List of heavy metal bands explained

In the late 1960s, a number of bands began pushing the limits of blues rock into a new genre which would be called heavy metal.[1] [2]

In 1981,[3] three of the "Big Four" thrash metal bands emerged (Metallica,[4] Slayer[5] and Anthrax),[5] to be joined on the scene in 1983 by Megadeth.[6]

Heavy metal bands formed between 1963 and 1981

NameOriginYears activeBrief summary
Sweden 1979–present
Japan 1977–1989, 2002–present
United Kingdom 1979–1982
Canada 1980–present Solo artist whose recorded output has spanned multiple genres, including heavy metal.[7]
Germany 1976–present
United States 1981-2002, 2003–present
Australia 1973–present
Aerosmith[8] United States 1970–present
United States 1980-1992, 1997–present
Alice Cooper[9] [10] United States 1968–present
United States 1975–1981, 1987, 1998–present
Spain 1978–present
United Kingdom 1977–1982, 1984–1998, 2000–present
Australia 1974–2000, 2008-present
Japan 1980–1992, 2000–present
United States 1981–present
Canada 1978–present
United Kingdom 1974–1976
United Kingdom 1977, 2003
United Kingdom 1969–1975, 1980–1983, 2016–present
United Kingdom 1979–1988, 2005
United States 1969–1970 Bandmembers included Billy Joel and Jon Small.
United States 1979–1984, 1997–2004
United Kingdom 1970–1976, 2005–present
Bang[11] United States 1969–1973, 2001–2004
United States 1977–1986
Spain 1980–present
United Kingdom 1980–1988, 2010–present
Australia 1979–present
United States 1981–1995, 2000–present
Germany 1966–1983, 1993–2014
United States 1980–present First band to be signed by the Metal Blade Records label.
United States 1977–present The first all-African-American heavy metal band.
United States 1981–1989, 1997, 2003, 2007–present Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer joined Kiss in 2003.
United Kingdom 1980–1989, 2006–present
Black Sabbath[12] United Kingdom 1968–2006, 2011–2017Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Alcohol abuse led to Ozzy Osbourne getting fired and replaced with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Black Sabbath is considered to be the progenitor of doom metal, and, by extension, metal itself.
United Kingdom 1966–1973, 2007–present
United Kingdom 1972–1983
United States 1978–1989, 2009–present
United Kingdom 1980–1981, 1984–1991, 1992–1994, 1996–1999, 2001–present
United States 1969–1975
Blue Cheer[13] United States 1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009 One of the earliest heavy metal acts. Cited as a major influence on the genres of stoner rock and grunge.
Blue Öyster Cult[14] United States 1967–present
Netherlands 1978–1984
Australia 1979–1986
Bow Wow[15] Japan 1975–present Also known as Vow Wow for part of their career (1984–1990).
United Kingdom 1976–1985, 1999–2000, 2003–2005, 2010–present
United Kingdom 1968–2010 Cited in the 2010 BBC TV documentary Heavy Metal Britannia as a formative influence on the genre in the UK.
Budgie[16] United Kingdom 1967–present
Buffalo[17] [18] Australia 1971–1977
Italy 1980–1990, 2008–present
Cactus[19] United States 1969–1972, 2006–present
United States 1971–1973, 1976–1978, 1998–2003
United Kingdom 1981–1985
United States 1972–1992, 1996–2001, 2015–present
United Kingdom 1979–1990, 2000–present
United States 1968–1975, 2007–present
United States 1979–1992, 1998–present
United Kingdom 1969–1971
Dayglo AbortionsCanada 1979 - present
United States 1974-1977, 2009–present
Italy 1977–1984, 1988–present
United Kingdom 1977–1985
United Kingdom 1979–1982, 2009–2015
United Kingdom 1968–1976, 1984–present
United Kingdom 1977–present The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
United Kingdom 1979–present Headlined the first British Steel Festival in 2006.[20]
United Kingdom 1967–1969, 1978, 1984, 1996, 2002, 2011–present Singer and writer Mick Farren died on 27 July 2013.
