List of heavy metal bands

This is a list of heavy metal artists from the formative years of the movement (formed between 1963 and 1981). For bands formed after 1981, please consult the lists for each heavy metal subgenre.

In the late 1960s, a number of bands began pushing the limits of blues rock into a new genre which would be called heavy metal.^[1][2]

In 1981,^[3] three of the "Big Four" thrash metal bands emerged (Metallica,^[4] Slayer^[5] and Anthrax),^[5] to be joined on the scene in 1983 by Megadeth.^[6]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Heavy metal bands formed between 1963 and 1981

Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
220 Volt	Sweden	1979–present
44 Magnum	Japan	1977–1989, 2002–present
A II Z	United Kingdom	1979–1982
Lee Aaron	Canada	1980–present	Solo artist whose recorded output has spanned multiple genres, including heavy metal.[7]
Accept	Germany	1976–present
The Accused	United States	1981-2002, 2003–present
AC/DC	Australia	1973–present
Aerosmith[8]	United States	1970–present
Agnostic Front	United States	1980-1992, 1997–present
Alice Cooper[9][10]	United States	1968–present
Angel	United States	1975–1981, 1987, 1998–present
Ángeles del Infierno	Spain	1978–present
Angel Witch	United Kingdom	1977–1982, 1984–1998, 2000–present
The Angels/Angel City	Australia	1974–2000, 2008-present
Anthem	Japan	1980–1992, 2000–present
Anthrax	United States	1981–present
Anvil	Canada	1978–present
Armageddon	United Kingdom	1974–1976
Atomic Mass	United Kingdom	1977, 2003
Atomic Rooster	United Kingdom	1969–1975, 1980–1983, 2016–present
Atomkraft	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2005
Attila	United States	1969–1970	Bandmembers included Billy Joel and Jon Small.
Axe	United States	1979–1984, 1997–2004
Babe Ruth	United Kingdom	1970–1976, 2005–present
Bang[11]	United States	1969–1973, 2001–2004
Barnabas	United States	1977–1986
Barón Rojo	Spain	1980–present
Battleaxe	United Kingdom	1980–1988, 2010–present
Bengal Tigers	Australia	1979–present
Beowülf	United States	1981–1995, 2000–present
Birth Control	Germany	1966–1983, 1993–2014
Bitch	United States	1980–present	First band to be signed by the Metal Blade Records label.
Black Death	United States	1977–present	The first all-African-American heavy metal band.
Black 'n Blue	United States	1981–1989, 1997, 2003, 2007–present	Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer joined Kiss in 2003.
Black Rose	United Kingdom	1980–1989, 2006–present
Black Sabbath[12]	United Kingdom	1968–2006, 2011–2017	Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Alcohol abuse led to Ozzy Osbourne getting fired and replaced with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Black Sabbath is considered to be the progenitor of doom metal, and, by extension, metal itself.
Black Widow	United Kingdom	1966–1973, 2007–present
Bleak House	United Kingdom	1972–1983
Blind Illusion	United States	1978–1989, 2009–present
Blitzkrieg	United Kingdom	1980–1981, 1984–1991, 1992–1994, 1996–1999, 2001–present
Bloodrock	United States	1969–1975
Blue Cheer[13]	United States	1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009	One of the earliest heavy metal acts. Cited as a major influence on the genres of stoner rock and grunge.
Blue Öyster Cult[14]	United States	1967–present
Bodine	Netherlands	1978–1984
Boss	Australia	1979–1986
Bow Wow[15]	Japan	1975–present	Also known as Vow Wow for part of their career (1984–1990).
Bronz	United Kingdom	1976–1985, 1999–2000, 2003–2005, 2010–present
Edgar Broughton Band	United Kingdom	1968–2010	Cited in the 2010 BBC TV documentary Heavy Metal Britannia as a formative influence on the genre in the UK.
