Why Are Most Metal Heads Poor?

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:37 pm

This observation came up in another thread and it's something i've heard before and always wondered about. Why is it that most 'true' metal heads (the ones into the underground scene for indefinite periods of time) seem to be lower-middle to lower class in terms of wealth?
There's two basic ways to be rich- inheritence or work.
For those that are rich by inheritence, does metal just not appeal to the white collar/upper class set? If not, why?
For those who become rich through work (get a high-paying job), are those into metal somehow incapable of getting these jobs? Do these jobs somehow clash with being 'underground'?
Just throwing this out there for discussion. I'm not implying that all serious metal fans are dead broke, and there are of course some fans with money to burn. However, the trend does seem to be that most true metal fans are on a tight budget.
Thoughts?

Professor Black · Post by **Professor Black** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:41 pm

I think the explanation is as simple as: most people are poor. I suspect the ratio of poor to wealthy metalheads is about the same as the ratio for the general population.

Of course I don't mean to inhibit the discussion of other possible explanations!

Professor Black · Post by **Professor Black** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:42 pm

Such as this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MARQUIS-DE-SADE-81- ... 8645789824

Black Axe · Post by **Black Axe** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:59 pm

It's outcasts who are much more likely to become metalheads. It's just that people with a lower income are more likely to be(come) outcasts.

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:21 pm

I'm up to settle all things for an independent life, like learning a job (1/2 finished), getting a job & a flat, all kinds of stuff. When I'm finished then (hopefully in 2-3 years) I'm all for buying loads of crap haha

Mr Nuke · Post by **Mr Nuke** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:02 pm

Even when you have a job, paying for bills and taxes drains enough of your income to make you avoid, especially since a few years, with these insane real estate prices and the fact that here in Europe banks and shops used the Euro as a pretext to heighten their prices a lot.

I think the outcast solution is the main one, especially in Europe. The 40+ guys I've met are mostly basic employees, basic workers or even homeless people. And I got several accounts of Metal being the music of the poor white people, the same ones that listen to afro-american music these days.

On the contrary, the young generation of metalheads seem to come from white middle-class families, and often from the upper middle-class. Even those who haven't high-salary jobs.

Ernest Thesiger · Post by **Ernest Thesiger** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:29 pm

I read this as "Why Are Most Metal Heads Poofs?"

hload · Post by **hload** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:42 pm

metal once used to be music for poor people with rich metal heart....not anymore......

Andreas · Post by **Andreas** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:49 pm

I don't know if we can use the word poor. For me poor means that you have difficulties feeding yourself at the end of the month, or have to loan money to pay your rent.

If you look at the 'What do you do for a living' thread, it seems to me that most of the working corroseummembers have quite normal jobs with a more than decent salary.

Personally, i don't know any poor metalheads, and none of my metalfriends are outcasts, and have never been outcasts.

I think Professor Black has a point with his ratio theory.

convent guilt · Post by **convent guilt** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:49 am

I'm far from poor or an outcast, I earn good money and have a high standard of living.

However, I don't have kids or a mortgage on a house. Metalheads with these added 'responsibilities' tend to be appear poorer because they have less expendable income.

Also, I was always intrigued by bands/metalists from poorer countries (in South America, Eastern Europe etc), especially those around in the '80s. To be able to afford guitars, amps, recording costs etc, I figure the majority of those maniacs were middle class - definitely not peasants living in filth.

Nightlock · Post by **Nightlock** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:02 am

I'm generally poor/in financial trouble because of my own doing, I know this and need to fix it but find it hard. I'm currently working a pretty crappy low paying job but it's good enough for my current situation and I don't plan on staying there in the long run.

decibelrebel · Post by **decibelrebel** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:15 am

Metalheads are usually cash-strapped because they're materialistic posers who live beyond their means.

BlackStele · Post by **BlackStele** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:21 am

Nowadays, Metal is not for poor people...that's a reality!

Ensiferum2k7 · Post by **Ensiferum2k7** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:57 am

poor people of all races prefer rap around my neck of the woods

metalheads probably aren't as well off as most classical fan's, but I doubt the majority of them are even close to being considered "poor"

Nightlock · Post by **Nightlock** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:30 am

decibelrebel wrote:Metalheads are usually cash-strapped because they're materialistic posers who live beyond their means.

Money comes and goes, I don't care that much about it, though it's not bad by any means. I don't think people that use their money to buy records are "materialistic posers" well they may be in some cases. Why do you think doing this makes them that way? Should they be spending their money on a car or house investment?