My 16 yo wants to go see a concert with his friends with the band "Avenged 7 Fold" but I have never let him go to a concert before and unless I know a little bit more about this band I don't want to say yes. He wanted to go to "Hollywood Undead" and I said absolutely not! I've looked on line and read the lyrics for both bands. My son claims that Avenged 7 fold" is a Christian band. If that's the case I would be willing to say yes, but in looking at the band's appearance I had some doubts.
Thank you all for responding. I listened to all your opinions, appreciated you taking the time to look up some of this stuff too. Made it so I didn't feel so all alone on this tough issue. I gave it alot of thought, talked to my son about each concern I had as you each raised issues, or gave me information to help along the journey. When it was all said and done, I talked to my husband and gave him the pros and cons. We decided that since he's going with 4-5 friends, and none of them have been in trouble, we'll allow him to go. I feel ok with it knowing I did put DAYS and DAYS of thought into my decision. It will be his first concert and I'll be asking him about it after it's over also. See if it is what he thought it was going to be.
I am vaguely familiar with the band, and reading the other responses, I am wondering if you could just go with him? I enjoy shows myself, and have seen other parents of teens at the shows, who appear to be having a really good time even if they think the music stinks. It might be a new way to bond with him? Good luck!
Well, and please remember this is just my two cents, okay?
I loved Alice Cooper, Ramones, Motley Crue, etc.... I turned out to be a well adjusted individual with a hard working mentality, good morals, and good family values.
What I'm getting at here is that it's more the parenting than what music your kids are listening to that counts.
For example, I let my teen son go to a Marilyn Manson concert. Why? 1) He knows our values and 2)He is aware that most musicians only do wild antics for the attention. Also, Manson is not preaching religion at his concerts he's putting on a stage show. I waited in line with my son (the other people in line were actually quite nice) and my husband went to the concert with him, not because he likes the music, but because we want to know he is safe. My husband's take on the concert? "Typical rock concert."
Personally, I don't mind the concerts. My child knows our values, he believes in God, and is growing up to be a respectful person because of our parenting.
Our parenting principles are pretty simple: Respect people, help people when you can, take responsibility for your actions (I do not tolerate excuses), do not lie, and remember that you're a member of this family and, as such, we look after each other and we all contribute to work around the house.
DJ
Hi D.,
I decided to do a bit of research on this group also since I'd never heard of them. From what I have found, the band members believe there is a God. However, no where, do they claim to be a Christian band. Many of their songs do have ties to biblical stories, they use scriptures and even the groups name is a reference to the Book of Genesis. However, that being said....they are not "classified" as a Christian band. There are a lot of opinions out there. The best thing to do is dig around yourself and see if their lyrics and message is something you want your son to see. As another person said, maybe you could go with him to the concert and use that as a bonding experience. No matter what anyone else says, you have to do what you feel is right for you and your family! Best wishes!
i always saw them as a good band, never had bad doubts about them, alot of bands these days have *looks* that give people doubts, even some christian bands. i have been to a couple of their concerts and think they are awesome
hi D., well I just looked at their site, and being a christian, that is not a christian band. I read the lyrics. and they are pretty nasty. yea he mentions God but not in a way third day or any christian bands I know of..If it were my son.. he wouldnt go.. good luck
Hi D.,
well I have never heard of this band so I looked them up on google, and up poped Wikipedia it says that there is mention of God in the titles of their music however over to the right side of the page it shows a box of background information this is what it reads:
Also known as A7X
Origin Huntington Beach, California
United States
Genre(s) Hard rock
Heavy metal
Metalcore (Early)
Years active 1999–present
Label(s) Good Life Recordings
Hopeless
Warner Bros.
Associated acts Pinkly Smooth
Suburban Legends
Buckcherry
Good Charlotte
Website AvengedSevenfold.com
notice the Genre(s)... not Christian. Good luck in explaining this to your son... i imagine it won't be easy, as i remember trying to explain stuff to my parents.. they "never understood me, I never get to do anything" type additude. Good luck!
I'm pretty familiar with the Christian music genre and have never heard of them. I checked out their website and they are most definitely not a Christian band!!! There is a video on there that has a Parental Advisory caution on it. I did not watch it, but I can tell from the drawings and graphics on the website that they are not Christian! Especially the pic on the bottom of the website! Good luck on this one. I'm a mom of a 4 1/2 year old and 2 year old. I have not yet had the pleasure of the teen years. Kudos to you for researching this before letting him go off to this concert!!
