List of heavy metal bands

44 Magnum

	Japan	1977–1989, 2002–present
220 Volt	Sweden	1979–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
A II Z	United Kingdom	1979-1982
Accept[8]	Germany	1976–1989, 1992–1997, 2004–2005, 2009–present	Accept played an important role in the development of speed metal and Teutonic thrash metal, being part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene which emerged in the early to mid-1980s.[9]
AC/DC	Australia	1973–present
Aerosmith[10]	United States	1970–present
Alice Cooper[9][11]	United States	1968–present
Angel	United States	1975–1981, 1987, 1998–present
Ángeles del Infierno	Spain	1978–present
The Angels	Australia	1974-2000, 2008–present
Angel Witch	United Kingdom	1977-1982, 1984-1998, 2000–present
Anthem	Japan	1980–1992, 2000–present
Anthrax	United States	1981–present
Anvil	Canada	1978–present
Armageddon	United Kingdom	1974–1976
Atomic Rooster	United Kingdom	1969–1975, 1980–1983
Atomkraft	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2005
Attila	United States	1969-1970	Bandmembers included Billy Joel and Jon Small.
Axe	United States	1979-1984, 1997-2004
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Babe Ruth	United Kingdom	1970-1976, 2005–present
Bang[12]	United States	1970–1973, 2001–2004
Barnabas	United States	1977-1986
Barón Rojo	Spain	1980–present
Battleaxe	United Kingdom	1980–1988, 2010–present
Bengal Tigers	Australia	1979–present
Beowülf	United States	1981–1995, 2000–present
Birth Control	Germany	1966-1983, 1993-2014
Bitch	United States	1980–present	First band to be signed by the Metal Blade Records label.
Black Death	United States	1977–present	The first all-African-American heavy metal band.
Black 'n Blue	United States	1981–1989, 1997, 2003, 2007–present	Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer joined Kiss in 2003.
Black Rose	United Kingdom	1980-1989, 2006–present
Black Sabbath[13]	United Kingdom	1968–2006, 2011–present	Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Alcohol abuse led to Ozzy Osbourne getting fired and replaced with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Black Sabbath is considered to be the progenitor of doom metal.
Black Widow	United Kingdom	1966–1973, 2007–present
Blitzkrieg	United Kingdom	1980–1981, 1984–1991, 1992–1994, 1996–1999, 2001–present
Bloodrock	United States	1969–1975
Blue Cheer[14]	United States	1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009
Blue Öyster Cult[15]	United States	1967–present
Bodine	Netherlands	1978-1984
Boss	Australia	1979-1986
Bow Wow[16]	Japan	1976–present	Also known as Vow Wow for part of their career (1984–1990).
Bronz	United Kingdom	1976-1985, 1999-2000, 2003–2005, 2010–present
Edgar Broughton Band	United Kingdom	1968–2010	Cited in the 2010 BBC TV documentary Heavy Metal Britannia as a formative influence on the genre in the UK.
Budgie[17]	United Kingdom	1967–present
Buffalo[18][19]	Australia	1971–1977
Bulldozer	Italy	1980–1990, 2008–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Cactus[20]	United States	1970–1972, 2006–present
Captain Beyond	United States	1971-1973, 1976-1978, 1998-2003
Chateaux	United Kingdom	1981-1985
Cirith Ungol	United States	1972–1992
Cloven Hoof	United Kingdom	1979–1990, 2000–present
Coven	United States	1969–1975, 2007–2008
Cream	United Kingdom	1966–1969
Crimson Glory	United States	1979–1992, 1998–present
Crushed Butler	United Kingdom	1969-1971
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Dark Angel	United States	1981–1992, 2002–2005, 2013–present
Death SS	Italy	1977-1984, 1988–present
Dedringer	United Kingdom	1977-1985
Deep Machine	United Kingdom	1979-1982, 2009–present
Deep Purple	United Kingdom	1968-1976, 1984–present
Def Leppard	United Kingdom	1977–present	The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Demon	United Kingdom	1979–present	Headlined the first British Steel Festival in 2006.[21]
The Deviants	United Kingdom	1967–1969, 1978, 1984, 1996, 2002, 2011–present	Singer and writer Mick Farren died on 27 July 2013.
