Abstract
The popularity of heavy metal music with young people has grown dramatically; among adults, concerns about its influence have also grown. It is alleged that heavy metal promotes violence, suicide, satanism, and the occult. An examination of adult reaction to rock and roll in the Fifties and Sixties and the diverse messages of heavy metal put such concerns in a different perspective. It is proposed that parents, teachers, and other caregivers achieve an awareness of what young people are hearing, assist them in critical listening, and open channels of communication about the place and meaning of music, including mutual discussion of values, ethics, and morality.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ABC News. (1985).Nightline (transcript). Porn rock. September 13. New York: Journal Graphics, Inc.
Aranza, J. (1983).Backward masking unmasked: Backward satanic messages of rock and roll exposed. Shreveport-Lafayette, LA: Huntington House, Inc.
Bashe, P. (1985).Heavy metal thunder. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co.
Copland, A. (1952).Music & imagination. New York: Mentor/The New American Library.
Davis, S. (1989).Hammer of the gods. New York: Ballantine Books.
Elkind, D. (1981).The hurried child. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
Feiffer, J. (1965).The great comic book heroes. New York: Bonana Books.
Garbarino, J. (1986). Can American families afford the luxury of childhood?Child Welfare, 65(2), 121.
Hopkins, J. (1970).The rock story, New York: Signet/New American Library.
Huff, D. (1988). King Diamond ready to cast heavy metal spirit.Jam: The Music Magazine, 9(99), 6. (November)
Huff, D. (1990). KISS: Still having fun after 17 years.Tunes Magazine, 1(11), 8.
Jahn, M. (1973).Rock: From Elvis Presley to the Rolling Stones. New York: Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co.
King, P. (1988). Heavy metal music and drug abuse in adolescents.Postgraduate Medicine, 83(5), 301.
Laurence, R. (1989). NBC shuns Geraldo specials. Copley News Service:The Sunday Oklahoman Television News. January 22.
On the cover. (1988).Jam: The Music Magazine,9(99), 5 (November)
Packard, V. (1983).Our endangered children: Growing up In a changing world. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.
Saltzman J. (1989). Black Sabbath leader turns to Christ. Gannett News Service.Muskogee (OK.) Phoenix & Times-Democrat. February 19, Section C.
Ward, E., Stokes, G., & Tucker, K. (1986).Rock of ages: The rolling stone history of rock and roll. New York: Rolling Stone Press/Summit Books.
Washington Crime News Services. (1989). Heavy metal music becoming religion to troubled youths.Juvenile Justice Digest, 17(3), 10 (February 8)
Winn M. (1983).Children without childhood. New York: Pantheon Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Trzcinski, J. Heavy metal kids: Are they dancing with the devil?. Child Youth Care Forum 21, 7–22 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757340
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757340