Let's rock and roll!

When I was 14 , my then best friend in school introduced me to Guns N’ Roses.  It was love at first sight (at first note?). I fell in love with the music, the lyrics, the vocals (oh the most beautiful vocals!) the guitars, the drums, the lifestyle, what they stood for (rebellion, anarchy, freedom), I wanted to be just like them.

I have never looked back. Music has always been a big part of my life. I grew up with songs all around me. I have been listening to music almost my entire life. All the different genres, how it changed from decade to decade to where it is now. I am open to every kind of music, I listen to and play classical composers (Beethoven and Bach are my favourites as I have heavy fingers) but I have forayed into jazz piano pieces as well recently. But above all, my heart has always been with rock and metal. Not too hardcore (Lorna Shore or Slaughter to Prevail is a bit too much for me) but somewhere in the middle (Guns N’ Roses and Metallica are among my favourites to this day!)

Rock/metal has always played an important part of my life, especially when I am sad or angry these are the songs that have gotten me through these tough times. Having been a fan of all things rock/metal for so long, at least since I was 14 I tended to dress a bit rock/metal with my signature black t-shirts, eyeliner, long hair and accessories which usually are on the darker side of things.

Recently I have been told on at least three occasions that the screen saver on my phone is unsavoury, my skull bracelet is provocative, my Metallica t-shirt is not suitable for work. Whatever happened to the quality of your work rather than how you look. I know what to wear when, certainly I will not be wearing rock/metal motifs when presenting a paper at a conference. But I see nothing wrong in a Metallica t-shirt for a staff meeting on a Friday. I guess I’m upset because what I wear has become who I am, rock/metal is very much a part of me and not just a passing phase or a fashion statement, it is who I was since I was 14, and still who I am now. So to criticize what I have on my phone or what I wear is to criticize me, which I take personally.

If you are one of those who are wholesome, God-fearing, no drugs, no alcohol, no tobacco, lullaby music, vegetables-are-good-for-you types, I’m really very happy for you. Please don’t impose your lifestyle on me, like I don’t impose my lifestyle on you.