Today, hip hop and pop music dominate the airwaves.
While there is certainly a good reason for the success of these genres, they were not always at the top of the heap. From the 50s, and all the way to the early 2000s, rock’n’roll was the king of the airwaves.
From the rock genre, spawned several sub-categories, the biggest of which, even to this day, is heavy metal. We often speak about the bands that changed rock and metal for the better (or worse). However, it is important also to look at the people headlining these bands, and talk about their contribution to the genre.
Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister
Ian Kilmister, better known as Lemmy, was one of the most influential figures in the early stages of heavy metal. However, he began his career as a bassist in the space rock band, Hawkwind. After a falling out, Lemmy would form the powerhouse trio that was “Motorhead.”
Their first album, while not great, was an inspiring contribution to the punk genre, showing Lemmy’s laissez faire attitude towards the more “dangerous” aspects of life. Of course, this album was the perfect precursor for what is to come.
Motorhead’s greatest contribution to the metal genre, often considered a classic of metal is the “Ace of Spades” album; an ode to gambling, road life, and dangerous/risky living. The titular song is an exemplification of why so many people enjoy websites like Karamba casino, where one can enjoy most of the games mentioned in the song.
Motorhead’s music wouldn’t be possible without the trio that made up the original line-up. However, it was Lemmy’s attitude that truly inspired fans. From the heavy and gritty music of Motorhead spawned four sub-genres of heavy metal; speed, thrash, black, and death. It is safe to say that “extreme metal” would be nowhere without Mr. Kilmister.
Rob Halford
If one were to ask most fans of heavy metal, about the origins of the genre, they’d get the same answer; Black Sabbath. However, if one were to ask which band established the genre as its own thing, distinct from rock and hard rock, then the answer is Judas Priest.
Formed in the early 70s, the original Judas Priest album, Rocka Rolla, was created with a different singer in mind. So, they started out on the wrong foot, and their headliner, Rob Halford did not get a chance to shine until their sophomore.
The Sad Wings of Destiny album was where Halford got a chance to show off his screaming high notes, which inspired a slew of singers in metal, and continue to do so to this day. From King Diamond, to the black metal bands who’ve only recently come to prominence, all of them name Halford as an inspiration.
However, vocals are not the only aspect of metal that Halford revolutionized. He also created the iconic, black leather, whips and chains style that heavy metal is associated with. Inspired by the biker culture of the 70s, Rob, pretty much single-handedly created the style we mostly associated with the music.
The Thrash Four
In the early-to-mid-eighties, heavy metal began to top the charts. Naturally, this meant that the music was becoming popular, and so, the bands began to market to a broader audience. This was the era of, so-called, hair metal (or glam metal). Heavy metal music infused with a more pop-friendly musical theme.
Needless to say, a lot of the “underground” metal fans did not enjoy it. To counter the hair metal movement, many bands in the underground began creating music with low production, harsh vocals, and fast musical tones that would put many off. The music came to be known as “thrash” metal, and the big four bands in the genre were, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.
It is hard to believe that Metallica were once considered counter-culture, considering that today they are the biggest name in rock and metal. It truly is impressive how far they’ve come, and how dedicated they are to rocking out even to this day.
Of course, we could say the same for Slayer, who, like Motorhead, player a huge role in inspiring black and death metal. The harsh vocals and heavy guitar riffs can be heard in pretty much every death metal band, even today. And it all began with Kerry King from Slayer.
Tony Iommi
Thus far, we’ve discussed some of the greatest names in the history of the metal genre. People without whom metal wouldn’t be what it is today. But, now it is time to bring up the person, without whom metal may not exist in the first place.
Anthony Frank Iommi, better known as Tony Iommi is the man behind Black Sabbath. While most associate Sabbath with the big-name singers, such as Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio, the most iconic part of the band, and a consistent member of it remains Iommi.
As a teenager, Tony had lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers in a factory accident. Rather than give up on his dream of playing the guitar, he adapted his style to fit his injury. Thus, came the iconic heavy metal sound of Black Sabbath, that is instantly recognizable even today.
It was the sound that began the heavy metal boom in the 70s, and inspired a number of subgenres in heavy metal, including doom, drone, stoner, and even sludge. For this reason, Iommi is considered by many to be the father of heavy metal, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Honorable Mentions
It would be unfair to leave the list at just a couple of names, when so many played a pivotal role in forming the metal genre and making it what it is today. We brought up Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, both of whom have had impeccable careers outside of Sabbath.
As the front man of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Dio helped to create the power metal genre, which remains strong to this day. Speaking of which, Ritchie Blackmore’s impeccable guitar skills have served as inspiration from many rock, metal, and even punk acts. His work in Rainbow and Deep Purple remains legendary to this day.