Heavy metal justice? Calibrating the economic and aesthetic accreditation of the heavy metal genre in the pages of Rolling Stone 1980–91: Part one 1980–851 | Intellect Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Metal Music Studies
  4. Volume 7, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 7, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 2052-3998
  • E-ISSN: 2052-4005

Abstract

Given the genre name heavy metal can be traced to a negative adjective that emerges out of 70s rock journalism and which reflects a widespread dissensus among rock critics about its value and impact on North American rock music, how are we to explain the gradual or cumulative shift away from this majority aesthetic disapprobation, in the 1980–85 period, towards a widespread economic accreditation, particularly in the pages of leading rock magazine, Rolling Stone? Is it simply a belated recognition of the longevity of the genre and its resurgent popularity with majority audiences? If so, how are we to explain the subsequent shift, clearly evident in the Rolling Stone coverage in the 1986–91 period, from economic to aesthetic approbation of selective bands, particularly those identified with a thrash metal underground, which is nevertheless seen to emerge from within the genre or to be an aesthetic development of some of its key musical features, while rejecting others? Drawing on a comprehensive survey, composed of album reviews, lead or feature articles and interviews, drawn from the Rolling Stone archive, my research reports, in Part One of this article, a definite shift in the critical reception of heavy metal to economic accreditation in the 1980–85 period, based not only on the genre’s persistence and sustained economic success but also its ability to appeal beyond its core metal audience and therefore challenge the dominant rock and pop aesthetic. For some critics this means that a selective set of popular bands, such as AC/DC, the Scorpions and Def Leppard, can be afforded a degree of aesthetic approbation, even the status of ‘artists’. But this praise also leads to the Great Metal Question: can they now seek to move beyond the musical and lyrical conventions of heavy metal in order to appeal to a wider audience beyond their core fanbase?

© 2021 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/mms_00032_1
2020-03-01
2024-04-29
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. von Appen, R.V., and Doehring, A.. ( 2006;), ‘ Nevermind the Beatles, here’s Exile 61 and Nico: “The top 100 records of all time”: A canon of pop and rock albums from a sociological and an aesthetic perspective. ’, Popular Music, Special Issue: ‘Canonisation’ , 25:1, pp. 21–39.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Bangs, L.. ( 1990), Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, ed. G. Marcus., London:: Minerva;.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Bangs, L.. ( 2002), Mainlines, Blood Feasts and Bad Taste, London:: Serpents Tail;.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bashe, P.. ( 1985), Heavy Metal Thunder, London:: Omnibus Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bourdieu, P.. ( 1984), Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, London:: Routledge;.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bourdieu, P.. ( 1993), The Field of Cultural Production: Essays on Art and Literature, Cambridge, MA:: Polity Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Bourdieu, P.. ( 1996), The Rules of Art: Genesis and Structure of the Literary Field, Stanford, CA:: Stanford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Brown, A. R.. ( 2012;), ‘ The speeding bullet, the smoking gun: Tracing metal trajectories, from Sabbath to Satyricon. ’, in A. R. Brown, and K. Fellezs. (eds), Heavy Metal Generations, Oxford:: Inter-Disciplinary Press;, pp. 3–13.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Brown, A. R.. ( 2015;), ‘ Explaining the naming of heavy metal from rock’s “Back Pages”: A dialogue with Deena Weinstein. ’, Metal Music Studies, 1:2, pp. 233–61.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Brown, A. R., and Fellezs, K.. ( 2012;), ‘ Introduction. ’, in A. R. Brown, and K. Fellezs. (eds), Heavy Metal Generations: (Re)generating the Politics of Age, Race, and Identity in Metal Music Culture, Oxford:: Inter-Disciplinary Press;, pp. vii–xxvi.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Brown, A. R, and Griffin, C.. ( 2014;), ‘ “A cockroach preserved in amber”: The significance of class in critics’ representations of heavy metal music and its’ fans. ’, The Sociological Review, 62:4: pp. 719–41.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Christgau, R.. ( 1973), Any Old Way You Choose It: Rock and Other Pop Music, 1967–1973, London:: Penguin;.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Christgau, R.. ( 1998;), ‘ My favorite waste of time. ’, in Grown Up All Wrong, Cambridge, MA:: Harvard University Press;, pp. 1–13.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Christgau, R.. ( [1976] 2003;), ‘ Yes, There Is a Rock-Critic Establishment (But Is That Bad for Rock?). ’, https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/critics-76.php. Accessed 05 June 2013.
