Most Controversial Bands/Artists/Musical Genres?
 

In you're opinion what has to be the most controversial band or artist or musical genres? I'm not talking about what they did that made you sick (for example, Cannibal Corpses album covers), but rather what seemed to stir up the most controversy. In my opinion Elvis, the birth of jazz music, and GG Allin are some heavy hitters here.

By the way, I figured there would already be a topic on this but I searched to no avail so I apologize in advance if there is/was.

So what do you think? And why?

The Sex Pistols set off huge controversy by releasing their second single called God Save the Queen in 1977. People wanted to attack the band in the street because of the strong anti-monarchistic themes, with lyrics making Queen Elizabeth II out to be the head of a "fascist regime" and not a human being. It was made even more controversial being that it was Jubilee week, the 25th anniversary of the queen's coronation. But the controversy only made the disillusioned middle class love it more, and it hit #1 on the charts.

Story done.

I did hear about that! Grand stuff. I heard though, that The Sex Pistols just didn't fly as most controversial with some people because you could tell that they didn't really mean this stuff, but only said stuff like this in their songs to give them a "hardass rebel" image. That may very well be wrong, but thats what I've heard.

If you watch any interview from them during their prime or see pictures of their average fanbase, you can tell they really didn't give a fuck what people thought of them. They were basically the first popular punk band, which they couldn't have expected.

I'd never heard of GG Allin before i read this... looked it up (thank you wikipedia)... sounds like some pretty wild ****!!!

I believe it. Weren't The Ramones the first though? I honestly don't know much about The Sex Pistol besides being a major influence to punk music. Should I pick up a record?

If by that you mean he ate his wild **** then yes.

The Ramones started the movement in the US (also in 1976-7), but their lyrics weren't nearly as punk in essence.

As for picking up a record, there's only one record to pick up, Never Mind the Bollocks; any recording attempts they made afterwards were awful. This is because they kicked out the original bassist Glen Mattlock (AKA the best songwriter in the group) because he had too nice of an image. They replaced him with Sid Vicious, whose antics tore apart the band and they broke up when he OD'd on heroine.

2 Live Crew

I heard they performed while getting head and then had sex on stage. :laughing:

Early Butthole Surfers, nuff said.

http://coolstuffhappening.files.word...008/06/nwa.jpg

Pretty much the American equivalent to the Sex Pistols, except alot more badass.

You could explain a bit more

I was going to say NWA, but Sweet Nothing beat me to it. They were very controversial concerning their anti-police and pro-gang related lyrics.

Ice-T also stirred up some negative media attention with his release of "Cop Killer".

Public Enemy had a few controversial moments.

Louie Louie by the Kingsmen was pretty controversial in it's day. That's pretty funny when you listen to it now.

Elvis always comes to mind to because of the way he moved on stage (pelvic thrusts).

Madonna was fairly controversial because of the way she used her sexuality in her music and live performances.

I believe Judas Priest had to go to court because parents were blaming their music for causing a teenager to commit suicide. A similar instance happened to Marylin Manson after the Columbine killings minus the court room.

I also seem to remember some controversy about hidden messages or backward messages in music, but I can't remember who the band(s) was.

There was huge controversy over Milli Vanilli lip syncing their music.

I guess there are different types of controversy. Which type are you looking for?

This is actually a good topic but will be discussed by the majority on a topical level unfortunately. The history of music from the very beginning of time is littered with controversy and we, living in our little cocoon of contemporary music, will only scratch the surface unless we look deeper.

Lets look at 2 events from early in the 20 century.

Porgy and Bess by Gershwin.
Read this from The Guardian. Gary Younge on the enduring controversy surrounding Porgy and Bess | Music | The Guardian

To quote a passage.
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Shostakovich
Read Shostakovich's revenge on Stalin in the International Herald Tribune and any other items one can find via google. Shostakovich's revenge on Stalin - International Herald Tribune

To again quote And from an online bio Dmitry Shostakovich

This was such a controversial ballet that it became a matter of survival for Shostakovich.