Budgie[16]	United Kingdom	1967–2010
Buffalo[17][18]	Australia	1971–1977
Bulldozer	Italy	1980–1990, 2008–present
Cactus[19]	United States	1969–1972, 2006–present
Captain Beyond	United States	1971–1973, 1976–1978, 1998–2003
Chateaux	United Kingdom	1981–1985
Cirith Ungol	United States	1972–1992, 1996–2001, 2015–present
Cloven Hoof	United Kingdom	1979–1990, 2000–present
Coven	United States	1968–1975, 2007–present
Crimson Glory	United States	1979–1992, 1998–present
Crushed Butler	United Kingdom	1969–1971
Dayglo Abortions	Canada	1979 - present
Death SS	Italy	1977–1984, 1988–present
Dedringer	United Kingdom	1977–1985
Deep Machine	United Kingdom	1979–1982, 2009–2015
Deep Purple	United Kingdom	1968–1976, 1984–present
Def Leppard	United Kingdom	1977–present	The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Demon	United Kingdom	1979–present	Headlined the first British Steel Festival in 2006.[20]
The Deviants	United Kingdom	1967–1969, 1978, 1984, 1996, 2002, 2011–present	Singer and writer Mick Farren died on 27 July 2013.
Diamond Head	United Kingdom	1976–1985, 1991–1994, 2002–present
Die Krupps	Germany	1980–present
Divlje Jagode	Yugoslavia / Bosnia and Herzegovina	1977–present
Dokken	United States	1978–1989, 1993–present
Doro	Germany	1980–present
Dust	United States	1969–1972	Drummer Marc Bell joined The Ramones in 1978.
Earthshaker	Japan	1978–1994, 1999–present
Easy Action	Sweden	1981–1986, 2006–present
E.F. Band	Sweden	1978–1986
Electric Sun	Germany	1978–1986
Elf	United States	1967–1975	Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
Ethel the Frog	United Kingdom	1976–1980
Europe	Sweden	1979–1992, 1999 (partial reunion), 2003–present	The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Exciter	Canada	1978–present
Exodus	United States	1979–1993, 1997–1998, 2001–present	The band had guitarist Kirk Hammett in its original lineup before he joined Metallica in 1983.
Faith No More	United States	1979-1998, 2009–present
Fallout	United States	1979–1982
Fist	United Kingdom	1978–1982, 2001–2006
Flotsam and Jetsam	United States	1981–present
Flower Travellin' Band[21]	Japan	1967–1973, 2007–present
The Flying Hat Band	United Kingdom	1971–1974	Glenn Tipton on vocals and guitar, later joined Judas Priest in 1974.
Lita Ford	United States	1975-1995, 2008–present
Gamma	United States	1978–1983, 2000
Geordie	United Kingdom	1972–1980, 1982–1985, 2001	Singer Brian Johnson went on to join AC/DC in 1980, after the death of Bon Scott.
Gillan	United Kingdom	1978–1983
Girl	United Kingdom	1979–1982
Girlschool	United Kingdom	1978–present	All-female band formed during the new wave of British heavy metal.
Gordi	Yugoslavia	1977–1984
Grand Funk Railroad[22][23][24]	United States	1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present
Grave Digger	Germany	1980–1987, 1991–present
Gravestone	Germany	1977–1986
Great White	United States	1977–2001, 2006–present	The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Green Jellÿ	United States	1981–1995, 2008–present	Comedy band.
Grim Reaper	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2006–present
The Gun	United Kingdom	1967–1970
Sammy Hagar	United States	1967–present
The Handsome Beasts	United Kingdom	1972–present
Hanoi Rocks	Finland	1979–1985, 2001–2009, 2022
Hard Stuff	United Kingdom	1971–1973
Hawkwind	United Kingdom	1969–present
Headpins	Canada	1979–present
Heaven	Australia	1980–2000
Heavy Load	Sweden	1976–1985
Heavy Metal Kids	United Kingdom	1972–1985, 2002–present	Initially featured actor Gary Holton on vocals.
Helix	Canada	1974–present
Help	United States	1970-1971
Jimi Hendrix	United States	1963-1970	As a part of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys, Hendrix was one of the pioneering proto-metal acts, with his feedback-heavy brand of acid rock.
High Tide	United Kingdom	1969–1970
Hollow Ground	United Kingdom	1979–1982, 2007, 2013
Holocaust	United Kingdom	1977–present
Holy Moses	Germany	1980–1994, 2000–present
Icon	United States	1979–1990, 2008–present
Iron Butterfly[21]	United States	1966–2021	Second guitarist Erik Braunn died in 2003 of a heart attack. Original bassist Lee Dorman died on 21 December 2012. Drummer Ron Bushy died on 29 August 2021.
