Timeline of heavy metal and hard rock music

This is a timeline of heavy metal and hard rock, from its beginning in the early 1960s to the present time.

1959
Newly formed band
 * The Dave Clark Five
 * The Kingsmen

1960
Newly formed band Songs
 * The Beatles
 * Neil Young
 * "Shakin' All Over" by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates

1961
Newly formed band Songs
 * Bob Seger
 * Golden Earring
 * "Jack the Ripper" by Screaming Lord Sutch

1962
Newly formed band Songs
 * ? and the Mysterians
 * David Bowie
 * Manfred Mann
 * The Rolling Stones
 * "Miserlou" by Dick Dale
 * "Palisades Park" by Freddy Cannon

1963
Newly formed band Songs
 * The Animals
 * The Pretty Things
 * The Yardbirds
 * "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen
 * "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen

1964
Newly formed bands Popular songs
 * Alice Cooper
 * The Amboy Dukes
 * Blue Magoos
 * Donovan
 * The Kinks
 * Lynyrd Skynyrd
 * MC5
 * Them
 * The Velvet Underground
 * The Who
 * The Kinks – "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night"
 * Them – "Gloria"

1965
Newly formed bands Popular songs
 * 13th Floor Elevators
 * Big Brother and the Holding Company
 * Canned Heat
 * Country Joe and the Fish
 * The Doors
 * The Godz
 * The Guess Who
 * The Grateful Dead
 * The Great Society
 * The Illusion
 * Jefferson Airplane
 * Pink Floyd
 * Quicksilver Messenger Service
 * Savoy Brown
 * Scorpions
 * Stack Waddy
 * Steel River
 * Zoot
 * The Rolling Stones – "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
 * The Who – "My Generation"
 * The Beatles – "Day Tripper"

1966
Newly formed bands Albums Popular songs
 * Black Widow
 * Blue Cheer
 * Buffalo Springfield
 * Cream
 * Iron Butterfly
 * James Gang
 * The Jeff Beck Group
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience
 * The Mothers of Invention
 * The Move
 * The Music Machine
 * Nazareth
 * Santana
 * Slade
 * Steve Miller Band
 * Stray
 * Taste
 * Ten Years Afters
 * Vanilla Fudge
 * Yesterday's Children
 * John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers – Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton UK #6
 * The Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
 * Cream – Fresh Cream UK #6
 * Blues Magoos – Psychedelic Lollipop
 * The Beach Boys – "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
 * The Beatles – "Taxman"
 * The Beatles – "Tomorrow Never Knows"
 * The Beatles – "Yellow Submarine"
 * Bee Gees – All of My Life
 * Count Five – "Psychotic Reaction
 * Cream - I Feel Free
 * Cream - I'm So Glad
 * Cream - Toad
 * The 13th Floor Elevators – "You're Gonna Miss Me"
 * The 13th Floor Elevators – "Roller Coaster"
 * The Monkees - (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
 * The Mothers of Invention - Who Are the Brain Police?
 * The Music Machine – "Talk Talk"
 * Paul Revere & the Raiders - Kicks
 * The Troggs – "Wild Thing"
 * The Yardbirds – "Shapes of Things"

1967
Newly formed bands
 * Blue Öyster Cult
 * Budgie
 * Coven
 * The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival
 * Crow
 * The Deviants
 * Elf
 * Fleetwood Mac
 * Flower Travellin' Band
 * Frijid Pink
 * Genesis
 * The Gun
 * Sammy Hagar
 * Jethro Tull
 * Procol Harum
 * REO Speedwagon
 * Santana
 * Status Quo
 * Steppenwolf
 * The Stooges
 * T. Rex
 * Traffic

Albums Popular songs
 * Cream – Disraeli Gears US #4 UK #5
 * Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow US #3
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced US #5 UK #2
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis Bold As Love US #3 UK #5
 * The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request US #2 UK #3
 * Vanilla Fudge – Vanilla Fudge US #6
 * The Beach Boys – "Good Vibrations"
 * The Doors – "The End"
 * The Doors – "Light My Fire"
 * The Doors – "Break on Through (To the Other Side)"
 * Jefferson Airplane – "Somebody to Love"
 * Jefferson Airplane – "White Rabbit"
 * Jimi Hendrix – "Hey Joe" UK #6
 * Jimi Hendrix – "Purple Haze" UK #3
 * Jimi Hendrix – "The Wind Cries Mary" UK #6
 * Iron Butterfly – "Possession"
 * Pink Floyd – "Interstellar Overdrive"
 * Cream – "Sunshine of Your Love"
 * 13th Floor Elevators – "Levitation"
 * Status Quo – "Pictures of Matchstick Men" UK #7
 * Vanilla Fudge – "You Keep Me Hanging On" US #6
 * The Who – "I Can See For Miles" US #9 UK #10

1968
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Popular songs Events
 * Accept
 * Argent
 * Black Sabbath
 * Breakout
 * Caravan
 * Deep Purple
 * Edgar Broughton Band
 * Free
 * Grand Funk Railroad
 * Humble Pie
 * King Crimson
 * Led Zeppelin
 * Meat Loaf
 * Nazareth
 * Rush
 * Sir Lord Baltimore
 * Sweet
 * Warpig
 * Yes
 * Cream
 * Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
 * Blue Cheer - Outsideinside
 * Arthur Brown – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
 * Cream – Wheels of Fire US #1 UK #3
 * Deep Purple – Shades of Deep Purple
 * Deep Purple – The Book of Taliesyn
 * Iron Butterfly – Heavy
 * Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida US #4
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland US #1 UK #6
 * MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
 * The Mothers of Invention – We're Only in It for the Money
 * Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf US #6 CAN #1
 * Steppenwolf (band) – Steppenwolf the Second US #3 CAN #2
 * The Amboy Dukes – Journey to the Center of the Mind
 * The Jeff Beck Group – Truth
 * The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
 * Vanilla Fudge – The Beat Goes On
 * Vanilla Fudge – Renaissance
 * The Beatles – "Helter Skelter"
 * The Beatles – "Birthday"
 * The Beatles – "Yer Blues"
 * The Beatles – Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
 * Deep Purple – "Hush" US #4
 * Iron Butterfly – "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience – "All Along the Watchtower" UK #5
 * Steppenwolf – "Born To Be Wild"
 * Blue Cheer's guitarist Leigh Stephens leaves the band after the release of the Outsideinside album. He is replaced by Randy Holden.
 * Steppenwolf's bass guitarist Rushton Moreve is fired from the band. He will be eventually replaced by Nick St. Nicholas.

1969
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Popular songs Events
 * Aguaturbia
 * April Wine
 * Atomic Rooster
 * Blackfoot
 * Bloodrock
 * Blues Creation
 * Cactus
 * Coven
 * Crushed Butler
 * Dust
 * Focus
 * Gary Moore
 * Granicus
 * Grand Funk Railroad
 * Gypsy Sun and Rainbows
 * Hawkwind
 * High Tide
 * Iron Claw
 * Josefus
 * Judas Priest
 * Leaf Hound
 * May Blitz
 * Mott the Hoople
 * Mountain
 * Slade
 * Steeleye Span
 * Thin Lizzy
 * Trapeze
 * Truth and Janey
 * Tucky Buzzard
 * UFO
 * Uriah Heep
 * Wishbone Ash
 * ZZ Top
 * The Jeff Beck Group
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience
 * Alice Cooper – Pretties for You
 * Blue Cheer – New! Improved!
 * Blue Cheer – Blue Cheer
 * Coven – Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls
 * Cream – Goodbye US #2 UK #1
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – Willy and the Poor Boys
 * Deep Purple – Deep Purple
 * Grand Funk Railroad – On Time US #27
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Grand Funk US #11
 * High Tide – Sea Shanties
 * Humble Pie – As Safe as Yesterday Is
 * Humble Pie – Town and Country
 * Leslie West – Mountain
 * Iron Butterfly – Ball US #3
 * King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King UK #5
 * Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin US #10 UK #6
 * Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II US #1 UK #1
 * MC5 – Kick Out The Jams US #30
 * Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
 * Slade – Beginnings
 * Steppenwolf – At Your Birthday Party US #7
 * Steppenwolf – Monster US #17
 * The Stooges – The Stooges
 * The Jeff Beck Group – Beck-Ola US #15
 * Vanilla Fudge – Near the Beginning
 * Vanilla Fudge – Rock & Roll
 * The Who – Tommy US #4
 * Yes – Yes
 * The Beach Boys – All I Want to Do
 * The Beatles – "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Bad Moon Rising"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Lodi"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Born on the Bayou"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Proud Mary"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Fortunate Son"
 * King Crimson - "21st Century Schizoid Man"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Communication Breakdown"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Dazed and Confused"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Good Times Bad Times"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Ramble On"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Whole Lotta Love" US #4 AUS #1
 * Neil Young and Crazy Horse – "Cinnamon Girl"
 * Neil Young and Crazy Horse – "Cowgirl in the Sand"
 * Neil Young and Crazy Horse – "Down by the River"
 * Pink Floyd – "The Nile Song"
 * The Rolling Stones – "Honky Tonk Women"
 * Spooky Tooth – "Better by You, Better than Me"
 * The Stooges – "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
 * The hard rock group The Who releases the concept album Tommy, about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who wins a mass following after becoming a pinball guru. The album's consistent themes, plot, story and interlinking songs set the template for many other hard-rock artists to attempt such concept albums.
 * Deep Purple's lead singer Rod Evans is fired after the recording of Deep Purple and is replaced by Ian Gillan. The band's bass guitarist Nick Simper is replaced next by Roger Glover on the demand of Ian Gillan.
 * Guitarist Randy Holden leaves Blue Cheer after recording 3 titles of the New! Improved! album. He is replaced by Bruce Stephens.
 * Due to disagreements with John Kay, lead guitarist Michael Monarch leaves Steppenwolf after the release of the At Your Birthday Party album. He will be replaced later on by Larry Byrom.
 * Woodstock was held in August 15–18

1970
Newly formed bands
 * Aerosmith
 * Bloodrock
 * Cactus
 * Derek and the Dominos
 * ELO
 * Emerson, Lake & Palmer
 * Irish Coffee
 * Lucifer's Friend
 * Night Sun
 * Queen
 * Toad

Disbandments
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience
 * Vanilla Fudge (1st Hiatus)
 * The Beatles

Reformed bands
 * The Jeff Beck Group
 * The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Albums Popular songs
 * Alice Cooper – Easy Action
 * Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath UK #8
 * Black Sabbath – Paranoid UK #1
 * Black Widow – Sacrifice
 * Bloodrock – Bloodrock (album)
 * Bloodrock – Bloodrock 2
 * Blue Cheer – The Original Human Being
 * Cactus – Cactus
 * Deep Purple – Deep Purple in Rock UK #4
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Closer to Home
 * Humble Pie – Humble Pie
 * Iron Butterfly – Metamorphosis
 * Josefus – Dead Man
 * King Crimson – In the Wake of Poseidon
 * King Crimson – Lizard
 * Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III US #1 UK #1
 * May Blitz –May Blitz
 * Mountain – Climbing!
 * November – En ny tid är här...
 * Sir Lord Baltimore – Kingdom Come
 * Slade – Play it Loud
 * Status Quo -Dog Of Two Head
 * Steppenwolf – 7
 * The Stooges – Fun House
 * The Jeff Beck Group – Rough and Ready
 * UFO – UFO 1
 * Uriah Heep – Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble
 * Warpig – Warpig
 * Wishbone Ash – Wishbone Ash
 * Yes – Time and a Word
 * Yesterday's Children –Yesterday's Children
 * Black Sabbath – "Black Sabbath"
 * Black Sabbath - "Electric Funeral"
 * Black Sabbath - "Evil Woman"
 * Black Sabbath - "Fairies Wear Boots"
 * Black Sabbath - "Hand of Doom"
 * Black Sabbath – "Iron Man"
 * Black Sabbath – "N.I.B."
 * Black Sabbath – "Paranoid" UK #4
 * Black Sabbath - "Planet Caravan"
 * Black Sabbath - "Rat Salad"
 * Black Sabbath – "War Pigs"
 * Black Sabbath – "Warning"
 * Black Sabbath – "The Wizard"
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Pagan Baby"
 * David Bowie – "All the Madmen"
 * David Bowie – "Black Country Rock"
 * David Bowie – "She Shook Me Cold"
 * David Bowie – "The Supermen"
 * David Bowie – "The Width of a Circle"
 * Deep Purple – "Black Night" UK #2
 * Deep Purple – "Child In Time"
 * Deep Purple – "Speed King"
 * Jimi Hendrix – "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" UK #1
 * Led Zeppelin – "Celebration Day"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Gallows Pole"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Immigrant Song"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Since I'Ve Been Loving You"
 * Mountain – "Mississippi Queen"
 * Steppenwolf – "Snowblind Friend"
 * Steppenwolf – "Who Needs Ya
 * UFO – "C'mon Everybody" (Eddie Cochran cover)
 * Zoot – "Eleanor Rigby"

Events
 * Jimi Hendrix dies at 27 on September 18 in London, England from alcohol and barbiturate abuse.

