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Heavy: The Story of Metal

 

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Heavy: The Story of Metal



 
 
Heavy: The Story of Metal is a four part documentary special that aired on VH1
VH1

VH1 is an United States cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in television, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slighter older demographic than its sister channel, focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music....
 in 2006. It focuses on the origins, subgenres, and the bands of heavy metal music
Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified Distortion , extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall...
, paying close attention to influential bands like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English Rock music band. Formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward , the band has since experienced multiple lineup changes, with a total of twenty-two former members....
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock music band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page , Robert Plant , John Paul Jones and John Bonham . With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal music bands....
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest

Judas Priest is an England Heavy metal music band formed in 1969 in Birmingham. Judas Priest's core line-up consists of bass player Ian Hill, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K....
, and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music band from Leyton, East London, England, formed in 1975. The band is led by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris ....
, who helped to define heavy metal in its early years. Other bands on the program include, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is an American rock music singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades. With a stage show that features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, and boa constrictors, Cooper has drawn equally from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal music, and garage rock to create a theatrical brand of rock musi...
, Kiss
KISS (band)

Kiss is an United States Rock music Musical ensemble formed in New York City in December 1972. Easily identified by its members' trademark face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and...
, AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
, Van Halen
Van Halen

Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their Van Halen in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an England Rock music band from Sheffield, who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Largely on the strength of their albums Pyromania and Hysteria , Def Leppard became one of the List of best-selling music artists rock bands throughout the 1980s, selling over 65 million albums worldw...
, Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot was an United States Heavy metal music band whose 1983 US Festival appearance helped to solidify metal's image. They are best known for their hit singles "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health ." They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the name Mach 1....
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe

M?tley Cr?e are a Grammy Award-nominated American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, California in 1981.The band was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drum kit Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil....
, Metallica
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal music band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists....
, and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)

Marilyn Manson is an American rock music band founded in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Advocates of nonconformity and iconoclasm, often utilizing controversial imagery and lyrical content, it is difficult to categorize the band, however, as each album thus far has had a distinct and individual sound, and the band and frontman endeavor...
. However, the documentary notably passes over lower profile metal sub-genres such as death metal
Death metal

Death metal is an extreme metal subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs fast tempos, heavily distorted guitars, deep death growl vocals, morbid lyrics, blast beat drumming, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, black metal
Black metal

Black metal is an extreme metal subgenre of Heavy metal music. It often employs fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, double-kick drumming, and unconventional song structure....
, doom metal
Doom metal

Doom metal is a form of heavy metal music that typically employs very slow tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal genres....
, progressive metal
Progressive metal

Progressive metal is a Fusion ; a mixture of progressive rock and Heavy metal music. Progressive metal blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock....
, power metal
Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context....
 and many others considered core elements of todays metal pantheon, focusing mostly on hard rock
Hard rock

Hard rock is a sub-genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock and is considerably harder than conventional rock music....
.






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Heavy: The Story of Metal is a four part documentary special that aired on VH1
VH1

VH1 is an United States cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in television, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slighter older demographic than its sister channel, focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music....
 in 2006. It focuses on the origins, subgenres, and the bands of heavy metal music
Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified Distortion , extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall...
, paying close attention to influential bands like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English Rock music band. Formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward , the band has since experienced multiple lineup changes, with a total of twenty-two former members....
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock music band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page , Robert Plant , John Paul Jones and John Bonham . With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal music bands....
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest

Judas Priest is an England Heavy metal music band formed in 1969 in Birmingham. Judas Priest's core line-up consists of bass player Ian Hill, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K....
, and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music band from Leyton, East London, England, formed in 1975. The band is led by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris ....
, who helped to define heavy metal in its early years. Other bands on the program include, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is an American rock music singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades. With a stage show that features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, and boa constrictors, Cooper has drawn equally from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal music, and garage rock to create a theatrical brand of rock musi...
, Kiss
KISS (band)

Kiss is an United States Rock music Musical ensemble formed in New York City in December 1972. Easily identified by its members' trademark face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and...
, AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
, Van Halen
Van Halen

Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their Van Halen in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an England Rock music band from Sheffield, who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Largely on the strength of their albums Pyromania and Hysteria , Def Leppard became one of the List of best-selling music artists rock bands throughout the 1980s, selling over 65 million albums worldw...
, Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot was an United States Heavy metal music band whose 1983 US Festival appearance helped to solidify metal's image. They are best known for their hit singles "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health ." They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the name Mach 1....
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe

M?tley Cr?e are a Grammy Award-nominated American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, California in 1981.The band was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drum kit Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil....
, Metallica
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal music band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists....
, and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)

Marilyn Manson is an American rock music band founded in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Advocates of nonconformity and iconoclasm, often utilizing controversial imagery and lyrical content, it is difficult to categorize the band, however, as each album thus far has had a distinct and individual sound, and the band and frontman endeavor...
. However, the documentary notably passes over lower profile metal sub-genres such as death metal
Death metal

Death metal is an extreme metal subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs fast tempos, heavily distorted guitars, deep death growl vocals, morbid lyrics, blast beat drumming, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, black metal
Black metal

Black metal is an extreme metal subgenre of Heavy metal music. It often employs fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, double-kick drumming, and unconventional song structure....
, doom metal
Doom metal

Doom metal is a form of heavy metal music that typically employs very slow tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal genres....
, progressive metal
Progressive metal

Progressive metal is a Fusion ; a mixture of progressive rock and Heavy metal music. Progressive metal blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock....
, power metal
Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context....
 and many others considered core elements of todays metal pantheon, focusing mostly on hard rock
Hard rock

Hard rock is a sub-genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock and is considerably harder than conventional rock music....
. In Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, the documentary aired on MuchMoreMusic
MuchMoreMusic

MuchMoreMusic is a Canada English language cable television specialty channel owned by CTVglobemedia, based at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario....
 and on C4
C4

C4, C04, C.IV or C-4 may refer to:* C4 , a political party in Colombia* C-4 , a type of plastic explosiveIn biology:...
 in New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
. It is not available on DVD or video.

