A question from someone who isn't a metal expert.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Why was I supposed to be upset over Metallica cutting their hair?

[Scree is SCIENCE! ENERGY!]

I guess it's because it somehow fully symbolized their "selling out". Honestly I didn't understand the uproar either. If you want to complain about Metallica just stick with everything they released after the Black album, who gives a f*** how long their hair is.

[erisi236]

Because much like Samson they lost their power when their hair was removed.

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

You shouldn't be. It means you're sane.

[Blindkarevik]

Basically the hair became a scapegoat for their change in style of music.

People generally thought... "Oh my god, they have a clean-cut image AND the music sounds different than it did in the past. The record company changed them! They sold-out!"

Just a stupid argument to begin with. I actually enjoyed Load and Re-Load... but can't deny that I listen to Kill-Master way more than anything else.

It basically goes along the lines of people saying Britney Spears was fat at the VMAs.... she hadn't worked out in a while, but she sure wasn't fat.

Metallica having short hair doesn't mean they sold out (an idiotic term if I've ever heard one, by the way).... it just means they got over their fear of scissors.

[weaselboy]

Apr 14, 2008 12:47:16 GMT -5 erisi236 said:

Because much like Samson they lost their power when their hair was removed.

Samson lost their power when Bruce Dickinson left to join Iron Maiden

Niche market joke

[gmanquik]

No idea.

I'm no metal expert either. My favorite is aluminum.

[livetowin]

I'm more in on Iron.

[Loki]

As already said, it was the visual embodiment of their new musical direction.

The long-haired Metallica were those who helped putting thrash metal on the map and evolved into a quasi-mainstream band.

The short-haired Metallica were those who completed the "evolution" into an MTV-friendly not-so-heavy metal band. Those who stopped being trendsetters and became followers.

[Palatial Regalia]

Hair doesnt make metal. It wasnt just Metallica either. Metal cast off its stereotypes both symbolically and musically in whatever year that was.

Also, it's practicality. If you've had long hair and worked outside in the heat you'd understand its hot out there. A full head of long flowing locks is just a sweat towel.

[plushtar]

Odd, Bruce Dickinson seems to have become stronger that the gods themselves ever since he cut his hair.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

it was more a symbolic thing than anything else. it was at that point that you knew that the real Metallica was gone. wearing makeup didn't help, either.

[Samoa Kenny]

Friends don't let friends get friends haircuts

[akumashogun]

Also consider the timing of it. They hadn't released a new album in 5 years. A lot changed in the musical landscape between '91 and '96. There were a lot of metalheads who had gotten into them in middle school with the Black Album, went back and discovered their older albums and then waited through years of grunge/alternative and gangsta rap and were expecting them to return and blow everything off the map.

Well it didn't happen that way.

That said, I felt even back then, that Load and ReLoad do have a lot of good songs on them.

[Phosphor Glow]

Don't worry, I don't care about it either. And there's actually not a Metallica album I really dislike. I even like St. Anger, and that's apparently an accomplishment.

Bands evolve. I'm glad we didn't have like 800 more Master of Puppets, myself. I'm sure the guys would've gotten bored of it, and I sure as hell would have.

[Joie De Vivre]

Apr 14, 2008 13:39:49 GMT -5 weaselboy said:

Apr 14, 2008 12:47:16 GMT -5 erisi236 said:

Because much like Samson they lost their power when their hair was removed.

Samson lost their power when Bruce Dickinson left to join Iron Maiden

Niche market joke

That was funny ;D

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Apr 14, 2008 19:18:36 GMT -5 Phosphor Glow said:

Don't worry, I don't care about it either. And there's actually not a Metallica album I really dislike. I even like St. Anger, and that's apparently an accomplishment.

Bands evolve. I'm glad we didn't have like 800 more Master of Puppets, myself. I'm sure the guys would've gotten bored of it, and I sure as hell would have.

why is it that when a band begins to suck there's always people who say they "evolved"?

no. Katatonia evolved. Amorphis evolved. Metallica just started to suck out loud.

but props for liking Stanger. that IS a difficult accomplishment.

[DSR]

Apr 14, 2008 13:39:49 GMT -5 weaselboy said:

Apr 14, 2008 12:47:16 GMT -5 erisi236 said:

Because much like Samson they lost their power when their hair was removed.

Samson lost their power when Bruce Dickinson left to join Iron Maiden

Niche market joke

I hope you aren't dissin' Thunderstick! He was awesome!

[Captain Wonderful]

I cut my hair and I'm more metal than ever. Plus, now I don't look homeless.

[amsiraK]

The hair-cutting was just an easy target, especially when the album came out SO different. It was easier for people to complain about the haircuts (which, let's face it, don't sustain when you get older. David Lee Roth, I'm looking at you) than it was to point out why a best-selling album irked them.

I didn't like the Black Album. I understand why they had to change musically, but I'm not a fan of the "new direction."