A metal head is the kind of guy I want watching my back. They aren’t afraid to get knocked around a little, usually smarter than most, and they have the biggest hearts.

Of course, there are exceptions, but that’s the general vibe I get from the metal heads I’ve met.

As a metal head, it was always fun seeing other bars and clubs in the middle of the night having police and fights outside, while our dainty little metal bar only had that when those people came to our place.

Some people even came for the lack of fights, even if they didn’t like the music. Always a brotherly atmosphere welcoming to all strangers.

There’s the old joke that metalheads are nice people pretending to be mean, while hippies are mean people pretending to be nice.

I’ve been going to metal and adjacent shows and festivals for decades.

Metal fans are everything and everyone. There exists no stereotype that any one fan could fully fit.

• The lawyer with more money than sense.
• The family of 3 with their toddler wearing ear protection.
• The guy who looks like he just got done mucking a horse stall.
• The boomers who will tell you about the first time they saw Ozzy without it even being brought up.
• The smokers and the tokers.
• The guy who just escaped the office and doesn’t care what people think of his clothes.
• The visitors who are not really into the music but they love an opener or swore they would see the headliner if they ever got the chance.

For the most part, people are accepting of everyone. There are a few people who are less hospitable. Usually kids who have an idea of the culture that is not instep with reality. Typically they learn, one way or another.

Based on experience, they tend to be people with a tough exterior but with the kindest hearts.

Metalheads I’ve known 20yrs ago vs now? Still generally lovely, kind and welcoming people. They can look fierce but I’d go to them in a crisis.

My perception is that they are people. I know lots of different people that listen to metal and have nothing else in common.

Speaking as one, the majority are decent people but there is a minority who are openly fash and a sadly growing amount who tolerate fash bands cos the riffs are good.

“Hey, new friends! Cool shirt”

Used to breathe metal music, not so much these days. But I’d still hang out with any of those people from the old days. A lot of broken souls in that community, but for the most part everyone tries to prop each other up.

I was a metal performer for years. And the diversity of walks of life that show up to shows is awesome. They are there to be entertained and get that energy out. It’s a connection point. Everyone knows what it’s like to feel irrationally angry and need to vent it.

Metalheads know this and relate to each other that way.

But trying to convince me that Rush is metal will get you locked out of the studio you fuckin knob.

I listen to some metal among a lot of other music, wouldn’t really call myself a metalhead but I have a lot of friends who are

I’m in my 30s, been a lot of metalheads in my friend group since middle or high school, don’t really see that changing any time soon. Overall I like metalheads, under the gruff-looking exteriors most of them are big marshmallows, and overall pretty intelligent people.

There’s a handful of assholes, racists, some people whose main interest in metal is that they like to be too rough in the mosh pit, etc. but the majority of metalheads I’ve met hate their guts. And like with all subcultures, fandoms, etc. there are some who are annoying pretentious pricks about it but are essentially harmless.

Not a perception as such, but as a metalhead too I wonder what their gateway band was or who they might listen to that I’m unfamiliar with. General intrigue really.

Makes me wonder if those who favour other genres think the same.

A lot of metal heads I’ve known don’t use drugs or alcohol and some of them are vegans.