Dee Snider’s PMRC Senate Hearing Speech 1985
A new scientific study, titled On Sex and Gender in the 1980s Heavy Metal Scene: Groupies, Musicians, and Fans Recall Their Experiences, explained: “Groupies, heavy metal musicians, and highly devoted fans (metalheads) were some of the most salient identity groups for teenagers and emerging adults in the 1980s—the tail end of the Baby Boom and the beginning of the newly emerging Generation X. Met with appalled reactions from conventional society, the heavy metal scene nevertheless appeared to help at least some disenchanted youth negotiate turbulent times.”
The study has “examined 1980s heavy metal groupies, musicians, and fans at middle age”, exploring the impact metal music has had on those who lived personally through it. The study found that ’80s metal kids lived riskier lives in their youths but emerged “significantly happier in their youth and better adjusted currently than either middle-aged or current college-age youth comparison groups.”
“Despite their trauma and risky behaviours metalheads have been able to thrive and develop healthy adult lives, from which they look back fondly on those 1980s experiences.”
To that we at the HOH say, “Hell Yeah!”