Heavy metal started as a new age type of rock music. It brought a whole new look, sound, and feel to rock. This music genre increased the tempo and played drums faster, making it a little different from rock music. Heavy metal started to develop in the 1960s primarily in the United Kingdom. The pioneers of heavy metal are believed to be Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath bands.
The Spread of Heavy Metal
The three band groups were created in 1968 and soon after being formed, they attracted a wide audience, most of whom were fascinated by the new genre. In the 1970s, after the impressive blueprint that was laid down by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, American bands joined the industry and modified heavy metal, making it more accessible to a broader audience. The typical instruments used in heavy metal are electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums.
Heavy Metal Use in Song Lyrics
The word heavy metal was first used in a song lyric as a reference to a motorcycle present in the Steppenwolf song titled “Born to Be Wild.” The lyrics read “I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder.” Since then, the word has been used in several contexts. The number of people who love this music has also increased.
Heavy Metal Continues to Thrive
Heavy metal is a music genre that developed from rock music in the United Kingdom before it spread to other parts of the world. The UK and the US remain the largest makers of heavy metal music. They are also the regions where the music is more popular. Fans of heavy metal use different names to refer to themselves, including headbanger, hesher, and metal head.