Dee Snider Fights Against Censorship: The Battle for Music Freedom in 1985 Congress Hearings
In a sea of suits and ties, Dee Snider, the charismatic frontman of heavy metal band Twisted Sister, stood out on September 19, 1985. Sporting tight jeans, a cutoff denim vest, and long, curly blonde hair, he was a striking figure amidst Washington’s political elite.
That day, Snider, then 30, faced Congress to argue against the proposed addition of warning labels on albums with explicit lyrics. His band’s chart-topping anthem, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” had become a subject of debate in the nation’s capital.
Opening his testimony, Snider addressed any misconceptions about his personal life, emphasizing his devout Christianity and abstention from alcohol and drugs. He argued that parents were already adequately informed when purchasing music for their children.
“As a parent and a rock fan,” he stated emphatically, “I know that an album cover adorned with a severed goat’s head within a pentagram, surrounded by suggestive imagery, is not suitable for my son.”
Snider was joined in opposition by several other musicians, including guitarist Frank Zappa and country singer John Denver. They were rallying against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), a committee co-founded by Tipper Gore, wife of Senator Al Gore.
The PMRC advocated for the music industry to take responsibility for its influence on youth, arguing that explicit content could harm young minds. In her testimony, Tipper Gore refuted claims that the committee aimed to censor content, instead emphasizing transparency as a means of empowering parents.
“Labeling is merely an extension of truth in packaging, a principle long upheld in our free enterprise system,” she argued during the hearing. “Without labeling, informed parental decisions are nearly impossible.”
Witnesses for the PMRC presented graphic album art and recited objectionable lyrics to support their cause. A pastor named Jeff Ling claimed that some teenagers had taken their lives after listening to bands like AC/DC.
“Numerous albums today contain songs that glorify suicide, violent retribution, sexual violence, and gratuitous violence,” Ling declared.
Gore and the PMRC ultimately achieved their goals. Two months following the hearing, they negotiated a deal with the recording industry, resulting in the placement of “Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics” stickers on certain albums. This led major retailers like Wal-Mart to discontinue carrying records bearing this label, earning it the nickname “Tipper Sticker.”
Interestingly, some artists reported increased sales due to these warnings. For instance, Ice-T boasted in his 1989 song “Freedom of Speech” that such labels boosted album sales.
In 1987, Gore appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air to discuss parental control of music. Host Terry Gross questioned the practicality of labeling, stating that many parents relied on their children to select their own music.
“Some parents do indeed shop for their teenagers’ music,” Gore responded, “but I don’t.”
Today, parental advisory labels persist, though they are voluntary. The shift towards streaming in 2023, accounting for 84% of U.S. music industry revenue, has rendered the impact of these stickers debatable.