1971
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Popular songs Events
 * Foghat
 * Geordie
 * Hard Stuff
 * New York Dolls
 * Pentagram
 * Titanic
 * Iron Butterfly
 * Alice Cooper – Love It to Death
 * Alice Cooper – Killer
 * April Wine – April Wine
 * Black Sabbath – Master of Reality US #8 UK #5
 * Bloodrock – Bloodrock 3
 * Bloodrock – Bloodrock USA
 * Blue Cheer – Oh! Pleasant Hope
 * Breakout – Blues
 * Budgie – Budgie
 * Cactus – One Way... or Another
 * Cactus – Restrictions
 * Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
 * Deep Purple – Fireball UK #1
 * Dust – Dust
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Survival
 * Grand Funk Railroad – E Pluribus Funk
 * Humble Pie – Rock On
 * James Gang – Thirds
 * King Crimson – Islands
 * Leaf Hound – Growers of Mushroom
 * Led Zeppelin – Untitled fourth album US #2 UK #1
 * Mountain – Nantucket Sleighride
 * Mountain – Flowers of Evil
 * Steppenwolf – For Ladies Only
 * Thin Lizzy – Thin Lizzy
 * Toad –Toad
 * UFO – UFO 2: Flying
 * Uriah Heep – Salisbury
 * Uriah Heep – Look at Yourself
 * The Who – Who's Next
 * Wishbone Ash – Pilgrimage
 * Yes – The Yes Album
 * Yes – Fragile
 * Black Sabbath – "After Forever"
 * Black Sabbath – "Children of the Grave"
 * Black Sabbath – "Sweet Leaf"
 * David Bowie – "Queen Bitch"
 * Deep Purple – "Strange Kind of Woman" UK #8
 * Deep Purple – "Fireball"
 * Focus – "Hocus Pocus" NLD #12 CAN #18 UK #20 US #9
 * Golden Earring – "Radar Love"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Black Dog"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Rock and Roll"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Stairway to Heaven"
 * The Who – "Won't Get Fooled Again"
 * Alice Cooper - “I’m eighteen”
 * Alice Cooper - “Under my wheels”
 * Joe Walsh leaves James Gang, the band moves to a softer sound under guitarist Domenic Troiano.
 * Jim Morrison dies at age 27 of what is presumed to be heart failure. The Doors try to go on by the remaining members switching off lead vocals until their breakup in 1973.

1972
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Live albums Popular songs
 * Beck, Bogert, and Appice
 * Captain Beyond
 * Cirith Ungol
 * Jerusalem
 * Magnum
 * Twisted Sister
 * Styx (band)
 * Van Halen
 * Blue Cheer
 * The Jeff Beck Group
 * Mountain
 * Steppenwolf
 * Titanic
 * Alice Cooper – School's Out US #2 UK #4
 * April Wine – On Record
 * Bang –Bang
 * Black Sabbath – Vol. 4 UK #8
 * Bloodrock – Bloodrock Live
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Blue Öyster Cult US #172
 * Budgie – Squawk
 * Buffalo – Dead Forever...
 * Cactus – Ot 'N' Sweaty
 * Captain Beyond –Captain Beyond
 * Deep Purple – Machine Head US #7 UK #1
 * Dust – Hard Attack
 * Frijid Pink –Earth Omen
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Phoenix
 * Hard Stuff –Bulletproof
 * Humble Pie – Smokin
 * The Jeff Beck Group – Jeff Beck Group
 * Scorpions – Lonesome Crow
 * Slade – Slayed?
 * Status Quo – Piledriver
 * Thin Lizzy – Shades of a Blue Orphanage
 * Uriah Heep – Demons and Wizards
 * Uriah Heep – The Magician's Birthday
 * Wishbone Ash – Argus
 * Yes – Close to the Edge
 * UFO Live
 * Alice Cooper – "School's Out" US #7 UK #1
 * Black Sabbath – "Snowblind"
 * Blue Öyster Cult – "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll"
 * David Bowie – "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"
 * David Bowie – "Soul Love"
 * David Bowie – "Suffragette City"
 * David Bowie – "Ziggy Stardust"
 * Deep Purple – "Highway Star"
 * Deep Purple – "Lazy"
 * Deep Purple – "Smoke on the Water" US #4
 * Deep Purple – "Space Truckin'"
 * Hawkwind – "Silver Machine"
 * Status Quo – "Paper Plane"

1973
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * AC/DC
 * Bachman-Turner Overdrive
 * Cheap Trick
 * Heart
 * Journey
 * Kansas
 * Kiss
 * Montrose
 * Primevil
 * Stray Dog
 * The Doors
 * MC5
 * UFO (hiatus)
 * Aerosmith – Aerosmith
 * Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies US #1 UK #1
 * Alice Cooper – Muscle of Love US #10
 * April Wine – Electric Jewels
 * Beck, Bogert & Appice – Beck, Bogert & Appice
 * Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath UK #4
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Tyranny and Mutation
 * Budgie – Never Turn Your Back on a Friend
 * Buffalo – Volcanic Rock
 * Deep Purple – Who Do We Think We Are UK #4
 * Gary Moore – Grinding Stone
 * Grand Funk Railroad – We're an American Band
 * Granicus – Granicus
 * Humble Pie – Eat It
 * King Crimson – Larks' Tongues in Aspic
 * Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy US #1 UK #1
 * Lynyrd Skynyrd – (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
 * Montrose – Montrose
 * Nazareth – Loud 'n' Proud UK #10
 * Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
 * Queen – Queen I
 * Status Quo – Hello! UK #1
 * The Stooges- Raw Power
 * Thin Lizzy – Vagabonds of the Western World
 * Uriah Heep – Sweet Freedom
 * Wishbone Ash – Wishbone Four
 * The Who – Quadrophenia
 * Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans
 * Deep Purple – Made in Japan US #6
 * Aerosmith – "Dream On"
 * Aerosmith – "Make It"
 * Aerosmith – "Mama Kin"
 * Billy Joel – "Captain Jack"
 * Black Sabbath – "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
 * Black Sabbath – "Sabbra Cadabra"
 * Buffalo – "Skylock"
 * David Bowie – "The Jean Genie"
 * Deep Purple – "Woman From Tokyo"
 * Elton John  – "Candle in the Wind"
 * Elton John  – "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
 * Led Zeppelin – "Over the Hills and Far Away"
 * Led Zeppelin – "The Song Remains the Same"
 * Lynyrd Skynyrd – "Free Bird"
 * Montrose – "Space Station #5"
 * Pink Floyd – "Money"
 * Queen – "Keep Yourself Alive"
 * Queen – "Liar"
 * Queen – "Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll"
 * Queen – "Son and Daughter"
 * Status Quo – "Caroline"
 * The Stooges – "Search and Destroy"
 * Thin Lizzy – "Randolph's Tango"
 * Thin Lizzy – "The Rocker"
 * UFO replaces Bernie Marsden with Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker. Ulrich Roth takes Schenker's place in Scorpions.
 * Ian Gillan and Roger Glover leave Deep Purple, and are replaced by David Coverdale and Trapeze bassist Glenn Hughes.

1974
Newly formed bands
 * Cheap Trick
 * Meat Loaf
 * Praying Mantis


 * Moxy

Disbandments
 * The Moody Blues

Reformed bands
 * Blue Cheer
 * Iron Butterfly
 * Scorpions
 * Steppenwolf
 * UFO

Albums
 * Aerosmith – Get Your Wings
 * Bad Company – Bad Company US #1 UK #3 CAN #7
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Secret Treaties US #53 CAN #54
 * Budgie – In for the Kill!
 * Buffalo – Only Want You For Your Body
 * Deep Purple – Burn US #9 UK #3 (introduced Mk. III lineup with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes)
 * Deep Purple – Stormbringer UK #6
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Shinin' On
 * Grand Funk Railroad – All the Girls in the World Beware!!!
 * Humble Pie – Thunderbox
 * Iron Butterfly – Scorching Beauty
 * Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla
 * King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
 * King Crimson – Red
 * Kiss – Kiss
 * Kiss – Hotter Than Hell
 * Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping
 * Montrose – Paper Money
 * Mountain – Avalanche
 * Primevil – Smokin' Bats at Campton's
 * Queen – Queen II UK #5 US #49
 * Queen – Sheer Heart Attack UK #2 US #12
 * Rush – Rush
 * Scorpions – Fly to the Rainbow, first album with guitarist Ulrich Roth
 * Slade – Old New Borrowed and Blue
 * Slade – Slade in Flame
 * Status Quo  – Quo
 * Steppenwolf – Slow Flux
 * Thin Lizzy – Nightlife
 * UFO – Phenomenon, their first with ex-Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker
 * Uriah Heep – Wonderworld
 * Wishbone Ash – There's the Rub
 * Yes – Relayer

Popular songs
 * Aerosmith – "Lord of the Thighs"
 * Aerosmith – "Pandora's Box"
 * Aerosmith – "S.O.S. (Too Bad)"
 * Aerosmith – "Same Old Song and Dance"
 * Aerosmith – "Seasons of Wither"
 * Aerosmith – "Spaced"
 * Aerosmith – "Train Kept A-Rollin'"
 * Aerosmith – "Woman of the World"
 * Deep Purple – "Burn"
 * Deep Purple – "Mistreated"
 * Deep Purple – "Soldier of Fortune"
 * Elton John – "The Bitch Is Back"
 * Judas Priest - "Rocka Rolla"
 * Kiss – "Cold Gin"
 * Kiss – "Deuce"
 * Kiss – "Goin' Blind"
 * Kiss – "Hotter Than Hell"
 * Kiss – "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"
 * Kiss – "Strutter"
 * Queen – "Brighton Rock"
 * Queen – "Father to Son"
 * Queen – "Flick of the Wrist"
 * Queen – "Killer Queen"
 * Queen – "Now I'm Here"
 * Queen – "Ogre Battle"
 * Queen – "Procession"
 * Queen – "Seven Seas of Rhye"
 * Queen – "Stone Cold Crazy"
 * Queen – "White Queen (As It Began)"
 * Rush – "Working Man"
 * UFO – "Doctor Doctor"
 * UFO – "Rock Bottom"
 * Yes – "The Gates of Delirium"

Events
 * The drummer John Rutsey of Rush quits and Neil Peart joins as a permanent member.
 * Sammy Hagar leaves Montrose to go solo.

1975
Newly formed bands
 * Iron Maiden
 * Motörhead
 * Quiet Riot
 * Rainbow
 * The Runaways
 * Riot

Disbandments
 * Bloodrock
 * Blue Cheer (Hiatus)

Albums
 * AC/DC – High Voltage AUS #7
 * AC/DC – T.N.T AUS #1
 * Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
 * Alice Cooper – Welcome to My Nightmare US #9
 * Angel – Angel
 * April Wine – Stand Back
 * Blackfoot – No Reservations
 * Black Sabbath – Sabotage UK #7
 * Blue Öyster Cult – On Your Feet or on Your Knees
 * Budgie – Bandolier
 * Deep Purple – Come Taste the Band
 * Foghat – "Fool for the City"
 * Humble Pie – Street Rats
 * Iron Butterfly – Sun and Steel
 * Kiss – Dressed to Kill
 * Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti US #1 UK #1
 * Montrose – Warner Brothers Presents... Montrose!
 * Nazareth – Hair of the Dog
 * Queen – A Night At The Opera UK # 1 US #4
 * Rainbow – Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
 * Rush – Fly by Night CAN #9
 * Rush – Caress of Steel
 * Scorpions – In Trance
 * Status Quo – On The Level UK #1
 * Steppenwolf – Hour of the Wolf
 * Steppenwolf – Skullduggery
 * Ted Nugent – Ted Nugent
 * Thin Lizzy – Fighting
 * UFO – Force It
 * Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy UK #7
 * The Who – The Who by Numbers UK #7

Live albums
 * Kiss – Alive! US #9

Popular songs
 * AC/DC – "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
 * AC/DC – "T.N.T."
 * Aerosmith – "Sweet Emotion"
 * Aerosmith – "Walk This Way"
 * Alice Cooper – "The Black Widow"
 * Alice Cooper – "Welcome to My Nightmare"
 * Black Sabbath – "Symptom of the Universe"
 * Elton John – "Grow Some Funk of Your Own"
 * Foghat – "Fool for the City"
 * Foghat – "Slow Ride"
 * Kiss – "C'mon and Love Me"
 * Kiss – "Love Her All I Can"
 * Kiss – "Rock and Roll All Nite"
 * Kiss – "She"
 * Nazareth – "Hair of the Dog"
 * Queen – "Bohemian Rhapsody"
 * Queen – "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)"
 * Queen – "I'm in Love With My Car"
 * Queen – "Sweet Lady"
 * Rainbow – "Man on the Silver Mountain"
 * Rush – "Fly by Night"
 * Status Quo – "Down Down" UK #1
 * Ted Nugent – "Stranglehold"
 * UFO – "Let It Roll"

Events
 * Alice Cooper disbands, lead singer Vincent Furnier has name legally changed to "Alice Cooper" and launches solo career.
 * Hawkwind bassist Lemmy is fired when a drug arrest causes him to miss tour dates. He subsequently forms Motörhead.
 * Motörhead's original drummer, Lucas Fox, leaves the band. He is replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor.
 * Ritchie Blackmore leaves Deep Purple, and is replaced by ex-James Gang guitarist Tommy Bolin.
 * The Queen single "Bohemian Rhapsody" is released. It later becomes one of their most popular songs.