  15. Christgau, R.. ( 2003;), ‘ Robert Christgau: Dean of American rock critics. ’, http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=black+Sabbath. Accessed 05 June 2013.
  16. Deacon, D.,, Pickering, M.,, Golding, P., and Murdock, G.. ( 2007), Researching Communications: A Practical Guide to Methods in Media and Cultural Analysis, London:: Bloomsbury;.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Flippo, C.. ( [1974] 2008;), ‘ The history of Rolling Stone: Part II. ’, Popular Music and Society, 3:4, pp. 258–98.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Forde, E.. ( 2003;), ‘ Journalists with a difference: Producing music journalism. ’, in S. Cottle. (ed.), Media Organisations and Production, London:: Sage;, pp. 113–30.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Foucault, M.. ( 1984;), ‘ Nietzsche, genealogy, history. ’, in P. Rabinow. (ed.), The Foucault Reader, London:: Penguin Books;, pp. 76–100.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Gendron, B.. ( 2002), Between Montmartre and the Mudd Club: Popular Music and the Avant-Garde, Chicago and London:: University of Chicago Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Gudmundsson, G.,, Lindberg, U.,, Michelsen, M., and Weisethaunet, H.. ( 2002;), ‘ Brit crit: Turning points in British rock criticism, 1960–1990. ’, in S. Jones. (ed.), Pop Music and the Press, Philadelphia, PA:: Temple University Press;, pp. 41–64.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Jones, C. W.. ( 2008), The Rock Canon. Canonical Values in the Reception of Rock Albums, Aldershot:: Ashgate;.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Jones, S., and Featherly, K.. ( 2002;), ‘ Re-viewing rock writing: Narratives of popular music criticism. ’, in S. Jones. (ed.), Pop Music and the Press, Philadelphia, PA:: Temple University Press;, pp. 19–40.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Kärjä, A.-V.. ( 2006;), ‘ A prescribed alternative mainstream: Popular music and canon formation. ’, Popular Music, 25:1, pp. 3–19.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Kramer, M. J.. ( 2002;), ‘ “Can’t forget the motor city”: Creem magazine, rock music, Detroit identity, mass consumerism, and the counterculture. ’, Michigan Historical Review, 28:2, pp. 42–77.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Laurin, H.. ( 2013;), ‘ Triumph of the maggots? Valorization of metal in the rock press. ’, in T. Hjelm,, K. Kahn-Harris, and M. LeVine. (eds), Heavy Metal: Controversies and Countercultures, Sheffield:: Equinox;, pp. 50–65.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Lena, J. C., and Peterson, R. A.. ( 2008;), ‘ Classification as culture: Types and trajectories of music genres. ’, American Sociological Review, 73:5, pp. 697–718.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Lindberg, U.,, Gudmundsson, G.,, Michelsen, M., and Weisethaunet, H.. ( 2005), Rock Criticism from the Beginning: Amusers, Bruisers and Cool-headed Cruisers, New York:: Peter Lang;.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Marsh, D.. ( 1985), Fortunate Son: The Best of Dave Marsh, Criticism and Journalism by America’s Best-Known Rock Writer, New York:: Random House;.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Martin, L., and Seagrave, K.. ( [1988]1993), Anti-Rock: The Opposition to Rock ‘n’ Roll, New York:: Da Capo Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. McLeese, D.. ( 2010;), ‘ Straddling the cultural chasm: The great divide between music criticism and popular consumption. ’, Popular Music and Society, 33:4, pp. 433–57.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Pauly, J. P.. ( 1990;), ‘ The politics of the New Journalism. ’, in N. Sims. (ed.), Literary Journalism in the Twentieth Century, New York:: Oxford University Press;, pp. 110–29.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Pillsbury, G. T.. ( 2006), Damage Incorporated: Metallica and the Production of Musical Identity, New York:: Routledge;.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Powers, D.. ( 2010;), ‘ Rock criticism’s public intellectuals. ’, Popular Music and Society, 33:4, pp. 533–48.