Guitarist Nita Strauss, known for her work with Alice Cooper and Demi Lovato, recently made some powerful comments about the Rock and Metal community. Although she considers herself part of this universe that she describes as her “home,” Strauss has not hesitated to denounce a tendency that she observes: a resistance to change and an excessive protective attitude.
A review of fan reactions
In an interview given to Metal Hammer (via Guitar.com), Strauss expressed his opinion on the reception often given to artists who think outside the box: “The world of rock and metal — which I love and which is my home — is full of crybabies.”
She explains that metal fans tend to be harshly critical of any evolution or deviation from a band's usual style: “If a band makes a slight departure from what they did before, fans complain, 'Everything they do now is terrible!' Metallica is the biggest band in the world, and yet people still criticize their new Music.”
Also read: Rolling Stone includes System Of A Down, Deftones and Mastodon in its list of the 250 best albums of the 21st century
A revealing collaboration with Demi Lovato
Strauss also spoke about his experience on the tour Holy Fvck by Demi Lovato, an artist known for exploring rock and metal sounds: “Demi made a great rock album, so [les gens de son équipe] hired a rock band for a rock show. Demi is a real metal fan. I was walking past her dressing room, and she was listening to Megadeth. She even introduced me to an excellent Deathcore band, Bodysnatcher.”
She noted the difference between Lovato's fans, whom she describes as loyal and open, and those in the metal scene: “Her fans are so dedicated that they follow her no matter what she does. Unlike metal fans who, as soon as there is a change, react as if it were a betrayal.”
A reflection on “gatekeeping” in metal
Strauss also addressed the phenomenon of “gatekeeping,” where some fans seek to “protect” their scene from any outside influence: “Many think they have to protect our scene and keep it intact — that no outsiders can enter. Which I find absurd. If a pop artist wants to make a rock album, all the better. If a rock artist wants to make an R'n'B album, all the better. Music doesn’t belong to anyone.”
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