The 'Filthy Fifteen,' a look back at the PMRC 25 years later

In the early 80's, Tipper Gore (Al Gore's soon to be ex-wife) formed the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) with a bunch of other senator wives with nothing better to do than involve themselves in other peoples lives. With their platform in place and their ranking senate husbands in toe, they called several musicians to testify before congress on the lyrics of their songs.

In 1985, Mrs. Gore, along with Susan Baker, wife of James A. Baker, the White House chief of staff, founded the Parents Music Resource Center, a group that successfully pressured the record industry to place labels on albums and tapes to warn purchasers of sexually explicit or violent lyrics.

I was ten years old at the time and recall my Father telling me about the songs they were trying to block. For me, the list was great, I discovered Mercyful Fate and Venom thanks to the PMRC. I was also shocked at what songs they did select. Being a metal fan, there were much more objectionable songs of that era.

The outcome of the senate hearings lead to parental advisory stickers being placed on records and rock music and magazines being removed from the shelves at Walmart and other conservative retailers.

Below is a list of the metal bands that made up the "Filthy Fifteen." These were the 15 songs that the PMRC objected to the most.

Judas Priest "Eat Me Alive" Sex
Motley Crue "Bastard" Violence
AC/DC "Let Me Put My Love into You" Sex
Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It" Violence
W.A.S.P. "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)" Sex/Language
Def Leppard "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)" Drug and alcohol use
Mercyful Fate "Into the Coven" Occult
Black Sabbath "Trashed" Drug and alcohol use
Venom "Possessed" Occult

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Tags:  PMRC, Tipper Gore, Susan Baker, heavy metal, Filthy 15

Jason Fisher    June 02, 2010