by Graham "Gruhamed" Hartmann
During the controversial reign of the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center), numerous metal bands were blacklisted and preached as obscene due to their lyrical content. Bands such as TWISTED SISTER, BLACK SABBATH, MOTLEY CRUE and JUDAS PRIEST were added to a list known as "The Filthy Fifteen" and were constantly under fire by the organization. This resulted in the now infamous "Parental Advisory" sticker which warns against explicit content. The PMRC has since disbanded and metal bands in the present day enjoy their First Amendment rights, but not all groups are so lucky.
Earlier this month Jordanian metal band DRAGONRIDER were set to play a headlining gig for around 400 fans, but before taking the stage, police arrived and asked the audience and band to leave the venue. This type of backlash against metal hasn't been uncommon in Jordon; between 2002 and 2005, the handful of stores that sold heavy metal music closed down or changed their line of business. DRAGONRIDER guitarist, Raed Maqdadi stated,
"When people see something different, not stereotypical, they attack it. They see us with long hair, and they think that we worship the devil. Heavy metal has nothing to do with it…The heavy metal scene is like the US in the 1970s when it was much criticised because it was something new, but at least then bands were still able to perform publicly.”
Other DRAGONRIDER guitarist Nader al Natsheh added by saying, “We do not worship the devil or sing about it nor about politics or religion, not even love. Our songs are all philosophy … but people here judge the book by its cover.”
Conservative critics says Jordanians who play heavy metal and other western music raise alarms about what they call a lost Arab identity.
“Having youth turn to this colour of music, no matter what its objectives are, reflects a state of cultural ignorance in Jordan and the Arab world,” said Abdul Rahman Nijem, a reporter who works for the cultural section of the daily Assabeel.“They are following the western culture … and it is a reflection of the state of cultural vacuum the Arab youth live in a nation whose culture and identity are lost. I do not see why they need to express themselves in this type of western music. Why can’t they have their own cultural identity that is independent from the West."
DRAGONRIDER and other Jordanian metal bands have been forced to practice in secrecy and frequently run into problems when it comes to selling their music to fans.
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Rock on boys! Keep bringing the music and we'll keep listening!
