Top Ten Heavy Metal Bands Formed Before Black Sabbath
We all know Black Sabbath were the founders of metal, but what about the bands before them?
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of... read more This is the only band on this list that had songs related to metal music. Now we know that metal is strictly based on classical music and Deep Purple were the first band that wrote such songs. Not Black Sabbath.
All other bands on this list are blues based and they are either blues rock, heavy blues rock or hard rock but not metal. Including the early stuff by Black Sabbath mentioned in the list description. Metal stays away from blues.
The Stooges and MC5 were punk, not metal.
This is the only band on this list that is metal
The real metal pioneers.
Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (Vocal), Jimmy Page (Guitar), John Paul Jones (Bass, Keyboard) and John Bonham (Drums) and was very much the child of Jimmy Page who even financed their first tour. He had tasted some previous success with The [original] Yardbirds and was friendly with some big names in rock. Page states it was Keith Moon of The Who that claimed the band could only go down, like a lead balloon -- thus prompting the iconic name of Led Zeppelin. The band's heavy, guitar-driven sound, rooted in blues and psychedelia on their early albums, has earned them recognition as one of the progenitors ...read more. RE MontyPython's comment "Led Zeppelin was heavy metal for its time, but now? "
Something is either metal or not, no matter then or now. They were heavy for its time but it doesn't mean it was necessarily heavy metal. I guess many people mistakenly took Led Zeppelin for metal but later this mistake got fixed.
Yes, Led Zeppelin is not a heavy metal band. But in this 21st century a lot of guitarists are using their guitar riffs as metal riffs. I can show you. Check this video "Riffer Madness - 20 CLASSIC METAL RIFFS MASHUP! ". the first riff was whole lotta love riffs.
This is proof that Led Zeppelin is Overrated they are number 1 on A Heavy Metal list when they aren't even a Metal Band at all
I assume Led Zeppelin was heavy metal for its time, but now? They're more hard rock and folk rock like.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English-American rock band that formed in Westminster, London, in September 1966. Composed of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding, and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969. During this time they released three successful studio albums. How is this metal?
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup power trio consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton.
Steppenwolf is a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent from 1968 to 1972. The group was formed in late 1961 in Toronto by vocalist John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton.
The Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, are an American proto-punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003. Although they sold few records in their original incarnation, and often performed for indifferent or hostile audiences, the Stooges are widely regarded as instrumental in the rise of punk rock, as well as influential to alternative rock, heavy metal and rock music at large. RE Brobusky's and zxm's comments: "While they are now classifieds as proto punk, back then they were heavy metal"; "They were both punk and metal band back that time".
Again, something is either metal or not, no matter then or now. They've been always punk. But people mistakenly thought they were metal. Not every heavy sound is heavy metal sound.
@zxm, hardcore doesn't count for metal because hardcore is, again, punk.
They were both punk and metal band back that time.They created some hard-core riffs which could be counted as metal
Proto-punk, not metal.
Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock style, and are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of heavy metal, ...read more.
MC5 was an American rock band from Lincoln Park, Michigan, formed in 1964. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. Punk, not metal.
Iron Butterfly is an American rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy metal music.
Sir Lord Baltimore was an American heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York, United States, formed in 1968 by lead vocalist and drummer John Garner, guitarist Louis Dambra, and bassist Gary Justin. Right from the Heart and Below
Vanilla Fudge was a American Psychedelic band in the late 1960s. Their two first album was all covers, but their third album is mostly original content. They are also credited for somewhat influencing Progressive Rock.
Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965 in Hanover by Rudolf Schenker. Since the band's inception, its musical style has ranged from hard rock to heavy metal. Just read the sentence bio here. It changed from hard rock over to metal. Not started as metal
Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band from Long Island, New York, whose most successful work includes the hard rock and heavy metal songs "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", "Godzilla" and "Burnin' for You".
Alice Cooper was an American rock band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1964. The band consisted of lead singer Vince Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith.