07
I fought being a metal fan for years because of my parents--they listen to metal, ever since I can remember, actually. I was about 15 when I started getting into hairspray rock, then by reason of the company I was keeping, I began listening to and liking metal. Go figure.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Mar 07
That's a pretty cool story: rebelling by NOT listening to metal. It's kind of like that one show Michael J. Fox was in. Was it "Family Ties?" I think that's the one, where his parents have really liberal viewpoints on everything so he becomes a Republican and adopts conservative political views.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Mar 07
Yep, "Family Ties" is the show. I loved that show. It's a shame about Michael having Parkinson's isn't it? Helluva comedy, a teenager in the 80s being a fan of Nixon, lol.
@layney (1053)
• Italy
25 Mar 07
Well, I'm not into metal a lot. I like just classic metal, that one played in the 80s. I like a lot Ozzy Osbourne, love Malmsteen and I appreciate Judas Priest but I don't listen to those extreme sub-genres such as grindcore, black metal, etc... I'm not so extreme. I like melody, better if heavy...however I own an Obituary cd and I pretty like it.
@dbeast (1495)
• India
25 Mar 07
indeed mate.good to see a metal head here.i was introduced into metal by my brother and have been addicted to it ever since.the first album i listened to was the"Black "album from metallica and i fell in love with it ever since.Metallica are indeed the Gods.their style of music is simply awesome.there are so many other bands which can really pump up your energy.it is just been a week since i attended the Iron Maiden concert and man it was mind blowing.for those who rock we salute you.that is indeed true.to all the rockers out there.keep head banging and rock on.
• United States
26 Mar 07
Can't argue with that! I'm a huuuge Metallica fan, and I also love Iron Maiden. I really need to see them live. I'm so jealous! :)
@PunkyMcPunk (1477)
• Canada
27 Mar 07
Well, I was 6 years old and my "cool" cousin brouhg over his cassette of Ozzy Osbourne, yes I know not really metal. But I rocked it out and loved it. The next time he came to visit he brought over Judas Priest. I remember for my 7th birthday he bought me an Ozzy Osbourne shirt. I wore it to school proudly one day and my teacher sent me home because it wasn't within the "values" of the catholic school that i went to (LOL, we got uniforms the next term I was there). It has just progressed from Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper to know I love Cannibal Corpse, Fecal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Slayer, Pantera, Judas Priest, lamb of God, etc.... There are others but I don't think they quite classify as metal (Marilyn Manson etc..). I never went through a pop or rap phaze but I do like most genres of music. I tend to stick to metal, hardcore, rock, classic rock, some hip hop, punk, emo (yes, I said emo), and screamo.
• United States
28 Mar 07
Wow, being sent home for wearing an Ozzy shirt is pretty strict. Ozzy's definitely a good introduction to metal, his stuff is classic (I especially like his stuff with Black Sabbath). I hate to admit it, but I did go through a very short rap phase in middle school (I didn't dress like a thug or anything like that, but I did listen to rap for almost a year. . .[shudders]). I don't know what I was thinking, lol. Now I've been listening to so much metal the past couple years, everything else seems boring in comparison (but I too like classic rock and stuff like that).