Heavy metal has always been about two things: loud, aggressive music and a counter-cultural aesthetic. The music is, of course, the most important aspect. However, counter-cultural themes and behavior is what propelled many of the metal bands to incredible heights.
In a similar manner, gambling has always been somewhat of a counter-cultural activity. Well, unsurprisingly, the two have come together in quite a few ways. So, in this article, we’ll explore the relationship between gambling and heavy metal.
Games Inspired by Metal Music
When visiting a casino, whether it be land-based or online, the first thing one is likely to see are the numerous online slot machines. In 2023, slot games have begun to adopt themes and visuals to make the game more entertaining. Obviously, one of the more popular themes is music.
Considering the fact that metal music is already widely-associated with casinos, plenty of the gambling sites at Casinofy have created slot games inspired by metal bands, metal musicians, and more. Popular bands that have had slots made after them include the hair metal bands of the 80s, the early metal bands of the late 70s, and even some newer rock/metal bands, that made a name for themselves in the 2000s.
However, the popularity of metal-themed slots is not the cause of the relationship, but rather a by-product of it. So, where did this relationship between metal and gambling start? Well, for that, we have to travel back to the 70s, and look at the discography of one of metal’s most iconic bands.
Motorhead: The Gambling Metal Icons
After getting kicked out of the seminal 60s/70s space rock band, Hawkwind, Ian Kilmister, better known as Lemmy, decided to start a rock band of his own. Armed with a raspy voice and a bass guitar, Lemmy recruited guitarist Larry Wallis and drumming icon Phil “Philty Animal” Taylor, and Motorhead was born.
Though the band’s debut did not reach much of an audience, it was enough to spawn a sophomore album. In 1979, Motorhead proper was born, when Overkill raised hell in the metal world. The classic record made sure that Motorhead would be looked at as one of the most important bands in heavy metal, and fans were ready for the next Motorhead classic.
In 1980, fans of the group got what they were asking for. The Ace of Spades, an ode to the rock’n’roll lifestyle, included songs about spaghetti westerns, dirt roads, and of course, gambling. The titular song, Ace of Spades, is an anthem dedicated to the casino, sung from the perspective of a man who loves gambling. To him, it isn’t about winning or losing. The risk itself is the reward.
Ace of Spades’ incredible success made Motorhead a household name, and ensured that heavy metal music would be forever linked with the casino, despite Lemmy maintaining, even to their last album, that Motorhead was not a heavy metal band, but a heavy rock band.
Bands That Kept Carrying the Tradition
Motorhead did not stop at Ace of Spades. There are many songs in the band’s discography that tackle the topic. However, Lemmy and the boys were not the only ones that sang songs about the topic. Indeed, a lot of bands took the “gambler” image, and embraced it, or subverted it. The following are some of the most popular metal bands and songs, that deal with gambling.
- Iron Maiden
Legandary rock and metal icons Iron Maiden have also tackled the topic. After Bruce Dickinson left the band in the 1990s, the band recruited Blaze Bayley. The Bayley years are not celebrated by many fans. But, one song stands apart from the rest.
The Angel and the Gambler is a 9-minute song, that discusses a gambler who is visited by an angel. The angel, seemingly a savior, encourages the gambler to roll the dice, telling him that he has not much to lose. The song is iconic, and though Bruce Dickinson is back in the band, the song remains a classic of Maiden’s discography.
- Megadeth
The thrash metal icons, Megadeth, have done a lot of societal commentary in their discography. Train of Consequences is one such song, discussing the troubles that many gamblers face, when they lose control. It is a perfect song to listen to, if you feel you are in danger of problem gambling.
Header image:Â Senad Palic on Unsplash
