Surviving the Satanic Panic (Part 1)

In this unflinching and deeply personal series, I pull back the curtain on my experience of public vilification and social alienation. For nothing more than being a long-haired male who loved heavy metal and horror movies, I found myself branded with labels I never imagined — “devil worshipper,” “cult leader,” “dangerous influence" and "drug dealer". And this was eight years old on.

I take readers inside the emotional and psychological fallout of being misunderstood and demonized for my passions. Through raw storytelling, I explore the fear, anger, and defiance that come with living under the shadow of society’s moral panic. This is more than a memoir of heavy metal fandom — it’s a portrait of how easily difference can be scapegoated, how stereotypes can spiral into persecution, and how one person fights to reclaim their own narrative.

But the story doesn’t end in bitterness. Out of the chaos, rejection, and misrepresentation came the beautiful love of Chrirst.