Summary

The show is broken down into four parts. Each part focuses on different eras of the genre.

Part One: Welcome to My Nightmare

This part of the documentary talks about the beginning of heavy metal music and how the term came about. It also documents punk rock
Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock....
's threat to heavy metal's popularity. Bands discussed-Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English Rock music band. Formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward , the band has since experienced multiple lineup changes, with a total of twenty-two former members....
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock music band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page , Robert Plant , John Paul Jones and John Bonham . With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal music bands....
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is an American rock music singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades. With a stage show that features guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, and boa constrictors, Cooper has drawn equally from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal music, and garage rock to create a theatrical brand of rock musi...
, Kiss
Kiss

A kiss is the touching of one person's lip s to another place, which is used as an expression of affection, respect, greeting, wiktionary:farewell, good luck, romantic affection or sexual desire....
, and AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
.

Part Two: British Steel

This part focuses on the rise of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal is a heavy metal music movement that started in the late 1970s, in Great Britain, and achieved some international attention by the early 1980s....
, the Soundhouse in London, and the beginning of the L.A. scene with Van Halen
Van Halen

Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their Van Halen in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
. It also talks about Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio , is an American heavy metal music vocalist and singer-songwriter who has performed with Elf , Rainbow , Black Sabbath, and his own band Dio....
's influence on the birth of the "devil horns" and metal's leather fashion brought on by Rob Halford
Rob Halford

Robert John Arthur Halford is an England singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal music band Judas Priest. Halford has almost a four octave vocal range, from D2-B5....
. Bands Discussed-Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music band from Leyton, East London, England, formed in 1975. The band is led by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris ....
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest

Judas Priest is an England Heavy metal music band formed in 1969 in Birmingham. Judas Priest's core line-up consists of bass player Ian Hill, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K....
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an England Rock music band from Sheffield, who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Largely on the strength of their albums Pyromania and Hysteria , Def Leppard became one of the List of best-selling music artists rock bands throughout the 1980s, selling over 65 million albums worldw...
, and Van Halen
Van Halen

Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their Van Halen in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
.

Part Three: Looks That Kill

Part Three focuses mostly on the glam metal
Glam metal

Glam metal is a term used to describe the visual style of certain heavy metal music bands that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States....
 movement of the 80s, the use of keyboards in metal, the "power ballad
Power ballad

A Power ballad is a type of song typically characterized by having a slow tempo, long voiced notes, Electric guitar and/or acoustic guitars, and deemphasized percussion and bass guitar....
", and the decline of the genre. It also talks about the P.M.R.C hearings, the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap

is a 1984 in film mockumentary rockumentary directed by Rob Reiner and starring members of the fictional heavy-metal/hard rock band Spinal Tap....
, and the 1988 "rockumentary" The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. Only two bands were discussed in this episode (Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe

M?tley Cr?e are a Grammy Award-nominated American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, California in 1981.The band was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drum kit Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil....
, and Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot was an United States Heavy metal music band whose 1983 US Festival appearance helped to solidify metal's image. They are best known for their hit singles "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health ." They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the name Mach 1....
), while most of the episode focuses on glam metals effects to the music industry.

Part Four: Seek & Destroy

This part talks about the emergence of the underground sound of thrash metal
Thrash metal

Thrash metal , is an extreme metal subgenre of heavy metal music that is characterized by its fast tempo and aggression. Thrash metal songs typically use fast, percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with Shred guitar-style lead work....
 in the 80's and the popularity of Guns N Roses. It also talks about the popularity rise in rap rock
Rap rock

Rap rock is a music genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop music with various forms of rock music. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal music-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
, nu metal
Nu metal

Nu metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that emerged in the mid-1990s which combines grunge music, alternative rock, and alternative metal with hip hop music and various list of heavy metal genres, such as funk metal, rap metal, groove metal and thrash metal....
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, and Ozzfest
Ozzfest

Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal music and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne....
. The documentary ends with saying how heavy metal has entered a "golden age" of sorts, with many classic bands returning to the stage and performing once again. Bands discussed-Metallica
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal music band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists....
, Anthrax
Anthrax

Anthrax is an Acute disease in humans and animals caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which is highly lethal in some forms. There are effective vaccines against anthrax, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment....
, Megadeth
Megadeth

Megadeth is an American Heavy metal music band led by founder, front man, guitarist, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. Formed in 1983 by Mustaine and bass player David Ellefson following Mustaine's departure from Metallica, the band has since released eleven studio albums, six live albums, two Extended play, thirty single , thirty-two music video...
, Slayer
Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981. The band was founded by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King....
, and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
.

External links