Deena Weinstien's Heavy Metal Causes Teen Suicide

The inference that heavy metal causes teen suicide is as implausible as are the conservatives interpretations of heavy metal, explains sociology professor and author of Heavy Metal Under Attack: Suicide and Aggression, Deena Weinstien. As Weinstien explains throughout her article, heavy metal music has been pursued by many groups and individuals to be a leading cause of teen suicide. Groups such as PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) would work against many popular heavy metal artists and record companies in lawsuits regarding the musics role and active involvement in teen suicide. According to PMRC, the lyrical content of certain metal songs touched-base with themes of santanism and suicide, and imposed them upon the listeners. However, contrary to the groups belief, throughout future lawsuits and court decisions, the belief that artists are intentionally manipulating listeners throughout lyrical content was found to be more often a misinterpretation of the songs meaning.

One of the first examples of an attack against an artist for lyrical content was the lawsuit brought against artist, Ozzy Ozbourne, for his lyrical content in the song, Suicide Solution. The attack was led by Susan Baker and PMRC, and was argued that the song encouraged suicide as a
The Roman Catholic archbishop of New York quoted Suicide Solution by Ozzy Ozbourne to be recorded with the theme of suicide. (Weinstein 473) When later interviewed, the archbishop stated that the information regarding Suicide Solution had come from a 1987 book, written by Tipper Gore, founder of the PMRC and one of the leading spokespersons. (Weinstein 473)The PMRC became responsible for many hearings with artists who had a rumored song that suggested satanic worshiping or suicide. Hearings were held with artists such as Judas Priest, AC/DC, and Twisted