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Mastodon, Slipknot Guitarists Deny Metal Played a Part in Arizona Shootings

Posted on Jan 21st 2011 9:00AM by Chris Epting Comments

Mastodon and Slipknot Getty Images

In the wake of the recent tragic Tucson, Ariz. shooting spree, it's been suggested by some that heavy metal music may have been a contributing factor as far as what inspired Jared Loughtner to commit the horrific acts. Rush Limbaugh said, "The guy listened to heavy metal, and some of that anarchist stuff. We're dealing with an insane individual." At the recent NAMM convention, a pair of musicians voiced their opinion on this issue to Noisecreep.

"The music he listened to, in my opinion, had absolutely nothing to do about it," Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson said. "It's the things that happen to you early in your life that affect you later; how successful or unsuccessful you are. It's all the things you experience that ultimately make you what you are. Not just some piece of music. Different people deal with things in different ways, but attacking heavy metal music seems ridiculous."

Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher agreed, saying, "Even though it has nothing to do with our music, it's a cop out to blame any music. When I was a teenager, I listened to Slayer, the Misfits, Metallica -- music doesn't make you worship Satan or commit crimes. It's bad parenting, mental problems. If you're going to try and blame it on music, you're f---ing ignorant."

Drowning Pool -- the heavy metal band whose song 'Bodies' was listed on Loughtner's YouTube page -- went as far as to issue a statement which read, in part, "'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the mosh pit and the respect people have for each other in the pit. If you push others down, you have to pick them back up. It was never about violence. It's about a certain amount of respect and a code."

The band issued the statement in the wake of a Washington Post article that seemed to imply there might be a connection to their song. Quoting from the article, "'Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor,' the singer barks in a refrain that carries an eerie echo in the context of the shooting rampage Saturday in Tucson."

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jackson1986

who cares!!! My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He- is a black man, lol. We met online at an interracial dating site_________ **** M e e t B l a c k W h i t e(C o m) ***** ______â€”a nice and free place for singles- black & white, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check out or- tell your friends. ;) ;)

January 23 2011 at 9:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cbfan92

it really pisses me off when people try blaming music for tragedies. this guy clearly had issues. i dont think a band would go out of its way to inspire people to shoot other people. its like saying the catcher in the rye inspired mark chapman to shoot john lennon or that the movie taxi driver inspired hinkley to try killing ronald reagan.

January 21 2011 at 7:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

HardRokSouthGirl

I can't believe how dumb some Americans can be... How come EVERYTIME something happens Dumb asses like Rush Limbaugh wants to blame music... really?? Your a fu**ing idiot. The kid was mental... What was his childhood like?? What about his parents?? DONT BLAME THE MUSIC! That's all we have left!!!

January 21 2011 at 11:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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