Show notes
This week we dive into one of rock’s most hysterical and revealing cultural flashpoints: the Satanic Panic. From Robert Johnson crossroads mythology and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to Black Sabbath, KISS, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Slayer, and beyond, we trace how devil imagery, shock rock, media fearmongering, church protests, and moral crusades helped turn hard rock and metal into public enemy number one.
Highlighted moments
I have this era and people trying to spread the fear of rock and roll to thank for making me love rock and roll that much more.
“When Satan lost in court that day, the Satanic Panic was over.”
“If you play a song backwards, it's just noise. But if someone tells you something sinister, maybe all of a sudden you hear it.”
“Unlike the American satanic panic, the Norwegian black metal church burnings involved actual crimes convicted by actual people within the scene.”
Transcript
Transcript not available for this episode yet.