Top 1970s Heavy Metal Music Artists

List of the top 1970s heavy metal music artists according to www.ranker.com. These artists are some of the most popular metal bands ever and continue to influence the metal music genre today.

Introduction

The 1970s were a time of great change and transition for heavy metal music. The genre was in its infancy, and the artists who would come to define it were just beginning to make their mark. Hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were at the height of their powers, while newer groups like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest were beginning to emerge.

This list captures the essence of that decade, highlighting the greatest heavy metal artists of the 1970s. These are the bands that laid the foundation for what would become one of the most popular and enduring musical genres of all time.

Black Sabbath

Formed in 1968 by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward, Black Sabbath is often cited as the first heavy metal band. The band helped define the genre with groundbreaking releases such as “Paranoid” (1970) and “Master of Reality” (1971). Though the band has seen numerous lineup changes over the years, Black Sabbath remains one of the most influential metal bands of all time.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regarded as one of the progenitors of heavy metal. Their style drew from a wide variety of influences, including blues, psychedelia, and folk music.

The band’s debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), forged a new direction in hard rock. On subsequent albums theyReleased in 1971 to positive reviews and commercial success, “Stairway to Heaven”, which has been described as one of the most popular rock songs ever written.

Deep Purple

Deep Purple, heavier and more intense than most of their hard rock contemporaries, were often called the “world’s loudest band” for their infamous live concerts. Formed in 1968 and led by singer/bassist Ian Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, they released a string of classic albums in the late ’60s and early ’70s, including the groundbreaking “In Rock,” “Machine Head,” and “Who Do We Think We Are.” Hits like “Smoke on the Water” and “Hush” showcased not only the band’s incredible musicianship but also their sense of humor; their raucous live shows were the stuff of legend. With lineup changes throughout the years (Gillan and Blackmore left in 1973 and 1975, respectively), Deep Purple continued torelease albums and tour into the 21st century.

Kiss

Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley. Well known for its members’ face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 1970s with their make-up- and pyrotechnics-laden live performances. The band has gone through several lineup changes, with Stanley and Simmons being the only constant members. The original and best-known lineup consisted of Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Frehley (lead guitar and vocals), and Criss (drums and vocals).

With their self-titled debut album released on February 18, 1974, Kiss became one of the most popular bands in the world. Their next two albums, Alive! (1975) and Destroyer (1976), were also successful. On February 8, 1977, Kiss appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carson banned them from the show after they kissed him on each cheek during their second performance. In 1974, Kiss was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “the hottest band in America”.

Queen

Formed in London in 1970, Queen is widely considered one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time. The group’s unique blend of hard rock, glam rock, and operatic influences helped them stand out from their contemporaries, and their string of iconic hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Another One Bites the Dust” made them international superstars. Though lead singer Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991, Queen remains one of the most popular and influential bands in the world, and their music continues to inspire new generations of heavy metal fans.

AC/DC

AC/DC is a heavy metal music band that formed in Australia in 1973. The band is composed of brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who are the only original members remaining in the group. The band’s name comes from the initials of their founding members, “AC” for Angus and “DC” for his brother Malcolm.

The band is best known for their high-energy live performances and their hard-edged rock sound. They have released 16 studio albums, including their most recent, Black Ice, in 2008. AC/DC has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Aerosmith

Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as “the Bad Boys from Boston” and “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”. Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many subsequent rock artists. The band formed in Boston in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with vocalist/pianist Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano, and formed Aerosmith. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, and the band began developing a following in Boston.

Van Halen

It would be impossible to overstate the importance of Van Halen in the history of hard rock and heavy metal. Formed in Southern California in the early ’70s, the band quickly became a sensation thanks to their high-energy live performances and the virtuosity of guitarist Eddie Van Halen. The group’s self-titled debut album, released in 1978, was a game-changer, not only for the band but for hard rock as a whole, thanks to Eddie’s revolutionary guitar work and singer David Lee Roth’s wild onstage antics. With their next few albums, Van Halen consolidated their position as one of the world’s biggest rock bands, thanks to hits like “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “I’ll Wait,” and “Hot for Teacher.” In 1985, they reached new heights with “Jump,” their first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rainbow

Rainbow was a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, active from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1997. They were originally established with former Elf members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same personnel. They were originally established with former Elf members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same personnel. The band’s music incorporated elements of classical music, hard rock and blues rock.

Rainbow achieved moderate success in the 1970s with their live performances, which were sometimes marred by violence, and went on to greater success in the 1980s following Blackmore’s recruitment of American vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Over the course of their career, Rainbow had multiple line-up changes; seven different singers fronted the band, including Dio, Graham Bonnet and Doogie White; and six different keyboardists also performed with Rainbow at various times. Despite this, Rainbow were always led by Blackmore; throughout multiple lineup changes and periods of inactivity, he remained as the band’s only constant member.

The band released eight studio albums between 1975 and 1983; two in 1984; and one live album, Down to Earth Tour: Live in Germany (1983), before disbanding in 1984. In June 1993, Blackmore restarted Rainbow without Dio’s involvement; he recruited Canerry Islands-based vocalist Doogie White for one album before firing him after disagreements during a Japanese tour; Blackmore then recruited former Black Sabbath singer Graham Bonnet for one further album. In October 1997, after disagreements between Blackmore and Bonnet during another Japanese tour that led to several onstage altercations between them, Rainbow disbanded once again – this time permanently – after returning to Europe for several shows. Since then there have been numerous reunion attempts by various members that have all ultimately failed due to conflicting schedules or dissatisfaction within each camp with how it would move forward musically or economically.