The One Minute Music Book Club: A Heavy Metal History Lesson

August 20, 2025 Alan Cross 0 Comments 3 min read

I love digging into the inspiration behind songs, especially if the track turns out to be based on real events. A Heavy Metal History Lesson by Josh Putnam does just that.

Putnam is a life-long metal fan and military history buff who served in the US Army. After he was discharged, he got a degree in art history. One of the results was this book that explores the real stories behind about a dozen metal songs from bands like Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. Fascinating stuff.

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Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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