"Heavy Metal Poisoning" is a song by American rock band Styx. It was included as the fifth track on their 1983 studio albumKilroy Was Here. The song in the story of Kilroy Was Here has the character of Dr Righteous preaching the "evils" of rock and roll. Although the song got only minor airplay on FM rock radio, its music video received significant airplay on MTV. It would be released as a B-side to the single "Music Time" in 1984.
Backmasking
The song begins with the backmaskedLatin words "annuit cœptis, novus ordo seclorum". Translated from the Latin, these words mean "He/God has favored our undertakings, a new order of the ages". These are the two mottoes on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. If listened closely enough, just after the second refrain and instrumental break, another backmasked message can be heard, saying "Rock & roll is evil", mocking the purported dangers of backmasking. The backmaskings are thought to have been a response to claims of secret messages in previous songs by Evangelical Christian Tipper Gore, Al Gore's wife.
Video
The video of the track was directed by Brian Gibson. The video has Dr. Righteous performing a sermon on The Dr. Righteous Show with his two henchmen by his side. Interspersed is footage of people and members of The Majority for Musical Morality setting fire to guitars and records. On Righteous' TV show, Righteous brainwashes a youth who was inflicted with the "evils" of rock and roll which was almost thwarted when Jonathan Chance tried to save the youth only to escape from being arrested by the Majority of Musical Morality. While the Tommy Shaw character mimes the guitar solo, it is actually played by James 'J.Y.' Young. At the end of the clip, Righteous succeeds in "curing" a youth from the "evils" of rock and roll. Keyboardist and frontman Dennis DeYoung does not appear in the video - the only Styx video he does not appear in during his tenure with the group. It is included on the Styx compilation albumRockers.