Diamond Head	United Kingdom	1976–1985, 1991–1994, 2002–present
Die Krupps	Germany	1980–present
Divlje Jagode	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1977–present
Dokken	United States	1978–1989, 1993–present
Dust	United States	1969-1972	Drummer Marc Bell joined The Ramones in 1978.
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Earthshaker	Japan	1978-1994, 1999–present
Easy Action	Sweden	1981–1986, 2006–present
E.F. Band	Sweden	1979-1986
Electric Sun	Germany	1978-1986
Elf	United States	1967-1975	Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
Ethel the Frog	United Kingdom	1976-1980
Europe	Sweden	1979–1992, 1999 (partial reunion), 2003–present	The band began as a heavy metal outfit.
Exciter	Canada	1978–present
Exodus	United States	1980–1993, 1997–1998, 2001–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Faith No More	United States	1979–1998, 2009–present
Fallout	United States	1979-1982
Fist	United Kingdom	1978-1982, 2001–2006
Flotsam and Jetsam	United States	1981–present
Flower Travellin' Band[22]	Japan	1968–1973, 2007–present
The Flying Hat Band	United Kingdom	1971–1974	Glenn Tipton on vocals and guitar, later joined Judas Priest in 1974.
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Gamma	United States	1978–1983, 2000
Geordie	United Kingdom	1972–1980, 1982–1985, 2001	Singer Brian Johnson went on to join AC/DC in 1980, after the death of Bon Scott.
Gillan	United Kingdom	1978–1983
Girl	United Kingdom	1979-1982
Girlschool	United Kingdom	1978–present	All-female band formed during the new wave of British heavy metal.
Gordi	Serbia	1977–1984
Grand Funk Railroad[23][24][25]	United States	1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present
Grave Digger	Germany	1980–1987, 1991–present
Gravestone	Germany	1977-1986
Great White	United States	1977–2001, 2002–present
Grim Reaper	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2006–present
The Gun	United Kingdom	1967-1970
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Sammy Hagar	United States	1967–present
The Handsome Beasts	United Kingdom	1972–present
Hanoi Rocks	Finland	1979–1985, 2001–2009
Hard Stuff	United Kingdom	1971–1973
Hawkwind	United Kingdom	1969–present
Headpins	Canada	1979–present
Heaven	Australia	1980–2000
Heavy Load	Sweden	1976–1985
Heavy Metal Kids	United Kingdom	1972-1985, 2002–present	Initially featured actor Gary Holton on vocals.
Helix	Canada	1974–present
The Jimi Hendrix Experience[26]	United Kingdom	1966–1970
High Tide	United Kingdom	1969–1970
Hollow Ground	United Kingdom	1979-1982, 2007, 2013
Holocaust	United Kingdom	1977–present
Holy Moses	Germany	1980–1994, 2000–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Icon	United States	1981–1990, 2008–present
Iron Butterfly[22]	United States	1966–present	Second guitarist Erik Braunn died in 2003 of a heart attack. Original bassist Lee Dorman died on 21 December 2012.
Iron Claw	United Kingdom	1969-1974, 1993, 2010–present
Iron Maiden	United Kingdom	1975–present	Iron Maiden achieved success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of U.S. and UK platinum and gold albums, including 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time and 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Jag Panzer	United States	1981–1988, 1994–2011
Jaguar	United Kingdom	1979–1985, 1998–present
Jameson Raid	United Kingdom	1975–1983, 2008–present
Jerusalem	United Kingdom	1972–present	Produced and managed by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Early creators of Metal, Doom and Stoner rock. Remastered vinyl and CD versions of original Decca, Deram and Universal releases have been reissued by Rockadrome Records.
