Ig’nant with a capital “D”

An open letter to Deena Weinstein, DePaul University, on the occasions of certain appearances in Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn’s Metal Evolution currently airing on VH1 Classic, specifically within the “Thrash Metal” section. Director Sam Dunn didn’t call you out (or maybe it ended up on the cutting room floor), but I will …

Dear Ms. Weinstein,

While the Porvaznik household enjoys much of the knowledge you bring to your spots within Metal Evolution as we continue to watch the series, your characterization the 1980s conservative socio-political climate in the United States and Great Britain played a key role in inspiring young males to form loud and aggressive bands to oppose the likes of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher struck me as funny at best, and more than a little misleading at worst.

Notably, who often, even to this day, stands as the face of the Parents Music Resource Center and the Senate hearings spearheaded by that group? From whom did those “ill winds” chiefly originate? What one individual garnered pointed name-drops in subsequent songs, from bands/acts as disparate as Ice-T’s Body Count and the band in the video above? Tipper Gore. Yes, despite other PMRC founding member Susan Baker’s husband James Baker’s status as a leading conservative/Republican; despite Republican Senator Strom Thurmond’s wife affiliation with the PMRC; despite President George H.W. Bush having a few songs lobbed his direction as well, Tipper Gore.

I’d also like to add the PMRC’s Senate hearings elicited the following “ill wind” comment about “porn rock” from Democrat — not Republican — Democrat Senator Ernest Hollings: “But in all candor, I would tell you it is outrageous filth, and we have got to do something about it,” and that he would find some constitutional way to reach his ends. Perhaps, just perhaps, the rise in loud and aggressive metal you cited in Metal Evolution resulted from statements and not-so-veiled threats like this. Most importantly, these words came not from Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher; Tipper and then Senator Al Gore, Senator Ernest Hollings: Democrats. We can certainly have different opinions on this subject, but facts are facts.

Trust me, as someone who works in the entertainment industry, I understand the popular misconceptions heaped upon Republicans and conservatives by the industry and academia. Heck, my college years weren’t too long after the PMRC hearings. The “Parental Advisory” stickers the music industry instituted shortly after 1985 even had then Democrat/liberal me foolishly screaming “Censorship!” The music fortunately kept on coming, though. Regardless of Sen. Hollings’ desire to squelch free speech, no laws were enacted to silence any bands/acts. We all maintained the ability to buy — or not buy — whatever we wanted.

One note of consolation, however, in that you’re in great company in the confusion department as even the legendary Frank Zappa wrote “ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums” on his Mothers of Prevention album. See, not even Frank Zappa was perfect.

Best Regards,
Eric Porvaznik

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