I've been educating myself on the history of metal, and that made me wonder if anyone here is much older than I am (early thirties here) and has seen some of that history.

How did you get into metal? How old were you?

Any interesting experience you'd like to share? Things that have changed?

How were metal and metalheads perceived where you lived?

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[–] Adverb@lemmynsfw.com 14 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I'm 58. And I'm a Motorhead, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden era metalhead. I lived through the first generation of speed metal (e.g. Exciter) and seem to have come through all the head banging without long-term repercussions. And seem to have come through all the head banging without long-term repercussions.

I got into it through friends who played and were in bands. I was stunning them and other bands in the early 80s. I actually recall hearing the guitar from La Grange at about 11 or 12 and realing that a guitar could move me.

I can't play. I ran sound and did pyrotechnics for my friends. I love it loud. I still do.

In college, in Toledo, OH, there was a great band scene in the late 80s and early 90s. I saw bands like Axel Brice, Exciter, Accept, and more on the bars like Kip's and Roxanne's. There were great shows at the Sports Arena. I fell asleep at a Judas Priest/ Megadeath show after a full day of student teaching.

Now, I listen to Halestorm and a lot of the guitar players- Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, Orianthi.