In 1985, after concern about the effect of music on children, a group of four women including Tipper Gore formed the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). The group pushed for a voluntary ratings system for the music industry similar to the movie industry and released a list of songs they found objectionable that was dubbed the “Filthy Fifteen.” One of the songs on the list was Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” while tracks by Judas Priest, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Venom also found themselves under scrutiny.
A Senate hearing was held on Sept. 15, 1985 to discuss placing a rating system into effect. At the hearing, representatives of the PMRC testified along with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, Frank Zappa and John Denver.
