1974 in heavy metal music explained

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1974.

Bands formed

• The Angels
• Baker Gurvitz Army
• Bijelo Dugme
• Drugi način
• George Thorogood and the Destroyers
• Helix^[1]
• Jefferson Starship
• Krokus
• Moxy
• Ñu
  • Point Blank Praying Mantis
• Ramones
• Streetwalkers
  • 38 Special Raven
• Stress
• Y&T

Bands reformed

• Iron Butterfly
• MC5
• Steppenwolf

Bands disbanded

• King Crimson
• The Stooges

Events

• John Rutsey, one of the original members and the drummer of Rush, left the band due to health issues. Neil Peart was picked as his replacement.

Deaths

• Hans-Joachim Rietenbach, drummer of Lucifer's Friend, died at the age of 25.

Albums

• Lucifer's Friend – Banquet

February

Day	Artist	Album
15	Deep Purple	Burn^[2]
18	Kiss	KISS^[3]
	Humble Pie	Thunderbox
	Mountain	Twin Peaks

March

Day	Artist	Album
1	Camel	Mirage
8	Queen	Queen II^[4]
15	Aerosmith	Get Your Wings^[5]
18	Rush	Rush^[6]
29	Grand Funk Railroad	Shinin' On
	King Crimson	Starless and Bible Black
	Mott the Hoople	The Hoople

April

Day	Artist	Album
5	Blue Öyster Cult	Secret Treaties^[7]
15	Lynyrd Skynyrd	Second Helping
26	Sweet	Sweet Fanny Adams^[8]
	Nazareth	Rampant
	Elf	Carolina County Ball

May

Day	Artist	Album
17	Budgie	In for the Kill^[9]
24	Bad Company	Bad Company
	UFO	Phenomenon^[10]

June

Day	Artist	Album
	Buffalo	Only Want You for Your Body
	Uriah Heep	Wonderworld^[11]

July

Day	Artist	Album
	James Gang	Miami
	Mountain	Avalanche

September

Day	Artist	Album
6	Hawkwind	Hall of the Mountain Grill
	Judas Priest	Rocka Rolla^[12]

October

Day	Artist	Album
1	King Crimson	Red
11	Montrose	Paper Money^[13]
14	Jethro Tull	War Child
22	Kiss	Hotter Than Hell^[14]

November

Day	Artist	Album
1	Scorpions	Fly to the Rainbow^[15]
8	Queen	Sheer Heart Attack^[16]
	Deep Purple	Stormbringer^[17]
	Thin Lizzy	Nightlife^[18]
15	Sweet	Desolation Boulevard^[19]
29	Yes	Relayer
	Wishbone Ash	There's the Rub

December

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p13172|pure_url=yes}} Helix Bio]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
2. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r5336|pure_url=yes}} Burn]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
3. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r11052|pure_url=yes}} Kiss]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
4. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r2218689|pure_url=yes}} Queen II]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
5. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r168|pure_url=yes}} Get Your Wings]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
6. Web site: Rush 1974.
7. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r2154|pure_url=yes}} Secret Treaties]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
8. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r50661|pure_url=yes}} Sweet Fanny Adams]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
9. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r31822|pure_url=yes}} In for the Kill]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
10. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r630714|pure_url=yes}} Phenomenon ]. 2008-04-25 . Allmusic.
11. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r20894|pure_url=yes}} Wonderworld]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
12. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r42002|pure_url=yes}} Rocka Rolla]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
13. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r11348|pure_url=yes}} Paper Money]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
14. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r11051|pure_url=yes}} Hotter Than Hell]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
15. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r17516|pure_url=yes}} Fly to the Rainbow]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
16. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r2218691|pure_url=yes}} Sheer Heart Attack]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
17. Web site: Stormbringer certification.
18. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r19990|pure_url=yes}} Nightlife]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.
19. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r19498|pure_url=yes}} Desolation Boulevard]. Allmusic. 2008-04-25.