United Kingdom 1976–1985, 1991–1994, 2002–present
Germany 1980–present
Yugoslavia / Bosnia and Herzegovina 1977–present
United States 1978–1989, 1993–present
Germany 1980–present
United States 1969–1972 Drummer Marc Bell joined The Ramones in 1978.
Japan 1978–1994, 1999–present
Sweden 1981–1986, 2006–present
Sweden 1978–1986
Germany 1978–1986
United States 1967–1975 Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
United Kingdom 1976–1980
Sweden 1979–1992, 1999 (partial reunion), 2003–present The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Canada 1978–present
United States 1979–1993, 1997–1998, 2001–presentThe band had guitarist Kirk Hammett in its original lineup before he joined Metallica in 1983.
United States 1979-1998, 2009–present
United States 1979–1982
United Kingdom 1978–1982, 2001–2006
United States 1981–present
Flower Travellin' Band[21] Japan 1967–1973, 2007–present
United Kingdom 1971–1974 Glenn Tipton on vocals and guitar, later joined Judas Priest in 1974.
United States 1975-1995, 2008–present
United States 1978–1983, 2000
United Kingdom 1972–1980, 1982–1985, 2001 Singer Brian Johnson went on to join AC/DC in 1980, after the death of Bon Scott.
United Kingdom 1978–1983
United Kingdom 1979–1982
United Kingdom 1978–present All-female band formed during the new wave of British heavy metal.
Yugoslavia 1977–1984
Grand Funk Railroad[22] [23] [24] United States 1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present
Germany 1980–1987, 1991–present
Germany 1977–1986
United States 1977–2001, 2006–present The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
United Kingdom 1979–1988, 2006–present
United Kingdom 1967–1970
United States 1967–present
United Kingdom 1972–present
Finland 1979–1985, 2001–2009
United Kingdom 1971–1973
United Kingdom 1969–present
Canada 1979–present
Australia 1980–2000
Sweden 1976–1985
United Kingdom 1972–1985, 2002–present Initially featured actor Gary Holton on vocals.
Canada 1974–present
United States 1970-1971
United States 1963-1970 As a part of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys, Hendrix was one of the pioneering proto-metal acts, with his feedback-heavy brand of acid rock.
United Kingdom 1969–1970
United Kingdom 1979–1982, 2007, 2013
United Kingdom 1977–present
Germany 1980–1994, 2000–present
United States 1979–1990, 2008–present
United States 1966–present Second guitarist Erik Braunn died in 2003 of a heart attack. Original bassist Lee Dorman died on 21 December 2012. Drummer Ron Bushy died on 29 August 2021.
United Kingdom 1969–1974, 1993, 2010–present
Iron MaidenUnited Kingdom1975–presentIron Maiden achieved success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of U.S. and UK platinum and gold albums, including 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time and 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
United States 1981–1988, 1994–2011
United Kingdom 1979–1985, 1998–present
United Kingdom 1975–1983, 2008–present
United Kingdom 1972–presentProduced and managed by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Early creators of Metal. Remastered vinyl and CD versions of original Decca, Deram and Universal releases have been reissued by Rockadrome Records.
United States 1969–2005
United States 1973–present
United Kingdom 1969–present
Poland 1979–1987, 1990–1999, 2002–present
Serbia 1981–present
Canada 1976–1988, 2003–present
Belgium 1980–present
Canada 1981–1997, 2001–present
United Kingdom 1978–1996, 2002–present
United States 1979–present
United States 1973–2023
United States 1977–1996, 2003–present
Switzerland 1974–present
United Kingdom 1969–1971, 2004–present
United States 1981–present
Led Zeppelin[25] United Kingdom 1968–1980, 2007, 2011
United States 1975–present
Spain 1978–1983
Sweden 1981–1990
United Kingdom 1980–1986
United States 1966-1972
Germany 1980–1991
United States 1978–1981, 1984–1990, 2006–present Early lineups featured future members of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.[26]
United Kingdom 1975–1978
Spain 1980–present
Japan 1980–present
Lucifer's Friend[27] Germany 1970–1982, 1993–1997, 2014–present
Canada 1970–1980, 1998–present
United States 1980–1989, 2006–present
Sweden 1978–present
Ireland 1978–1993
United States 1977–1990, 2001–present
United States 1980–present Drummer Scott Columbus died on 4 April 2011.
