Pentagram Singer Reacts To New Found Fame Being A Meme

Bobby Liebling has spent over five decades in the shadows of heavy metal as the eccentric and enduring frontman of Pentagram. But in a twist he never saw coming, a viral video gave him a new kind of fame. In a recent interview with Altars of Metal, Liebling opened up about how it all started and how strange—but exciting—the ride has been.

Liebling shared:

“The whole thing flipped me out at first. It was pretty weird.
“I always had this dream of maybe someday I can have a post on Instagram or Facebook, and it will be viral. And it was like… Jesus, wow… Careful what you wish for, because it kind of blew up more quickly than I expected it to for damn sure. But it was pretty cool, you know? And it’s really fun, though, playing music for over half a century and then becoming famous for being a joke.”

From Underground Hero to Airport Celebrity

The video quickly took on a life of its own, bringing with it a wave of attention and surprisingly new fans. He said:

“The band’s profile went through the roof immediately, which is pretty obvious that it would.
“And we got stopped in airports by TSA people, and we’ve gotten stopped on planes by pilots coming out of the cockpit to say hello, and soccer moms in the airport, and groups of little kids and stuff like that. It’s pretty wild, man. I really didn’t know how to react, and I still kind of don’t because everywhere we go, it’s someone [saying], ‘Aren’t you that guy?’”

Pentagram’s Long Road to Recognition

Pentagram’s roots stretch back to 1971, when Liebling helped form the band that would become a cornerstone in the doom metal genre. Albums like Pentagram (1984) and Relentless (1985) didn’t gain mainstream fame at the time, but they built a devoted underground following and created the band’s legacy.

Throughout the years, Liebling stayed true to his vision, even when opportunities to compromise came his way. Psychedelic Baby Magazine once reported that Kiss’s Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley criticized the band’s look during a rehearsal, but Liebling stood his ground and refused to sell out or give away his songs.

Unexpected Fame After 50 Years

Despite years of lineup changes, financial struggles, and obstacles in the music industry, Liebling’s voice and vision have remained the heart of Pentagram. Now, thanks to the internet’s unpredictable nature, a whole new generation is discovering their music.

The viral Reddit video introduced the band’s heavy legacy to people who may never have stumbled upon it otherwise. And while Liebling jokes about becoming famous “for being a joke,” there’s no denying that his influence, passion, and persistence are no laughing matter.