10 times metal crossed into mainstream culture in 2016
Metalheads, punks and hardcore kids don’t much care for the mainstream—that much has always been clear. However, there has always been some crossover between the two worlds. It’s somewhat of a controversial issue. We compiled a list of 10 moments from the past year that the mainstream reached into the underground and put it center stage.
Rihanna at the VMAs
When Rihanna displayed her name in gigantic death metal typography at the 2016 VMAs, metalheads didn’t know what to do with themselves. Some were offended, but others thought seeing their genre represented on such a big stage was the coolest thing the VMAs had done in a very long time. Personally, this writer immediately wanted a shirt with a death metal Rihanna logo.
Kia Tecmo Commercial
A recent commercial for the 2017 Kia Sorento featured NFL star Bo Jackson hopping in his new ride and joyously requesting the car to, “Play Tecmo, metal version!” He races through the old-school game playing field to the shredding of guitars, and, just for a second, metalheads got to feel represented.
Justin Bieber’s Metal Phase
Justin Bieber very publicly became buds with Marilyn Manson recently, and to follow it up he’s been donning some metal threads. Aside from simply rocking a Metallica shirt every now and then, the pop star has recruited metal artist Mark Riddick (the Black Dahlia Murder, Suicide Silence, Dethklok) to design his new clothes and promo materials.
Vogue Article—“The Rise of Metal Iconography in Fashion”
Back in March, Vogue published an article concerning this very phenomenon. Metal has started to become so common in mainstream fashion that it prompted writer Steff Yotka to compose a full op-ed tracing the course of the heavy genre’s influence.
Demna Gvasalia’s 2016 Vetements Collection
The runway saw metal iconography this year when Demna Gvasalia used satanic symbols, pentacles, skulls and blood splatter in a collection that set the 2016 Fashion Week buzzing. It looks like what we wear to our favorite band’s basement shows can be considered high fashion. Who knew?
BuzzFeed Article – “11 Celebrities Wearing Iron Maiden T-Shirts, Ranked By How Likely It Is That They’ve Actually Listened To Iron Maiden”
Hollywood’s favorites have been wearing so many classic metal shirts lately that BuzzFeed wrote an article about it. This is where a lot of metalheads might get insulted, because as BuzzFeed suggests, the probability of all of these pop icons knowing the discography of Iron Maiden front to back is pretty slim. #posers
Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna Sang The National Anthem At The Chicago Cubs Game
On September 21, Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna sang the National Anthem to open a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. The aging heavy metal frontman can still sing it loud, just like he can still totally pull off the long black hair.
Ghost Won Best Metal Performance at 58th Grammy Awards
This year’s Grammy for Best Metal Performance didn’t go to one of the usual suspects from the ’80s metal scene, but to a contemporary metal band. Notably, August Burns Red also was nominated.
Metallica’s James Hetfield Was A Character On American Dad
James Hetfield appeared on an episode of American Dad as a water polo coach. The joke was supposed to be that even though he was voiced by the Metallica member and looked exactly like him (down to the tattoos), it definitely wasn’t him…
Christian Bale Practiced Drums To Pantera and Mastodon Songs For The Big Short
The Big Short was nominated for the 2016 Oscar for Best Picture, among others, and won for the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Christian Bale, one of the lead actors in the film, famously reports gearing up for his drum scene by practicing to Pantera and Mastodon songs.