United Kingdom 1976–present
Canada 1973–1982
United Kingdom 1969–1972
United States 1964-1972, 1992, 2003-2012 One of the earliest influences on the genre, as well as one of the earliest punk rock bands.
United States 1976–present
Denmark 1981–1985, 1992–1999 King Diamond on vocals.
United States 1980–1994, 1998–2009, 2012–present
United States 1981–present Bassist Cliff Burton died on 27 September 1986.
United States 1981–2008, 2011–present Started as a new wave act. Later known for Industrial metal/thrash music.
United States 1977–1983, 1995–present
United States 1973–1976, 2005
United Kingdom 1980–1982, 1985, 1998–2000, 2011–present
United States 1981–2015, 2018–present
United Kingdom 1975–2015 Lemmy died on 28 December 2015.
Mountain[28] United States 1969–1972, 1973–1974, 1981–1985, 1992–1998, 2001–2010
Canada 1974-1983, 1999-2009
United Kingdom 1968–present
Necromandus[29] United Kingdom 1970–1973
United Kingdom 1978–1982
France 1979–1987, 1999–present
Night Sun[30] Germany 1970–1973
United Kingdom 1978–1987, 1996–present
Ted Nugent[31] [32] United States 1975–present
United States 1976–1986, 1990–1995, 2011–present
United Kingdom 1979–present He is known as the first frontman of Black Sabbath. (1968-1979, reunion - 1998-2017)
Belgium 1980–1988, 2002, 2010–present
United States 1980–present
Finland 1977–1991, 2010–present
United Kingdom 1978–1982, 2004–present
United States 1981–2003 Started as a glam metal band.
United States 1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present
United Kingdom 1979–1986
Netherlands 1979–1987, 1997–1999, 2007–present
United Kingdom 1970–1976, 1987–1988
Yugoslavia / Slovenia 1979–1986, 1994–present
United Kingdom 1974–present
Denmark 1981–present
United States 1973–1974
United Kingdom 1974–1983, 1996, 2011
United States 1981–present
Quiet Riot[33] United States 1975–present
United Kingdom/United States 1975–1984, 1993–1997, 2016–present Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore formed Rainbow in 1975 after leaving Deep Purple.
United States 1976–1992, 1996–present
United Kingdom 1974–present
United States 1975–1984, 1986–2012
United Kingdom 1977–1987, 1994–1995, 2009, 2015–present
Yugoslavia 1980–1982
Australia 1976–1987, 1993, 1998–present
Germany 1968–present
United States 1981–1987, 2000–2002
United States 1975–1979
Germany 1976–2009, 2011–present
Canada 1968–2017
Japan 1981–present
United States 1980–1990
United States 1980–1989, 1999–present
United States 1978–1996, 2003, 2008–present
United Kingdom 1979–1983, 2009–present
United Kingdom 1977–2002
Finland 1977-2020[34]
United Kingdom 1979–1988, 2005–present
United Kingdom 1976–present
United States 1981–1993, 2009–2010
United States 1978–2002, 2014–present Previous members of the band formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 1996.
United Kingdom 1976–present
Germany 1979–present
Germany 1965–present
United States 1980–1991, 2002–2005, 2008, 2011, 2016–present
United States 1979–1992
United States 1968–1976, 2006–present
United States 1976–1978
United States 1981–present
United States 1981-2019, 2024—present
United States 1976–1987
France 1981–1986
United States 1980–1987
United States 1979–present Parody heavy metal band which first appeared on TV in 1979, with American actors playing the parts of fictional British musicians.
