My 15 year old son's favorite band is Slipknot. Should I worry?

[maveric]

I loved Alice Cooper, KISS and Iggy Pop when I was his age.
Any DU fans of these guys from Des Moines Iowa?

[LynneSin]

1. My favorite band when I was 15 was Led Zeppelin....

I went to a school with a bunch of religious fundies who swore I'd turn into some Satan-worshipping heathen all fucked up on the most heinious drugs.

Well, I'd probably classify myself today as a Christian, I've never even smoked marijuana in my lifetime and I still adore Led Zeppelin.

There isn't anything wrong with the music. Most kids I've seen who get too much into the music probably aren't getting alot of attention from their parents.

I'm sure your kid will be fine and they do have some really kickass music!

[trogdor]

59. Our great grandchildren will be listening to Led Zeppelin.

Led Zeppelin is timeless. They define "classic rock" as Mozart and Beethoven defined classical music.

[johnfunk]

2. Look at the bright side: it ain't Creed or Amy Grant

And I actually know Alice Cooper. He's a Republican and a terrific golfer.

[maveric]

4. Its a shame that Alice went over ti the Dark Side.

Money changes some people in the worst ways.

I also loved Led Zep, Black Sabbath and The Rolling Stones.

[LynneSin]

6. I know how you feel but I won't part with my only Alice Cooper CD

I adore "Welcome to my Nightmare" (I swore "Only Women Bleed" was just for me). I figured he was sane back then when the album came out!

[maveric]

17. "Love it to Death" is my favorite.

"Black Juju" and "The Ballad of Dwight Frye" are awesome cuts!

[bliss_eternal]

56. Please don't tell me Alice is a 'puke?

:( That really will break my heart...

[Kali]

9. did you ever work at RMC?

[johnfunk]

39. No, for Warner Music and BMG

(before it became the Sony/BMG Music monolith).

[Kali]

45. eh it was a very long shot - and it was a Phx AZ

connection, not music - John Funk worked for RMC (not a music company in any way) in Phx back in the late 70's early 80's.

[Cobalt Violet]

3. Na, don't worry about it.

[DS1]

5. Crappy metal with gimmicks to distract from how crappy it is

Give him some old Metallica, I'd start with Master of Puppets :D

[maveric]

12. He also love Metallica, KORN and Marylin Manson.

We were in the mall during the Xmas shopping season and my kid was wearing his Slipknot T-shirt when this fundie woman came over to him and handed him a pamphlet from her church. She told him to come to the service to cure him of his "problem", in which she pointed to his T-shirt. Guess what he told her?
"I have no problem. I'm a satanistic catholic who was born saved and in good with lucifer." My jaw dropped and then I had to laugh. This woman forgot how to speak, pointed at me and stormed off.
Funny shit!
My kid is a riot at times.

[Kali]

33. Obviously he is fine!

He will get over his rotten taste as he discovers real music.

[Moochy]

34. satanist catholics unite! :D

Awesome reply. No need to worry about your kid's taste in music!! thanks for posting this, best post Ive seen all day! :D

[maveric]

51. He loves to "Mindfuck" people.

He's very outspoken, politically in school. Most of his teachers are of the freeper-type and they call me complaining of his "lack of respect for our president".

[bbernardini]

7. You should only worry because he's got crap taste in music.

[DanCa]

8. I got whipped for listening to Meatloat Judas Priest and Kiss

I would use this oppurtunity to talk to your kid see why he likes the band.
And than I would make a judgement.

[LostinVA]

13. My grandmother told me the""Go-Gos" were Satanic -- I swear

[DanCa]

16. well i cant listen to vacation summer

without seein satan water skiing, Wonder why that is.

[LostinVA]

68. I always picture Satan AND Beezelbub water skiing....

[DanCa]

19. The nuns at my moms catholic school

made her kneel on rice for an hour when she said she liked the piano playing of Jerry Lee Lewis , and liked elvis presley go figure. She had no problem letting my dad smack me around with my musical taste.

[bliss_eternal]

58. Lost inVA--

I can top it, I swear.

My best friend in hs, borrowed my Prince 1999 and Cindi Lauper She's so Unusual albums. Her mother kept telling her to give them back to me because they were Satanic. :wow: Her mother was SO Christian--born again and all of that.

Anyway, the girl never returned them, and her mother threw my albums in the trash! To this day that blows my mind!

[LostinVA]

67. Prince was pervy, but not satanic... and Cyndi was neither!

[bliss_eternal]

72. I KNOW! LOL!

It was the first thing that really made me question Christianity and religion in general. That this woman that I liked otherwise, could be so out of her mind. :shrug:

[tigereye]

64. The Go-Gos?

now I've heard everything! ;)

[LostinVA]

66. I know! I was 17, and was like wtf???

[maveric]

18. "Bat Out of Hell" is one of the greatest albums EVER! IMHO.

