Heavy Metal Musicians Who Love Classical Music

In this blog post, we’re taking a look at some of the world’s most famous heavy metal musicians who also happen to love classical music. From Metallica’s Lars Ulrich to Slayer’s Kerry King, these guitarists and drummers have all admitted to being classical music fans.

Introduction

Though they create music that is worlds apart, some of the most influential heavy metal musicians have a deep appreciation for classical music. This unlikely combination may seem strange, but it makes perfect sense when you consider the epic, theatrical nature of both genres.

From Metallica’s Kirk Hammett to Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, many metalheads credit classical music for broadening their horizon and expanding their musical palette. In some cases, it even served as a gateway into the world of metal. Here are just a few examples of heavy metal musicians who love classical music.

Classical Music Lovers in the Metal Scene

It’s widely known that classical music and metal don’t usually go hand-in-hand. However, there are some metal musicians out there who love classical music. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of these musicians and find out why they enjoy classical music.

Metallica

While it may seem like classical music and heavy metal are two genres that would never mix, there are actually quite a few metalheads out there who love classical music. One of the most famous examples is the American heavy metal band Metallica.

All four members of the band are self-proclaimed classical music lovers, and they often cite composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Johann Sebastian Bach as major influences on their sound. In fact, Metallica’s 1986 album “Master of Puppets” includes a direct reference to Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” in its opening riff.

So next time you’re headbanging to your favorite metal song, remember that there’s a good chance the musicians who created it were inspired by some of the greatest classical composers of all time!

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by Dave Mustaine. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983, the group was a pioneer of the American thrash metal scene of the 1980s and is credited as one of the genre’s “big four” with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. Megadeth disbanded in 2002 due to Mustaine’s arm injury, but reunited in 2004. The band has since released fifteen studio albums, six live albums, two DVDs, and five compilations. Megadeth has sold over 38 million records worldwide, earned platinum certification in the United States for six of its fifteen studio albumsand gold for five more. In 2009, they were ranked No. 40 on VH1’s list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Timeand No. 15 on Gibson’s Top 50 Heavy Metal Bands of All Time.

Mustaine is the primary songwriter and founder, as well as lead vocalist and guitarist. David Ellefson is Megadeth’s bassist and second guitarist; he has also been a member of the band off-and-on throughout its history. Outside of Megadeth’s core lineup are a number of rhythm guitarists who have rotated during tours and recording sessions; this includes Chris Poland (1983–87), Jeff Young (1989), Al Pitrelli (1998–99), Glen Drover (2008–09), Chris Broderick (2008–14) and Kiko Loureiro (2015–present). Original drummer Gar Samuelson was fired in 1987 due to his heroin addiction and was replaced by Nick Menza; he returned to the band in 2004 but was again let go prior to their tour supporting The System Has Failed album due to his cancer diagnosis; he died soon after on May 21, 2014 at 51 years old from congestive heart failure complications brought about by diabetes mellitus type 2 which ultimately forced him to have both legs amputated below the knee prior to his death. Menza died from a sudden cardiac arrest at his home on Memorial Day weekend 2018; he was 51 years old as well At VH1’s 2006 Greatest Metal Frontmen countdown Dave Mustaine was placed 9th – behind Rob Halford (#8) and Ronnie James Dio (#7) but ahead of Bruce Dickinson (#10)

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo. Slayer rose to prominence with their 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the “big four” thrash metal bands, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Since 2015, the band has been represented by guitarist Gary Holt and drummer Paul Bostaph, replacing Hanneman and Lombardo, who respectively died in 2013 and 2016.

In the early 1990s, Slayer began to experience disagreements with other members of the metal community over their artistic direction. While the rest of the genre was experimenting with new sounds and textures, Slayer opted to double down on their signature sound. This earned them the nickname “the Metallica of thrash metal.” While this endeared them to some fans, it alienated others.

Despite this creative tension, Slayer has remained one of the most popular and influential metal bands of all time. They continue to tour regularly and release new music to rapturous critical acclaim.

What many fans don’t know is that several members of Slayer are classical music lovers. In particular, Kerry King is a self-professed fan of Bach and Beethoven. In an interview with Guitar World magazine, he said:

“I love Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations.’ I could sit there and listen to that all day long… I also love Beethoven’s late string quartets… There’s just something about that classical kind of composition that really speaks to me.”

It’s clear that Kerry King is not alone in his love of classical music among metal musicians. Many other well-known metalheads have spoken about their appreciation for classical music over the years. Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine is a self-taught violinist who once said that he wanted his band to be “the Metallica of classical music.” In 2014, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess released an album of solo piano pieces inspired by Bach. And Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris is a fan of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” which he has called “one of the most perfect pieces of music ever written.”

These examples show that there is no one type of person who enjoys classical music. Fans of all genres can appreciate the beauty and complexity of this type of music.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God is an American metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randall Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement. Since their formation, Lamb of God has released eight studio albums. Their eighth album, VIII: Sturm und Drang, was released on July 24, 2015.

Lamb of God’s Suffolk County music education fund provides scholarships to students wishing to pursue a career in music. The fund was established in 2016 following the donation of over $10,000 worth of musical instruments and gear by the band to three local schools.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that there is a strong connection between classical music and heavy metal music. Many heavy metal musicians have a deep appreciation for classical music and often cite it as a major influence on their work. This appreciation for classical music has led to many interesting fusion genres, such as symphonic black metal and power metal. It is clear that the two genres are linked by more than just volume; they share a common passion for composition and technical prowess.