United Kingdom 1976–1986
United Kingdom 1981–1983, 2009–present
United States 1975–1979, 1980, 1990, 2003–present
Germany 1981–1988
United States 1967–2018 The 1967 recording "Born to Be Wild" was one of the first rock songs to contain the phrase "Heavy Metal" in its lyrics.
United States 1967-1971, 1972-1974, 2003–2016
Germany 1979–1994, 2002–present
United Kingdom 1966–present
South Africa 1970–1971
United States 1980–1995, 1997–present
United Kingdom 1979–present
United Kingdom 1980–1989, 1997–present
Portugal 1981–present
United States 1981–1996, 2000–present
Ireland 1969–1984, 1996–2012
Canada 1976–1978, 1983–1986, 1997–present
United States 1977–2001
Switzerland 1970–1995
United Kingdom 1981–1987
TörrCzechoslovakia1977–present
Germany 1977–1998, 2011–present According to Manfred Meyer of Metal Hammer magazine, some would rank the band alongside Accept and Scorpions as the third most important hard rock band from Germany.
United Kingdom 1978–1982, 1992–1993, 2013–present
Canada 1975–1993, 2008–present
Canada 1974–present
United States 1979–present
France 1977–1985, 1988, 1996–2000, 2006
United States 1969-1976, 1977-1978
Poland 1979–present
United States 1978-2006, 2007–present
United Kingdom 1969–1974
Poland 1980–present
United States 1972–1988, 1997–2016
United Kingdom 1978–1987, 1999–present
United Kingdom 1981–1983, 2012–present
United Kingdom 1969–1988, 1992–present
United Kingdom 1972–1980
United Kingdom 1969–present
Argentina 1979–1987
Netherlands 1981–1987, 2020–present
United States 1972–2020 Van Halen's combination of hard rock, heavy metal, and pop elements helped to popularize and mainstream the genre of hard rock music, and is known for changing the way we play guitar. The band disbanded in 2020 following Eddie Van Halen's death.
Vanilla Fudge[35] United States 1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present
United Kingdom 1973–1986, 2014–present
Yugoslavia / Bosnia and Herzegovina 1977–1986, 1998–2001, 2010–present
United Kingdom 1979–present Pioneers of the black metal genre, with their 1981 album Black Metal and subsequent releases.
United States 1979–present
United States 1981–present
United States 1980–1992, 1997–1998, 2001–present
France 1981–1998, 2009–present
United States 1980–1986, 2002, 2011–present
France 1980–1985
Canada 1968–1975, 2004–present
United States 1980–1986, 2008–2009
United Kingdom 1978–1990, 1994, 1997, 2002–present
United Kingdom 1975–1981
Canada 1975–1986, 2007–present
United States 1981–present
United Kingdom 1978–1981
United Kingdom 1979–1984, 2006–2008
United Kingdom 1974–1984, 1999–present
United Kingdom 1980–1990, 2009–present
United States 1978–1993
United States 1974–1991, 1995–present
United States 1975–present
United States 1976–1993

See also

Notes and References

  1. Weinstein, Deena. Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture. DaCapo, 2000., pg. 14.
  2. Book: Christe, Ian . Sound of the Beast . Allison & Busby . 0-7490-8351-4 . 1 . 2004.
  3. Web site: 1981 Snapshots in Music - Top Musical Moments of 1981 . 28 May 2012 . 18 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120818052802/http://80music.about.com/od/80smusic12/tp/1981moments.htm . dead .
  4. Web site: Kerrang!. Kerrang.com. 6 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions. Answer.coms. 6 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Megadeth - Back In The Day lyrics | LyricsFreak. Lyricsfreak.com. 6 October 2020.
