“Metal’s Problem With Women Is Not Going Away Anytime Soon” by Kristy Loye
(Appearing on the Houston Press website, written Nov. 15, 2015)
http://www.houstonpress.com/music/metals-problem-with-women-is-not-going-away-anytime-soon-7858411I penned my own response to the article back in January, which can be found here.
Today while browsing Facebook, I noticed that the article, and several comments in response, had popped up on a friend's page. One response in particular is worthy of sharing:
Metal’s Problem With Women Is Not Going Away Anytime Soon?
Written by Cynthia Ann Briggs-Paulson
I have been in the realm of Metal and Rock for years now and have seen an increase in not only bands fronted with women, but also bands with more than just one female member. I have interviewed women not only about gender bias but also being called a “female fronted” band or an “all female” band. Their thoughts have been prophetic stating that it should not matter whether there is a man or woman in the front of the band, just that the music is moving to you.
Kristy Love wrote an article that was in the Houston Press on November 11, 2015 titled, METAL’S PROBLEM WITH WOMEN IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON (http://www.houstonpress.com/.../metals-problem-with-women...), her article was scathing, bitter and to be perfectly honest, uneducated in the metal scene; period.
In her article, Ms. Love speaks principally about how women are getting the shaft in the metal scene how men treat female fans of metal. I am a fan, I am treated with nothing but respect. That respect comes from knowing what you are talking about, not by how many people that you can piss off because of your view of the subject matter that the music may be about. Many tracks in metal are about subject matter that most of us don’t think about on a daily basis; rape, incest, murder, violence and a host of other things. Most artists that I speak to regarding their subject matter have stated that their music is their release to things that can not talk to other people about, or might feel uncomfortable having a conversation about. This is their outlet to speak the truth, even though it might hurt your ears a little, it provides an inlet into that artist as a person.
From a few men that have read this article, whom are in bands themselves.
From Matt Turkington (Animus Complex), “This article was so painful to read. I honestly have never considered metal a "men's only" club and 95% of metal bands I know of and have heard don't write degrading lyrics towards women. This chick is bitter as hell. When I see women at a metal show, I don't think, "someone's girlfriend", I think, "awesome, another body in the door, another fan!" While it is true, metal predominantly has a male fan base and male musician base, you don't see a whole lot of women actually picking up guitars, basses and drums or even vocals and aspire to be a metal musician. I can think of fantastic women musicians that have, but if you're honest with yourself, it just doesn't happen at the frequency it does with men. When you have a smaller percentage of women in the genre, their success is going to be a fraction to that of a man’s, that's just statistical fact.”
From Stevil Helmer (Helmer), “I agree with Matt. this article was written from personal resentments not actual truth. The article could have been an Alanis Morrissett song ! LOL. I have been a musician for 45 solid years myself. Huge respect for many musicians who are female regardless of genre. I’m a huge Bonnie Raitt fan !!!”
Fernanda Lira who is the bassist for the band Nervosa, stated in an interview with me in 2014, “I was raised in a metal environment since I was a kid, my all time favorite band is Iron Maiden. They represent a lot to me; they were one of the first bands that I listened to. They showed me when I was a kid a complete other level to metal music, lyrically, musically…how complete a metal band could be. Steve Harris is the reason that I learned to play bass guitar. He showed me the way to the instrument that I was to play.” This is so true of many other women that are musicians, their role models are the men of metal and or rock.
Metal is a lifestyle, metal takes everyone into its arms. Metal doesn’t need saving, nor do the women in it. They are perfectly capable of taking the genre to the next level, they are strong. They are not the girlfriend, or the “poser”. They are intelligent and they are not afraid. Metal is not about feminism, this is not the 1990’s, where Riot Grrrl music was needed to revamp Punk Rock. This is 2015, and Metal Women have a voice that can’t be silenced…just ask Fernanda Lira, Alissa White-Gluz and Mary Zimmer.