1976
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Bow Wow/Vow Wow
 * Bronz
 * Diamond Head
 * Ethel the Frog
 * Foreigner
 * Heavy Load
 * Kick Axe
 * Marsheille
 * The Obsessed
 * Ratt
 * Rose Tattoo
 * The Runaways
 * Running Wild
 * Savage
 * Saxon
 * Sorcery
 * Spider
 * Sister
 * Zoetrope
 * Argent
 * Deep Purple
 * Montrose
 * Steppenwolf
 * AC/DC – High Voltage
 * AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap AUS #4
 * Aerosmith – Rocks US #3
 * Alice Cooper – Alice Cooper Goes to Hell
 * April Wine – The Whole World's Goin' Crazy
 * Blackfoot – Flyin' High
 * Black Sabbath – Technical Ecstasy
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune
 * Bow Wow - Bow Wow
 * Budgie – If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules
 * Buffalo – Mother's Choice
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Born to Die
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Good Singin', Good Playin
 * Heart – Dreamboat Annie
 * Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny
 * Kiss – Destroyer
 * Kiss – Rock and Roll Over
 * Led Zeppelin – Presence US #1 UK #1
 * Montrose – Jump on It
 * Queen – A Day At The Races The Billboard 200 #5
 * Rainbow – Rising
 * Rush – 2112 CAN #5
 * Scorpions – Virgin Killer
 * Slade – Nobody's Fools
 * Ted Nugent – Free-for-All
 * The Runaways – The Runaways
 * Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak UK #10
 * Thin Lizzy  – Johnny the Fox
 * Truth and Janey – No Rest For The Wicked
 * UFO – No Heavy Petting
 * Uriah Heep – High and Mighty
 * Wishbone Ash – New England
 * Y&T – Yesterday & Today
 * Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains the Same US #2 UK #1
 * Rush – All the World's a Stage CAN #6
 * AC/DC – "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
 * Aerosmith – "Dream On" US #6 (re-issue)
 * Aerosmith – "Back in the Saddle"
 * Aerosmith – "Last Child"
 * Aerosmith – "Rats in the Cellar"
 * Aerosmith – "Walk This Way" US #10 (re-issue)
 * Blue Öyster Cult – "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
 * Heart – "Magic Man"
 * Heart – "Crazy on You"
 * Heart – "Dreamboat Annie"
 * Judas Priest – "Victim of Changes"
 * Kansas – "Carry On Wayward Son" US #11 CAN #5
 * Kiss – "Beth" US #7
 * Kiss – "Calling Dr. Love"
 * Kiss – "Detroit Rock City"
 * Kiss – "Flaming Youth"
 * Kiss – "God of Thunder"
 * Kiss – "Shout It Out Loud"
 * Queen – "Tie Your Mother Down"
 * Queen – "White Man"
 * Rainbow – "Stargazer"
 * Rainbow – "Starstruck"
 * Rush – "2112"
 * Ted Nugent – "Free-for-All"
 * Ted Nugent – "Hammerdown"
 * Thin Lizzy – "Jailbreak"
 * Thin Lizzy – "The Boys Are Back in Town"
 * Guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke joins Motörhead and Larry Wallis leaves after a month.
 * Pat Travers promotes the air guitar phenomenon by giving out cardboard guitars at his London shows. Cardboard guitars later become a staple of new wave of British heavy metal audiences.

1977
Newly formed bands
 * Angel Witch
 * Barnabas
 * Black Death
 * Death SS
 * Dedringer
 * Def Leppard
 * Divlje Jagode
 * Gordi
 * Gravestone
 * Great White
 * Holocaust
 * Kix
 * Manilla Road
 * Mentors
 * Misfits
 * Oz
 * Ram Jam
 * Rock Goddess
 * Samson
 * TKO
 * Trust
 * Vatreni Poljubac

Reformed bands
 * The Moody Blues

Albums
 * AC/DC – Let There Be Rock
 * Aerosmith – Draw The Line
 * Alice Cooper – Lace and Whiskey
 * April Wine – Forever for Now
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Spectres
 * Bow Wow - Signal Fire
 * Bow Wow - Charge
 * Buffalo – Average Rock 'n' Roller
 * Foreigner - Foreigner
 * Heart – Little Queen
 * Kiss – Love Gun US #4
 * Judas Priest – Sin After Sin
 * Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
 * Motörhead – Motörhead
 * Queen – News of the World The Billboard 200 #3
 * Quiet Riot – Quiet Riot
 * Ram Jam - Ram Jam
 * Riot – Rock City
 * Rush – A Farewell to Kings
 * Scorpions – Taken by Force
 * Slade – Whatever Happened to Slade
 * Ted Nugent – Cat Scratch Fever
 * The Runaways – Queens of Noise
 * The Runaways – Waitin' for the Night
 * Thin Lizzy – Bad Reputation UK #4
 * UFO – Lights Out
 * Uriah Heep – Firefly
 * Uriah Heep – Innocent Victim
 * Yes – Going for the One

Live albums
 * Kiss – Alive II US #7
 * Rainbow – On Stage (Rainbow album) UK #7

Popular songs
 * AC/DC – "Let There Be Rock"
 * Blue Oyster Cult – Godzilla
 * Heart – "Barracuda"
 * Judas Priest – "Diamonds & Rust"
 * Kiss – "Christine Sixteen"
 * Kiss – "Love Gun"
 * Queen – "Flight From the Inside"
 * Queen – "It's Late"
 * Queen – "Sheer Heart Attack"
 * Queen – "Spreads Your Wings"
 * Queen – "We Are the Champions"
 * Queen – "We Will Rock You"
 * Ram Jam – "Black Beauty"
 * Riot – "Warrior"
 * Scorpions – "Sails of Charon"
 * Ted Nugent – "Cat Scratch Fever"
 * UFO – "Lights Out"
 * UFO – "Too Hot To Handle"

Disbandments
 * Buffalo
 * T.Rex

Events
 * Alice Cooper undergoes treatment for alcoholism and begins a period of career decline.
 * Queen release "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions".
 * Queen release "News of the World" reaching number 3 on the US Billboard charts. But on that same day, The Sex Pistols has also release their debut album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" which later criticized by The Sex Pistols, sparked massive backlash against progressive rock artists such as Queen, to which the band responded by simplifying their symphonic rock sound and gearing towards a more spontaneous hard rock sound.

1978
Newly formed bands
 * Anvil
 * Dokken
 * Exciter
 * Gillan
 * Girlschool
 * Avatar/Savatage
 * T.S.O.L.
 * Tygers of Pan Tang
 * Whitesnake

Reformed bands
 * Blue Cheer (End of the first hiatus)

Albums
 * AC/DC – Powerage
 * Alice Cooper – From the Inside
 * April Wine – First Glance
 * Black Sabbath – Never Say Die!
 * Bow Wow - Guarantee
 * Budgie – Impeckable
 * Foreigner - Double Vision
 * Gary Moore – Back on the Streets
 * Gillan - Gillan
 * Heart – Magazine
 * Heart – Dog & Butterfly
 * Judas Priest – Stained Class
 * Judas Priest – Killing Machine
 * Magnum – Kingdom of Madness
 * Montrose – Open Fire
 * Queen – Jazz The Billboard 200 #6
 * Quiet Riot – Quiet Riot II
 * Rainbow – Long Live Rock 'N' Roll UK #7
 * Ram Jam - Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram
 * Rose Tattoo - Rose Tattoo
 * Rush – Hemispheres
 * Ted Nugent – Weekend Warriors
 * The Runaways – And Now... The Runaways
 * UFO – Obsession
 * Uriah Heep – Fallen Angel
 * Van Halen – Van Halen
 * The Who – Who Are You
 * Whitesnake - Trouble
 * Y&T – Struck Down
 * Yes – Tormato

Live albums
 * AC/DC – If You Want Blood You've Got It
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Some Enchanted Evening
 * Scorpions – Tokyo Tapes(Europe)
 * Ted Nugent – Double Live Gonzo
 * Thin Lizzy – Live and Dangerous UK #2

Popular songs
 * AC/DC – "Riff Raff"
 * AC/DC – "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation"
 * Black Sabbath – "Never Say Die"
 * Heart – "Heartless"
 * Heart – "Straight On"
 * Heart – "Dog & Butterfly"
 * Judas Priest – "Better By You, Better Than Me"
 * Judas Priest – "Beyond the Realms of Death"
 * Judas Priest – "Stained Class"
 * Queen – "Bicycle Race"
 * Queen – "Dead on Time"
 * Queen – "Fat Bottomed Girls"
 * Rainbow – "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll"
 * Rose Tattoo – "Bad Boy for Love"
 * UFO – "Only You Can Rock Me"
 * Van Halen – "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"
 * Van Halen – "Eruption/You Really Got Me"
 * Van Halen – "Jamie's Cryin'"
 * Van Halen – "Runnin' with the Devil"
 * Wishbone Ash – "No Smoke Without Fire"

Events
 * Brian Robertson exits Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore rejoins in his place.
 * Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen joins at 15 as a permanent member after Tony Kenning left the band.
 * The Who's drummer Keith Moon dies of a Clomethiazole overdose on September 6, he was 32.
 * Scorpions' desire to move to a more commercial type of metal sound causes Ulrich Roth to leave for a solo career. He is replaced with Matthias Jabs.

1979
Newly formed bands
 * Europe
 * Gamma
 * TSA
 * KAT
 * Michael Schenker Group
 * Picture
 * Vicious Rumors
 * Venom
 * Witchfinder General
 * Hanoi Rocks
 * V8
 * Salem (UK)
 * Satan

Disbandments
 * Blue Cheer (Second hiatus)

Albums
 * AC/DC – Highway to Hell UK #8
 * Accept – Accept
 * Aerosmith – Night in the Ruts
 * April Wine – Harder ... Faster
 * Blackfoot – Strikes
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Mirrors
 * Foreigner - Head Games
 * Gamma - Gamma 1
 * Gillan - Mr. Universe
 * Kiss – Dynasty US #9 (Disco single "I Was Made for Loving You" led to accusations of sellout, band's popularity suffered for several years)
 * Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door US #1 UK #1
 * Magnum – Magnum II
 * Motörhead – Overkill
 * Motörhead – Bomber
 * Motörhead – On Parole (unofficial release from sessions recorded in 1975)
 * Nazareth – No Mean City
 * The Pat Travers Band – Live! Go for What You Know
 * Rainbow – Down to Earth UK #6
 * Riot – Narita
 * Samson - Survivors
 * Saxon – Saxon
 * Scorpions – Lovedrive
 * Slade – Return to Base
 * Ted Nugent – State of Shock
 * Thin Lizzy – Black Rose: A Rock Legend UK #2
 * Triumph – Just a Game
 * Van Halen – Van Halen II US #6
 * Whitesnake - Lovehunter

Live albums
 * Judas Priest – Unleashed in the East UK #10, first U.S. success
 * Scorpions – Tokyo Tapes (USA)
 * UFO – Strangers in the Night UK #7

Popular songs
 * AC/DC – "Highway to Hell"
 * Judas Priest – "Diamonds & Rust" (Live)
 * Judas Priest – "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" (Fleetwood Mac cover)
 * Judas Priest – "Hell Bent for Leather"
 * Judas Priest – "Tyrant" (Live)
 * Judas Priest – "Victim of Changes" (Live)
 * Kiss – "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
 * Motörhead – "Overkill"
 * Queen – "Don't Stop Me Now"
 * Queen – "Mustapha"
 * Scorpions – "Another Piece of Meat"
 * Scorpions – "Lovedrive"
 * Van Halen – "Beautiful Girls"
 * Van Halen – "Dance the Night Away"

Events
 * Gary Moore again leaves Thin Lizzy, is eventually replaced by sometime Pink Floyd guitarist Snowy White
 * Joe Perry leaves Aerosmith and forms The Joe Perry Project, is replaced in Aerosmith by Jimmy Crespo. Aerosmith goes into commercial decline.
 * Ozzy Osbourne is kicked out of Black Sabbath due to problems with drugs and alcohol
 * Ronnie James Dio becomes the new lead singer of Black Sabbath, is replaced in Rainbow by Graham Bonnet
 * Michael Schenker departs UFO, replaced by Paul Chapman
 * Sounds music paper editor Alan Lewis coins the term "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" when looking for a headline to accompany an article Geoff Barton had written about three young Heavy Metal bands touring together, namely Iron Maiden, Samson and Angel Witch.

1980
Newly formed bands
 * Ángeles del Infierno
 * Barón Rojo
 * Blitzkrieg
 * Exodus
 * King's X
 * Los Suaves
 * Manowar
 * Metal Church
 * Overkill
 * Ozzy Osbourne
 * Turbo

Disbandments
 * Led Zeppelin

Reformed bands
 * Black Sabbath (Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler replaced by Ronnie James Dio and Geoff Nicholls; Nicholls moved to keyboards when Butler rejoined the band)
 * Steppenwolf

Albums UK Chart information courtesy of the book Guinness Hits of the 80s
 * Accept – I'm a Rebel
 * AC/DC – Back in Black UK #1
 * Alice Cooper – Flush the Fashion UK #56
 * Angel Witch - Angel Witch
 * Blackfoot – Tomcattin' US #50
 * Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell UK #9
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Cultösaurus Erectus UK #12
 * Bow Wow - Glorious Road
 * Bow Wow - Telephone
 * Cirth Ungol – Frost and Fire
 * Def Leppard – On Through the Night UK #15
 * Diamond Head – Lightning to the Nations
 * Gamma - Gamma 2
 * Gary Moore – G-Force
 * Gillan – Glory Road UK #3
 * Girl – Sheer Greed UK #33
 * Girlschool – Demolition UK #28
 * Humble Pie – On to Victory
 * Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden UK #4
 * Judas Priest – British Steel UK #4
 * Killing Joke – Killing Joke UK #39
 * Kiss – Unmasked UK #48
 * Michael Schenker Group – The Michael Schenker Group UK #8
 * Motörhead – Ace of Spades UK #4
 * Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard of Ozz UK #7
 * Phil Lynott – Solo in Soho UK #28
 * Rush – Permanent Waves UK #3
 * Sammy Hagar – Danger Zone UK #25
 * Samson – Head On UK #34
 * Saxon – Wheels of Steel UK #5
 * Saxon – Strong Arm of the Law UK#11
 * Scorpions – Animal Magnetism UK #23
 * Status Quo – Just Supposin' UK #4
 * Styx – Paradise Theater UK #8
 * Ted Nugent – Scream Dream UK #37
 * Thin Lizzy – Chinatown UK #7
 * Triumph – Progressions of Power UK #63
 * Tygers of Pan Tang – Wild Cat UK #18
 * UFO – No Place to Run UK #11
 * Uriah Heep – Conquest UK #37
 * Van Halen –Women and Children First UK #15
 * Whitesnake – Ready an' Willing UK #6
 * Wild Horses – Wild Horses UK #38
 * Wishbone Ash – Just Testing
 * Yes – Drama

Compilation albums
 * Killer Watts UK #27
 * Metal for Muthas Volume 1 UK #16
 * Metal for Muthas Volume 2 UK #58
 * Axe Attack Volume 1 UK #15
 * Monsters of Rock UK #16
 * Precious Metal UK #60

