Poker has long been associated with high-stakes gambling, risk-taking, and the thrill of uncertainty. These qualities make it a natural fit for the world of metal music, where defiance, rebellion, and embracing the unknown are key themes. Over the...
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Poker has long been associated with high-stakes gambling, risk-taking, and the thrill of uncertainty. These qualities make it a natural fit for the world of metal music, where defiance, rebellion, and embracing the unknown are key themes. Over the years, various rock and metal songs have drawn inspiration from poker, weaving references to the game's terminology and philosophy into their lyrics and sound.
Motörhead's fourth full-length studio album Ace of Spades, for instance, focuses on gambling and taking risks. It references poker metaphors such as ‘dancing with the devil’ and ‘don’t forget the joker.’ Eventually, this album helped the group break into the North American market, with the title track becoming Motörhead's signature song.
However, beyond just lyrical references, many metal musicians have embraced poker as part of their personal lives, further strengthening the bond between the game and the genre. Some have even ventured into professional poker tournaments, taking the thrill of the game to the next level.
Metal icons going all-in on poker
One of the most prominent figures in the metal genre who has embraced poker both as a personal hobby and a professional pursuit is Scott Ian, the legendary guitarist of Anthrax. He's been involved in several high-profile poker tournaments, with the earliest being the VH1 Poker Tournament for rock 'n' roll celebrities. Here, he played alongside metal legends such as Godsmack's Sully Erna, Pantera's Vinnie Paul, and KISS's Ace Frehley.
A few years later, he went on to win Ultimate Bet's premier Sunday 200K tournament and cashed in at the 2010 WSOP Main Event by finishing 634th out of 6,494 players. Ian's presence at the WSOP led him to rub shoulders with ACR Poker pro and industry legend Chris Moneymaker. In 2021, the duo combined their star power at the Rock the Pot charity online poker tournament, raising funds for the mental health nonprofit group Charity Bomb.
For Ian and other metal icons, poker offers a unique opportunity to apply their competitive spirit and strategic thinking. It's this intertwining of poker's calculated risks and metal's high-intensity, high-risk attitude that makes the two worlds so complimentary.
Poker-themed metal and rock songs
Ace of Spades - Motörhead
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Released in 1980, Ace of Spades is an energetic anthem that uses poker terminology as a metaphor for living life on the edge, embracing the risks, and always going all in. The famous chorus, "Ace of spades, ace of spades," refers to the highest card in a deck, a fitting symbol for the band’s attitude of defiance and invincibility.
Proving the track's timelessness, this year, Motörhead announced the rollout of vinyl reissues of the Ace of Spades album. As part of the band's 50th anniversary, the limited edition repressings will come with an exclusive poster.
Deuces Are Wild - Aerosmith
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Aerosmith’s Deuces Are Wild is another example of a rock song that intertwines poker references with its own narrative. While not directly a song about the game of poker, the phrase "deuces are wild" — a term often used in card games, specifically referring to the two cards that act as wild cards — serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability and excitement of life. In the song, Aerosmith uses the wild card imagery to capture the sense of chaos and freedom that comes with living on the edge, just as poker involves taking chances with the cards you’re dealt.
Viva Las Vegas (Elvis Presley Cover) - Vince Neil
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Although Mötley Crüe no longer tours together, former frontman Vince Neil has noted that the band's members will continue to put out music and merchandise in the future. For Neil, this entailed releasing a solo album titled Tattoos & Tequiila, which included a cover of the Elvis classic, Viva Las Vegas.
The song celebrates the excitement, excess, and thrill of Las Vegas, a city synonymous with both gambling and rock culture. With lyrics like "How I wish that there were more than the twenty-four hours in the day," the song paints a picture of a non-stop, high-energy lifestyle where anything is possible — especially for those willing to gamble.
What makes poker such a fitting metaphor for metal is its inherent connection to risk and reward. In poker, players must constantly evaluate the odds, make bold decisions, and sometimes gamble with everything they’ve got. This is no different from the way many metal musicians approach their careers: by taking risks, challenging the status quo, and throwing caution to the wind in their music.
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