List of heavy metal bands

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This is a list of heavy metal artists.

Contents
!–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z    See also 

[edit] Original movement: 1967–1979

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]

[edit] A

Name Years active Brief summary
AC/DC[3] 1973–present Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal they have always classified their music as "Rock n' roll." Their 1980s album Back in Black is the best-selling rock album of all time.
Accept 1968–1989, 1992–1997, 2004–2005, 2009–present Accept played an important role in the development of speed metal and Teutonic thrash metal, being part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene which emerged in the early-to-mid 1980s.
Aerosmith[4] 1970–present
Alice Cooper[5][6] 1964–present

[edit] B

name Years active Brief summary
Bang 1970–1973, 2001–2004
Black Sabbath 1968–2006, 2011-present Regarded as one the Pioneers of Heavy Metal, Black 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, and enjoyed success with the release of Heaven and Hell in 1980 and Mob Rules in 1981. Throughout the late eighties and early nighties Black Sabbath went through a number of different vocalists and enjoyed small success with Headless Cross, TYR, Cross Purposes and Forbidden, released in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1995 respectively.
Blue Cheer 1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009
Blue Öyster Cult 1967–present
Budgie 1967–present
Buffalo[7] 1971–1977

[edit] C

name Years active Brief summary
Cactus 1970–1972, 2006–present
Cirith Ungol 1972–1992

[edit] D

name Years active Brief summary
Deep Purple[8][9][10] 1968–1976, 1984–present
Dio (band) 1982-2010
Def Leppard 1977-present
Dust[11] 1971–1978

[edit] E

name Years active Brief summary

[edit] F

name Years active Brief summary
Flower Travellin' Band[12] 1968–1973, 2007–present

[edit] G

name Years active Brief summary
Grand Funk Railroad[13][14][15] 1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present

[edit] H

name Years active Brief summary
Hard Stuff 1971–1973
Helloween 1984-present
The Jimi Hendrix Experience[16] 1966–1970 Jimi Hendrix established a sonically heavy yet technically proficient bent to rock music as a whole, significantly furthering the development of hard rock and paving the way for heavy metal.
High Tide 1969–1970

[edit] I

name Years active Brief summary
Iron Butterfly[17] 1966–present
Iron Maiden 1975-present Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Iron 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.

[edit] J

name Years active Brief summary
Jerusalem 1972
Jethro Tull 1967–present Won first heavy metal Grammy award in 1988. Template:Award listed on Grammy Website at (http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Jethro+Tull&title=&year=1988&genre=31)
Josefus 1969–2005
Judas Priest 1969–present Judas Priest are considered to be one of the most significant bands in heavy metal. They introduced a newer metal sound with their 1980 release British Steel. Judas Priest are also well known for eliminating most of metal's blues influence.

[edit] K

name Years active Brief summary
Kiss[18] 1972–present Kiss rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics.

[edit] L

name Years active Brief summary
Led Zeppelin[19] 1968–1980 With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands. Their song Stairway to Heaven is often named the most played song in the history of rock and metal radio.
Lucifer's Friend[20] 1970–1982, 1993–1997
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1964–present

[edit] M

name Years active Brief summary
Manowar 1980-present
Meat Loaf 1967–present
Mercyful Fate 1981–1985, 1992–2000 (hiatus)
Montrose 1973–1976, 2005
Motörhead 1977–present Motörhead are typically classified as heavy metal, and their fusion of punk rock into the genre helped to pioneer speed metal and thrash metal. Motörhead had particular success in the early 1980s with several successful singles in the UK Top 40 chart. The albums Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and particularly No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, cemented Motörhead's reputation as one of Britain's foremost rock bands.
Mountain[21] 1969–1972, 1973–present

[edit] N

name Years active Brief summary
Nazareth 1968–present
Necromandus[22] 1970–1973
Night Sun 1970–1973

[edit] O

name Years active Brief summary

[edit] P

name Years active Brief summary
Pentagram 1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present Along with Black Sabbath, Pentagram is considered one of the most important groups in the creation of doom metal.

[edit] Q

name Years active Brief summary
Queen[23][24] 1971–present
Quiet Riot[25] 1975–2008

[edit] R

name Years active Brief summary
Rainbow 1975–1984, 1993–1997
Running Wild 1976–2009, 2011-present With speedy riffs and themes about the open sea, Running Wild has been labeled as the world's first pirate metal band.
Rush 1968–present Known for their musicianship, this trio has created complex, often epic compositions, with eclectic lyrical motifs, and changing styles over the years. Beginning with blues-inspired on their first album, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period with heavy use of synthesizers, returning to a modern hard rock sound. Never truly mainstream nor universally lauded, Rush nonetheless have had great commercial success (behind only The Beatles and Rolling Stones in the top 3 rock bands with most consecutive gold albums) and received numerous awards and nominations, with each member having received acknowledgment of their proficiency through coverage in a variety of music publications. They have been cited as an influence by various musical artists both within the scope of "heavy metal" and without.