Live albums
 * Black Sabbath – Live at Last UK #5 (originally recorded in 1973)
 * Vardis – 100 mph Live UK #52
 * Whitesnake – Live...in the Heart of the City UK #5

Popular songs
 * AC/DC – "Back in Black" UK #15
 * AC/DC – "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" UK #15
 * AC/DC – "You Shook Me All Night Long" UK #38
 * Angel Witch – "Sweet Danger" UK #75
 * Black Sabbath – "Neon Knights" UK #22
 * Black Sabbath – "Die Young" UK #41
 * Black Sabbath – "Heaven and Hell"
 * Blue Öyster Cult – "Black Blade"
 * Def Leppard – "Hello America" UK #45
 * Gillan – "Sleeping on the Job" UK #55
 * Iron Maiden – "Running Free" UK #34
 * Iron Maiden – "Sanctuary" UK #29
 * Judas Priest – "Breaking the Law" UK #12
 * Judas Priest – "Living After Midnight" UK #12
 * Judas Priest – "United" UK #26
 * Michael Schenker Group – "Armed and Ready" UK #53
 * Michael Schenker Group – "Cry for the Nations" UK #56
 * Michael Schenker Group – "Victim of Illusion"
 * Motörhead – "Ace of Spades" UK #15
 * Ozzy Osbourne – "Crazy Train" UK #49
 * Ozzy Osbourne – "Mr Crowley" UK #46
 * Phil Lynott – "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" UK #32
 * Phil Lynott – "King's Call" UK #35
 * Queen – "Dragon Attack"
 * Queen – "Flash" US #42; UK 10; AUS 16
 * Queen – "Play the Game"
 * Rush – "Entre Nous"
 * Rush – "Freewill"
 * Rush – "The Spirit of Radio" UK #13
 * Samson – "Hard Times"
 * Samson – "Vice Versa"
 * Saxon – "Wheels of Steel" UK #20
 * Saxon – "747 (Strangers in the Night)" UK #13
 * Saxon – "Strong Arm of the Law" UK #63
 * Scorpions – "Make It Real" UK #72
 * Scorpions – "The Zoo" UK #75
 * Status Quo – "What You're Proposing" UK #2
 * Status Quo – "Lies" UK #11
 * Thin Lizzy – "Killer on the Loose" UK #10
 * Thin Lizzy – "Chinatown" UK #21
 * Triumph – "I Live for the Weekend" UK #59
 * UFO – "Young Blood" UK #36
 * Vardis – "Let's Go" UK #59
 * Whitesnake – "Ready an' Willing" UK #43
 * Whitesnake – "Fool for Your Loving" UK #13
 * Wild Horses – "Criminal Tendencies"
 * Wild Horses – "Face Down"
 * Wild Horses – "Flyaway"
 * Wishbone Ash – "Helpless"
 * Wishbone Ash – "Living Proof"

Events
 * Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies at 33 on February 19 after a binge of heavy drinking.
 * John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin, dies at 32 on September 25, after a binge of heavy drinking. His death was similar to Bon Scott's, and caused Led Zeppelin to disband.
 * Metal for Muthas – New wave of British heavy metal compilation albums are released. Volume One reaches UK #16 and features the likes of Iron Maiden, Sledgehammer, EF Band, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Praying Mantis, Ethel The Frog, Angel Witch, Samson and Nutz, whilst, Volume Two reaches UK #58 and features the likes of Trespass, Eazy Money, Xero, White Spirit, Dark Star, Horsepower, Red Alert, Chevy and The Raid.
 * Metal for Muthas Tour, featuring Iron Maiden, Samson and Angel Witch becomes a resounding success, thanks to fan support and rave reviews from music press journalists.
 * Rainbow headlines the initial Donington Festival 16 August 1980. Judas Priest, Scorpions, April Wine, Saxon, Riot, and Touch also play. 35,000 fans attend the event.
 * April 1: Brian Johnson joins AC/DC replacing Bon Scott as lead singer.
 * Mike Varney founds Shrapnel Records.
 * Iron Maiden lead guitarist Dennis Stratton leaves and is replaced by Adrian Smith.
 * Former Pink Floyd guitarist Snowy White joins Thin Lizzy.

1981
Newly formed bands
 * Anthrax
 * Dark Angel
 * Icon
 * Loudness
 * Mercyful Fate
 * Metallica
 * Mötley Crüe
 * Pantera
 * Show-Ya
 * Slayer
 * Sodom
 * Tarantula
 * Vandenberg
 * Tokyo Blade

Albums Album Chart Information courtesy of the book Guinness Hits Of The 80s Film soundtracks Live albums Popular songs Compilation albums Events
 * Accept – Breaker
 * AC/DC – For Those About to Rock We Salute You UK #3
 * Alice Cooper – Special Forces UK #98
 * Anvil - Hard 'n' Heavy
 * April Wine – The Nature of the Beast UK #48
 * Bernie Marsden – Look At Me Now UK #71
 * Black Sabbath – Mob Rules UK #12
 * Blackfoot – Marauder UK #38
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Fire of Unknown Origin UK #29
 * Bow Wow - Hard Dog
 * Budgie – Nightflight UK #68
 * Cozy Powell – Tilt UK #58
 * Def Leppard – High 'n' Dry UK #26
 * Dokken - Breaking the Chains
 * Foreigner – 4 UK #5
 * Gary Moore – Dirty Fingers
 * Gillan - Double Trouble
 * Gillan – Future Shock UK #2
 * Girlschool – Hit and Run UK #5
 * Graham Bonnet – Line Up UK #62
 * Grand Funk Railroad – Grand Funk Lives
 * Hanoi Rocks - Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
 * Humble Pie – Go for the Throat
 * Iron Maiden – Killers UK #12
 * Jim Steinman – Bad for Good UK #7
 * Judas Priest – Point of Entry UK #14
 * King Crimson – Discipline
 * Kiss – The Elder UK #51
 * Krokus – Hardware UK #44
 * Loudness – The Birthday Eve
 * Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer UK #1
 * Michael Schenker Group – MSG UK #14
 * Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love
 * Nazareth – The Fool Circle UK #60
 * Ozzy Osbourne – Diary of a Madman UK #14
 * Pat Benatar – Precious Time UK #30
 * Picture - Picture 1
 * Picture - Heavy Metal Ears
 * Praying Mantis – Time Tells No Lies UK #60
 * Rainbow – Difficult to Cure UK #3
 * Raven – Rock Until You Drop UK #63
 * REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity UK #6
 * Riot – Fire Down Under
 * Rose Tattoo – Assault And Battery UK #40
 * Rush – Moving Pictures UK #3
 * Samson - Shock Tactics
 * Saxon – Denim and Leather UK #9
 * Slade – We'll Bring the House Down
 * Slade – Till Deaf Do Us Part
 * Status Quo – Never Too Late UK #2
 * Thin Lizzy – Renegade UK #38
 * Triumph – Allied Forces UK #64
 * T.S.O.L. - Dance with Me
 * Tygers Of Pan Tang – Spellbound UK #33
 * Tygers Of Pan Tang – Crazy Nights UK #51
 * UFO – The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent UK #19
 * Van Halen – Fair Warning UK #49
 * Venom - Welcome to Hell
 * Whitesnake – Come an' Get It UK #2
 * Wishbone Ash – Number the Brave
 * Y&T – Earthshaker
 * Animated Film Heavy Metal features Sammy Hagar, Riggs, Devo, Blue Öyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Don Felder, Donald Fagen, Nazareth, Journey, Grand Funk Railroad, Black Sabbath, Trust, and Stevie Nicks.
 * Gillan – Double Trouble UK #12
 * Motörhead – No Sleep 'til Hammersmith UK #1
 * Rush – Exit...Stage Left UK #6
 * April Wine – "Just Between You And Me" UK #52
 * Billy Squier – "The Stroke" UK #52
 * Black Sabbath – "The Mob Rules" UK #46
 * Blue Öyster Cult – "Burnin' for You" US #40; UK #76
 * Donna Summer  – "Cold Love" US #33; UK #44
 * Foreigner – "Urgent" UK #54
 * Foreigner – "Juke Box Hero" UK #48
 * Foreigner – "Waiting For A Girl Like You" UK #8
 * Gillan – "No Laughing in Heaven" UK #31
 * Gillan – "Nightmare" UK #36
 * Girlschool – "Hit and Run" UK #32
 * Girlschool – "C'Mon Let's Go" UK #42
 * Graham Bonnet – "Night Games" UK #6
 * Graham Bonnet – "Liar" UK #51
 * Iron Maiden – "Purgatory" UK #52
 * Iron Maiden – "Twilight Zone" UK #31
 * Jim Steinman – "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" UK #52
 * Judas Priest – "Don't Go" UK #51
 * Judas Priest – "Hot Rockin'" UK #60
 * Meat Loaf – "Dead Ringer for Love" UK #5
 * Pat Benatar – "Fire and Ice" US #17
 * Praying Mantis – "Cheated" UK #69
 * Rainbow – "I Surrender" UK #3
 * Rainbow – "Can't Happen Here" UK #20
 * REO Speedwagon – "Keep On Loving You" UK #7
 * REO Speedwagon – "Take It On The Run" UK #19
 * Rush – "Vital Signs" UK #41
 * Rush – "Tom Sawyer" UK #25
 * Samson – "Riding With The Angels" UK #55
 * Saxon – "And the Bands Played On" UK #12
 * Saxon – "Never Surrender" UK #18
 * Saxon – "Princess Of The Night" UK #57
 * Status Quo – "Something 'Bout You Baby I Like" UK #9
 * Tygers Of Pan Tang  – '"Hellbound" UK #18
 * UFO – "Lonely Heart" UK #41
 * Whitesnake – "Don't Break My Heart Again" UK #17
 * Whitesnake – "Would I Lie To You" UK #37
 * Axe Attack 2 UK #31
 * Live And Heavy UK #100
 * Iron Maiden's lead singer Paul Di'Anno leaves band due to heavy drinking and drug usage, and is replaced by Samson vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
 * Eric Carr joins Kiss on drums and makes his songwriting debut with "Under the Rose".
 * In response to the burgeoning international metal scene, Shrapnel Records releases the U.S. Metal: Unsung Guitar Heroes compilation. Over the course of four volumes, the series gives early exposure to many artists, including Mike Batio, Exciter, Marty Friedman(with Vixen/Hawaii), Derek Frigo, Keel, Manilla Road, Shawn Lane, The Rods, Vicious Rumors, Virgin Steele, Wild Dogs, and Lyle Workman.
 * Monsters of Rock Festival features AC/DC with support from Whitesnake, Blue Öyster Cult, Slade, Blackfoot and More.
 * Kerrang! magazine launches its first issue June 1981.
 * November: AC/DC's album For Those About to Rock We Salute You is released.
 * Def Leppard releases their second album "High 'n' Dry". But later that month after that, there was the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

1982
Newly formed bands Popular songs Events
 * Armored Saint
 * Death Angel
 * Dio
 * Flotsam and Jetsam
 * Kreator
 * Possessed
 * Queensrÿche
 * Tankard (band)
 * Tarot
 * Vixen/Hawaii
 * Warlock
 * W.A.S.P.
 * X Japan
 * Asia – "Heat Of The Moment" UK #46
 * Asia – "Only Time Will Tell" UK #54
 * Cheap Trick – "If You Want My Love" UK #57
 * Diamond Head – "In The Heat Of The Night" UK #67
 * Iron Maiden – "The Number of the Beast" UK #18
 * Iron Maiden – "Run to the Hills" UK #7
 * Iron Maiden – "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
 * Journey – "Don't Stop Believin'" UK #62
 * Journey – "Who's Crying Now" UK #46
 * Judas Priest – "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" UK #66
 * Judas Priest – "Electric Eye"
 * Michael Schenker Group – "Dancer" UK #52
 * Motörhead – "Iron Fist" UK #29
 * Rainbow – "Stone Cold" UK #34
 * Rainbow – "Street of Dreams" UK #52
 * Robert Plant – "Burning Down One Side" UK #73
 * Robert Plant – "Big Log" UK #11
 * Rush – "New World Man" UK #42
 * Rush – "Subdivisions" UK #53
 * Rush – "Countdown" UK #36
 * Sammy Hagar – "Piece Of My Heart" UK #67
 * Scorpions – "No One Like You" UK #65
 * Spider – "Why D'Ya Lie to Me" UK #65
 * Status Quo – "Dear John" UK #10
 * Status Quo – "She Don't Fool Me" UK #36
 * Survivor – "Eye of the Tiger" UK #1
 * Tygers of Pan Tang – "Rendezvous" UK #49
 * Tygers of Pan Tang – "Paris by Air" UK #63
 * UFO – "Let It Rain" UK #62
 * Whitesnake – "Here I Go Again" UK #34
 * Iron Maiden's first album with Bruce Dickinson, The Number of the Beast, reaches No.1 in the U.K. music charts.
 * Motörhead's guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke leaves the band and is replaced by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson.
 * Judas Priest's single "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" is released. It will go on to become the band's best selling single.
 * Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Randy Rhoads dies in an airplane accident on March 19.
 * Iron Maiden's drummer Clive Burr is fired from the band because of personal and tour-schedule problems. Nicko McBrain from Trust is hired to replace him.
 * Ace Frehley, Space Ace and lead guitarist of Kiss, leaves the band. Vinnie Vincent takes his place.
 * Queen departs from their hard rock legacy with the ill-received funk/disco album Hot Space.
 * December: Former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan replaces Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath.
 * The band Metallica leaves Los Angeles and relocates to the San Francisco Bay Area.