Iron Claw	United Kingdom	1969–1974, 1993, 2010–present
Iron Maiden	United Kingdom	1975–present	Iron Maiden achieved success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of U.S. and UK platinum and gold albums, including 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time and 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
Jag Panzer	United States	1981–1988, 1994–2011
Jaguar	United Kingdom	1979–1985, 1998–present
Jameson Raid	United Kingdom	1975–1983, 2008–present
Jerusalem	United Kingdom	1972–present	Produced and managed by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Early creators of Metal. Remastered vinyl and CD versions of original Decca, Deram and Universal releases have been reissued by Rockadrome Records.
Josefus	United States	1969–2005
JPT Scare Band	United States	1973–present
Judas Priest	United Kingdom	1969–present
Kat	Poland	1979–1987, 1990–1999, 2002–present
Kerber	Serbia	1981–present
Kick Axe	Canada	1976–1988, 2003–present
Killer	Belgium	1980–present
Killer Dwarfs	Canada	1981–1997, 2001–present
Killing Joke	United Kingdom	1978–1996, 2002–present
King's X	United States	1979–present
Kiss	United States	1973–2023
Kix	United States	1977–1996, 2003–present
Krokus	Switzerland	1974–present
Leaf Hound	United Kingdom	1969–1971, 2004–present
Leatherwolf	United States	1981–present
Led Zeppelin[25]	United Kingdom	1968–1980, 2007, 2011
Legs Diamond	United States	1975–present
Leño	Spain	1978–1983
Leviticus	Sweden	1981–1990
Lionheart	United Kingdom	1980–1986, 2016-present
The Litter	United States	1966-1972
Living Death	Germany	1980–1991
London	United States	1978–1981, 1984–1990, 2006–present	Early lineups featured future members of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.[26]
Lone Star	United Kingdom	1975–1978
Los Suaves	Spain	1980–present
Loudness	Japan	1980–present
Lucifer's Friend[27]	Germany	1970–1982, 1993–1997, 2014–present
Mahogany Rush	Canada	1970–1980, 1998–present
Malice	United States	1980–1989, 2006–present
Yngwie Malmsteen	Sweden	1978–present
Mama's Boys	Ireland	1978–1993
Manilla Road	United States	1977–1992, 1994–2018
Manowar	United States	1980–present	Drummer Scott Columbus died on 4 April 2011.
Marseille	United Kingdom	1976-1984, 2008-2014, 2017-2019
Max Webster	Canada	1973–1982
May Blitz	United Kingdom	1969–1972
MC5	United States	1964-1972, 1992, 2003-2012	One of the earliest influences on the genre, as well as one of the earliest punk rock bands.
Mentors	United States	1976–present
Mercyful Fate	Denmark	1981–1985, 1992–1999	King Diamond on vocals.
Metal Church	United States	1980–1994, 1998–2009, 2012–present
Metallica	United States	1981–present	Bassist Cliff Burton died on 27 September 1986.
Ministry	United States	1981–2008, 2011–present	Started as a new wave act. Later known for Industrial metal/thrash music.
Misfits	United States	1977–1983, 1995–present
Montrose	United States	1973–1976, 2005
More	United Kingdom	1980–1982, 1985, 1998–2000, 2011–present
Mötley Crüe	United States	1981–2015, 2018–present
Motörhead	United Kingdom	1975–2015	Lemmy died on 28 December 2015.
Mountain[28]	United States	1969–1972, 1973–1974, 1981–1985, 1992–1998, 2001–2010
Moxy	Canada	1974-1983, 1999-2009
Napalm Death	United Kingdom	1981-present
Nazareth	United Kingdom	1968–present
Necromandus[21][29]	United Kingdom	1970–1973
The Next Band	United Kingdom	1978–1982
Nightmare	France	1979–1987, 1999–present
Night Sun[30]	Germany	1970–1973
Nightwing	United Kingdom	1978–1987, 1996–present
Ted Nugent[31][32]	United States	1975–present
The Obsessed	United States	1976–1986, 1990–1995, 2011–present
Ozzy Osbourne	United Kingdom	1979–present	He is known as the first frontman of Black Sabbath. (1968-1979, reunion - 1998-2017)
Ostrogoth	Belgium	1980–1988, 2002, 2010–present
Overkill	United States	1980–present
Oz	Finland	1977–1991, 2010–present
Pagan Altar	United Kingdom	1978–1982, 2004–present
Pantera	United States	1981–2003	Started as a glam metal band.