  7. http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/aaron-lee/metal-queen Lee Aaron - 'Metal Queen' album review at Metal Archives website
  8. Book: Walser, Robert . Running with The Devil . Wesleyan University Press . 0-8195-6260-2 . s. 8, 13 . 1999 .
  9. Book: Walser, Robert. Running with The Devil. Wesleyan University Press. 1999. 0-8195-6260-2. s. 11, 16, 78.
  10. Book: Christe, Ian . Sound of the Beast . Allison & Busby . 0-7490-8351-4 . 2, 16, 18, 19, 39, 56–69, 93, 304, 333 . 2004.
  11. Web site: Rivadavia, Eduardo . Bang biography . . 30 January 2012.
  12. Web site: Ruhlmann, William . Black Sabbath biography . . 30 January 2012.
  13. Web site: Ruhlmann, William . Blue Cheer biography . . 30 January 2012.
  14. Web site: Ruhlmann, William . Blue Öyster Cult biography . . 30 January 2012.
  15. Web site: BOWWOW Frontman Kyoji Yamamoto . bravewords.com . 8 June 2012.
  16. Web site: Prato, Greg . Budgie biography . . 30 January 2012.
  17. Web site: Bealmear, Bart . Dead Forever... review . . 30 January 2012.
  18. Web site: Rivadavia, Eduardo . Volcanic Rock review . . 30 January 2012.
  19. Web site: Planer, Lindsay . One Way... or Another review . . 30 January 2012.
  20. Web site: BLABBERMOUTH.NET - DEMON, ELIXIR, CLOVEN HOOF, HAMMERHEAD Confirmed F… . https://archive.today/20120710010737/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=48603 . 10 July 2012 . dead.
  21. News: The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal . Sleazegrinder . Classic Rock . March 2007.
  22. Grand Funk Railroad: Grand Funk Lives : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone . . 3 September 2017 . 27 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090527002824/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/grandfunkrailroad/albums/album/229613/review/5942421/grand_funk_lives . dead .
  23. Book: Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954-1984. James M.. Curtis. Jim. Curtis. 6 October 1987. Popular Press. 9780879723699. 6 October 2020. Google Books.
  24. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BXcUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kQIEAAAAIBAJ&dq=grand-funk-railroad%20metal&pg=6989%2C4587421
  25. Book: Christe, Ian . Sound of the Beast . Allison & Busby . 0-7490-8351-4 . 12 . 2004.
  26. Web site: MusicMight :: Artists :: LONDON . 26 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100412064712/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/los+angeles/london . 12 April 2010 . Biography of the band London at MusicMight.com, 2009
  27. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p19037/biography|pure_url=yes}} AMG bio of Lucifer's Friend]. 15 October 2007 .
  28. Book: Ingham, Chris . The Book of Metal . Thunder's Mouth Press . 978-1-56025-419-5 . 204 . 2002.
  29. Web site: Rivadavia, Eduardo . Necromandus biography . . 31 January 2012.
  30. Web site: Rivadavia, Eduardo . Mournin review . . 31 January 2012.
  31. News: Roberts, Roxanne . Argetsinger, Amy . amp. Ted Nugent: Long past his 'rock star' days, how he caused a political firestorm . . 1 May 2014.
  32. Web site: Rolling Stone magazine . Ted Nugent biography . https://web.archive.org/web/20120114144941/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ted-nugent/biography . dead . 14 January 2012 . . 1 May 2014.
  33. Web site: Quiet Riot | Biography & History. AllMusic. 6 October 2020.
  34. https://www.metaltalk.net/kimmo-kuusniemi-sarcofagus-comes-to-an-end-after-43-year-rollercoaster.php 'Sarcofagus comes to an end after 43-year Rollercoaster' - Article on www.metaltalk.com (29th December 2020)
  35. Book: Christe, Ian . Sound of the Beast . Allison & Busby . 0-7490-8351-4 . 13 . 2004.

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