rmorse, I've got over 8,000 records, there probably isn't a band you can name I haven't listened to - unless they've come out since the year 2000 or so...
Metal did die off, for a good long while - when Grundge came into the scene back in the early 90's.
It really didn't start to gain steam again until just recently when MTV decided it would be cool to follow Ozzy around while he was doped up on meds...
That's not to say that it DIED completely, but everything just went underground - now it's starting to come back into mainstream, which is a good thing. But it just fuels these debates.
Honestly, like I said, who the hell cares - if some one wants to run around screaming they're the biggest metal head in the world then let em'. If your life is that boring...well then sucks to be you.
I've had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with some of the pioneers on several occassions throughout my life, and most of them are about as normal as a guy you'd meet at the liquor store - all of this crap they do on stage is an act, and kids eat it up like a fat chick digging into ho-ho's because it gives them somthing to do.
