Top 10 Metal Artists with the Coolest Names

Guitarists, vocalists, bassists, and drummers in metal bands are known for having cool names. Here are some of them.

1. Varg Vikernes

   

   Louis Cachet (born Kristian Vikernes), more popularly known as Varg Vikernes, is a Norwegian musician, writer, and convicted murderer and arsonist. He is known as the sole member of the one-man band Burzum, named after a word in the Black Speech from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.... read more

   I really don't like black metal. It really offends me with how anti-Christian it is. But dang! Varg Vikernes? That name sounds like a Viking! See the similarity? Vikernes? Viking?

   He killed one of his colleagues - Euronymous (of Mayhem). The victim was found with two stab wounds to the head, five to the neck, and sixteen to the back. Varg Vikernes served 15 years in prison. Ironically, his real name is Kristian Vikernes. Kristian = Christian.

   Oh my! You can't guess how much I love this guy.

2. The Rev

   

   James Owen Sullivan (February 9, 1981 - December 28, 2009), better known by his stage name "The Rev," short for "The Reverend Tholomew Plague," was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was best known as the drummer, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the American heavy metal band Avenged... read more

3. Dez Fafara

   

   Dez's real name is Bradley Fafara, but Dez Fafara is such a badass name!

4. Ritchie Blackmore

   

   Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock and heavy metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.

   In 2004, Guitar World ranked him number 16 on its list of the "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time," and in 2011, Rolling Stone... read more

   The coolest and the best genuine name for a metal musician - BLACKmore, more black. Black became one of the metal symbols thanks to him because he was a metal pioneer and wore almost exclusively black. He also earned the nickname The Man In Black. He's an extremely talented musician (Deep Purple, Rainbow).

5. Ronnie James Dio

   

   Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona. July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter, and musician. He led and performed with several bands including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell.... read more

   Born: Ronnie James Padavona (Dio is a stage name). Yes, Dio means God, and he was a metal God.

   Unfortunately, the list title doesn't make a difference between genuine names, nicknames, and stage names. I would put first the coolest genuine names, then nicknames (you earn them), and last - stage names (because you choose them). Ozzy is also a stage name.

   Seriously? His last name is the Italian word for God! How is this not cool?

6. Shavo Odadjian

   

   Shavo Odadjian is an Armenian-American bassist, songwriter, and music video director. He is best known as the bassist and backing vocalist for the rock band System of a Down. In addition to his work with the band, he has also been involved in directing music videos and various side projects.... read more

   Just the fact that this is a really Armenian name that belongs to the bassist in System Of A Down makes this name cool. And Shavo isn't even his real name! Even Shavarsh Odadjian sounds cool!

7. Hansi Kürsch

   

   Hansi Kürsch (born Hans Jürgen Kürsch on August 10, 1966) is the lead singer, lyricist, co-composer, and former bassist of the German power metal band Blind Guardian. He has cited Freddie Mercury as a major influence and often creates rich, overlapping choir effects by overdubbing his own voice multiple... read more

8. Mark Slaughter

   

   Mark Allen Slaughter (born July 4, 1964) is an American singer and musician, and one of the founders of the glam metal band Slaughter. Before finding success with his namesake band, he served as the lead vocalist for the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. His distinctive high-pitched vocals helped propel hits... read more

   It's his genuine name! One of the top 3 names for a metal artist. Singer and founder of the band Slaughter, named after him.

9. Dimebag Darrell

   

   Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He co-founded the bands Pantera and Damageplan with his brother Vinnie Paul. Abbott was tragically shot and killed during a performance in 2004 by a mentally unstable fan.

   Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Dimebag Darrell and Diamond Darrell.

10. Nicko McBrain

    

    Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain is an English musician best known as the drummer for Iron Maiden, which he joined in 1982. He has played on all of Iron Maiden's albums since Piece of Mind (1983).

    Nicko? Only Iron Maiden could have a name like that!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Matt Heafy

    

    Matthew "Matt" Kiichi Heafy is a Japanese-American musician, best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Orlando-based heavy metal band Trivium. He joined the band in 1999 at the age of 13. Heafy is also known for his involvement in various side projects and for streaming music content... read more

12. ?

