While Godsmack isn’t really anywhere in my preferences of metal/rock music, I am finding the controversy that they have managed to cause simply by being booked to play a county fair in Jackson, Michigan, USA, slightly enraging and yet incredibly hilarious.
Why enraging? It's not that it’s a question that even needs to be asked by any reasonable person. The people involved in this situation seem to be anything but reasonable. That’s why it’s slightly enraging. It’s another case of religious zealots attempting to force their (very wrong) opinions onto others. Metal and rock music seems to be an easy target for these ignorant types because it apparently has everything to do with moral decay, satanism and anything else unsavory. Stereo-types that are not true, as the majority of metal heads and those who actually take the time to see the person beyond the long hair and leather jacket can attest to. In fact, I have rarely seen a metal head attempt to force their views onto members of the surrounding community. Perhaps attempt an explanation, but never ignorantly force their opinion about religion (and most other contested matters) onto others. Perhaps being considered a pariah by certain segments of society has led to this, or perhaps it’s a certain type of person that is drawn to metal in the first place.
Anyways, why should this also be considered hilarious? Read the articles and see if you don’t laugh, or at least shake your head. Some of us tend to laugh at things this outrageous, simply because there isn’t much else to do. For Godsmack to be singled out as a satanist band, and into witchcraft and the devil is laughable to begin with. I can think of plenty of other bands that would be more likely to receive this title from ignorant groups of people. (And a few bands who might actually be interested in those occult, anti-family, anti-christian ideals). The wing-nut crusader who actually wanted to have her name published in the articles (and the church mentioned) seem(s) to truly believe that allowing a rock band to play will cause moral decay in the community. How many times has that been brought forward, without any real evidence? That is what truly makes it funny. Turning it into ‘concern for the community’ instead of a personal crusade against something as trivial as someone else’s choice of listening material. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. If you don’t want your children listening to Godsmack, don’t take them to the fair that day. Simple as that.
The organizers of the fair seem to have handled this laughable matter in a professional and reasonable manner. They have other acts that are more ‘family-friendly’, and are responding to a request for more varied entertainment. I mean, if they’d really wanted to set the zealots and crusaders off, they could have invited Cannibal Corpse or Mayhem to play instead.
If you want to read the original articles, they’re available here:
