Metal rose up from the underground and stormed the mainstream in the 80's much like "alternative" rock did in the 90's. Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Def Leppard were to the 80's as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Bush were to the 90's. I remember being amazed and excited as more and more metal bands broke through. Sure, just like the 90's a TON of crap bands got signed because of the success of a few. Yes, there was a time, when I was young, probably in 6th or 7th grade that people looked at me REAL funny and laughed at the music I was listening to. No one liked Iron Maiden and AC/DC.. they liked Duran Duran. Then a few years later they were all buying tickets to go to the Def Leppard concert. And looking at me funny when I told them I was into a band called R.E.M...

-jar