My Heavy Metal addiction started when I was about four years old. My older sister had a record player and my parents had a stack of albums. I entertained myself as a toddler by listening to all these albums. I gravitated to the dark ones. So, what was in mom and dad's stack of records?
Alice Cooper- Killer
I remember running around the house with this one because I loved the cover and insert calendar which shows Alice being hung and blood dripping from his mouth. That's the tops!! On the kiddie turntable I liked listening to "Under my Wheels" and "Dead Babies". One day I went looking for the album and it had just vanished. Mom admitted years later she threw it away because it wasn't appropriate for a little kid.
Black Sabbath- "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
My parents let me pick a cassette at KMART for my seventh birthday. This one looked best and they got it for me! Favorite songs were "Who are you?" and "Killing Yourself to Live". This one mysteriously disappeared too. No one admitted it but I played it loud often and I think mom had enough.
Kiss- Hotter than Hell
My Aunt got me this when I was about four. I loved it! The naked stuff on the back cover and just the album title would eventually land this one in the garbage. When I got grounded my folks took my albums away and forced me to go outside and play. I've hated outside ever since. Inside with the problematic rock albums was where I wanted to be.....and still do.
Led Zeppelin - IV
Even before I thought about ever playing guitar, Jimmy Page was the fucking man! I knew the solo to "Black Dog" was a fucking burner! Then I came home from school one day, first grade probably, and my mom immediately started in on Led Zeppelin;."I watched a show where a preacher played Stairway to Heaven backwards and it's Satanic and that weird guitar player worships the devil! You can't have that!!"
In my mind right then and there it became very clear who my favorite band and guitarist was. My parents would constantly flip regarding their stance on Zeppelin, after all, they're the ones who introduced me to that music. They loved it too.
WASP- debut album
The eighties came along and my parents were staying out of my record collection until this showed up. Seventh grade, before school and after school; "Hellion! The devil's Hellion child" blasted from my room. My mom actually cut this album up with scissors and tore it to pieces. Really mom?? My folks had no idea they were creating and forming the personality of a son who would pursue Heavy Metal, often of the problematic variety, as an adult. Check out my latest Waxen album, it's pretty fucked up.
Celtic Frost- To Mega Therion
I bought it and snuck it home and hid it in my room. My older sister found out somehow and told mom. "Where is it!!!" Mom roared. I was about 15 at the time and was able to convince her this was pure music and entertainment- like a scary movie. She did not confiscate said album........but it was a close call!