Hard-Working Heavy Metal Fan Speaks Out

From time to time the newspapers run articles about organizations that are trying to ban heavy metal music because they feel it is a bad influence on teen-agers.

I am a hard-working student at Dana Hills High School who strives to get good grades. I also listen to heavy metal music. My parents had trouble adjusting to my interest in heavy metal, but I pointed out to them that I do, indeed, get good grades and that I was aware of their concerns. I made a deal with them that if I started doing poorly in school, then they could take my tapes from me.

I am very lucky to have the parents I have. Many won’t even give the music a chance, much less their children, and others form activist groups that focus on the negative side of heavy metal rather than looking at the positive.

It seems that these parents don’t remember that our ancestors fought a revolution to win the rights we have today. One of these is the freedom of speech--and music is a form of speech.

Admittedly, some heavy metal bands do cause problems and are nothing but trouble. But there are a lot of other metal groups that do not. Many parents mistakenly feel that rock bands with long-haired singers and loud voices are bad, but they should take the time to listen to the music and see for themselves that it is not.

BRIAN UNDERWOOD

Laguna Niguel