Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler recently joined an interview with The Eddie Trunk Podcast and explained that the heavy metal once had a pejorative meaning underneath.
The heavy metal genre gained popularity in the late ’60s and the beginning of the ’70s. Its origins reflected psychedelic rock, blues rock, and acid rock, with essential parts such as distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, and loud sounds.
Many considered Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin the pioneers of the heavy metal when they hit the rock stage in the late ’60s. Names like Alice Cooper, KISS, Aerosmith, and Van Halen contributed to this genre by adding innovative sounds.
In addition, Judas Priest became one of the most crucial heavy metal acts in the mid-70s by putting blues contributions to this genre. Especially its 1980 album entitled ‘British Steel’ was considered the definition of heavy metal by many music critics.
Geezer Butler recently reflected on the genre’s reputation and its origins. Butler stated that the heavy metal term came from a reviewer who compared this genre to the sound of metal objects striking each other. The rocker recalled the time the title spread from the United States to the United Kingdom. The bassist added that the term remained for years with a sarcastic meaning.
Butler explained in his words:
“When we were on tour in America. I think it was the second tour in the States. I read this review, and the guy said, ‘This isn’t music; it sounds like a bunch of heavy metal being smashed together.‘
Somehow that got over to England, and from then on, it was like the sarcastic thing they used to apply to us. ‘This isn’t music; it’s a load of heavy metal being smashed together.’ And for some reason, we got stuck with it.”
You can listen to the podcast below.