[edit] S

name Years active Brief summary
Saxon 1976–present
Scorpions 1965–present

[edit] T

name Years active Brief summary
Thin Lizzy 1969–1984, 1996–present,
Twisted Sister[26] 1972–1988, 1997–present
Trust 1977–present

[edit] U

name Years active Brief summary
UFO 1969–1988, 1992–present
Uriah Heep 1969–present

[edit] V

name Years active Brief summary
Van Halen[27] 1976–present Van Halen set the stage for many successful heavy metal bands in the 1980s. They are considered ahead of their time and have had an impact on metal that rivals even Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is also considered to be one of the most influential guitarists in heavy metal for his use of shredding and for popularizing two-handed tapping.
Vanilla Fudge[28] 1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present

[edit] W

name Years active Brief summary
Warhorse[29] 1970–1974, (partial reunions: 1985, 2005)

[edit] X

Name Years active Brief summary
X Japan 1982-1997 X Japan (エックス ジャパン, Ekkusu Japan) Is a popular Japanese rock band. The group was formed in Tateyama, Chiba Yoshiki and Toshi in 1982 and disbanded in 1997, renovated in 2007. Originally named X (エックス, Ekkusu), Shot to fame with their second album Blue Blood. His music is characterized by a taste for classic metal, mixed with fast drum lines and variable guitar lines with a strong progressive, and greatly influenced by classical music. X Japan has sold over 30 million albums and singles along with 2 million videos.

X Japan was dissolved in 1997 due to neglect of Toshi, arguing this rejection to sing sad songs at the moment to lead a happy life. In May 1998, Hide died and the rest of the group, including Taiji, gather to play at his funeral. On October 18, 2007 was officially announced the return of the group.
2007- Present

[edit] Y

name Years active Brief summary
Y&T 1974–1991, 1995–present From Oakland, California, United States

[edit] Z

name Years active Brief summary

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Weinstein, Deena. Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture. DaCapo, 2000. ISBN 0-306-80970-2, pg. 14.
  2. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 1. ISBN 0749083514. 
  3. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 2, 39–48, 52–57. ISBN 0749083514. 
  4. ^ Walser, Robert (1999). Running with The Devil. Wesleyan University Press. pp. s. 8, 13. ISBN 0819562602. 
  5. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 2, 16, 18, 19, 39, 56–69, 93, 304, 333. ISBN 0749083514. 
  6. ^ Walser, Robert (1999). Running with The Devil. Wesleyan University Press. pp. s. 11, 16, 78. ISBN 0819562602. 
  7. ^ [1] allmusic ((( Buffalo > Overview )))
  8. ^ Weinstein, Deena. Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture. DaCapo, 2000. ISBN 0-306-80970-2, pg. 2.
  9. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 2. ISBN 0749083514. 
  10. ^ Walser, Robert (1999). Running with The Devil. Wesleyan University Press. pp. s. 2. ISBN 0819562602. 
  11. ^ [2] allmusic ((( Dust > Biography )))
  12. ^ Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock. 
  13. ^ [3] Rolling Stone
  14. ^ [4] Rock Eras by James M. Curtis
  15. ^ [5] Saga of Rock Still Rolling, Toledo Blade, 1979
  16. ^ Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
  17. ^ Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock. 
  18. ^ |- |King Diamond Walser, Robert (1999). Running with The Devil. Wesleyan University Press. pp. s. 2, 10, 11, 16. ISBN 0819562602. 
  19. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. p. 12. ISBN 0749083514. 
  20. ^ "AMG bio of Lucifer's Friend". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p19037/biography. Retrieved 2007-10-15. 
  21. ^ Ingham, Chris (2002). The Book of Metal. Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 204. ISBN 978-1560254195. 
  22. ^ Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock. 
  23. ^ Nicholson, Kris (1976-04-08). "A Night at the Opera". Rolling Stone 
  24. ^ allmusic ((( Queen > Overview )))
  25. ^ [6] allmusic ((( Quiet Riot > Overview )))
  26. ^ http://www.twistedsister.com/french.php
  27. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 1, 50–57, 77. ISBN 0749083514. 
  28. ^ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the Beast. Allison & Busby. pp. 13. ISBN 0749083514. 
  29. ^ Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock. 

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