I have been listening to metal basically half my life (15+ years) but can barely name artists or song names let alone remember lyrics. my memory truly sucks (also does not help that most are not in my native language).
Haha same. I've been listening to metal, hardcore, thrash and punk for like 25+ years, i listen to music pretty much all day if i can. I hardly know song titles, i even have trouble remembering band names. When i was younger i went to like 2 or 3 concerts a week, but i never fucking knew what the bands even looked like, nor did i really care.
In the UK I've found the extremes to be on both sides, although this largely aligns with the punk movement here from decades ago.
Some metal fans are the nicest people you could hope to meet. One guy I met in a bar a month or so ago got talking to me because I noticed his Hatebreed shirt, and we got to talking about music, our kids, and life in general. I remember talking about tummy time with him, and before I left he had called his wife to ask what his daughter really liked, and rushed to give me the link so that I could buy it.
Some are also utter bells. One guy I met years ago gave me shit for liking The Used's set at Taste Of Chaos years ago, despite it basically being an emo festival that he also attended. He apparently only went for Killswitch Engage...so spent a fuck-ton to see one band while he seethed about the rest. I met another guy in a bar a year or so ago that was a huge dick to some women because one of them wore a Sleep Token shirt. He kept asking them to say what their favourite songs were, gave them shit because they were the newer songs, and then went on a rant about how they're not even a metal band because they "basically do pop now".
In our time I would have knocked you on your face
set your hair on fire, hid your sandwiches
Cause I can't stand that you wear something by the Ramones
and that you know nothing about them when I ask you about them
And how about those fancy vans on your feet
Were the k-swis on, you're gonna pay for that
shouldn't you be jumping around with a red bull vodka
instead of walking around with a Metallica t-shirt
Look there's a john-ny with a t-shirt of Me-tal-li-ca
ok chill look, there used to be johnny's
Ugly marinas with buffaloes and ponies
every day of the week at war with skaters
with adidas, pumas or vans with no laces
But I found that segregation very practical at the time
for us it was nirvana and for them songs about barbies
now it's ruined, all gone to shit
because there's a Johnny with a Metallica t-shirt.
Look there's a Johnny with a Metallica T-shirt
Without even looking: Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Phantom of the Opera, Running Free, Transylvania, Charlotte the Harlot, Iron Maiden's gonna getcha no matter how far, Iron Maiden wants you for dead!
Man, I love the first two albums. Paul couldn't sing much but he screamed really well.
It's basically accusing her of cultural appropriation, just for wearing a t-shirt she likes.
The question implies skepticism that she is an authentic fan. It's a form of gatekeeping, based in misogyny and rigid social conformity.
Even if she doesn't really know iron maiden's music, so what? It's perfectly reasonable to choose your shirts based on styles and colours you like. I wore a Popeye the sailor t-shirt yesterday, I would not be prepared to talk about my favorite episodes.
I disagree that gatekeeping is either of those things. I also don't think it's unreasonable to ask people not to publicly associate themselves with a thing if they know nothing at all about that thing.
In these situations the asker is typically skeptical that your a "real fan", usually because of sexism.
It doesn't really matter how you answer because they're not asking for a genuine conversation, they want a dick measuring contest to prove they are superior. If you do fulfill their request chances are they'll nitpick the songs you chose and still accuse you of being a "fake fan".
Gatekeeping often comes with moving the goalpost so the only winning move is not to play.
A genuine asker would probably ask about your favorites rather than demand they answer trivia.
I get it, I am a fan of a variety of bands from the 90s, I can sing every lyric but then I couldnt name the song, or bring them up if asked. I think its a memory some people have while other dont.