The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

Genres - Music  |   Sub-Genres - Biography, Social History  |   Release Date - Jun 17, 1988 (USA - Unknown), Jun 17, 1988 (USA)  |   Run Time - 93 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Ozzy Osbourne, Gene Simmons, and Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Steven Tyler are among the Heavy Metal artists interviewed in The Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years. This follow-up to filmmaker Penelope Spheeris' classic 1981 "punk" documentary The Decline of Western Civilization is a bit more reflective and word-dominated than its predecessor, but no less entertaining. One striking aspect of the film is its before-and-after comparisons of the impact of MTV. Heavy Metal newcomers tend to overpraise the cable service, while the "oldsters" implicitly decry the mainstreaming-and in some cases, homogenizing--of their best work. Interestingly, Spheeris' own style has become more mainstream in the years since Decline of Western Civilization, thanks to experience gleaned on such dramatic films as Hollywood Vice Squad (1986) and Dudes (1987).

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Keywords

decadence, lifestyle, metal, music, party-animal, rock, success