    Dead

    

    Per Yngve Ohlin, better known by his stage name Dead, was a Swedish black and death metal vocalist best known for his work with the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. He died by suicide in 1991. Former bandmate Euronymous took photographs of the scene, and one of the images was used as the cover art... read more

The Contenders

13. Denis D'Amour

14. Maynard James Keenan

    

    Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor. He is best known as the vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool.

    Keenan is also the lead singer of the bands A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, which... read more

    This name is cool because it's really out of place.

15. Ozzy Osbourne

    

    John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (December 3, 1948 - July 22 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and television personality, often nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness." He rose to fame in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath.... read more

    His real name is John Michael Osbourne, but he's better known as Ozzy, which is really cool. He's awesome. One of my favorite rock/metal musicians in the world.

    His real name is John Osbourne.

16. Dave Mustaine

    

    David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor, and author. He was the original lead guitarist of Metallica before being dismissed in 1983. Afterward, he formed the band Megadeth, where he became the lead vocalist and primary creative force.... read more

17. Jari Mäenpää

    

    Jari Mäenpää (born December 23, 1977) is a Finnish heavy metal multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is the founder of the metal band Wintersun, for which he records all instruments in the studio. Before forming Wintersun, Mäenpää was best known for his role as the vocalist and guitarist in the folk... read more

18. Tim "Ripper" Owens

    

    Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal singer who first gained attention as the lead vocalist for Judas Priest and later for Iced Earth. He took the nickname "Ripper" from the Judas Priest song "The Ripper" during his time in the tribute band British Steel. He currently performs with Beyond... read more

19. Mike Mangini

    

    Mike Mangini is an American drummer known for his technical proficiency and teaching expertise. Since 2010, he's been the drummer for the progressive metal band Dream Theater, following the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy. Mangini also holds several world records in drum speed and has served... read more

20. Bobby Jarzombek

    

    Bobby Jarzombek is a heavy metal and progressive metal drummer, best known for his work with Halford, Sebastian Bach, and Riot. He has also performed with Fates Warning and Spastic Ink, showcasing his technical skill and versatility. Jarzombek is recognized for his complex drumming patterns and high-speed... read more

21. Euronymous

    

    Øystein Aarseth (1968-1993), who went by the pseudonym Euronymous, was a Norwegian guitarist and co-founder of the black metal band Mayhem. Euronymous was stabbed to death by bandmate Varg Vikernes in August 1993.

    He was a controversial figure in black metal. Euronymous claimed to be a theistic... read more

    Come on! The dude has the name of a demon. That's pretty cool.

    Cool name, but he wasn't really a cool dude, to be honest.

22. George Fisher

    

    George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher is an American extreme metal vocalist best known for his work with the death metal band Cannibal Corpse. He is also the lead vocalist for the melodic death metal band Paths of Possession. Fisher is recognized for his powerful vocal range and distinctive growling technique... read more

    If you mean Corpsegrinder, then I would say yes!

23. Sebastian Bach

    

    Sebastian Philip Bierk (born April 3, 1968), known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian heavy metal singer. He achieved mainstream success as the frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since leaving Skid Row, he has taken on numerous television roles, appeared in Broadway productions such... read more

    Not Johann Sebastian Bach, only Sebastian Bach but still cool. His genuine name is Sebastian Bierk, and he only changed Bierk to Bach. I agree, if your real name is Sebastian, it just goes with Bach - especially if you're a musician.

    Frontman of Skid Row. Born Sebastian Philip Bierk. He just replaced Bierk with Bach and here you go - instant association with Johann Sebastian Bach.

24. Glenn Danzig

    

    Glenn Danzig is an American singer, songwriter, and musician from Lodi, New Jersey. He is the founder of the bands Misfits, Samhain and Danzig. He owns the Evilive record label as well as Verotik, an adult-oriented comic book publishing company.

25. Jeff Hanneman

    

    Jeffrey John "Jeff" Hanneman was an American musician, best known as a founding member and guitarist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-wrote many of the band's most iconic songs, including "Raining Blood" and "Angel of Death." Hanneman was with the band from its inception in 1981 until... read more

26. Tom Araya

    

    Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz is a Chilean-American musician best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. He joined Slayer in 1981 and remained with the band until their retirement in 2019. Araya is recognized for his powerful vocal delivery and stage presence.

27. Layne Staley

    

    Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington, in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s.... read more