The 1980's also saw the fragmentation of the metal market into a wide variety of sub-genres and niches. In most cases, only a metal devotee would know the distinctions; a non-metal-head would file all under "noise". However, the distinctions are important to the metalhead; death metal, thrash, progressive metal, hair metal and others in the 1980's; doom-metal, stoner metal, sludge metal, Scandinavian metal, and rap metal in the 1990's.
A key occurrence in the heavy metal time line was the emergence of grunge in the early 1990's. Grunge was a crucial development because it bridged the always-unbridgeable gulf between metal and punk. Metal bands took punk's DIY ethic, and rawness of performance, and applied it to their power riffs, often slowing the music back down to Black Sabbath tempo. Alice In Chains and Soundgarden are prime examples of grunge-metal, which became a staple on alternative rock radio through the mid-90's.
Heavy metal remains today a massively fragmented market, but if all the fragments are taken together, it is still huge. Its future seems relatively assured; there will always be a market for volume and escape, as long as there are teenagers. Heavy metal's highest points are as worthy of listen as any other genre; its low points help keep rock music interesting.
Some important/influential heavy metal artists/songs include:
1. Led Zeppelin: Dazed And Confused
"Dazed And Confused", the genre-defining crazed amplified blues from Led Zeppelin's self-titled 1969 debut, actually had been part of the New Yardbirds' stage show in 1968. The genesis of Led Zeppelin had its roots in the Yardbirds, whom Jimmy Page joined in 1966. Their 1967 album, Little Games, featured Page and had strings arranged by John Paul Jones. Page and Jones also played on "Hurdy Gurdy Man", a Donovan single released in 1968. The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968 when Keith Relf and Jim McCarty left the band; Page was left with bassist Chris Dreja and the rights to the Yardbirds' name. Page planned to hire Terry Reid as vocalist, but Reid was unavailable and suggested Robert Plant instead. Dreja left to pursue other projects, and John Paul Jones came in on bass. John Bonham came aboard at Plant's suggestion; he had drummed for Plant in the past. In September 1968, the Page-Plant-Jones-Bonham lineup played a series of gigs as the New Yardbirds; they recorded an album together in 30 hours in October. Their name was Led Zeppelin when they signed with Atlantic, and their debut became the biggest seller in Atlantic history in 1969 (eclipsing former record holder Iron Butterfly). "Dazed and Confused" is surely one of their greatest moments; each band member gets a chance to shine, and the song's guitar and vocal blasts are what heavy metal is all about.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
An extremely well-written piece although I question whether or not heavy metal is the "druggiest" and the inclusion of Queen.
In regards to your playlist, "Communication Breakdown" from "Led Zeppelin" could have been included because almost no one was playing that fast back in 1969.
Iron Maiden derserve to be on a Heavy Metal playlist over a number of your selections.
2 - uao
(I left an unclosed "center" tag; sorry about that.
Thanks El Bicho; you're right, I should have put Iron Maiden in, that was the worst omission.
"Communication Breakdown" is interesting, because it almost comes across as punk. I guess I went with "Dazed and Confused" to illustrate the bluesy influence, but "Communication Breakdown" is arguably the better of the two.
Thanks for the read; I realize this one wound up being overly long.
3 - El Bicho
I wouldn't say "Communication Breakdown" was a better choice; it just illustrates something completely different in terms of Heavy Metal. "Dazed and Confusion" is just as influential and is worthy of mention.
I know you limit your playlist to 20 and I'm not their #1 fan, but Maiden was huge, at least in Southern Calif, and they really seemed to be the benchmark of Metal for a few years in the early '80s with "The Number of the Beast" and "Powerslave". A claim that a few of the other bands on your list can't lay claim to, which is the only reason I brought it up.
I didn't find your article overly long. You had a lot of material to cover.
4 - uao
That is an interesting contrast between the two songs though; in a way, it suggests Zeppelin had a hand in speed metal's evolution too, which always seemed counter-intuitive.
Yeah, I can't really say one is better than the other. Both get me off different ways. I've snuck "Communication Breakdown" into unlikely mixes on party tapes, and it often elicited an excited response, so I play that more often.
But the Page/Plant vocal/guitar call and response on "Dazed" is pretty amazing too, no matter how many times you've heard it.
Iron Maiden belongs on the list somewhere; I left Queen off, only because I'm going to use them for a different list.
I was tempted to leave off Guns 'n Roses and Alice In Chains, but I wanted to keep a mainstream 80's excample, and a grunge-connection one.
Uriah Heep and Budgie are probably the ones that ought to go, but I wanted to toss their names out there for the younger folk to explore.
They'd be the ones I'd drop, ultimately.
I hate leaving Alice Cooper off, too.
Someday, maybe all of these playlists will come together as a book, and I'll have 40-band lists.
5 - Guppusmaximus
uao,
Excellent piece!! BUT... Iron Maiden was the inclusion of Punk into Metal with "Killers" not the 90's grunge bands...El Bicho is correct, Iron Maiden made statements on many levels in the Metal Community. They were the most influential band to Metal in the late 70's all way to the late 80's and still putting out strong releases today!!! Probably breaking any sales records for all the bands you mentioned. As for the influence list I can see where you were going but it's not one of my favorite's from you...(sorry).I would have included(No particular order):
Yngwie J. Malmsteen "Rising Force"
UFO(Michael Schenker)"Phenomenon"
Queensryche "Rage for Order"-More influential
Armored Saint "March of the Saint"
Grim Reaper "Fear No Evil"
Metal Massacre Vol.I-XII (In which Metallica was found)
Def Leppard "Pyromania"
Manowar "Battle Hymns" (My influence was:"Kings of Metal")
You could've compiled a better list of influences man...Most of your dominating bands of the 80's wanted to rid the scene of those "old monsters". Hell, Iron Maiden hated Judas priest so how could they be an influence??