All of other stuff was/is mediocre but BOOH was classic!

[Lochloosa]

43. Ditto...Meatloaf is the MAN

sorry for the rush stuff....

[LostinVA]

10. *gag*

[Fenris]

11. Whatever happened to studded leather and flying Vs?

Why does metal need a stupid mask and matching tracksuits? Answer: it doesn't.

[sakabatou]

14. Wouldn't know

I don't the band myslef (hate the music)

[sasquatch]

15. I heard their lead singer condemning hate crimes that happened after 9/11

You must buy him some SOAD, RAGM and Audioslave though.

[maveric]

21. He likes all those and "My Chemical Romance".

He's an outspoken little rebel at times.

[Maestro]

41. Agreed.

But Slipknot is not bad.

[HEyHEY]

20. You should worry - he has shitty taste in music

[dolo amber]

22. I was JUST coming here to say this!!

Shoulda known my doppleganger would beat me to it. :D :patriot:

[HEyHEY]

23. Great minds think alike - my mind just thinks a little faster

;-)

[maveric]

24. He also borrows my Aerosmith, Sabbath, Doors, Black Crowes..

and Neil Young CD's. At least he shows diversity.

[ghostsofgiants]

48. I think that's what we were all thinking.

[Inspired]

25. From West Des Moines, IA

home of Slipnot. Just a bunch of corn fed boys from Ioway. Nothing to worry about.

[Gatchaman]

27. You need to buy that boy some Rush CDs

Or maybe some Dream Theater, or Symphony X. He'll look back on Slipknot the way kids from the 70's look back on Bobby Sherman.

[Maestro]

42. Rush and Dream Theater are awesome!

Let me add Opeth or some Between the Buried and Me for more prog metal.

[Initech]

26. I like Slipknot. And the funny thing is - I didnt used to!

I saw them go on stage before the immortal Iron Maiden at last year's Ozzfest (before the most infamous show of the band's career) and they rocked! They really put on a good show and they try to give as much back to their fans more than a lot of bands I've seen recently.

[MrSlayer]

28. No. Why would you worry about such a thing?

It's just music. Crappy music, yes, but still only music.

The best part of the band is the drummer, he crushes.

[jmowreader]

36. Which one?

I'm not shitting you. Slipknot has THREE drummers--Joey Jordison, Chris Fehn and Shawn Crahan. Jordison seems to be the "lead" drummer, though.

[MrSlayer]

46. They only have one real drummer.

Jordison. The other two are fools who can't play.

[redwitch]

29. Nah. It's a phase.

My 19 yr old is a former SlipKnot fan ( he was young and foolish). He is now a fan of Miles Davis, Phish, King Crimson, Yes, Sigur Roos,... Loves classical too. He has matured. :-) (When family came to visit I made him take down the SlipKnot poster. God that band is ugly!)

[maveric]

30. From Slipknot to MIles Davis?

Wow! Thats quite a swing!

[redwitch]

38. Yup. He is a musician and a jazz fan too.

Maturity is a good thing, no? He is going to school for music ( aced his first semester, yay!). Progressive rock is his main love though.

[Redneck Socialist]

53. Nah, tastes evolve

I went from Iron Maiden to Bill Monroe. If I laid out the progression it actually makes perfect sense, but it's not really all that interesting so I'll spare you. :)

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

31. I'm Not a huge fan of The 'Knot.

It's just not my bag. But for the type of music they make, it's friggin great. Saw them on Conan one night and was really impressed. Most of the guys I knew in high school who were into this type of music we're delightful goofballs who wouldn't hurt a fly. If he goes out for football...worry.

[flvegan]

32. A great number of 15 year olds have shitty taste in music, hence MTV.

Likely that Slipknot won't influence him if his folks are watching out for him, and if he's being influenced by the music (as they've said occurs so often).

[LeftyMom]

35. It is the perogative of teenagers to have bad taste

My sister was into boy bands. You may pity me now. :nopity:

[Deja Q]

37. I would. That pic is just the teensiest bit too bizarre.

Looks like "Friday the 13th" on crack, that picture...

[Maestro]

40. No.

The lead singer, Corey Taylor, also has a more mainstream group called Stone Sour. Slipknot is for pure theatrical shock value. They lyrics are full of anger, angst, sadness and despair, but I'm 37, soon to be 38 and I listen to them. I like to let loose some of my anger and frustrations with the music. I bet your son does too. Talk to him about it if you can. I know teenagers are their own little beast. But this guys aren't like promoting hate and bigotry. It's all about despair and exorcising one's demons.

