We’re Not Gonna Take It, Congress

Forty years ago, in September 1985, Washington became the unlikely stage for a cultural showdown over rock ’n’ roll. The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee convened hearings to consider labeling music with explicit lyrics. The push came from the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), a group founded by Tipper Gore, wife of then-Senator Al Gore, after she was shocked by Prince’s “Darling Nikki.”

The PMRC argued for warning labels, citing what they called the corrupting influence of popular music. They issued the infamous “Filthy Fifteen,” a list of songs they deemed the most offensive. Among them: Sheena Easton’s provocative “Sugar Walls,” Cyndi Lauper’s playful yet controversial “She Bop,” and Twisted Sister’s rebellious anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

But the hearing’s drama came from the musicians themselves. Frank Zappa called the proposals “an ill-conceived piece of nonsense,” warning of censorship and government overreach. John Denver, known for his wholesome image, surprised senators by siding with Zappa, comparing the labeling push to censorship he had seen in totalitarian regimes. And Dee Snider, Twisted Sister’s leather-clad frontman, delivered perhaps the most memorable defense. He calmly explained that “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was about teen independence, not violence, and accused the PMRC of twisting lyrics to fit their fears.

The hearing didn’t end censorship, but it did lead to the now-familiar “Parental Advisory” stickers. For many artists, those black-and-white labels became badges of honor. Forty years on, the 1985 hearings remain a pivotal moment in the battle over free expression and popular culture.

Doug O’Brien