The End Machine　

AC / DC　

AC/DC’s mammoth power chord roar became one of the most influential hard rock sounds of the ’70s, and is now one of the defining sounds of rock and metal. In its own way, it was a reaction against ..more

Ace Frehley　

Along with Eddie Van Halen, Kiss’ Ace Frehley inspired numerous up-and-coming rockers to pick up the guitar in the 1970s -- and come the ’90s, he was listed by just about every contemporary r ..more

Ozzy Osbourne　

Though many bands have succeeded in earning the hatred of parents and media worldwide throughout the past few decades, arguably only such acts as Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, and Marilyn Manson ..more

Onslaught　

Onslaught was put together by Bristol, England, guitarist Nige Rockettand drummer Steve Grice in the early ’80s. The two musicians were working to forge an ultra-aggressive, speedy metal s ..more

Autumn's Child　

Overkill　

An integral part of the early 1980s thrash metal movement, New Jersey quartet Overkill were formed in 1980 by vocalist Bobby Blitz Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson, and also included ..more

Queensryche　

Although they were initially grouped with the legions of pop-metal bands that dominated the American heavy metal scene of the ’80s, Queensryche were one of the most distinctive bands of the era. Wh ..more

Kreator　

Arguably the most influential and successful European thrash metal band ever, Germany’s Kreator are also by far the most enduring. Like many of their European speed metal brethren, Kreator fused ..more

Crazy Lixx　

Quiet Riot　

For a very brief moment, Quiet Riot was a rock ＆ roll phenomenon. Famously described as the first heavy metal band to top the pop chart (a claim that greatly depends on one’s exact definit ..more

Kerry King　

Gary Moore　

One of rock’s most underrated guitarists (both from a technical and compositional point of view), Gary Moore remains relatively unknown in the U.S., while his solo work has brought him substanti ..more

Korpiklaani　

Finnish folk-metal ensemble Korpiklaani (Forest Clan) formed in 2002 after the members of Shaman decided to update both their sound and name. Taking cues from both the Scandinavian metal scene a ..more

Saxon　

Saxon was one of the early leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, alongside Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, even outdistancing them at the onset, only to see their career slide into com ..more

Thunder　

Vocalist Danny Bowes and lead guitarist Luke Morley first played together when they were 15-year-old classmates in London. The two later formed the band Terraplane, and released two albums bu ..more

Judas Priest　

Judas Priest was one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the ’70s, spearheading the New Wave of British Heavy Metal late in the decade. Decked out in leather and chains, the band fused the ..more

Skid Row　

Skid Row were one of the very last hair metal bands to hit the mainstream before grunge took over in the early ’90s. While the band’s self-titled debut employed standard pop-metal riffs an ..more

Scorpions　

Known best for their 1984 anthem Rock You Like a Hurricane and the 1990 ballad Wind of Change, German rockers Scorpions have sold over 22 million records, making them one of the most successful ..more

Stryper　

Heavy metal has been associated with ol’ Beelzebub ever since its inception, but a few acts took the opposite route and put their Christian beliefs in hard-rocking songs, such as Stryper. Formed in ..more