Guns 'N' Roses can go f*ck a goat and AC/DC were great rock but not metal!!
Oh well, just an opinion from an obsessed metal fan!! Again...Excellent Piece,uao!!
6 - El Bicho
uao, I don't consider Queen as Heavy Metal although I can hear an incorporation of some of its elements. A big problem is what is considered Heavy Metal has changed over the years. While a few of the questionable bands have already been mentioned, "Sweet Emotion" is the one song that I don't think belongs on this list. You could totally get a book out of all these lists.
This might start a flame GWAR(pun intended) with more serious headbangers, but I hear the punk/metal combination in The Misfits. Also, I found Motorhead to be The Ramones of Metal, so I would cite them before "Killers" as well.
And as I reflect, Ronnie James Dio should get an honorable mention just for creating the signature Metal hand gesture. Plus, he sang on some great metal songs from Rainbow, Sabbath and his own solo material.
7 - Guppusmaximus
Dude... Dio could be considered one of the originators because he has been singing since '58.... Of course everyone knows the "REAL" metal came out in the 80's...So, who cares where it derived from. Kidding, Good Luck with the debate my Metal Brothers!!
Up The Irons!!
8 - Craig A Crofoot
Sad Wings Of Destiny was Judas Priest 2nd album. Simon Phillips did not appear until the bands 3rd release in 1977. That album was entitled Sin after Sin. Otherwise a well written article. However, since it's beginnings, metal maniacs have been exposed to the opportunity to listen to a number of classic recordings in the the thousands range. I do not think it would make since to have a top 1000 list of all time. Fortunately for pop music fans it is a challenge to come up a top 40 list on a weekly basis. I have to give Casey Kasem a heck of a lot of credit. Dispite my complaints and my ranting you have put together anexcellent article. Thank You
9 - godoggo
The bands on the list that I like have 2 things in common: 1) they sound as like they have some old blues records at home 2) they sound like they like dropping acid.
10 - uao
Thanks for the correction, Craig, my bad.
It was an unuassually tough list to put together; true metal heads will find much to argue about.
Coming at the topic as a sympathetic friend to metal, but not a metal head per se, I tried to use the 20 spots to outline the parameters.
As for guppusmaximus' nomination of Dio, I did put him in the honorable mention section. He could easily go on the list too, but since Sabbath is on there, I left him off. But he merits inclusion as a solo act too. They're all tough calls.
Godoggo- what you descibe fits the 60's-70's metal bands; not sure I hear much blues or acid in the 80's bands. The 90's bands brought a little of the blues back again.
11 - blondy
you all bonch of losers heavy metal is like the worst thing it could ever happend in the world, because of that a lot of people is getting crazy and is killin'or robbering and a bunch of other stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love ya' bLoNdY
12 - uao
Who told ya I was robbering, Blondy? I'll fix his wagon, maybe even go crazy on him...
13 - godoggo
On second thought the "acid" part is not really crucial; for example I can listen without gagging to Halen, who always evinced more of a nose candy ambience. Speaking of whom, it's getting harder to remember what a towering figure Eddie once seemed to be. Am I just completely out of it, or did his approach turn out to be a dead end as an influence?
14 - Myche
Eddie has cancer.....have some respect.
15 - El Bicho
Eddie made VH3, so he loses respect. Plus with all that smoking, he brought cancer on himself.
"you all bonch of losers heavy metal is like the worst thing it could ever happend in the world,"
Blondy, poor spelling and grammar are the worst.
16 - godoggo
Van Halen Cleared of Cancer
17 - uao
I'm very reluctant to say anything that can be construed as uncomplimentary of Eddie Van Halen, knowing full well how devoted his fans are.
But I agree with godoggo in that his position in the rock pantheon has been in decline for some time now.
In the 80's, there were dozens of mini-Eddie Van Halens running around; they're few and far between now.
Part of it may be his guitar style, which always had a limited vocabulary, even if he did what he did very well. He had far less stylistic range than a lot of his 70's competitors.
But I think the real reason has been his public image, which doesn't cast him in the best of lights; he's the only guy in the world who can make David Lee Roth seem worthy of sympathy.
Not releasing an album since the Van Halen III fiasco hasn't helped, either.
I'm glad he's recovered from cancer; I don't wish that on anyone.
But if he's recovered, perhaps that makes him fair game for criticism again.
At any rate, I was never a big Van Halen guy, especially after they traded in David for Sammy.
18 - Vern Halen
In your opening paragraph you use the word "cartoonish" - and that's metal in a nutshell. If loud is good, loudest is best; if long hair is cool, the longest hair is coolest; etc. I've been saying that for years, but this is the first time I've ever heard or read of that reference other than from me. Thanx for affirming what I always suspected.
I think Search & Destroy by the Stooges ought to be the number one metal album of all time.
19 - Ben
Parts of this seemed well researched, and some parts didn't. You made the mistake of referring to grunge as the first union of metal and punk -- metal and punk had been comingling for years. Just listen to Iron Maiden's first couple of albums, Motorhead, or hell, the entire genre of thrash metal was based on heavy metal + hardcore punk.
You also didn't go into any detail about black metal, death metal, doom metal, etc.
You also seemed to be preoccupied with British and American bands. Germany and Brazil had vibrant metal scenes in the 80s (Sodom, Kreator, Destruction, Sepultura, Sarcofago etc) and Scandinavia was a major source of quality metal in the 90s, with the genre of symphonic metal (Nightwish, Therion, Epica, etc) basically forming entirely in Europe and Scandinavia.