Did someone imply that any type of pop or rock music was banned in Vietnam? I don't think that was ever the case; I wasn't "in-country" myself, but I never heard of any such controversy, and films like "Apocalypse Now," "Platoon," "Good Morning Vietnam," etc. ~ albeit fictional ~ depict the playing of records by Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, etc. etc. There are also plenty of contemporary pop-music references in Vietnam literature like Tim O'Brien's novels (e.g.., Sam the Sham's "Little Red Riding Hood").

If the blatantly anti-establishment lyrics of Vietnam-era pop music were OK to be heard back then by American soldiers, the apolitical and generally violent heavy-metal "entertainment" of today would undoubtedly be more than welcome in today's combat zones.