[ismnotwasm]

44. Nah

My kids went throught the Slipknot phase. I actually like a couple of their songs. They have a very dry, funny wit the way some of their lyrics are presented(--Everything sucks and I can prove it- from "I am Hated) Even though the lyrics themselves are expressly designed for angst-ridden teenagers. If it's gross, they'll sing/scream about it. Pretty violent though.

[maveric]

54. One of their sons is titled "People=Shit"

I have to agree with that in some dgree.

[ghostsofgiants]

47. Yes, worry...

He has horrible taste.

[NNadir]

49. He's 15. He needs to freak you out. If he didn't, he'd be abnormal.

[trogdor]

60. Fer Sher

If he started wearing ties to school a la Alex Keaton, I'd start worrying.

[PittPoliSci]

50. he'll grow out of it.

just introduce him to real metal, the European heavyweights.

[maveric]

55. He loves Ramstein too.

They are pretty hardcore.

[PittPoliSci]

57. good stuff.

but i was thinking more along the lines of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, Dimmu Borgir, and Old Man's Child.

I am a Rammstein fan though :hi:

[leftofthedial]

52. what would you prefer, Yanni?

Oasis? :puke:

no worries. like father like son!

[maveric]

61. Here's a pic of the little darling.

He'll be 15 next week.

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

62. It might mean he's on his way to becoming a complete tool

be careful

[maveric]

65. Nahh! He's a good kid with a mind of his own.

No drugs or violence. Keeps out of trouble and wants to be an actor/comedian. He's be good at both.

[HughBeaumont]

63. Slipknot is probably what could be called a "gateway" band.

You know, some people listen to playpen shite such as this at first and then, via a little exploration, find that there are better acts along these lines, such as Neurosis, Godflesh, Opeth, Mastodon and Between the Buried and Me. This happened in the 80s where some kids who got bored of Ozzy and Motley Crue when they started making songs like "Girls Girls Girls" discovered Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. That would lead to some Exodus, Forbidden, Sacred Reich, Dark Angel and Forced Entry. Before long, your Obituarys, Napalm Deaths and Boltthrowers came into play.

I saw this band in 2000. At least 4 of their members are unnecessary wrestler caricatures. I'd love to see how big this band and Mushroomhead (a painfully average band from the city of Cleveland that some argue Slipknot stole their look from. Totally false. Both acts lifted their look from GWAR, Mr Bungle and Bile) would make it if they lost their gimmick and just played. My guess is not very far.

[DawgHouse]

69. No, don't worry

He's normal. Actually, I've enjoyed a couple of their songs. Duality is a good one, IMO.

[Mutley]

70. Nah. Probably just a phase.

And even if it isn't, it doesn't matter. If it worries you just keep an eye on him for "strange" behavior (whatever that is -- strange for him).

[d_b]

71. Yes, you should worry.

They SUCK. I only wish one of my parents was so cool as to be into Iggy Pop. Buy your kid a Stooges/Iggy-solo album. Tell him once he's memorized all the words to RAW POWER he can have his Slipknot back.

[Maine-ah]

73. na, don't worry

it's music. My favorite band is Nine Inch Nails. I also like Marilyn Manson, saw them both in concert with Jim Rose Freak Show. Another I like is System of a Down.


Look, if you have a kid that *maybe* can't distinguish music lyrics, and theater from real life, then I might be worried. But, if he's got a good head on his shoulders, and communicates with you, then I wouldn't be worried.
Many of these bands (I'm not saying Slipknot) make great political statements with in their lyrics, maybe you should try listening too.

example from System of a Down:


Prison Song
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,

Following the rights movements
You clamped on with your iron fists,
Drugs became conveniently
Available for all the kids,
Following the rights movements
You clamped on with your iron fists,
Drugs became conveniently
Available for all the kids,

I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch,
Right here in Hollywood,

Nearly 2 million Americans are incarcerated
In the prison system,
Prison system of the U.S.

They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me to live in)

Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,

I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch,
Right here in Hollywood,

The percentage of Americans in the prison system
Prison system, has doubled since 1985,

They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me to live in)
For you and I, for you and I , for you and I.

They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
For you and me,
Oh baby, you and me.

All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences,
All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences.

Utilizing drugs to pay for secret wars around the world,
Drugs are now your global policy,
Now you police the globe,

I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch,
Right here in Hollywood,

Drug money is used to rig elections,
And train brutal corporate sponsored
Dictators around the world.

They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me to live in)
For you and I, for you and I , for you and I.
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
For you and me,
Oh baby, you and me.

[mvd]

74. Not a fan

But you shouldn't worry. It might be a phase, and if it isn't - well, that's his taste. The only thing I would do is encourage him to explore the music world. It's rewarding when you do. On the scale of 1-10 with 10 being most mainstream in music taste, I'd give myself a 6 - but I have a growing indie collection and some lesser known artists that do the accessible sound better than many on the radio.