When was music term "heavy metal" coined? By whom?

[darkstar]

Steppenwolf used phrase in "Born to Be Wild" in '68.
Rundgren had song "Heavy Metal Kids" in '72.

Were they alluding to and already defined musical style itself in these songs? I'm under the impression the term was not in widespread usage for the music genre until a bit later. But I'm wrong 'bout lots, so that's why I'm asking....

[democracyindanger]

1. wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal#Origin_of_the_term_heavy_metal

The origin of the term heavy metal in relation to a form of music is uncertain. The phrase had been used for centuries in chemistry and metallurgy and is listed as such in the Oxford English Dictionary. An early use of the term in modern popular culture was by counter-culture writer William S. Burroughs. In the 1962 novel, The Soft Machine, he introduces the character "Uranian Willy, the Heavy Metal Kid". His next novel in 1964, Nova Express, develops this theme further, with heavy metal being a metaphor for addictive drugs: "With their diseases and orgasm drugs and their sexless parasite life forms—Heavy Metal People of Uranus wrapped in cool blue mist of vaporized bank notes—And The Insect People of Minraud with metal music"...(more)

[Shakespeare]

2. Oh, fucking hell.

That's the goddamn question that killed me in final Jeopardy when I was on the show in '99. In first fucking place, saw the final jeopardy category (rock history, at which I am very good), and bet it all.

So as I'm trying to run through the lyrics of "Born to be Wild" while that goddamn Jeopardy music is playing in the studio, I went totally blank. I'm still pissed off about it (seems a tad unfair to ask a song lyrics question and then play other distracting music while you're trying to THINK).

Alex loved me, though. :7

But I fucking HATE that Steppenwolf song now.

[darkstar]

3. sorry to bring up the bad vibe....

and worse yet, pursue it....

But the question was in reference to phrase's earliest use as a musical genre and the correct answer was considered to be Born to Be Wild? Seems iffy to me....

Sorry things came to a bad end w/ Alex, but know that I consider it most impressive that you made the show and did as well as you did.

Nice to meet you. :hi: