The 12 Best Metal Musicians of All Time, According to The Rolling Stone Magazine
The Rolling Stone Magazine was founded in 1967 in San Francisco, California. Since its creation, it has become an authorized word in politics, rock music, culture, literature, and more.
The numbers of the Rolling Stone Magazine are always history in the making. Whenever they create a ranking or a poll to choose the best artist in any genre, they’re a lighthouse in the mist that music fans can follow.
But, when it comes to metal music, what does this illustrious magazine have to say about the best bands? Well, read on and find out!
On November 2, 2011, Rolling Stone published the “The Top 10 Metal Bands of All Time” ranking. The results you’re about to read come from that ranking as well as the metal shredders in the “The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” ranking.
1. Metallica
After selling over 120 million records worldwide and playing for millions of screaming fans around the world, Metallica is the biggest metal band in history. Furthermore, their black album, Metallica (1991) was the entry way for mass audiences into trash and heavy metal. Yes, when “Enter Sandman”, “Sad but True”, and “Nothing Else Matters” took the airwaves, a new era started for heavy metal.
Over three decades went by since that record, and Metallica kept on making history in front of huge crowds in arenas. Their position as the number one metal band in the world is something beyond any discussion.
2. Dream Theater
Dream Theater is the perfect blend of virtuoso prog rock and a heavy-hitting rhythm section. The guitarist John Petrucci and the drummer of the original formation Mike Portnoy propelled this band to the mainstream of heavy music one amazing record at a time. Speaking of which, after selling 12 million records, winning a Grammy Award in 2022, and with the return of their original drummer, Dream Theater is heavy prog rock’s number one hope.
3. Black Sabbath
Just as Metallica is the biggest metal band in the world today, there wouldn’t be a heavy metal scene without the one that started it all. Yes, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osborne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward formed Black Sabbath in 1968 in Birmingham and set the foundations of the genre with the first three records. Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality are a masterclass on heavy metal; the cornerstones over which the entire genre was built.
4. Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden’s image is as uncanny as the band’s fans love for them. Yes, these Englishmen released 17 studio albums and played over 2,500 shows to be one of the longest-lasting, most iconic and influential live metal acts in the world. Yes, you might have seen countless Iron Maiden t-shirts in your life, but if you haven’t seen them live, you really should. Especially now that Bruce Dickinson is back.
5. Slayer
Slayer might just be a rare case of an extreme metal band with some of the most hardcore fans in the world. you might come across this band opening a Metallica concert and most t-shirts in the audience will display Slayer’s 1986 heavy masterpiece Reign in Blood cover. A record produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin.
6. Megadeth
Fired from Metallica in 1983 due to his problems with alcohol, Dave Mustaine founded Megadeth. Although he could never debunk Metallica from the throne, his band is considered to be in the top 3 of the biggest metal bands on the planet along with Metallica and Anthrax. Finally, Megadeth sold 50 million records worldwide, a stunning number for any heavy metal band.
7. Judas Priest
Judas Priest isn’t just a metal band, it’s the one responsible for the BDSM-friendly apparel metal is associated with. Indeed, after they exploded into fame with their legendary British Steel (1980) album, a legion of fans followed them in their dress code singing their songs and filling arenas and stadiums. The departure of frontman Rob Halford diminished the band’s fame drastically in the ‘90s but his return put them back on the charts and touring the world. They won a Grammy Award in 2010 and were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
8. Led Zeppelin
I know, it was a strange occurrence coming across the Led Zeppelin name on this list for me too. Yet, if you think about it, Led Zeppelin II had just as much impact on heavy metal as Black Sabbath’s debut album (which came out two months later). Furthermore, John Bonham and Jimmy Page are revered musicians in most heavy metal bands. Finally, Jimmy is considered by specialized media the “Father of Hard Rock” a side effect of metal in the ‘80s.
9. Pantera
Pantera’s Cowboys from Hell (1990) and Vulgar Display of Power (1992) are, without the shadow of a doubt, two of the most important metal albums of the ‘90s. Indeed, brothers Vinnie Paul and Dimebag created a style of their own that was faster, more frantic, heavier, and more brutal than Metallica. Thus, they attracted the attention and love of metal fans who thought Metallica were sellouts or didn’t hit hard enough.
The band split up in 2003, and, one year later Dimebag Darrell was tragically shot on stage by a deranged fan when playing with his new band, Damage Plan. His brother, who was behind the drums that day, died in 2018 from natural causes.
Recently, the band’s remaining members, Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown recruited guitar legend Zakk Wylde and Anthrax’s drummer Charlie Benante to hit the road.
10. Tool
Although they’re not a very prolific band and have virtually no hit singles, the cult followers behind Tool are as many as they are devoted. If you ever come across a Tool fan, you won’t move them one inch from thinking Tool’s the world’s biggest metal band of all time. Beyond that, the band got a huge recognition from the industry as well, since they were nominated for 6 and won 3 Grammy Awards. Finally, they sold 13.4 million records worldwide.
11. Eddie Van Halen
No heavy metal artist list could be complete without talking about Eddie Van Halen. He was one of the most influential guitar players to ever set foot on stage and invented not only a style but also an instrument that could allow him to play it. But that’s not all, because Van Halen, the band, sold over 80 million records worldwide featuring Eddie’s incendiary playing and a handful of singers.
12. Randy Rhoads
Inducted by Tom Morello to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Randy Rhoads’ career was abruptly cut too short when he died in a plane crash in 1982 at the age of 25. Before that, and next to the Dark Prince, Ozzy Osborne, he set the foundations for the sound and style of heavy metal to come.
He deserved a spot on this list regardless of his short career.
The Bottom End
Heavy Metal is always growing and adding new flavors and sounds to an already endless catalog. The bands and artists on this list are some of the best in their craft and the ones who took heavy metal from the basement to the airwaves.
What will metal sound like in the future? That’s yet to be discovered, that’s why this list will keep on growing.
It’s always a great time to be a heavy metal fan on planet Earth.
Happy metal-loving!