1983
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Popular songs
 * Alcatrazz
 * Bathory
 * Bon Jovi
 * Cinderella
 * The Cult
 * Death
 * D'erlanger
 * Fastway
 * Fates Warning
 * L.A. Guns
 * Lita Ford
 * Megadeth
 * Melvins
 * Metal Church
 * Poison
 * Red Hot Chili Peppers
 * Testament
 * Waysted
 * White Lion
 * Raging Slab
 * Riot
 * The Who
 * AC/DC – Flick of the Switch UK #4 AUS #3
 * Accept – Balls to the Wall
 * Alcatrazz – No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll
 * Alice Cooper – DaDa
 * Anvil – Forged in Fire
 * Blackfoot – Siogo US #82
 * Black Sabbath – Born Again UK #4
 * Blue Öyster Cult – The Revolution by Night
 * Def Leppard – Pyromania US #2
 * Diamond Head - Canterbury
 * Dio – Holy Diver
 * Europe – Europe
 * Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac
 * Fastway - Fastway
 * Gary Moore – Victims of the Future
 * Girlschool - Play Dirty
 * Grand Funk Railroad – What's Funk?
 * Hanoi Rocks - Back to Mystery City
 * Heart – Passionworks
 * Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind UK #3
 * King's X - Sneak Preview
 * Kiss – Lick It Up UK #7
 * Krokus – Headhunter
 * Loudness – The Law of Devil's Land
 * Magnum – The Eleventh Hour
 * Manilla Road – Crystal Logic
 * Manowar – Into Glory Ride
 * Meat Loaf – Midnight at the Lost and Found
 * Metallica – Kill 'Em All
 * Mercyful Fate – Melissa
 * Michael Schenker Group - Built to Destroy
 * Mötley Crüe – Shout at the Devil
 * Motörhead – Another Perfect Day
 * Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon
 * Pantera – Metal Magic
 * Picture - Eternal Dark
 * Queensrÿche – Queensrÿche (EP)
 * Quiet Riot – Metal Health US #1
 * Rainbow – Bent out of Shape
 * Ratt – Ratt (EP)
 * Riot – Born in America
 * Satan - Court in the Act
 * Savatage – Sirens
 * Saxon – Power & the Glory
 * Slade – The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
 * Slayer – Show No Mercy
 * Steeler – Steeler, debuts Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Ron Keel
 * Suicidal Tendencies – Suicidal Tendencies
 * Thin Lizzy – Thunder and Lightning UK #4 (their heaviest and final album, with ex-Tygers of Pan Tang guitarist John Sykes)
 * Tokyo Blade – Tokyo Blade
 * TSA - TSA
 * Turbo - Dorosle dzieci
 * Twisted Sister – You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll
 * UFO – Making Contact
 * Uriah Heep – Head First
 * V8 - Luchando Por El Metal
 * Vandenberg – Heading for a Storm
 * Waysted - Vices
 * Witchfinder General - Friends of Hell
 * Y&T – "Mean Streak"
 * Yes – 90125
 * Accept - "Balls to the Wall"
 * Billy Idol – "Rebel Yell"
 * Europe – "Seven Doors Hotel"
 * Dio – "Don't Talk to Strangers"
 * Dio – "Holy Diver"
 * Dio – "Rainbow in the Dark"
 * Dio – "Shame On The Night"
 * Dio – "Stand Up And Shout"
 * Dio – "Straight Through The Heart"
 * Iron Maiden – "Flight of Icarus"
 * Iron Maiden – "Revelations"
 * Iron Maiden – "The Trooper"
 * Judas Priest – "Freewheel Burning"
 * Kiss – "Lick It Up"
 * Metallica – "The Four Horsemen"
 * Metallica – "Jump in the Fire"
 * Metallica – "Seek & Destroy"
 * Metallica – "Whiplash"
 * Metallica – "Hit The Lights"
 * Michael Jackson – "Beat It" US #1; UK#3; AUS#2
 * Mötley Crüe – "Looks That Kill"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Shout at the Devil"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Too Young to Fall in Love"
 * Ozzy Osbourne – "Bark at the Moon"
 * Quiet Riot – "Cum on Feel the Noize"
 * Quiet Riot – "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)"
 * Slayer – "Black Magic"
 * Slayer – "Metal Storm/Face the Slayer"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "I Saw Your Mommy"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Institutionalized"

Events
 * Yngwie Malmsteen starts performing in the band Steeler. Also in that band was vocalist Ron Keel (later on Keel) and former W.A.S.P. bassist Rik Fox. The band produced only one album, Steeler.
 * Dave Mustaine, lead guitarist for Metallica, is fired for drug/alcohol abuse, and is replaced by Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett, after which he forms the L.A. thrash metal band Megadeth.
 * KISS ended the use of makeup in their act.
 * November 19: the single by Quiet Riot "Cum on Feel the Noize" is No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
 * April 17: Mountain bassist, and Cream producer, Felix Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife Gail Collins Pappalardi.
 * Metallica and Slayer both release their debut albums Kill 'Em All and Show No Mercy.
 * Def Leppard's Pyromania reach the Billobard 200 charts at No.2, but Michael Jackson's Thriller was reach at No.1 at the charts selling 33,000,000 copies.
 * Michael Jackson release the 1983 hit "Beat It", featuring Eddie Van Halen for his guitar solo

1984
Newly formed bands
 * Annihilator
 * Atheist
 * Blind Guardian
 * Celtic Frost
 * Gwar
 * Helloween
 * King Kobra
 * Mayhem
 * Morbid Angel
 * Nuclear Assault
 * Obituary
 * Sadus
 * Sepultura
 * Soundgarden
 * Steve Vai (solo)
 * Stratovarius
 * The Quireboys
 * Warrant

Disbandments
 * Rainbow
 * Thin Lizzy
 * Vanilla Fudge (Second hiatus)

Albums
 * Anthrax – Fistful of Metal
 * April Wine – Animal Grace
 * Armored Saint – March of the Saint
 * Bathory – Bathory
 * Blackfoot – Vertical Smiles
 * Black 'n Blue – Black 'n Blue US #129
 * Blue Cheer – The Beast Is Back
 * Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi
 * Cirith Ungol – King of the Dead
 * The Cult – Dreamtime
 * Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers UK #5
 * Dio – The Last in Line UK #4
 * Dokken – Tooth and Nail
 * Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
 * Exciter - Violence & Force
 * Fastway - All Fired Up
 * Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken
 * Foreigner - Agent Provocateur
 * Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps from the Move
 * Icon – Icon
 * Iron Maiden – Powerslave UK #2
 * Judas Priest – Defenders of the Faith
 * King Crimson – Three of a Perfect Pair
 * Kiss – Animalize
 * Loudness – Disillusion
 * Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Rising Force
 * Manowar – Hail to England
 * Manowar – Sign of the Hammer
 * Meat Loaf – Bad Attitude
 * Metallica – Ride the Lightning
 * Mercyful Fate – Don't Break the Oath
 * Motörhead – No Remorse
 * Pantera – Projects in the Jungle
 * Picture - Traitor
 * Praying Mantis – Throwing Shapes
 * Queensrÿche – The Warning
 * Quiet Riot – Condition Critical
 * Ratt – Out of the Cellar US #7
 * Rose Tattoo - Southern Stars
 * Running Wild - Gates to Purgatory
 * Rush – Grace Under Pressure US #10 UK #5 CAN #4
 * Samson - Don't Get Mad, Get Even
 * Saxon – Crusader
 * Scorpions – Love at First Sting US #6 GER #6
 * Spinal Tap – This Is Spinal Tap
 * Steve Vai – Flex-Able
 * Ted Nugent – Penetrator
 * Tokyo Blade – Night of the Blade
 * TSA - Spunk!
 * TSA - Heavy Metal World
 * T.S.O.L. - Change Today?
 * Twisted Sister – Stay Hungry
 * Van Halen – 1984 US #2
 * Venom - At War with Satan
 * Voivod – War and Pain
 * W.A.S.P. – W.A.S.P.
 * Warlock - Burning the Witches
 * Whitesnake – Slide It In UK #9
 * Y&T – "In Rock We Trust"

Live albums
 * Slayer – Live Undead

Popular songs
 * Anthrax – "Deathrider"
 * Anthrax – "Metal Thrashing Mad"
 * Black 'n Blue - "Hold On to 18"
 * Dio – "Egypt (The Chains Are On)"
 * Dio – "The Last in Line"
 * Dio – "We Rock"
 * Iron Maiden – "2 Minutes to Midnight"
 * Iron Maiden – "Aces High"
 * Iron Maiden – "Powerslave"
 * Iron Maiden – "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
 * Judas Priest – "Love Bites"
 * Judas Priest – "The Sentinel"
 * Judas Priest – "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll"
 * Metallica – "Creeping Death"
 * Metallica – "Fade to Black"
 * Metallica – "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
 * Metallica – "Fight Fire With Fire"
 * Queen – "Hammer To Fall"
 * Ratt – "Round and Round"
 * Scorpions – "Big City Nights"
 * Scorpions – "Rock You Like a Hurricane"
 * Scorpions – "Still Loving You"
 * Van Halen – "Hot for Teacher"
 * Van Halen – "Jump"
 * Van Halen – "Panama"

Events
 * Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen loses his arm in a car accident on December 31.
 * Iron Maiden Embarks on the World Slavery Tour which begun in Warsaw Poland. They were the first ever band to bring a full production show into Eastern Bloc Europe. It was also their first visit to South America because of their performance at the first Rock in RioSupporting Queen
 * This is Spinal Tap film released.
 * Monsters Of Rock Festival features Headliner Ac/dc with support from Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Y&T, Accept and Mötley Crüe.

1985
Newly formed bands Disbandments Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Acid Reign
 * Aria
 * Atrocity
 * Carcass
 * Majesty/Dream Theater
 * Gogmagog
 * Guns N' Roses
 * Iced Earth
 * King Diamond
 * Macabre
 * Mr. Bungle
 * Neurosis
 * Slave Raider
 * Stone Temple Pilots
 * Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.)
 * White Zombie
 * Mercyful Fate
 * AC/DC – Fly on the Wall UK #7 AUS #4
 * Accept – Metal Heart
 * Aerosmith – Done With Mirrors, original lineup reunites
 * Alcatrazz – Disturbing the Peace, with Steve Vai
 * Angel Witch - Screamin' 'n' Bleedin'
 * Anthrax – Spreading the Disease
 * Armored Saint – Delirious Nomad
 * Bathory – The Return......
 * Black Flag – Loose Nut, In My Head
 * Blitzkrieg - A Time of Changes
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Club Ninja
 * Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit
 * Celtic Frost – To Mega Therion
 * The Cult – Love UK #4
 * Dark Angel – We Have Arrived
 * Dio – Sacred Heart UK #4
 * Dokken – Under Lock and Key
 * Exciter - Long Live the Loud
 * Exodus – Bonded by Blood
 * Fastway - Waiting for the Roar
 * Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
 * Gary Moore – Run for Cover
 * Girlschool - Running Wild
 * Heart – Heart
 * Helloween – Walls of Jericho
 * Icon – Night of the Crime
 * Kiss – Asylum
 * Kreator – Endless Pain
 * Loudness – Thunder in the East
 * Loudness – Odin EP
 * Magnum – On a Storyteller's Night
 * Manilla Road – Open the Gates
 * Megadeth – Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
 * Metal Church – Metal Church
 * Mötley Crüe – Theatre of Pain US #6
 * Mountain – Go for Your Life
 * Overkill – Feel The Fire
 * Pantera – I Am the Night
 * Pentagram – Pentagram
 * Possessed – Seven Churches
 * Ratt – Invasion of Your Privacy US #7
 * Running Wild - Branded and Exiled
 * Rush – Power Windows US #10 CAN #5
 * Savatage – Power of the Night
 * Saxon – Innocence Is No Excuse
 * Show-Ya – Masquerade Show
 * Slade – Rogues Gallery
 * Slade – Crackers – The Christmas Party Album
 * Slayer – Hell Awaits
 * Tokyo Blade – Black Hearts & Jaded Spades
 * Turbo - Smak Ciszy
 * Twisted Sister – Come Out and Play
 * Tygers of Pan Tang - The Wreck-Age
 * UFO – Misdemeanor
 * Uriah Heep – Equator
 * V8 - Un Paso Mas En La Batalla
 * Vandenberg – Alibi
 * Venom - Possessed
 * Vicious Rumors - Soldiers of the Night
 * Voivod – Rrröööaaarrr
 * W.A.S.P. – "The Last Command"
 * Warlock - Hellbound
 * Watchtower – Energetic Disassembly
 * Waysted - The Good the Bad the Waysted
 * White Lion – Fight to Survive
 * Wishbone Ash – Raw to the Bone
 * Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Marching Out
 * Y&T – Down for the Count
 * Iron Maiden – Live After Death UK #2
 * Scorpions – World Wide Live GER #4
 * Anthrax – "Armed and Dangerous"
 * Anthrax – "Madhouse"
 * Heart – "What About Love?"
 * Heart – "Never"
 * Heart – "These Dreams"
 * Heart – "Nothin' At All"
 * Heart – "If Looks Could Kill"
 * Dio – "Hungry For Heaven"
 * Dio – "King Of Rock and Roll"
 * Dio – "Rock 'n' Roll Children
 * Dio – "Sacred Heart"
 * INXS – "Listen Like Thieves"
 * Iron Maiden – "Run to the Hills (live)"
 * Megadeth – "Mechanix"
 * Metal Church – "Gods of Wrath
 * Mötley Crüe – "Home Sweet Home"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Smokin' in the Boys Room"
 * Savatage – "In the Dream"
 * Saxon – "Back on the Streets"
 * Saxon – "Rock 'n' Roll Gypsy"
 * Saxon – "Rockin' Again"
 * Slade – "All Join Hands"
 * Slayer – "Hell Awaits"
 * Van Halen's singer David Lee Roth leaves the band for a solo career and Sammy Hagar replaces him.
 * Ex-Mercyful Fate members form King Diamond.
 * Monsters Of Rock Festival features Headliner ZZ Top, with support from Marillion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Ratt and Magnum.

