Written By Christy Norris
“It’s been an interesting year for metal, with Gojira opening the Olympics in Paris and actual metal bands in the metal genre category up for Grammys. But nothing could have prepared us for what was to come next.”
The airwaves are buzzing with controversy after Knocked Loose’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week, sparking an intense backlash from a vocal portion of viewers. But rather than retreating from the chaos, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon seems to be turning up the heat by booking another metal act that’s no stranger to stirring the pot: Ice-T’s legendary rap-metal outfit, Body Count.
The band, notorious for their unapologetic anthem Cop Killer, is set to perform on The Tonight Show on Wednesday, December 4, just two weeks after Knocked Loose’s explosive Kimmel set. The timing is interesting, considering the fierce reactions that Knocked Loose’s performance generated. Their high-energy rendition of Suffocate, complete with pyro and a guest appearance from avant-garde artist Poppy, pushed many viewers to their limits. Some fans complained about the band’s aggressive sound, with one Facebook user claiming their teenage son was brought to tears. Others were so unsettled by frontman Bryan Garris’ guttural vocal style that they demanded a public apology from the show.
Despite (or perhaps because of) the uproar, Knocked Loose’s appearance has become one of the most discussed Kimmel performances in recent memory, sparking a wider conversation about metal’s place on mainstream television. Has all the chatter encouraged The Tonight Show to double down on its metal bookings? It seems so, as Body Count’s appearance is poised to reignite that very debate, this time with one of the genre’s most politically charged bands.
Body Count’s inclusion on The Tonight Show follows a history of more metal-friendly bookings on Fallon’s stage. Back in 2017, the show featured thrash icons Slayer, who performed Raining Blood in a performance that was as blistering as the song itself. Coincidentally, Body Count covered Raining Blood on their 2017 album Bloodlust, a record that showed the band still has plenty of fire three decades layer after their controversial hit Cop Killer.
Their latest album, Merciless, released on November 22, has earned widespread acclaim for its ferocity and relevance, with critics praising Ice-T’s continued commitment to pushing boundaries. Metal Hammer’s Dom Lawson gave the album a four-star review, writing, “Thirty years after Cop Killer, Ice-T is still committed to making music that goes harder than the rest.”
For Body Count, the appearance on The Tonight Show is part of a limited 2024 schedule, with their next show set for December 5 at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. If last week’s backlash is any indication, the band’s performance could spark more conversation. For fans who are excited to see metal reclaim its place back on top of the charts with more TV space, it’s a moment to celebrate.
It seems the stars have aligned in this era for metal to thrive. It’s clear that metal’s presence is far from a passing trend. Whether viewers are on board or not, the genre’s boldest bands are taking the stage, and they’re making sure they’re heard.
Wonderful, On with the Body Band Ernie C and Ice T