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Powers, D.. ( 2011;), ‘ Bruce Springsteen, rock criticism, and the music business: Toward a theory and history of hype. ’, Popular Music and Society, 34:2, pp. 203–19.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Regev, M.. ( 1994;), ‘ Producing artistic value: The case of rock music. ’, Sociological Quarterly, 35:1, pp. 85–102.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Regev, M.. ( 2006;), ‘ Introduction. ’, Popular Music, Special Issue: ‘Canonisation’ , 25:1, pp. 1–2.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Sanjek, R., and Sanjek, D.. ( 1996), Pennies from Heaven: The American Popular Music Business in the Twentieth Century, New York:: Da Capo Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Schulenberg, U.. ( 2017;), ‘ Visions and versions of America: Greil Marcus’s rock journalism as cultural criticism. ’, Rock Music Studies, 4:1, pp. 11–22.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Shepherd, B.. ( 2011;), ‘ Rock critics as “mouldy modernists”. ’, PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 8:1, pp. 1–10.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Straw, W.. ( 1984;), ‘ Characterizing rock music culture: The case of heavy metal. ’, Canadian University Music Review, 5, pp. 104–22.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Straw, W.. ( 1990;), ‘ Characterizing rock music culture: The case of heavy metal. ’, in S. Frith, and A. Goodwin. (eds), On Record: Rock, Pop and the Written Word, London:: Routledge;, pp. 97–110.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Toynbee, J.. ( 1993;), ‘ Policing Bohemia, pinning up grunge: The music press and generic change in British pop and rock. ’, Popular Music, 12:3, pp. 289–300.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Tucker, K.. ( 1986;), ‘ Hard rock on the rise. ’, in E. Ward,, G. Stokes, and K. Tucker. (eds), Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Rock and Roll, Harmondsworth:: Penguin;, pp. 480–86.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Walser, R.. ( [1993] 2014), Running with the Devil: Power, Gender and Madness in Heavy Metal Music, Hanover, NH:: Wesleyan University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Weber, J.. ( 2017;), ‘ What is the “American” in “American music journalism”?. ’, Rock Music Studies, 4:1, pp. 37–46.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Weinstein, D.. ( [1991] 2000), Heavy Metal: The Music and Its Culture, New York:: De Capo Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Weinstein, D.. ( 2004;), ‘ Rock critics need bad music. ’, in C. Washbourne, and M. Demo. (eds), Bad Music: The Music We Love to Hate, New York:: Routledge;, pp. 294–310.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Weinstein, D.. ( 2013;), ‘ Just so stories: How heavy metal got its name – A cautionary tale. ’, Rock Music Studies, 1:1, pp. 1–16.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Weisethaunet, H., and Lindberg, U.. ( 2010;), ‘ Authenticity revisited: The rock critic and the changing real. ’, Popular Music & Society, 33:4, pp. 465–86.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Wolfe, T.. ( 1994;), ‘ Seizing the Power. ’, ch. 3. , The New Journalism, Basingstoke and Oxford:: Picador;, pp. 37–68.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Brown, Andy R.. ( 2021;), ‘ Heavy metal justice? Calibrating the economic and aesthetic accreditation of the heavy metal genre in the pages of Rolling Stone 1980–91: Part one 1980–85. ’, Metal Music Studies, 7:1, pp. 61–84, doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/mms_00032_1
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/mms_00032_1
Loading
Heavy metal justice? Calibrating the economic and aesthetic accreditation of the heavy metal genre in the pages of Rolling Stone 1980–91: Part one 1980–851
Metal Music Studies 7, 61 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1386/mms_00032_1
/content/journals/10.1386/mms_00032_1
/content/journals/10.1386/mms_00032_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): **** record ratings; AC/DC; aesthetic disapprobation; David Fricke; Def Leppard; economic accreditation; producer-collaborators; the Great Metal Question

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error