1986
Newly formed bands Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Bolt Thrower
 * Bonfire
 * Cacophony
 * Darkthrone
 * Faster Pussycat
 * Grave
 * Immolation
 * Joe Satriani
 * Manic Street Preachers
 * M.O.D. (Method Of Destruction)
 * Pestilence
 * Primus
 * Prong
 * Rata Blanca
 * Skid Row
 * Terrorizer
 * AC/DC – Who Made Who
 * Accept – Russian Roulette
 * Alcatrazz – Dangerous Games
 * Alice Cooper – Constrictor
 * Angel Witch - Frontal Assault
 * April Wine – Walking Through Fire
 * Black Sabbath – Seventh Star
 * Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet US #1 UK #6
 * Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
 * Cinderella – Night Songs US #3
 * Cirith Ungol – One Foot in Hell
 * Dark Angel – Darkness Descends
 * David Lee Roth – Eat 'Em and Smile US #4
 * Europe – The Final Countdown US #8 UK #9
 * Exciter - Unveiling the Wicked
 * Fastway - Trick or Treat
 * Fates Warning – Awaken the Guardian
 * Flotsam and Jetsam – Doomsday for the Deceiver
 * Girlschool - Nightmare at Maple Cross
 * Iron Maiden – Somewhere in Time UK #3
 * Judas Priest – Turbo
 * Kat – Metal and Hell
 * King Diamond – Fatal Portrait
 * Kreator – Pleasure to Kill
 * Loudness – Lightning Strikes
 * Magnum – Vigilante
 * Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Trilogy
 * Meat Loaf – Blind Before I stop
 * Megadeth – Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
 * Metallica – Master of Puppets
 * Motörhead – Orgasmatron
 * Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin US #6 UK #8
 * Picture - Every Story Needs Another Picture
 * Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In US #3
 * Possessed – Beyond the Gates
 * Queen – A Kind of Magic
 * Queensrÿche – Rage for Order
 * Quiet Riot – QR III
 * Ratt – Dancing Undercover
 * Rose Tattoo - Beats from a Single Drum
 * Samson - Joint Forces
 * Savatage – Fight for the Rock
 * Saxon – Rock the Nations
 * Show-Ya – Queendom
 * Show-Ya – Ways
 * Slayer – Reign in Blood
 * Sodom – Obsessed by Cruelty
 * Tankard – Zombie Attack
 * Tarot – Spell of Iron
 * Ted Nugent – Little Miss Dangerous
 * Tesla – Mechanical Resonance
 * T.S.O.L. - Revenge
 * Turbo - Kawaleria Szatana
 * V8 - El Fin De Los Inicuos
 * Van Halen – 5150 US #1
 * W.A.S.P. – Inside the Electric Circus
 * Warlock - True as Steel
 * Waysted - Save Your Prayers
 * Dio – Intermission
 * Rainbow – Finyl Vinyl
 * UFO – Misdemeanor Tour Live
 * Anthrax – "The Enemy"
 * Iron Maiden – "Stranger in a Strange Land"
 * Iron Maiden – "Wasted Years"
 * Judas Priest – "Locked In"
 * Judas Priest – "Turbo Lover"
 * Megadeth – "Peace Sells"
 * Megadeth – "Wake Up Dead"
 * Megadeth – "Good Mourning/Black Friday"
 * Metal Church – "Start the Fire"
 * Metal Church – "Watch the Children Pray"
 * Metallica – "Master of Puppets"
 * Metallica – "Battery"
 * Metallica – "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
 * Metallica – "Disposable Heroes"
 * Queen – "Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)"
 * Queen – "One Vision"
 * Queen – "Princes of the Universe"
 * Slayer – "Angel of Death"
 * Slayer – "Raining Blood"
 * Tarot – "Wings of Darkness"
 * KNAC airs on radio airplay in Los Angeles, California for the first time.
 * Former Thin Lizzy bassist and lead singer Phil Lynott dies at the age of 36 on 4 January from pneumonia and heart failure due to septicaemia, after a long period of drink and drug abuse.
 * Metallica's bassist Cliff Burton dies at the age of 24 on September 27 in a bus accident in Sweden. Jason Newsted from Phoenix band Flotsam and Jetsam is hired after auditions are held.
 * The success of Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet ushers in the era of glam metal. The album went on to sell 28 million copies worldwide, and is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
 * Monsters Of Rock Festival features Headliner Ozzy Osbourne with support from Scorpions, Def Leppard, Motörhead, Bad News and Warlock.
 * Metal Hammer mag launches its first issue for the UK market, October 1986

Newly formed bands

 * Alchemist
 * Alice in Chains
 * Apocrypha
 * Asphyx
 * Assück
 * Autopsy
 * Cynic
 * Danzig
 * Deicide
 * Entombed
 * Extremoduro
 * Meshuggah
 * Ningen Isu
 * Nirvana
 * Nocturnus
 * Porcupine Tree
 * Primordial
 * Reincidentes
 * Rollins Band
 * Rotting Christ
 * Samael
 * Therion

Disbandments

 * Twisted Sister

Reformed bands

 * Vanilla Fudge

Albums

 * Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation
 * Alice Cooper – Raise Your Fist and Yell
 * Anthrax – Among the Living
 * Anthrax – I'm the Man (EP)
 * Anvil – Strength of Steel
 * Armored Saint – Raising Fear
 * Bathory – Under the Sign of the Black Mark
 * Black Sabbath – The Eternal Idol
 * The Cult – Electric UK #4
 * Death – Scream Bloody Gore
 * Death Angel – The Ultra-Violence
 * Deep Purple – The House of Blue Light UK #10
 * Def Leppard – Hysteria US #1 UK #1
 * Dio – Dream Evil UK #8
 * Dokken – Back for the Attack
 * Exodus – Pleasures of the Flesh
 * Foreigner - Inside Information
 * Gary Moore – Wild Frontier
 * Guns N' Roses – Appetite for Destruction US #1 UK #5
 * Heart – Bad Animals
 * Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1
 * Icon – More Perfect Union
 * King Diamond – Abigail
 * Kiss – Crazy Nights UK #4
 * Kreator – Terrible Certainty
 * Loudness – Hurricane Eyes
 * Manowar – Fighting the World
 * Mayhem – Deathcrush
 * Melvins – Gluey Porch Treatments
 * Metal Church – The Dark
 * Montrose – Mean
 * Mötley Crüe – Girls, Girls, Girls US #2
 * Motörhead – Rock 'n' Roll
 * Napalm Death – Scum
 * Overkill – Taking Over
 * Pentagram – Day of Reckoning
 * Picture - Marathon
 * Running Wild - Under Jolly Roger
 * Rush – Hold Your Fire UK #10
 * Joe Satriani – Surfing with the Alien
 * Satan - Suspended Sentence
 * Savatage – Hall of the Mountain King
 * Show-Ya – Trade Last
 * Show-Ya – Immigration
 * Slade – You Boyz Make Big Noize
 * Sodom – Persecution Mania
 * Soundgarden – Screaming Life (EP)
 * Steppenwolf – Rock & Roll Rebels
 * Suicidal Tendencies – Join the Army
 * Tankard – Chemical Invasion
 * Tarantula – Tarantula
 * Testament – The Legacy
 * Tokyo Blade – Ain't Misbehavin'
 * T.S.O.L. - Hit and Run
 * Turbo - Ostatni Wojownik
 * Tygers of Pan Tang - Burning in the Shade
 * Venom - Calm Before the Storm
 * White Lion – Pride
 * Warlock – Triumph and Agony
 * Whitesnake – Whitesnake US #2 UK #8
 * White Zombie – Soul-Crusher
 * Y&T – Contagious
 * Yes – Big Generator

Live albums

 * Judas Priest – Priest...Live!
 * Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute US #6

Popular songs

 * Anthrax – "Caught in a Mosh"
 * Anthrax – "I Am the Law"
 * Anthrax – "Indians"
 * Anthrax – "I'm the Man"
 * Dio – "All The Fools Sailed Away"
 * Dio – "Dream Evil"
 * Guns N' Roses – "Paradise City"
 * Guns N' Roses – "Sweet Child o' Mine"
 * Guns N' Roses – "Welcome to the Jungle"
 * Heart – "Alone"
 * Heart – "Who Will You Run To"
 * Heart – "There's the Girl"
 * Heart – "I Want You So Bad"
 * Helloween – "A Tale That Wasn't Right"
 * Helloween – "Future World"
 * Helloween – "Halloween"
 * Judas Priest – "Parental Guidance"
 * Kreator – "Behind the Mirror"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Girls, Girls, Girls"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Wild Side"
 * Mötley Crüe – "You're All I Need"
 * Savatage – "Hall of the Mountain King"
 * Savatage – "24 Hours Ago"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Possessed to Skate"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "War Inside My Head"
 * Testament – "Over the Wall"
 * Warlock – "All We Are"

Events

 * Bon Jovi headlines the Monsters of Rock festival at Donington, England on a bill which includes Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.
 * Motörhead's drummer Pete Gill leaves the band and Phil Taylor returns.
 * Mötley Crüe – Girls, Girls, Girls debuts at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
 * Guns N' Roses – Appetite for Destruction goes on to become the best selling debut album of all time with over 28 million copies sold to date.

Newly formed bands

 * Acheron
 * Badlands
 * The Big F
 * Biohazard
 * Buckethead
 * B'z
 * Cadaver
 * Cannibal Corpse
 * Carnage
 * Cryptopsy
 * Deftones
 * Dismember
 * Electric Boys
 * Gorefest
 * Hermética
 * Mr. Big
 * Nine Inch Nails
 * Paradise Lost
 * Saigon Kick
 * Soziedad Alkoholika
 * The Almighty
 * Tiamat

Disbandments

 * Warlock
 * V8
 * Vanilla Fudge (Third hiatus)

Reformed bands

 * Riot

Albums

 * AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video UK #2 AUS #2
 * Anthrax – State of Euphoria
 * Anvil – Pound for Pound
 * Bathory – Blood Fire Death
 * Jason Becker – Perpetual Burn
 * Blind Guardian – Battalions of Fear
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Imaginos
 * Bolt Thrower – In Battle There Is No Law
 * Bon Jovi – New Jersey US #1 UK #1
 * Cinderella – Long Cold Winter US #10
 * David Lee Roth – Skyscraper US #6
 * Danzig – Danzig
 * Death – Leprosy
 * Death Angel – Frolic through the Park
 * Dokken – Beast from the East
 * Europe - Out of This World
 * Exciter - Exciter (O.T.T.)
 * Fastway - On Target
 * Fates Warning - No Exit
 * Flotsam and Jetsam – No Place for Disgrace
 * Girlschool - Take a Bite
 * Guns N' Roses – G N' R Lies US #2
 * Gwar – Hell-O
 * Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 GER #5
 * Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son UK #1
 * Judas Priest – Ram It Down
 * Kat – Oddech wymarłych światów
 * King Diamond – "Them"
 * Kingdom Come – Kingdom Come
 * King's X - Out of the Silent Planet
 * L.A. Guns - L.A. Guns
 * Living Colour – Vivid US #6
 * Loudness – Jealously EP
 * Magnum – Wings of Heaven
 * Yngwie Malmsteen – Odyssey
 * Manowar – Kings of Metal
 * Megadeth – So Far, So Good... So What!
 * Metallica – ...And Justice for All US #6 UK #4
 * Overkill – Under the Influence
 * Ozzy Osbourne – No Rest for the Wicked
 * Pantera – Power Metal
 * Poison – Open Up and Say... Ahh! US #2
 * Prong – Force Fed
 * Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime
 * Quiet Riot – QR
 * Ratt – Reach for the Sky
 * Riot – Thundersteel
 * Running Wild - Port Royal
 * Saxon – Destiny
 * Scorpions – Savage Amusement US #5 GER #4
 * Show-Ya – Glamour
 * Slayer – South of Heaven
 * Soundgarden – Ultramega OK
 * Suicidal Tendencies – How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
 * Tankard – The Morning After
 * Ted Nugent – If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em
 * Testament – The New Order
 * TSA - Rock 'n' Roll
 * UFO – Ain't Misbehavin'
 * Van Halen – OU812 US #1
 * Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator
 * Winger – Winger
 * X Japan – Vanishing Vision

Live albums

 * Motörhead – Nö Sleep at All

Popular songs

 * Anthrax – "Antisocial"
 * Anthrax – "Be All, End All"
 * Anthrax – "Make Me Laugh"
 * Def Leppard – "Love Bites"
 * Def Leppard – "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
 * Helloween – "Eagle Fly Free"
 * Helloween – "I Want Out"
 * Helloween – "Dr. Stein"
 * Helloween – "Keeper Of The Seven Keys"
 * Iron Maiden – "Can I Play with Madness" UK #3
 * Iron Maiden – "The Clairvoyant" UK #6
 * Iron Maiden – "The Evil That Men Do" UK #5
 * Judas Priest – "Blood Red Skies"
 * Judas Priest – "Johnny B. Goode"
 * Judas Priest – "Ram It Down"
 * Living Colour – "Cult of Personality"
 * Megadeth – "In My Darkest Hour"
 * Megadeth – "Liar"
 * Megadeth – "Mary Jane"
 * Metallica – "One"
 * Metallica – "Harvester of Sorrow"
 * Metallica – "The Shortest Straw"
 * Metallica – "Dyers Eve"
 * Metallica – "Blackened"
 * Queensrÿche – "Eyes of a Stranger"
 * Slayer – "Dissident Aggressor"
 * Slayer – "Mandatory Suicide"
 * Slayer – "South of Heaven"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Pledge Your Allegiance"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Surf and Slam"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Trip at the Brain"
 * Testament – "Trial by Fire"

Events

 * Iron Maiden headlines the Monsters of Rock festival at Donington, England to the largest crowd in the venue's history (107,000),[10] on a bill which includes Kiss, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns n' Roses and Helloween. Two fans were accidentally crushed to death during Guns N' Roses performance of "It's So Easy".
 * Bon Jovi's album New Jersey sets the record for the hard rock album to spawn the most Top 10 singles, with five singles charting on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in United States
 * Metallica's ...And Justice for All receives a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance, but lose to the non-metal act Jethro Tull.

