Earlier Burroughs Usage of "Heavy Metal"

[Fred Shapiro]

The precursor of the musical sense of "heavy metal" is William S.
Burroughs' usage of "heavy metal" in his books.  The OED quotes a 1964
Burroughs book.  I previously posted an antedating from a 1962 book of
his.  Here is a further antedating:

1961 William S. Burroughs _The Soft Machine_ 11  Just look there (another
Heavy Metal Boy sank through the earth's crust and we got some good
pictures...).

Fred Shapiro


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