Think of country music, and most people think of Johnny Cash. But the Man in Black liked all kinds of music, including heavy metal. In a 1988 interview, Cash reveals he enjoys music by artists like "Robert Johnson, Pink Anderson and Alan Lomax's field recordings." Cash also admits he will go to "Michael Jackson, Metallica and Twisted Sister" shows as well.
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"It feels good," Cash explains. "I like the way it feels in your liver, the vibrations. I started to go after all this flak about censorship generated by Tipper Gore in Washington. I wanted to see what it was
about. What I heard I liked for the most part."
Cash is no stranger to different styles of music, which is what made him so open to other genres, besides country msuic.
"Having experienced the craziness while working with Elvis and then seeing the Beatles, I couldn't believe it was going to be that much different at a heavy-metal concert," Cash says. "And it wasn't, except that it's a little louder and the lighting systems are better than we had back then. All I saw was a bunch of kids having a great time letting off steam in a good safe atmosphere."
Johnny Cash's Friendships With Artists From Other Genres Of Music
Johnny Cash also became friends with artists from other genres of music. He recalls hosting "guitar pull-ins," where artists would come to his home just outside of Nashville, and play music together.
"We invite a hundred and plan on three hundred coming," Cash says. He recalls one evening in 1969 when Kris Kristofferson, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Bob Dylan and Shel Silverstein were among the guests. Of note, Kristofferson had not yet achieved any musical success, and was working as a janitor.
"Dylan was in town to do Nashville Skyline, and that night he sang 'Lay Lady Lay' for us," Cash remembers. "Joni was a house guest and she played 'Both Sides Now.' Kris sang 'Me And Bobby McGee,' Graham Nash had 'Marrakesh Express,' and Shel Silverstein sang 'A Boy Named Sue'. That was the first time these songs were heard anywhere."
Cash, of course, went on to record "A Boy Named Sue." That same year, Cash released a live version of that song, for his At San Quentin album.
