Traditional Heavy Metal

In 1980 Iron Maiden was asked to appear on Top of the Pops, the biggest music show in the UK.

They said they’d only do it if they could play live.

No one had done that since The Who in 1974.

This is Running Free.

Bow Wow formed in Tokyo in 1975, inspired by Deep Purple and Rainbow.

They were one of the first Japanese heavy metal bands and a direct influence on Loudness, who would go on to break the Western market in the 80s.

This is Need Your Love from their 1985 album Cyclone, the same year they renamed themselves Vow Wow to reach international audiences.

If you know someone who thinks they’ve heard everything metal has to offer — send them this.

This is Diamond Head performing Am I Evil? at West Bromwich College in 1979.

Their first ever televised performance. The song wasn’t even officially released yet.

Megadeth cited them as an influence and Metallica went on to cover Am I Evil in 1984 and have played it live ever since.

Did you discover Diamond Head on your own or did Metallica put them on your radar?

Anyone else miss commercials like this?

Back in 1986, Judas Priest was promoting their 10th studio album, Turbo. The record leaned into guitar synths and a slicker, more futuristic sound that had metal fans debating it the minute it dropped.

Some fans loved the direction.
Others… not so much.

All these years later, where do you stand?