Greatest Early Metal Bands (1965-1972)
you think of metal as being 80's and 90's very heavy rock. but it started with the 60's. it is now time to choose one of the best bands started between 1965 and 1972, which were absolouteley metal compared to anything else of the time.Although there have been many members in Deep Purple, among the most famous members are:
1. Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar (March 1968 – June 1975, April 1984 – November 1993)
2. Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica, percussion (1969–1973, 1984–1989, 1992–present)
3. Ian Paice – drums, percussion (1968–1976, 1984–present) ...read more.
So many people opine on Black Sabbath being the founders of Heavy Metal but Deep Purple was first out, first best, and first with true Metal syncopation. I will never take Black Sabbath off that list, I'll just put them under Deep Purple every time. I was there. My band was there. We were heavily influenced by both from albums, radio, concerts, and meeting both back stage and at hotels. The best comment on this site was from Metal_Treasure who actually took the time to distinguish both band's contributions to future subgenres of Metal. Nice work.
In 1965-1972 Deep Purple and Black Sabbath were the only two bands who played something close to current metal.
Deep Purple experimented with faster tempos and operatic vox that can be related to speed metal, power metal, traditional/classic metal and similar subgenres (Highway Star, Hard Lovin' Man, Fireball, SpeedKing). Black Sabbath experimented with slower tempos that can be related to doom metal and some other very dark subgenres.
However, several bands on this list also contributed - Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy, Queen, UFO.
This has to be my favorite band of the time. They influences so many bands and make music that will live forever. Greatest band of all time.
Just listen to In Rock; that's all about Heavy Metal; and this Album was made 1969/70 and released later in 1970.
When in the world were the Who and the Rolling Stones considered metal. This is best by far. Listen to paranoid, iron man, war pigs, N.I. B, changes and evil woman.
Other then deep purple the awesome bands above us aren't metal the first metal band is the best Sabbath
In my opinion the best metal band of all time! Why aren't they higher?
They were the first real heavy metal in history
Not every heavy sound is heavy metal sound - Led Zeppelin were huge 1965-1972 and their sound was pretty heavy but it wasn't really metal. They are NOT metal, never been and never tried to become a metal band.
In contrast, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath tried to become metal bands and they certainly succeeded.
RE Dave Grohl - he is wrong but he's not a metal musician so I forgive him for not having a clue about metal and it's evolution. Led Zep are too bluesy to be metal. Besides, Led Zep themselves have ever refused to be labelled as metal.
Led Zeppelin were consistently brilliant, all were / are superb and inventive Rock musicians who could turn to most forms of rock music including some forms of Heavy Metal along with many other styles. I suppose it should also be remembered this was pretty much achieved without the need of high tech electronics that is available now.
Having been to some of their first concerts, "Lead" Zeppelin and "Iron" Butterfly, were clearly defined as heavy metal and actually were viewed by concert goers in the beginning as "heavy metal,"... Repeat "Lead," "Iron."
They morphed from Blues to metal, along with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, to be followed by second generation Heavy Metal.
Well, none of these are proper metal bands, except maybe Black Sabbath. But in the words of Dave Grohl in his Rolling Stone article about Zeppelin, "Metal would not exist without led zeppelin. And if it did, it would suck"
A great band - their sound was a fusion of progressive/art rock/heavy metal. David Byron's quasi-operatic vocals added some metal feel, too.
Their debut album 'Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble' (1970) was one of the first albums with the word (H)eavy in the title.
The song Bird of Prey (1971) is a metal song, with metal vocals and screams: awesome vox even from today's metal viewpoint.
Their epic piece Salisbury (1971) is 16:20 min long and sounds to me like early symphonic metal with prog elements.
Uriah Heep is the favorite band of Hansi Kürsch - lead singer of the metal band Blind Guardian, currently one of the best metal bands. They did a cover of 'The Wizard' and I think it's awesome.
Besides, Hansi Kürsch named his second band after a Uriah Heep album - Demons & Wizards. Yeah, he definitely loves Uriah Heep.
Along with Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the four bands formed the base of current rock!
One of the greatest of all time.
A German band formed in 1965.
I can't believe these guys have been around for 50 years and still kick ass
(same for Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep - these bands still put out new albums or/and tour).
But I don'd know if The Scorpions played something related to metal in 1965-1972...
Going to watch live in 2 weeks, Auckland New Zealand, are you jealous.
This band should not be left out in the cold, because this band represents what's great about Classic Hits. Their timeless tunes we're our soundtrack of our lives.
Its Joeysworld
Born to be wild mentioned "heavy metal" for the first
Time in music history
The pioneers of canadian rock and metal
The sweet had songs such as Fox On The RUn ( covered by Girlschool),
A.C.D.C. ( Covered by Joan Jett) & Love is Like Oxygen... Not only did they flirt with metal.. Their original Material had elements of heavy metal in them.. Andy Scott is one of the most underrated guitarists ever,in my humble opinion
Sweet did play as tough as any other band at that time.
Good to see them up there they deserve it
Formed in 1968.
I don't mean their poppie glam rock songs. They have heavier songs, such as: Sweet F.A., Set Me Free, No you don't, Cockroach, Breakdown.
Formed in London in 1970.
Queen were not considered as metal or metal influence back then but things changed over time.