1989
Newly formed bands
 * Axel Rudi Pell
 * Bruce Dickinson
 * The Black Crowes
 * Comecon
 * Dark Tranquillity
 * Doro (former Warlock singer)
 * Dungeon
 * Edge of Sanity
 * Gamma Ray
 * Living Sacrifice
 * Luna Sea
 * Marilyn Manson
 * Novembers Doom
 * Platero y Tú
 * Sentenced
 * Slaughter
 * The Gathering
 * Therapy?
 * The Wildhearts
 * Type O Negative
 * Ugly Kid Joe
 * Unanimated

Disbandments
 * Cacophony
 * Dokken

Albums
 * Accept – Eat the Heat
 * Aerosmith – Pump
 * Alice Cooper – Trash UK #2
 * Autopsy – Severed Survival
 * Axel Rudi Pell – Wild Obsession
 * The Big F – The Big F
 * Black Sabbath – Headless Cross
 * Blind Guardian – Follow the Blind
 * Blue Murder – Blue Murder
 * Bolt Thrower – Realm Of Chaos
 * The Cult – Sonic Temple US #10 UK #3
 * Dark Angel – Leave Scars
 * Dream Theater – When Dream and Day Unite
 * Exodus – Fabulous Disaster
 * Extreme – Extreme
 * Faith No More – The Real Thing
 * Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
 * Gary Moore – After the War
 * Great White – ...Twice Shy US #9
 * Icon – Right Between the Eyes
 * King Diamond – Conspiracy
 * King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
 * Kiss – Hot in the Shade
 * Kreator – Extreme Aggression
 * L.A. Guns - Cocked & Loaded
 * Loudness – Soldier of Fortune
 * Melvins – Ozma
 * Macabre – Gloom
 * Metal Church – Blessing in Disguise
 * Mr. Big – Mr. Big
 * Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood US #1 UK #4
 * Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
 * Nirvana – Bleach
 * Overkill – The Years of Decay
 * Richie Kotzen – Richie Kotzen
 * Running Wild - Death or Glory
 * Rush – Presto CAN #7
 * Joe Satriani – Flying in a Blue Dream
 * Savatage – Gutter Ballet
 * Sepultura – Beneath the Remains
 * Show-Ya – Outerlimits
 * Skid Row – Skid Row US #6
 * Sodom – Agent Orange
 * Soundgarden – Louder Than Love
 * Stratovarius – Fright Night
 * Suicidal Tendencies – Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
 * Testament – Practice What You Preach
 * Tokyo Blade – No Remorse
 * Turbo - Epidemic
 * Uriah Heep – Raging Silence
 * Venom - Prime Evil
 * W.A.S.P. – The Headless Children
 * White Lion – Big Game
 * Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue US #10 UK #10
 * White Zombie – Make Them Die Slowly
 * X Japan – Blue Blood

Live albums
 * Anvil – Past and Present – Live in Concert
 * Iron Maiden – Maiden England
 * Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Trial By Fire: Live in Leningrad
 * Primus – Suck on This
 * Rush – A Show of Hands
 * Saxon – Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies

Popular songs
 * Alice Cooper - "Poison" UK #2
 * Alice Cooper - "Bed Of Nails" UK #38
 * The Big F – "Doctor Vine"
 * The Big F – "Kill the Cowboy"
 * Blind Guardian – "Valhalla"
 * Dream Theater – "Afterlife"
 * Dream Theater – "Status Seeker"
 * Exodus – "Low Rider"
 * Exodus – "The Toxic Waltz"
 * Faith No More – "From Out of Nowhere"
 * Faith No More – "Epic"
 * Faith No More – "Falling to Pieces"
 * Iron Maiden – "Infinite Dreams" UK #6
 * Kreator – "Betrayer"
 * Metal Church – "Badlands"
 * Metal Church – "Fake Healer"
 * Megadeth – "Hook in Mouth"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Dr. Feelgood"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Kickstart My Heart"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Without You"
 * Savatage – "Gutter Ballet"
 * Savatage – "When the Crowds Are Gone"
 * Skid Row – "18 and Life"
 * Skid Row – "I Remember You"
 * Skid Row – "Piece of Me"
 * Skid Row – "Youth Gone Wild"
 * Sodom – "Agent Orange"
 * Sodom – "Ausgebombt"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Waking the Dead"
 * Testament – "The Ballad"
 * Testament – "Practice What You Preach"

Events
 * Primus records their live album Suck on This at Berkeley Square in Berkeley, California on February 25 and March 5.
 * Marty Friedman joins Megadeth.
 * Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Skid Row take part in the Moscow Music Peace Festival on August 12 & August 13, 1989.
 * Guitarist Kai Hansen left Helloween due to excessive touring and musical differences and replaced by Roland Grapow. A short while after, Hansen announced that he was starting his own group, called Gamma Ray.
 * Bon Jovi headlined an outdoor concert at Milton Keynes Bowl which saw support from Europe, Skid Row and Vixen.

1994
Newly formed bands Disbandment Reformed bands Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Abscess
 * Amen
 * Deströyer 666
 * Eternal Tears of Sorrow
 * Foo Fighters
 * Glenn Tipton
 * Heavenly
 * Hoobastank
 * Lacuna Coil
 * Lamb of God
 * Muse
 * Rammstein
 * Sevendust
 * Slash's Snakepit
 * Strapping Young Lad
 * Static-X
 * Symphony X
 * System Of A Down
 * The Killer Barbies
 * Xandria
 * Hermética
 * Nirvana
 * Rainbow
 * Accept  – Death Row
 * Alice Cooper – The Last Temptation UK #6
 * Alice in Chains – Jar of Flies EP US #1
 * April Wine – Frigate
 * At the Gates – Terminal Spirit Disease
 * Axel Rudi Pell – Between the Walls
 * Bathory – Requiem
 * Blackfoot – After the Reign
 * Black Sabbath – Cross Purposes
 * Blue Öyster Cult – Cult Classic
 * Body Count – Born Dead
 * Bolt Thrower – ...For Victory
 * Bruce Dickinson – Balls to Picasso
 * Bush – "Sixteen Stone" US #4
 * Cannibal Corpse – The Bleeding
 * Cinderella – Still Climbing
 * Cryptopsy – Blasphemy Made Flesh
 * The Cult – The Cult
 * Darkthrone – Transilvanian Hunger
 * Dream Theater – Awake
 * Fates Warning - Inside Out
 * Foreigner - Mr. Moonlight
 * Helloween – Master of the Rings
 * Hermética – Victimas del Vaciamiento
 * Infectious Grooves – Groove Family Cyco
 * Kat – Ballady
 * King's X – Dogman
 * Korn – Korn
 * Kyuss – Welcome to Sky Valley
 * L.A. Guns - Vicious Circle
 * Loudness – Heavy Metal Hippies
 * Machine Head – Burn My Eyes
 * Magnum – Rock Art
 * Yngwie J. Malmsteen – The Seventh Sign
 * Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible
 * Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
 * Melvins – Prick
 * Melvins – Stoner Witch
 * Megadeth – Youthanasia US #4 UK #6
 * Mercyful Fate – Time
 * Metal Church – Hanging in the Balance
 * Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe US #7
 * Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral US #2 UK #9
 * Overkill – W.F.O.
 * Pantera – Far Beyond Driven US #1
 * Pearl Jam – Vitalogy
 * Pentagram – Be Forewarned
 * Prong – Cleansing
 * Queensrÿche – Promised Land US #3
 * Ram Jam - Thank You Mam
 * Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
 * Samael – Ceremony of Opposites
 * Satyricon – Dark Medieval Times
 * Satyricon – The Shadowthrone
 * Savatage – Handful of Rain
 * Slayer – Divine Intervention US #8
 * Sodom – Get What You Deserve
 * Soundgarden – Superunknown US #1 UK #4
 * Suicidal Tendencies – Suicidal for Life
 * Stone Temple Pilots – Purple US #1
 * Symphony X – Symphony X
 * Tankard – Two-Faced
 * Testament – Low
 * The 3rd and the Mortal – Sorrow (EP)
 * The 3rd and the Mortal – Tears Laid in Earth
 * Vicious Rumors - Word of Mouth
 * Whitesnake – Whitesnake's Greatest Hits UK #4
 * Yes – Talk
 * Anthrax – Live: The Island Years Originally recorded in 1991 and 1992
 * Bruce Dickinson – "Tears of the Dragon"
 * Cradle of Filth – "The Principle of Evil Made Flesh"
 * Cradle of Filth – "The Black Goddess Rises"
 * Dream Theater – "Caught in a Web"
 * Dream Theater – "Lie"
 * Helloween – "Sole Survivor"
 * Helloween – "Perfect Gentleman"
 * Korn – "Blind"
 * Marilyn Manson – "Get Your Gunn"
 * Marilyn Manson – "Lunchbox"
 * Mayhem – "Freezing Moon"
 * Megadeth – "À Tout le Monde"
 * Megadeth – "Train of Consequences"
 * Megadeth – "The Killing Road"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Hooligan's Holiday"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Misunderstood"
 * Nine Inch Nails – "Mr. Self Destruct"
 * Nine Inch Nails – "Closer"
 * Nine Inch Nails – "Hurt"
 * Pantera – "Becoming"
 * Pantera – "I'm Broken"
 * Savatage – "Handful of Rain"
 * Soundgarden – "Black Hole Sun"
 * Soundgarden – "Spoonman"
 * Slayer – "Dittohead"
 * Slayer – "Serenity in Murder"
 * Stone Temple Pilots – "Big Empty" US #3
 * Stone Temple Pilots – "Vasoline" US #1
 * Stone Temple Pilots – "Interstate Love Song" US #1
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "I Wouldn't Mind"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "Love Vs. Loneliness"
 * Suicidal Tendencies – "What You Need's a Friend"
 * Testament – "Low"
 * Testament – "Dog Faced Gods"
 * Tool - "Prison Sex"
 * Far Beyond Driven by Pantera debut's at No 1 on the U.S. British and Australian charts.
 * Soundgarden wins two Grammys; Best Hard Rock Performance for "Black Hole Sun" and Best Metal Performance for "Spoonman".
 * Varg Vikernes is convicted and sentenced to 21 years in prison for murdering former Mayhem guitarist Euronymous
 * Kurt Cobain dies at the age of 27 due to what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head, breaking up Nirvana.

2002
Newly formed bands
 * 22-20s

2006
Popular songs
 * Avenged Sevenfold – "Beast and the Harlot"
 * Avenged Sevenfold – "Burn It Down"
 * Deftones – "Hole in the Earth"
 * Deftones – "Mein"
 * Dir En Grey – "Agitated Screams of Maggots"
 * DragonForce – "Through the Fire and Flames"
 * Edguy – "Superheroes"
 * Fear Factory – "Transgression"
 * Godsmack – "Speak"
 * Godsmack – "The Enemy"
 * HammerFall – "The Fire Burns Forever"
 * HammerFall – "Natural High"
 * In Flames – "Take This Life"
 * Iron Maiden – "Different World" UK #3
 * Iron Maiden – "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
 * Lamb of God – "Redneck"
 * Megadeth – "Gears of War"
 * Muse – "Knights and Cydonia"
 * Satyricon – "K.I.N.G."
 * Skid Row – "Shut Up Baby, I Love You"
 * Skid Row – "Strength"
 * Slayer – "Cult"
 * Slayer – "Eyes of the Insane"
 * Slayer – "Jihad"
 * Tool – "Vicarious"
 * Trivium – "Detonation"
 * Trivium – "Entrance of the Conflagration"
 * Trivium – "Anthem (We Are the Fire)"