Pentagram	United States	1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present
Persian Risk	United Kingdom	1979–1986
Picture	Netherlands	1979–1987, 1997–1999, 2007–present
Pink Fairies	United Kingdom	1970–1976, 1987–1988
Pomaranča	Yugoslavia / Slovenia	1979–1986, 1994–present
Praying Mantis	United Kingdom	1974–present
Pretty Maids	Denmark	1981–present
Primevil	United States	1973–1974
Quartz	United Kingdom	1974–1983, 1996, 2011-present
Queensrÿche	United States	1981–present
Quiet Riot[33]	United States	1975–present
Rainbow	United Kingdom/United States	1975–1984, 1993–1997, 2016–present	Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore formed Rainbow in 1975 after leaving Deep Purple.
Ratt	United States	1976–1992, 1996–present
Raven	United Kingdom	1974–present
Riot	United States	1975–1984, 1986–present
Rock Goddess	United Kingdom	1977–1987, 1994–1995, 2009, 2015–present
Rok Mašina	Yugoslavia	1980–1982
Rose Tattoo	Australia	1976–1987, 1993, 1998–present
Uli Jon Roth	Germany	1968–present
Rough Cutt	United States	1981–1987, 2000–2002
The Runaways	United States	1975–1979
Running Wild	Germany	1976–2009, 2011–present
Rush	Canada	1968–2017
Saber Tiger	Japan	1981–present
Sacred Rite	United States	1980–1990
Saint	United States	1980–1989, 1999–present
Saint Vitus	United States	1978–1996, 2003, 2008–present
Salem	United Kingdom	1979–1983, 2009–present
Samson	United Kingdom	1977–2002
Sarcofagus	Finland	1977-2020[34]
Satan	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2005–present
Savage	United Kingdom	1976–present
Savage Grace	United States	1981–1993, 2009–2010
Savatage	United States	1978–2002, 2014–present	Previous members of the band formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 1996.
Saxon	United Kingdom	1976–present
Michael Schenker Group	Germany	1979–present
Scorpions	Germany	1965–present
Seduce	United States	1980–1991, 2002–2005, 2008, 2011, 2016–present
Shark Island	United States	1979–1992
Sir Lord Baltimore	United States	1968–1976, 2006–2015
Sister	United States	1976–1978
Skitzo	United States	1981–present
Slayer	United States	1981-2019, 2024—present
Sorcery	United States	1976–1987
Sortilège	France	1981–1986
Sound Barrier	United States	1980–1987
Spider	United Kingdom	1976–1986
Spinal Tap	United States	1979–present	Parody heavy metal band which first appeared on TV in 1979, with American actors playing the parts of fictional British musicians.
Stampede	United Kingdom	1981–1983, 2009–present
Starz	United States	1975–1979, 1980, 1990, 2003–present
Steeler	Germany	1981–1988
Steppenwolf	United States	1967–2018	The 1967 recording "Born to Be Wild" was one of the first rock songs to contain the phrase "Heavy Metal" in its lyrics.
The Stooges	United States	1967-1971, 1972-1974, 2003–2016
Stormwitch	Germany	1979–1994, 2002–present
Stray	United Kingdom	1966–present
Suck	South Africa	1970–1971
Suicidal Tendencies	United States	1980–1995, 1997–present
Sweet Savage	United Kingdom	1979–present
Tank	United Kingdom	1980–1989, 1997–present
Tarantula	Portugal	1981–present
Tesla	United States	1981–1996, 2000–present
Thin Lizzy	Ireland	1969–1984, 1996–2012
Thor	Canada	1976–1978, 1983–1986, 1997–present
TKO	United States	1977–2001
Toad	Switzerland	1970–1995
Tobruk	United Kingdom	1981–1987
Törr	Czechoslovakia	1977–present
Trance	Germany	1977–1998, 2011–present	According to Manfred Meyer of Metal Hammer magazine, some would rank the band alongside Accept and Scorpions as the third most important hard rock band from Germany.
