A History Of Heavy Metal In 100 Songs

After being thrown out of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne thought his music career was done and a life as an abattoir worker awaited him in Aston. The Blizzard of Ozz LP turned out to be his saving grace, not only giving his career the boost he needed, but saving his life at the same time. Discover how Ozzy became the most recognisable man in metal.

Motorhead is yet another band who needs no introduction. Their influence is felt far and wide and by uniting the punks and the metalheads they changed the paramters of what metal could be. The pinnacle of their sound, the Ace of Spades, tells their story; from Lemmy's beginnings as a roadie to topping the UK charts.

If Black Sabbath built the home of heavy metal, Judas Priest decorated it. After their first album flopped commercially, and their label holding their purse strings tight, Judas Priest needed something outstanding if they were to survive as a band. 1976's Sad Wings of Destiny not only gave the band the success they deserved, but developed the metal genre further. Title track Victim of Changes is still one the most important and enjoyed Judas Priest tracks.

Alice Cooper brought a third dimension to live shows, transforming the bare stages of the early 70s into works of art in their own rights, whilst at the same time kicking up controversy. School's Out became the anthem for school children across the Western world, and Alice Cooper left a lasting mark on heavy metal.

It's 1972, heavy metal is this awkward new genre the fans love but bands hate. Nonetheless, rock groups are pushing boundaries to make darker and heavier music, and Deep Purple too have stamped on their distortion pedals.

Smoke on the water brought groove and power to heavy rock, and influenced a slew of hard rock and metal bands over the next 50 years.