Josefus	United States	1969–2005
JPT Scare Band	United States	1973–present
Judas Priest	United Kingdom	1969–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Kat	Poland	1979-1987, 1990-1999, 2002–present
Kerber	Serbia	1981–present
Kick Axe	Canada	1976–1988, 2003–present
Killer Dwarfs	Canada	1981–1995, 2001–2008
Killing Joke	United Kingdom	1978-1996, 2002–present
King's X	United States	1980–present
Kiss	United States	1973–present
Kix	United States	1977–1996, 2003–present
Krokus	Switzerland	1974–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Leaf Hound	United Kingdom	1969-1971, 2004–present
Leatherwolf	United States	1981–present
Led Zeppelin[27]	United Kingdom	1968–1980, 2007, 2011
Legs Diamond	United States	1975–present
Leño	Spain	1978-1983
Leviticus	Sweden	1981–1990
Lionheart	United Kingdom	1980-1986
Living Death	Germany	1980-1991
London	United States	1978–1981, 1984–1990, 2006–present	Early lineups featured future members of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.[28]
Lone Star	United Kingdom	1975–1978
Los Suaves	Spain	1980–present
Loudness	Japan	1980–present
Lucifer's Friend[29]	Germany	1970–1982, 1993–1997
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Mahogany Rush	Canada	1970–1980, 1998–present
Malice	United States	1980-1989, 2006–present
Yngwie Malmsteen	Sweden	1978–present
Mama's Boys	Ireland	1978–1993
Manilla Road	United States	1977-1990, 2001–present
Manowar	United States	1980–present	Drummer Scott Columbus died on 4 April 2011.
Marseille	United Kingdom	1976–present
Max Webster	Canada	1973–1982
May Blitz	United Kingdom	1969–1972
MC5	United States	1963-1972, 1992, 2003-2012
Mentors	United States	1977–present
Mercyful Fate	Denmark	1981–1985, 1992–1999	King Diamond on vocals.
Metal Church	United States	1980–1994, 1998–2009, 2012-present
Metallica	United States	1981–present	Bassist Cliff Burton died on 27 September 1986.
Ministry	United States	1981-2008, 2011–present	Started as a new wave act.
Misfits	United States	1977–1983, 1995–present
Montrose	United States	1973–1976, 2005
More	United Kingdom	1980–1982, 1985, 1998–2000, 2011–present
Mötley Crüe	United States	1981–2015
Motörhead	United Kingdom	1975–2015	Lemmy died on 28 December 2015.
Mountain[30]	United States	1969–1972, 1973–1974, 1981–1985, 1992–1998, 2001–present
Moxy	Canada	1974-1983, 1999-2009
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Napalm Death	United Kingdom	1981–present
Nazareth	United Kingdom	1968–present
Necromandus[22][31]	United Kingdom	1970–1973
The Next Band	United Kingdom	1978-1982
Night Sun[32]	Germany	1970–1973
Nightwing	United Kingdom	1978–1987, 1996–present
Ted Nugent[33][34]	United States	1975–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
The Obsessed	United States	1976–1986, 1990–1995, 2011–present
Ozzy Osbourne	United Kingdom	1980–present
Ostrogoth	Belgium	1980–1988, 2002, 2010–present
Overkill	United States	1980–present
Oz	Finland	1977-1991, 2010–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Pagan Altar	United Kingdom	1978–1982, 2004–present
Pantera	United States	1981-2003
Pentagram	United States	1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present
Persian Risk	United Kingdom	1979–1986
Picture	Netherlands	1979–1987, 1997–1999, 2007–present
Pink Fairies	United Kingdom	1970-1976, 1987-1988
Praying Mantis	United Kingdom	1974–present
Pretty Maids	Denmark	1981–present
Primevil	United States	1973-1974
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Quartz	United Kingdom	1974-1983, 1996, 2011
Queensrÿche[35]	United States	1981–present
Quiet Riot	United States	1975–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Rainbow	United Kingdom	1975–1984, 1993–1997	Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore formed Rainbow in 1975 after leaving Deep Purple.
Ratt	United States	1976–1992, 1996–Present
Raven	United Kingdom	1974–present
Riot	United States	1975–1984, 1986–2012
Rock Goddess	United Kingdom	1977–1987, 1994–1995, 2009, 2015-present
The Rods	United States	1978-1986, 2008–present
Rok Mašina	Serbia	1980–1982
Rose Tattoo	Australia	1976–1987, 1993, 1998–present
Uli Jon Roth	Germany	1968–present
Rough Cutt	United States	1981–1987, 2000–2002
The Runaways	United States	1975–1979
Running Wild	Germany	1976–2009, 2011–present
Rush	Canada	1968–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Saber Tiger	Japan	1981–present
Sacred Rite	United States	1980-1990
Saint	United States	1980–1989, 1999–present
Saint Vitus	United States	1978–1996, 2003, 2008–present
Salem	United Kingdom	1980–1983, 2009–present
Paul Samson	United Kingdom	1978–2002
Satan	United Kingdom	1979–1988, 2005–present
Savage	United Kingdom	1976–present
Savage Grace	United States	1981–1993, 2009-2010
Savatage	United States	1978–2002	Previous members of the band formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 1996.
