Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson is an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by frontman Marilyn Manson and Daisy Berkowitz, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early 1990s... read more Alice Cooper may have pioneered the shock rock genre, but Marilyn Manson made it mainstream. Manson embodies shock rock and "lives the values," so to speak. He also has more hits than any other shock rocker and flexes his musical muscle by changing his sound on nearly every album.
Antichrist Superstar is my favorite album of all time, and "Sweet Dreams" is my favorite cover.
Everything about him is perfect! From his amazing performances to his wonderful songs, he truly deserves to be classed as the best. He is very abstract, and even though his work can be pretty controversial, you've got to admit that he does it well! His voice really complements his songs, making them all the more pleasurable to listen to. His intelligence is quite surprising, actually. So, with a good personality, intelligence, and perfect music, he truly deserves this place!
Alice Cooper
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. No one does it better than Alice, and that includes even today, in late 2017. He still tours nine months a year and uses all of his trademark theatrics. The music stands the test of time, and he is never crude or vulgar to make his point. A class act and the greatest hard rocker ever.
There was nothing shocking about rock and roll until this man arrived with his original band, Alice Cooper. They made music feel dangerous, which is exactly what every kid in America wanted. Billion Dollar Babies is still one of the greatest albums ever produced. RIP Glen.
Kiss
Kiss, often styled as KISS, was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. The original members were Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals)... read more Kiss is awesome - heavy, mean, and dirty when they need to be, and also downright poppy and disco at other times. Shocking! But seriously, their live shows defined shock rock in the '70s and influenced bands like Slipknot.
I absolutely love Alice Cooper, but I had to vote for Kiss since it was ranked so low. Along with Alice Cooper, Kiss pretty much invented shock rock. They perfected it.
After Alice Cooper in the early '70s, there was nothing more terrifying to parents than KISS.
GWAR
Gwar, often styled as GWAR, is an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc. While Alice Cooper did all the shock stunts to himself, and Manson's performances were heavily anti-religion and sexual, neither of them maimed animatronics of celebrities and politicians. Their lead singers didn't wear a Cuttlefish around their penises that sprayed fake blood. They didn't have fake blood cannons operated by slaves. On the topic of slaves, none of those bands had slave characters, but GWAR did. Also, the crowds at their shows weren't sprayed with fake urine, sperm, and blood.
GWAR guts animatronic celebrities on stage and sprays fake blood, urine, and sperm on the crowd.
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were a Heavy Metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward... read more They are the godfathers of shock rock. They should be higher on the list.
They influenced so much music. They definitely should be higher on the list.
W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 by Blackie Lawless, who is the only remaining original member of the band. They were formed in 1982, and Kiss was formed in 1973. Kiss did it first, but W.A.S.P. did it better. The thing I hate about Kiss is that every member of the band is scum. That is not true of W.A.S.P.
They should be #1. They invented shock rock (along with Kiss). True legends. They began it all, man! Ah, memories from when I was a kid. Damn, how time flies. Sunset Strip, where are you now?
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. Shocking music and lyrics. King Diamond was always a little sloppy on stage. I wish he had the energy that the music of Mercyful Fate exerted.
Slipknot
Slipknot is an American metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1996. The band is best known as one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Alternative Metal during the late 1990s - 2000s and are distinguishable by the band's clothing choices, consisting of black/red jumpsuits and horror inspired... read more Anyone who has seen these guys live knows why they made the list. Every time I see them, I bring an extra pair of pants in case I piss myself from watching one of them almost get their head ripped off.
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and Industrial Metal band consisting of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (electric bass), Christoph Schneider (drums) and Christian Lorenz (keyboard), that formed in 1994 in Berlin ... read more Clearly, nobody has seen Rammstein live, otherwise they would be number one. Marilyn Manson is woeful live. Tool could have been included in the top ten too.
Their songs, music videos, and performances are all very controversial. They're the masters of shock rock.
They're far edgier than Marilyn Manson.
White Zombie
White Zombie was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1985. Based in New York City, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band, and was known for its later heavy metal-oriented sound. So much better than Manson. Where's John 5 now? Enough said.
The Newcomers
? Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse.
? Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked Morbid Angel's 1989 debut Altars of Madness first in its list "Top 40 greatest death metal albums".
The Contenders
Lordi
Lordi are a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1992 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume maker, Mr Lordi.
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian... read more Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter!
Misfits
Misfits are an American Horror Punk band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen, better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish heavy metal musician. He is known for his extensive vocal range, usually sung in falsetto. King Diamond was originally known as the vocalist for Mercyful Fate, but has become notorious for his horror themed Concept albums... read more
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American metal band formed in Los Angeles, California on January 17, 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, lead vocalist Vince Neil and lead guitarist Mick Mars. The most shocking moment was when Nikki Sixx was lit on fire during the filming of Live Wire. At that time, they were considered shock rock.
Mick Mars also had blood spitting out, similar to Gene Simmons of KISS.
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath... read more
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. They rose to fame with their 1986 album Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the big four of thrash metal bands, the others being Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax... read more They have some of the most blasphemous songs you can ever imagine. Just listen to Raining Blood, Angel of Death, Disciple, and Jihad and then come back and tell me that wasn't shocking! Not to mention their graphic and offensive album covers.
The funny thing is that the lead singer of this band is Catholic.
Gorgoroth
Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. Formed in 1992 by Infernus, the band is named after the dead plateau of evil and darkness in the land of Mordor (a fictional location in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings). Gorgoroth's live shows are brutal. They are also the only band that actually worships the devil. And they have reportedly murdered people on stage. I think I'll stick to watching these guys on YouTube.
New York Dolls
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is a American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. The band is known for their graphic album covers, explicitly violent lyrics and song titles like "I C** Blood" The group got into mainstream after performing the song "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994 film Ace Ventura:... read more Cannibal Corpse is on this list because of their lyrics. Truly, some of the grossest song names and album covers in music came from Cannibal Corpse.
Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band currently consisting of Andy Biersack (vocals), Jinxx (guitar), Jake Pitts (guitar), Christian Coma (drums) and Ashley Purdy (bass), that formed in 2006 in Ohio... read more
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although they initially lasted just two and a half years and produced only four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history... read more
Venom
Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal—are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. One of the first bands to play the satan-worshiper card. Hugely influential on shock bands to come.
Christian Death
Anal C***
Anal C*** was an American grindcore band founded by vocalist Seth Putnam in 1988 in Newton, Massachusetts. The band is known for their highly offensive lyrics which included themes of misogyny, homophobia, racism, Nazism, antisemitism, and schadenfreude (ridicule of the unfortunate). Their music has... read more