1980s Ninny-Staters give way to Leather Skirts, High Heels and Jeans

by Eric Dondero

It's a long ways from the days of the PMRC. For those youngsters out there the PMRC stands for Parent's Music Resource Center. It was all the rage in the early and middle 1980s. The group pushed for labels on records and cassettes warning parents of explicit lyrics. It was the dawn of the MTV era. And PMRC targetted rock and pop videos most notably Madonna, New Wavers like the pro-gay sex band Frankie Goes to Hollywood (photo below - left), and a myriad of Heavy Metal artists.

Ironically, the leader of the group was none other than Tipper Gore, Al Gore's wife (photo - standing right). But Republicans participated as well, most notably the wife of then Reagan adminstration Sec. of State Jim Baker.

There were even congressional hearings. Republican Senator Paula Hawkins of Florida, remember her?, was one of the most vocal against explicit rock during the hearings. She was joined by Senator Gore himself, and Democrat Sen. Fritz Hollins of South Carolina. On the opposing side Frank Zappa, Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister (photo - right) and even Folkster John Denver testified for free speach.

The group waned in the early 1990s and eventually dissappeared, ironically right in time for Gore's run for Vice-President with Clinton. By the last 1990s, Gore was running for President, and references to his wife's PMRC activities were toned down in the liberal media. Leading up to the 2000 campaign Tipper even famously called herself a "hard rocker," and Albert appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Even more coincidental, PMRC closed up shop just as Rap and Hip-Hop were taking off in popularity. Many speculated at the time that it was perfectly reasonable for PRMC to target White Rockers, but going after Black Hipsters could be seen as "Racist."

And now here we are today. From the Daily Beast:

Sarah Palin delivered a fiery speech for Sen. John McCain's reelection to the U.S. Senate at a rally in Tucson, Arizona. Donning a leather jacket and entering to AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock, We Salute You," Palin exclaimed, "send the maverick back to the United States Senate!"

Hard Rock now American as Apple Pie

Now, we've all been to Republican events where some sappy Pop song like Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" gets blared on the speakers before the candidate's entrance. But for the McCain rally it was AC/DC. No longer is it just upbeat Pop song previously deemed appropriate and "safe: for the GOP. Now we're now talking one of the hardest of hardcore, sex-talking, whiskey and beer drinking bands of all-time. With Palin decked out in a leather jacket, no less.

I've noticed harder rock creeping into the Right more and more, particularly in the last year or so. Glenn Beck now uses bumper music from the Sex Pistols and The Clash. And not "Rockin' the Casbah" either; rather the opening riff of "I fought the law and the law won."

The list of aging Hard Rockers identifying themselves as "Republican," now includes Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Gene Simmons of KISS, Kid Rock, Uncle Cracker, Jeff Hetfield of Metallica, Skunk Baxter of Steely Dan and even Meatloaf.

There's even an Alternative Punk band popular in Arkansas and seen on MTV called A Good Fight, who has a somewhat famous bassist: Republican State Rep. Jon Woods of Springdale. (legislative website). (See MTV video, includes a clear reference to 9/11 "Never Forget" halfway through.)

Sarah Palin was a Teen and later College chic during the height of the 1980s MTV/Punk Rock/Heavy Metal boom. And the Republican Party/Tea Party spokesman's got that heavy metal hotness, on full display today.

We've come a long ways from the PMRC indeed.