In my time I think that the punk revolution in the UK in the late 70's has been the most controversial but I ask this. Were any of the artists in contemporary music under the same threat as Shostakovich? Villi Manilli lip syncing is just not in the same league.

Probably Varg Vikernes, y'know the whole burning down churches and murder thing, not exactly what society subscribed.

Since many of the famous ones are already taken, I'll mention the relatively obscure Rockbitch, an all-female punk/metal/goth band started in the late 90s who did pagan rituals onstage as well as relatively kinky sex acts like fisting and ****ing the heads of penis-helmet wearing members of the audience.

Rather stupid and pathetic, but fun to know about for the occasional drunken trivia.

Little Richard

Let's see you lot travel around the south in the US in the 1950s as a flamboyant black man who wore make up.

But was he controversial? Or just hated because of how the south was?

Well of course he was.

He didn't have to act in that way , he chose to despite the negative reaction he'd get from some people. Which in my book in what controversy is.

Okay yeah I agree with you then. I can see how that would stir up some controversy haha.

This song is not really controversial because it's not racist .. But it gets controversial because people only listen to the refrain. The song is actually anti-racist, but it may not be the kind of song you want to play for your neighbours real loud.

.. Well, I've done it several times. I give you :

Clawfinger - ******

i'd say ephel duath...

How about Mexican narcocorridos? This is an entire genre of based on heaping praise on real, cold-blooded drug lords and chronicling their criminal exploits. These musicians themselves are often hired by criminals to write songs about them and to act as kind of a mascot.

Yeah, messed up stuff. Or White Supremacy bands like bands signed under Resistance Records.

Pretty much all black metal is controversial. I know Gaahl from Gorgoroth said he supported the burnings and said it would continue to happen in the future. I don't think EVERYONE necessarily agreed, but no one was "outraged". On youtube there is a 5 part special all about it and also black metal in general.

YouTube - True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 1
YouTube - True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 2
YouTube - True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 3
YouTube - True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 4
YouTube - True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 5

Thanks for the linkys. Will totally check it out! Some good black metal controversy always puts me in a good mood:laughing:

This guy hands down.
The father of shock rockers everywhere.

Skrewdriver. Not only were they a bunch of racist sh*tbags, they were (lyrics aside) just a really lame punk band.

Oh, good one. That also makes me think of this disturbing white power girl band:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ssian_blue.jpg

Didn't they start off as a just a regular punk band and then slowly metamorphosed into the white power shit as new members joined or something?

you're welcome hahaa :laughing: .It would be so weird to see them in person, I don't know if I hold a conversation with someone in corpse paint. but of course, they just adorn it at shows.

http://www.blackmetal.com/scans0408/horna_phmcd.jpg

Yeah, I just can't see a conversation going too well with them...

Anyone mention Sun Ra yet?

I'm pretty sure.

He wasn't really controversial so much as insane. I mean there've been people claiming to be deities before but none that thought they came from another planet.

Great musician though, completely revitalized free jazz.

I listened to a couple really long songs from one of his albums. It was virtually the same experiance as turning your head when an old sci-fi movie is being played.

I felt queasy after, and it gave me a headache.

Did you watch it?
I thought it was one of the worst interviews I've ever seen.
The guy is a messed up Satanist criminal,
and I still liked him a hell of a lot more than those douchebag interviewers, who went ito the mountains with no jackets and nike freakin high tops.

Actually I just finished watching it and I don't think he's THAT messed up. I think the people around him bugged him a lot and he just took it one step too far. I think on stage he is messed up and sometimes he has way to extreme thoughts... but listening to the interview he was actually an interesting person, not a good one per say, but interesting and surprisingly intelligent for a black metal lead singer. Oh, and his art was good.
Not my kind of music though...

Oh, and yes the reporters were pansies.

Haha .. Great opening from that documentary. They say Gaahl is the most despised man in Norway. Only a very small minority here knows who he is at all .. :p

If any black metaller can claim that, it's Varg Vikernes.

Agreed.