Heavy Metal Revolution

On [Sunday, October 4,2015] Los Angeles hosted the 6th Annual Iranian Heavy Metal Revolution Show. A number of bands got together to play Iranian heavy metal music, a genre forbidden in Iran. The purpose of this peaceful show is to promote heavy metal music, which is very popular worldwide, as an art. This type of music is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. The heavy metal the bands create tend to develop a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. Heavy metal lyrics and performance styles are often associated with masculinity, aggression, and machismo. Iranian locals and fans gathered and mixed together with heavy metal followers to hear bands and enjoy the Halloween atmosphere in this city. Metal Sanaz, the annual host of this special event, emphasized the main purpose of this show as a good method to “develop talents”, “build a healthy community for the worldwide heavy metal music” and “express themselves”.

Metal Sanaz could be considered as an advocate of the heavy metal music in Iran, which was banned by the Islamic Republic of Iran . Moreover, this event was held to promote human rights without restrictions from the government and highlight the holy freedom of the USA all over the world. This annual gathering not only supports the heavy metal music in Los Angeles and Hollywood, but also supports the people and Iran. “I think everyone in the world should play the music they want to play” Metal Sanaz, the annual host of this special event, stated “we are gathering today because of freedom of speech and freedom for Iranian people, because they are not allow to play music and we are raising our voice in Los Angeles in our Metal revolutions for their freedom”. All metal members believes that they are united and supportive to each other and they are as a bigger family as a metal family. Members had a massage for Iranian people “stay strong and we are behind you and we are supporting you as family to bring changes in Iran”. They all of them said “we are love Iranian people and hope one day they could achieve freedom.

Roozbeh Farahanipour founder of Marze Por Gohar resistance movement and president Chamber of Commerce said: This event is a symbol of the Resistant Movement”, and exemplifies a form of civil disobedience. These types of international support will elevate the motivation of the artists inside Iran to continue their movement by promoting Heavy metal music. The movement is designed to support the Iranian freedoms of speech, expression, music, and overall human rights … “We want to have some more priorities for our country, rather than the nuclear issues”…”to fight other countries” or “put everything aside” such as freedom of speech, freedom of choice or human rights or “other important elements for Iranian people”, a member said. [this quote is confusing] With respect to music, the Islamic government of Iran does not tolerate any kind of music from the Western world such as Jazz, rock, hip hop, heavy metal among others. They all have been deemed forbidden by the government. Iran has also placed a special emphasis on forbidding and deeming illegal any kind of music with women as the singer. Music with 6 X 8 rhythm, or any kind of music, which may cause the notion of happiness and dancing, is forbidden by the Islamic religion. These bans on musical expression is what this event is uniting people to overcome.

This event succeeded in attracting bands and fans from many countries such as Georgia, Greece, America, Mexico…It has also shed light on not only the advocacy of the human rights of Iranians, but also the call for freedom of expression worldwide.