2008
Newly formed bands Disbandments Reformed bands Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Aldious
 * Avalanche/Amaranthe
 * Battle Beast
 * Chickenfoot
 * Empires of Eden
 * Exhorder
 * Falling in Reverse
 * Ghost
 * Twelve Foot Ninja
 * Alabama Thunderpussy
 * Beneath the Sky
 * Byzantine
 * Celtic Frost
 * Dead to Fall
 * Demigod
 * The Duskfall
 * From Autumn To Ashes
 * Himsa
 * Knorkator
 * Mercyful Fate
 * Ministry
 * Sieges Even
 * SikTh
 * Spineshank in February
 * Still Remains
 * The Red Death
 * The Agony Scene
 * Remove the Veil
 * Whispering Gallery
 * At the Gates (for a few shows)
 * Carcass (for touring)
 * Einherjer (for touring)
 * Forbidden (for a few shows)
 * Krokus
 * Liquid Tension Experiment (for touring)
 * Living Sacrifice
 * Mercyful Fate
 * Spineshank in August
 * Vision of Disorder
 * AC/DC – Black Ice US #1 UK #1 AUS #1
 * After the Burial – Rareform
 * Alice Cooper – Along Came a Spider
 * Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God
 * Avantasia – The Scarecrow
 * Axel Rudi Pell – Tales of the Crown
 * Bullet for My Valentine – Scream Aim Fire US #4 UK #5
 * Byzantine – Oblivion Beckons
 * Cavalera Conspiracy – Inflikted
 * Children of Bodom – Blooddrunk FIN #1
 * Cog – Sharing Space
 * Cradle of Filth – Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
 * Cult of Luna – Eternal Kingdom
 * Darkthrone – Dark Thrones and Black Flags
 * Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway - Scars on Broadway
 * Death Angel – Killing Season
 * Def Leppard – Songs from the Sparkle Lounge US #5 UK #10
 * Dir En Grey – Uroboros
 * Disturbed – Indestructible US #1
 * Dokken – Lightning Strikes Again
 * Double Dragon – Devastator
 * DragonForce – Ultra Beatdown
 * Edguy – Tinnitus Sanctus
 * Eluveitie – Slania
 * Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn
 * Gary Moore – Bad for You Baby
 * Girlschool - Legacy
 * Gojira – The Way of All Flesh
 * Guns N' Roses – Chinese Democracy US #3 UK #2
 * Heidevolk – Walhalla Wacht
 * Iced Earth – The Crucible of Man
 * In Flames – A Sense of Purpose
 * Judas Priest – Nostradamus
 * King's X - XV
 * Korpiklaani – Korven Kuningas
 * Loudness – Metal Mad
 * Metal Church - This Present Wasteland
 * Metalium – Incubus – Chapter Seven
 * Metallica – Death Magnetic US #1 UK #1
 * Melvins – Nude with Boots
 * Meshuggah – obZen
 * Michael Schenker Group - In the Midst of Beauty
 * Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles US #4
 * Motörhead – Motörizer
 * Opeth – Watershed
 * Origin – Antithesis
 * Power Quest – Master of Illusion
 * Protest the Hero – Fortress CAN #1
 * Psycroptic – Ob(Servant)
 * Revocation – Empire of the Obscene
 * Sabaton – The Art of War
 * Satyricon – The Age of Nero
 * Sevendust – Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow
 * Slipknot – All Hope Is Gone US #1 UK #2
 * Soulfly – Conquer
 * Staind – The Illusion of Progress US #3
 * The Sword – Gods of the Earth
 * Tankard – Thirst
 * Testament – The Formation of Damnation
 * Texas Hippie Coalition – Pride of Texas
 * Trivium – Shogun
 * Tygers of Pan Tang - Animal Instinct
 * Týr – Land
 * Underoath – Lost in the Sound of Separation US #8
 * Unearth – The March
 * Uriah Heep – Wake the Sleeper
 * Venom - Hell
 * Volbeat – Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood DEN #1
 * Warbringer – War Without End
 * Whitechapel – This Is Exile
 * White Lion – Return of the Pride
 * Whitesnake – Good to Be Bad UK #5
 * Witchfinder General - Resurrected
 * Yngwie Malmsteen – Perpetual Flame
 * Waysted - Totally Waysted
 * Winds of Plague – Decimate the Weak
 * Gamma Ray – Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome
 * Linkin Park - Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes
 * Rush – Snakes & Arrows Live CAN #8
 * AC/DC – "Rock 'n' Roll Train"
 * Bullet for My Valentine – "Waking the Demon"
 * Dir En Grey – "Glass Skin"
 * DragonForce – "Heroes of Our Time"
 * Dream Theater – "Forsaken"
 * In Flames – "The Mirror's Truth"
 * Meshuggah – "Bleed"
 * Metallica – "All Nightmare Long"
 * Metallica – "My Apocalypse"
 * Metallica – "The Day That Never Comes"
 * Mötley Crüe – "Saints of Los Angeles"
 * Paramore – "Decode"
 * Slipknot – "All Hope Is Gone"
 * Slipknot – "Dead Memories"
 * Slipknot – "Psychosocial"
 * Slipknot – "Snuff"
 * Slipknot – "Sulfur"
 * Chris Broderick joins Megadeth.
 * Iron Maiden Rerelease their 1985 Live album; Live After Death

2015
Popular Songs
 * Muse – "Psycho"
 * Muse – "Reapers"

2017
Newly formed bands Disbandments Reformed bands Albums Live albums Popular songs Events
 * Bad Wolves
 * Powerflo
 * Exit Eden
 * Fireburn
 * The Fever
 * Spiritbox
 * Black Sabbath
 * Mumakil (Switzerland grindcore), Relapse Records
 * Kronos (France grindcore), Unique Leader Records
 * The Dillinger Escape Plan
 * Trap Them
 * Spawn of Possession
 * Weekend Nachos
 * Your Memorial
 * The Number Twelve Looks Like You
 * Aldious – Unlimited Diffusion
 * Alestorm – No Grave But the Sea
 * Band-Maid – Just Bring It
 * DragonForce – Reaching Into Infinity
 * Ensiferum – Two Paths
 * Europe - Walk the Earth
 * Exit Eden – Rhapsodies in Black
 * Firewind – Immortals
 * Iced Earth – Incorruptible
 * In This Moment – Ritual
 * Ithilien – Shaping the Soul
 * Kobra and the Lotus – Prevail I
 * Kreator – Gods of Violence
 * L.A. Guns - The Missing Peace
 * Lovebites – Awakening from Abyss
 * Mastodon – Emperor of Sand US #7
 * Melvins – A Walk with Love & Death
 * Motionless in White - Graveyard Shift
 * Nocturnal Rites – Phoenix
 * Overkill – The Grinding Wheel
 * Paradise Lost – Medusa
 * Queens of the Stone Age – Villains
 * Quiet Riot – Road Rage
 * Satyricon – Deep Calleth Upon Deep
 * Seether – Poison the Parish
 * Sepultura – Machine Messiah
 * Show-Ya – Aurora
 * Suffocation – ...Of the Dark Light
 * Steel Panther – Lower the Bar
 * Tankard – One Foot in the Grave
 * Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
 * T.S.O.L. - The Trigger Complex
 * While She Sleeps – You Are We UK #8
 * Babymetal – Live at Tokyo Dome
 * Alestorm – "Alestorm"
 * Alestorm – "Mexico"
 * DragonForce – "Judgement Day"
 * DragonForce – "Curse of Darkness"
 * DragonForce – "Ashes of the Dawn"
 * DragonForce – "Midnight Madness"
 * Five Finger Death Punch – "Trouble"
 * Five Finger Death Punch – "Gone Away"
 * Foo Fighters – "Run"
 * Iced Earth – "Seven Headed Whore"
 * Iced Earth – "Raven Wing"
 * Iced Earth – "Great Heathen Army"
 * Iced Earth – "Black Flag"
 * Mastodon - "Steambreather"
 * Metallica – "Now That We're Dead"
 * Stone Sour – "Song 3"
 * On January 14, 2017, the powerviolence band Weekend Nachos played their final show. Some of the members play in the doom metal band Ledge.
 * In February, Metallica performed at the Grammys alongside Lady Gaga.
 * In February, AC/DC guitarist Angus Young yet again joined Guns N' Roses on stage on two of their Australian shows for their Not in This Lifetime... Tour.
 * Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell dies by suicide on 18 May, aged 52.
 * Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington dies by suicide on July 20, aged 41.
 * In July, Fallujah vocalist Alex Hoffman leaves the band.
 * In August, Code Orange performs at the opening of the WWE's NXT Takeover Brooklyn show.
 * In September, the deathcore band Suicide Silence performs the entire album The Cleansing for their tenth anniversary of the release.
 * In September, Michiel Eikenaar, from the avant-garde metal band Dodecahedron, leaves his position as vocalist. He is replaced by W. Van der Voort, from the drone metal band Ggu:ll.
 * AC/DC founder member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young dies from dementia on 18 November at the age of 64.
 * In December, the mathcore band The Number Twelve Looks Like You begins a return performing completely the album Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear, for their twelve year anniversary.
 * In December 13, Nevermore and Sanctuary's vocalist, Warrel Dane, passes away at São Paulo, Brazil.

2019
Albums Popular songs
 * Allegaeon – Apoptosis
 * Amon Amarth – Berserker
 * Anthem - Nucleus
 * Arch Enemy - Covered In Blood
 * As I Lay Dying - Shaped by Fire
 * Babymetal - Metal Galaxy
 * Band-Maid - Conqueror
 * Bloodbound – Rise of the Dragon Empire
 * Death Angel - Humanicide
 * Destruction – Born to Perish
 * Dragonforce – Extreme Power Metal
 * Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
 * Eluveitie - Ategnatos
 * Elvenking – Reader of the Runes – Divination
 * Evergrey - The Atlantic
 * Fleshgod Apocalypse – Veleno
 * Freedom Call – M.E.T.A.L.
 * Gloryhammer – Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex
 * Grand Magus – Wolf God
 * HammerFall – Dominion
 * I Prevail - Trauma
 * In Flames – I, the Mask
 * Iris Official – Goliath’s Throne
 * Killswitch Engage – Atonement
 * King 810 - Suicide King
 * Korn - The Nothing
 * Mark Morton - Anesthetic
 * Motionless In White - Disguise
 * Of Mice & Men - Earthandsky
 * Opeth – In Cauda Venenum
 * Overkill - The Wings of War
 * Papa Roach - Who Do You Trust?
 * Possessed – Revelations of Oblivion
 * Rammstein - Rammstein
 * Rhapsody of Fire – The Eighth Mountain
 * Sabaton – The Great War
 * Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind
 * Soilwork - Verkligheten
 * Sonata Arctica – Talviyö
 * Steel Panther – Heavy Metal Rules
 * Tool – Fear Inoculum
 * Turilli / Lione Rhapsody – Zero Gravity (Rebirth and Evolution)
 * Twilight Force – Dawn of the Dragonstar
 * Visions of Atlantis – Wanderers
 * Within Temptation - Resist
 * Allegaeon – "Stellar Tidal Disruption"
 * Allegaeon – "Extremophiles (B)"
 * Allegaeon – "Colors of the Currents"
 * Amon Amarth – "Raven's Flight"
 * Amon Amarth – "Crack the Sky"
 * Babymetal – "Elevator Girl"
 * Babymetal – "Pa Pa Ya!!"
 * Bloodbound – "Rise of the Dragon Empire"
 * Bloodbound – "The Warlock's Trail"
 * Chaos Divine – "Unspoken"
 * Chaos Divine – "False Flags"
 * Dragonforce – "Highway to Oblivion"
 * Dragonforce – "Heart Demolition"
 * Dream Theater – "Fall into the Light"
 * Dream Theater – "Paralyzed"
 * Dream Theater – "Barstool Warrior"
 * Freedom Call – "111 - the Number of the Angels"
 * Freedom Call – "M.E.T.A.L."
 * Freedom Call – "Spirit of Daedalus"
 * HammerFall – "(We Make) Sweden Rock"
 * HammerFall – "One Against the World"
 * HammerFall – "Dominion"
 * I Prevail - "Bow Down"
 * I Prevail - "Breaking Down"
 * In Flames – "I, the Mask"
 * In Flames – "Burn"
 * In Flames – "Call My Name"
 * Killswitch Engage – "Unleashed"
 * Killswitch Engage – "I Am Broken Too"
 * Killswitch Engage – "The Signal Fire"
 * Opeth – "Heart in Hand" / "Hjärtat vet vad handen gör"
 * Opeth – "Dignity" / "Svekets Prins"
 * Papa Roach - "Elevate"
 * Possessed – "No More Room in Hell"
 * Possessed – "Shadowcult"
 * Possessed – "Graven"
 * Rammstein – "Deutschland"
 * Rammstein – "Radio"
 * Rammstein – "Ausländer"
 * Rhapsody of Fire – "Rain of Fury"
 * Rhapsody of Fire – "Master of Peace"
 * Sabaton – "Bismarck"
 * Sabaton – "Fields of Verdun"
 * Sabaton – "The Red Baron"
 * Sabaton – "Great War"
 * Sabaton – "82nd All the Way"
 * Slipknot – "Solway Firth"
 * Slipknot – "Unsainted"
 * Sonata Arctica – "A Little Less Understanding"
 * Sonata Arctica – "Cold"
 * Sonata Arctica – "Who Failed the Most"
 * Steel Panther – "All I Wanna Do Is Fuck (Myself Tonight)"
 * Steel Panther – "Always Gonna Be a Ho"
 * Steel Panther – "Gods of Pussy"
 * Tool – "Fear Inoculum"
 * Turilli / Lione Rhapsody – "Phoenix Rising"
 * Turilli / Lione Rhapsody – "D.N.A. (Demon And Angel)"
 * Turilli / Lione Rhapsody – "Zero Gravity"
 * Twilight Force – "Night of Winterlight"
 * Twilight Force – "Dawn of the Dragonstar"
 * Twilight Force – "Queen of Eternity"
 * Visions of Atlantis – "Heroes of the Dawn"
 * Visions of Atlantis – "A Journey to Remember"
 * Visions of Atlantis – "Nothing Lasts Forever"
 * Within Temptation – "In Vain"
 * Within Temptation – "Supernova"
 * Within Temptation – "Mad World"

2020
Albums Popular songs
 * Apocalyptica - Cell-0
 * August Burns Red - Guardians
 * Body Count - Carnivore
 * Code Orange - Underneath
 * Conception - State of Deception
 * Delain - Apocalypse & Chill
 * Five Finger Death Punch - F8
 * Heaven Shall Burn - Of Truth and Sacrifice
 * Hollywood Undead - New Empire, Vol. 1
 * Igorrr - Spirituality and Distortion
 * In This Moment - Mother
 * Katatonia - City Burials
 * Kvelertak - Splid
 * Lamb of God - Lamb of God
 * Loathe - I Let It in and It Took Everything
 * Lordi - Killection
 * Lorna Shore - Immortal
 * Lovebites – Electric Pentagram
 * My Dying Bride - The Ghost of Orion
 * Nightwish - Human. :II: Nature.
 * Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man
 * Polaris - The Death Of Me
 * Poppy - I Disagree
 * Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
 * Sepultura - Quadra
 * Sons of Apollo - MMXX
 * Sylosis - Cycle of Suffering
 * The Amity Affliction - Everyone Loves You... Once You Leave Them
 * Testament - Titans of Creation
 * Trivium - What the Dead Men Say
 * Five Finger Death Punch - "Living the Dream"
 * Lamb of God - "Checkmate"
 * Lamb of God - "Memento Mori"
 * Lamb of God - "New Colossal Hate"
 * Nightwish - "Noise"
 * Nightwish - "Harvest"
 * Ozzy Osbourne - "Ordinary Man"
 * Ozzy Osbourne - "Under the Graveyard"
 * Poppy - "Bloodmoney"
 * Testament - "Children of the Next Level"
 * Testament - "Night of the Witch"
 * Trivium - "Catastrophist"
 * Trivium - "What the Dead Men Say"
 * Trivium - "Amongst the Shadows & the Stones"
 * Trivium - "Bleed Into Me"