Saxon	United Kingdom	1976–present
Michael Schenker Group	Germany	1979–present
Scorpions	Germany	1965–present
Shark Island	United States	1979-1992
Sir Lord Baltimore	United States	1968-1976, 2006–present
Sister	United States	1976–1978
Skitzo	United States	1981–present
Slayer	United States	1981–present
Sodom	Germany	1981–present
Sorcery	United States	1976-1987
Sortilège	France	1981–1986
Sound Barrier	United States	1980-1987
Spinal Tap	United States	1979–present	Parody heavy metal band which first appeared on TV in 1979, with American actors playing the parts of fictional British musicians.
Spider	United Kingdom	1976-1986
Stampede	United Kingdom	1981-1983, 2009–present
Starz	United States	1975–1979, 1980, 1990, 2003–present
Steeler	Germany	1981–1988
Steppenwolf	Canada/United States	1967–present	The 1967 recording Born to Be Wild was one of the first rock songs to contain the phrase "Heavy Metal" in its lyrics.
Stormwitch	Germany	1979–1994, 2002–present
Stray	United Kingdom	1966–present
Suck	South Africa	1970–1971
Suicidal Tendencies	United States	1981–1995, 1997–present
Sweet Savage	United Kingdom	1979–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Tank	United Kingdom	1980-1989, 1997–present
Tarantula	Portugal	1981–present
Tesla	United States	1981–1996, 2000–present
Thin Lizzy	Ireland	1969–1984, 1996–2012
Thor	Canada	1978, 1983–1986, 1997–present
TKO	United States	1977–2001
Toad	Switzerland	1970–1995
Tobruk	United Kingdom	1981–1987
Trespass	United Kingdom	1978–1982, 1992–1993, 2013-present
Triumph	Canada	1975–1993, 2008–present
Trooper	Canada	1974–present
Trouble	United States	1979–present
Trust	France	1977-1985, 1988, 1996-2000, 2006
TSA	Poland	1979–present
Tucky Buzzard	United Kingdom	1969-1974
Turbo	Poland	1980–present
Twisted Sister	United States	1972–1988, 1997–present
Tygers of Pan Tang	United Kingdom	1978–1987, 1999–present
Tytan	United Kingdom	1981-1983, 2012–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
UFO	United Kingdom	1969–1988, 1992–present
Urchin	United Kingdom	1972-1980
Uriah Heep	United Kingdom	1969–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
V8	Argentina	1979–1987
Vandenberg	Netherlands	1981–1987
Van Halen	United States	1972–present
Vanilla Fudge[36]	United States	1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present
Vardis	United Kingdom	1973–1986, 2014–present
Venom	United Kingdom	1979–present
Vicious Rumors	United States	1979–present
Virgin Steele	United States	1981–present
Vulcain	France	1981-1998, 2009–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Warhorse[22]	United Kingdom	1970–1974, (partial reunions: 1985, 2005)
Warning	France	1980-1985
Warpig	Canada	1968–1975, 2004–present
White Sister	United States	1980-1986, 2008-2009
Whitesnake	United Kingdom	1978–1990, 1994, 1997, 2002–present
White Spirit	United Kingdom	1975-1981
White Wolf	Canada	1975-1986, 2007–present
Wild Dogs	United States	1981–present
Wild Horses	United Kingdom	1978–1981
Witchfinder General	United Kingdom	1979–1984, 2006–2008
Witchfynde	United Kingdom	1974–1984, 1999–present
Wrathchild	United Kingdom	1980–1990, 2009–present
Wrathchild America	United States	1978-1993
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Y&T	United States	1974–1991, 1995–present
Name	Origin	Years active	Brief summary
Zoetrope	United States	1976-1993