Hard Rock: Metal & Mayhem
- Music History Hall
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Metal & Mayhem
Most Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands started off as English blues bands. A majority of the members of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands came from working-class backgrounds in England, including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath.
The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, was the epicenter of rock and roll in the 1970s. The Hard Rock bands of the 1970s began traveling in private jets and renting out entire sections of hotels – including the Continental Hyatt House on Sunset Boulevard known as the “Riot House.” Rock bands became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery. One story involved John Bonham, the drummer for Led Zeppelin, riding a motorcycle through the Riot House.
The 1980s ushered in the era of guitar gods in rock music. Eddie Van Halen was among the most revered of the rock guitarists. The 1980s was the decade of decadence and things were about to heat up.
In the mid-1980s, taking cues from glam rock and heavy metal, a new rock-pop genre emerged known as Hair Metal. Hair Metal bands included Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Whitesnake.
The arrival of Guns N’ Roses in the mid-1980s introduced a more aggressive and raw style of hard rock that significantly influenced the genre and kept the flame alive for a few more years. Guns N' Roses took over the Sunset Strip and the mayhem continued.
However, the best-selling Hard Rock band of all time, with over 300 million in total record sales, is Led Zeppelin. They recorded eight studio albums over ten years and had multiple record-breaking tours. They are one of the most influential bands of all time.
