Metal Music: Why Is It Still A Scapegoat? (Marilyn Manson, Rammstein Feature)
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Written by Heather McDaid
It's not uncommon to flick on the news nowadays and find some form of violence being reported on. That in itself is a shame, and it's a scary fact, but what is often being brought into the equation is music, and more often than not (that's being generous), it's being portrayed negatively. But why is this still happening?
For years it's been an issue that rears its head from time to time, and it still remains highly frustrating. Even this week a 15-year-old gunman has been profiled as being obsessed with both Rammstein and the Manson Family. Now, to a logical person - I'd like to consider myself logical - the real factor of the two you would focus on is his obsession with Charles Manson, famed murderer. Or look at the wider picture: these sweeping statements surrounding two factors were drawn from his Facebook page. That's it. Surely there's more to him than what he has on Facebook? But nope - New York's Daily News has lumped his love of Rammstein in there too, as if to shoulder the blame.
Some snippets of the article state: "The teenager who allegedly unleashed hell on the first day of classes at a suburban Baltimore school was unmasked Tuesday as a misfit obsessed with a German metal band the murderous Manson Family. [...] [He], who lives in the suburb of Kingsville, also posted a maniacal-looking photo of Till Lindemann, lead singer of the German band Rammstein." It then mentions his Facebook has a book about Manson listed as his 'Education'.
Time and time again, metal music is being demonised in the press, directly or otherwise. The headline - literally the headline - labels him as a "heavy metal misfit", when in reality - the music almost certainly has nothing to do with his decision, or the actions he took. The focus should be on the fact there is yet another gun crime, or finding the reasons behind his decisions. Labelling him a "heavy metal misfit" merely puts forward the idea that his music is a factor in his crime, and it isn't.
This isn't the first time this is happened and, sadly, it won't be the last. Music gets lumped into many situations it has no real relevance to and it's a real detriment to the fans. The most famous instance of this was the Columbine Massacre. Though it later transpired that the two students involved were not fans of the band - in fact it's reported they ultimately disliked Manson - a lot of heat fell on Marilyn Manson following the shootings. Though many would expect him to have spoken out viciously against such accusations (since he's the antichrist) or proclaim his cause for the devil (sadly, something I've actually read), he spoke more intelligently and clearly than most in an essay, noting:
"When it comes down to who's to blame for the high school murders in Littleton, Colorado, throw a rock and you'll hit someone who's guilty. We're the people who sit back and tolerate children owning guns, and we're the ones who tune in and watch the up-to-the-minute details of what they do with them.
"Man's greatest fear is chaos. It was unthinkable that these kids did not have a simple black-and-white reason for their actions. And so a scapegoat was needed. I remember hearing the initial reports from Littleton, that [they] were wearing makeup and were dressed like Marilyn Manson, whom they obviously must worship, since they were dressed in black. Of course, speculation snowballed into making me the poster boy for everything that is bad in the world."
The accusations surrounding this also resulted in one of his most iconic quotes. When asked directly in an interview what he would say if he could talk directly to the kids at Columbine, he said, "I wouldn't say a single word to them. I would listen to what they have to say, and that's what no one did."
Marilyn Manson understood it perfectly then, and that was countless years ago, yet the issue still stands. Music is being used as a scapegoat for something much greater. Even if there's no direct blame being allocated to the music in every instance, the labelling as a 'heavy metal misfit' isn't a positive one. Do you ever hear about the heavy metal straight A student? Or the heavy metal doctor? No. Heavy metal and all music of its kind is being criticised and blamed, when in reality it holds as much influence as any out there.
Labelling isn't exclusive to metal, nor is it the only genre to be criticised negatively. Chart music is often criticised for being overly provocative and sexualised, exposing youngsters to images and ideas that are too old for them. This, however, is a completely different conversation to have.
This week's gun attack is another reminder that the press is still perpetuating stigmas about music, when they're not focussing on the real issues at hand. What if the gunman didn't have long black hair, or didn't like metal music? What if he was just "normal", by their standards - what would they focus on then?
Marilyn Manson played scapegoat to something he should never have been linked to in the first place, but his words articulate exactly what's wrong with this kind of coverage. Music is something wonderful, whether or not it's a genre you can appreciate. Year in and year out metal festivals bring tens of thousands of fans into the same vicinity and it's a fun atmosphere, it's like any other festival - and that's what journalists and press outlets covering this need to remember: metal music is no different - at a fundamental level - than any other genre.
What people feel for pop, rock, punk, rap, jazz, blues, you name it, people feel for metal. And we're good people too. Some of the best people I know are metal fans. On the contrary, some of the worst people I know despise metal. Who's your scapegoat then?
The press need to stop demonising metal music when it is an irrelevant factor in something far greater and far more worrying. This latest link to Rammstein may have been a fleeting mention, but it's enough to reinforce the idea of him being disturbed, being a misfit and being potentially unbalanced and dangerous.
As a lifelong fan of this genre, I'd like to think that people aren't ignorant enough to blame something so futile. Sadly, people still do. Maybe one day people will look at the bigger picture and realise how nonsense their angle is.
Mon November 26th 2012 - O2 Arena, London
Tue November 27th 2012 - Arena, Manchester
Wed November 28th 2012 - SECC, Glasgow
Thu November 29th 2012 - NIA, Birmingham
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For years it's been an issue that rears its head from time to time, and it still remains highly frustrating. Even this week a 15-year-old gunman has been profiled as being obsessed with both Rammstein and the Manson Family. Now, to a logical person - I'd like to consider myself logical - the real factor of the two you would focus on is his obsession with Charles Manson, famed murderer. Or look at the wider picture: these sweeping statements surrounding two factors were drawn from his Facebook page. That's it. Surely there's more to him than what he has on Facebook? But nope - New York's Daily News has lumped his love of Rammstein in there too, as if to shoulder the blame. 