Trespass	United Kingdom	1978–1982, 1992–1993, 2013–present
Triumph	Canada	1975–1993, 2008–present
Trooper	Canada	1974–present
Trouble	United States	1979–present
Trust	France	1977–1985, 1988, 1996–2000, 2006
Truth and Janey	United States	1969-1976, 1977-1978
TSA	Poland	1979–present
T.S.O.L.	United States	1978-2006, 2007–present
Tucky Buzzard	United Kingdom	1969–1974
Turbo	Poland	1980–present
Twisted Sister	United States	1972–1988, 1997–2016
Tygers of Pan Tang	United Kingdom	1978–1987, 1999–present
Tytan	United Kingdom	1981–1983, 2012–present
UFO	United Kingdom	1969–1988, 1992–2024
Urchin	United Kingdom	1972–1980
Uriah Heep	United Kingdom	1969–present
V8	Argentina	1979–1987
Vandenberg	Netherlands	1981–1987, 2020–present
Van Halen	United States	1972–2020	Van Halen's combination of hard rock, heavy metal, and pop elements helped to popularize and mainstream the genre of hard rock music, and is known for changing the way we play guitar. The band disbanded in 2020 following Eddie Van Halen's death.
Vanilla Fudge[35]	United States	1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present
Vardis	United Kingdom	1973–1986, 2014–present
Vatreni Poljubac	Yugoslavia / Bosnia and Herzegovina	1977–1986, 1998–2001, 2010–present
Venom	United Kingdom	1979–present	Pioneers of the black metal genre, with their 1981 album Black Metal and subsequent releases.
Vicious Rumors	United States	1979–present
Virgin Steele	United States	1981–present
Vixen	United States	1980–1992, 1997–1998, 2001–present
Vulcain	France	1981–1998, 2009–present
Warlord	United States	1980–1986, 2002, 2011–present
Warning	France	1980–1985
Warpig	Canada	1968–1975, 2004–present
White Sister	United States	1980–1986, 2008–2009
Whitesnake	United Kingdom	1978–1990, 1994, 1997, 2002–present
White Spirit	United Kingdom	1975–1981, 2022–2024
White Wolf	Canada	1975–1986, 2007–present
Wild Dogs	United States	1981–present
Wild Horses	United Kingdom	1978–1981
Witchfinder General	United Kingdom	1979–1984, 2006–2008
Witchfynde	United Kingdom	1974–1984, 1999–present
Wrathchild	United Kingdom	1980–1990, 2009–present
Wrathchild America	United States	1978–1993
Y&T	United States	1974–1991, 1995–present
Zebra	United States	1975–present
Zoetrope	United States	1976–1993

See also

• Heavy metal genres
• List of alternative metal bands
• List of black metal bands
• List of Celtic metal bands
• List of Christian metal bands
• List of crust punk bands
• List of death metal bands
• List of deathcore bands
• List of doom metal bands
• List of folk metal bands
• List of glam metal bands and artists
• List of gothic metal bands
• List of grindcore bands
• List of groove metal bands
• List of industrial metal bands
• List of mathcore bands
• List of melodic death metal bands
• List of metalcore bands
• List of nu metal bands
• List of new wave of American heavy metal bands
• List of new wave of British heavy metal bands
• List of new wave of traditional heavy metal bands
• List of post-metal bands
• List of power metal bands
• List of progressive metal bands
• List of sludge metal bands
• List of speed metal bands
• List of symphonic black metal bands
• List of symphonic metal bands
• List of thrash metal bands
• List of Viking metal bands

Gallery

• 
  Krisiun
• 
  Sepultura – Andreas Kisser
• 
  IRON MAIDEN – Manchester Apollo – 1980
• 
  Cradle of Filth 2005 – Daniel (Dani Filth)
• 
  Nightwish – Tarja Turunen at Obras Stadium 2008
• 
  Rhapsody of Fire – Buenos Aires 2010
• 
  Floor Jansen – After Forever
• 
  Dimmu Borgir – Paris
• 
  Burzum – Fallen
• 
  Behemoth – Adam Darski
• 
  Arkona @ Black Troll 2010 XXVII
• 
  Candlemass – Leif and Messiah
• 
  Nokturnal Mortum
• 
  Chuck Schuldiner – Death
• 
  Type O Negative