
The ’80s Censorship Saga of MTV and Heavy Metal
In the electric ’80s, MTV juggled being a music revolutionary and a censorship cop, making heavy metal the forbidden fruit of an outraged, pearl-clutching era.
In the electric ’80s, MTV juggled being a music revolutionary and a censorship cop, making heavy metal the forbidden fruit of an outraged, pearl-clutching era.
With videos barely lasting seconds, Brutal Truth and Napalm Death have not only broken records but also reshaped perceptions of time and content.
Julian Doyle, a British filmmaker who collaborated with Monty Python, directs Iron Maiden’s video for “Can I Play With Madness”. Doyle approached Graham Chapman for the role, blending the worlds of British comedy and heavy metal in a unique way.
Few songs capture the spirit of rebellion and the essence of heavy metal like “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest.
From warehouse performances to wartime films, Metallica’s “One” video is a cinematic spectacle with a side of Morse.
As a mainstay of late-night television, MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball set the stage for the explosion of metal and rock, becoming a cultural phenomenon and shaping a generation.