They actually wrote and performed the first thrash metal song - Stone Cold Crazy. It was written by Freddie in 1968 and recorded a bit later when he joined Queen. Metallica did a cover.
Another pretty aggressive and dark song is Dead On Time.
From a current metal viewpoint, Queen's sound was closer to metal than Led Zep's, for example. In other words, contemporary metal music sounds more like Queen than like Led Zep.
An Irish rock-to-metal band formed in Dublin in 1969.
Some of the biggest Thin Lizzy fans are Metallica, Iron Maiden, Vader and Mastodon, to name a few. They all state they were influenced by Thin Lizzy and did many covers.
Some great musicians played for Thin Lizzy - Phil Lynott, Gary Moore, John Sykes, Vivian Campbell, Tommy Aldridge.
Thin Lizzy riffs are killers, some solos and basslines are remarkable, too.
To see how influential Thin Lizzy were towards metal creation, go to a list I just started on the Top Tens:
Top Ten Best Cover Versions of Thin Lizzy Songs
Formed in 1969, they became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal, and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWBHM).
Their song 'Doctor Doctor' was covered by Iron Maiden.
I love doctor doctor
The first bad boy rockers in a time ruled by mods.
They aren't metal and didn't influence metal. Shouldn't be on this list.
The who... Early influences in the evolution of metal.
Rock, hard rock, power pop - there's NO metal here. Shouldn't be on this list.
Love this band. should be number 1 in my opinion. This band can pump you up and is great when your having parties. one of the most talented I've heard in a long time.
Formed in 1973 and never been metal. Shouldn't be on this list.
Came along late in the game. Decent but no virtuosos.
A great band, but they started in 1973.
They are known for several of their hit songs, which include “Painkiller”, “Breaking The Law”, You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”, and “Turbo Lover”.
Their original lineup consisted of Al Atkins (vocals), K.K. Downing (lead/rhythm guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and John Ellis (drums). Atkins never recorded on any Judas Priest releases, but contributed to several songs. ...read more.
Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969.
This case is a bit complex - Judas Priest didn't play metal in 1969-1972 and they were unknown back then but now I'd say this is the greatest metal band on this list.
Heavy Metal in a nutshell
Why aren't they number 2? Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, and Iron butterfly were the pioneers of metal, especially Doom metal. What these 3 bands have in common is that Heavy bass, loud cymbal smashing percussion, and brain-melting guitar solos that are common throughout the heavy metal/doom genre.
Listen to the 67 demo tape played on fm station kmpx in san Francisco
You Really Got Me (1964) - it's riff is demonic. The Kinks should be in the top 10 because they invented something important.
The Kinks experimented with louder rock sounds and made pioneering contributions to the field. Dave Davies became bored with the traditional "clean" guitar style of the period and in search of a louder, more biting sound, he famously split the speaker cone of his Elpico amplifier:
"I started to get really frustrated [with the amp's sound], and I said, 'I know! I'll fix you! ' I got a single-sided Gillette razorblade and cut... [from the centre to the edge of the] cone... so it was all shredded but still on there, still intact. I played and I thought it was amazing." The jagged sound of the amplifier was replicated in the studio;
The Elpico was plugged into a larger Vox AC30, and the resulting effect became a mainstay in The Kinks' early recordings - most notably on "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night."
The Stooges were a proto punk rock band,not Proto...or even metal...
Just listen to Iggy Pop try to cough out the lyrics to "I wanna Be your dog"..this would be enough to make you naucious!
Alice Cooper should be on top. If you haven't read any of his lyrics, then please do so and I'm sure you will agree with me. He has influenced so many great bands with his music, his stage performances and all that follows this man
There is a lot of Metal in Early Alice Cooper just listen to Black Juju, Ballad of Dwight Fry, Halo of Flies, Dead Babies and, Killer if you don't think so.
Shock rock and not metal. Shouldn't be on this list.
None of the songs listed above is metal; Ballad of Dwight Fry is from 1990, which is far from early metal. Listen carefully to his music - nothing speaks metal.
And now find the song Bird Of Prey by Uriah Heep (1971) to see what I mean - you will get immediately all metal elements. That's why Uriah Heep should be in the top 5, if not top 3, and Alice Cooper removed from the list.
Re Alice Cooper and many other irrelevant musicians here:
You don't have to think that something is metal every time you hear distortion, see black eyeliner/scary make-up, or hear dark lyrics.
Moreover, we shouldn't focus on lyrics very much here - metal is first and foremost a music genre. So focus mainly on the scales used, but also drum beats, vocals, riffs, solos.
The rock god of the early 70's
And you wouldn't think of "NO Time",No sugar tonight & Star Baby ( a be it not one of their best songs...but one of my favorites...) Metal Songs? Clap for the wolfman became a very annoying song after a while... As someone who remembers metal when it was in its infancy.. The guess who is one of the best metal bands ( along with BAchman Turner over drive)! )... That Canada had to offer1
There's NO metal here - they played rock, blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, garage rock, hard rock (none of them speaks metal).
You call 'Clap for the wolfman' a metal song? Please everybody, check out this song - nowhere near metal.
Great canadian band that managed to be metalheads in a time of folk and country in Canada.
In my opinion, these guys were the first heavy metal band.
First heavy metal band yes
"All Right Now"- Paul Rodgers baby.