Thought I'd start a forum topic for the hell of it. See if this starts a debate.

Of the following bands, which do you like, which are metal and which are not?

My Chemical Romance, U2, Oasis, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Nickelback, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Jimi Hendrix.

I'll be more specific on my views once the debate gets going but I don't think they are all metal and I don't like all of them.

To be honest, I don't think most of them are metal.  Def Leppard got lumped in with the NWOBHM, but stated themselves they felt they were more like Duran Duran than Black Sabbath. I love "Pyromania" and they are pop metal.

 Led Zeppelin (I own all of their studio albums) and Hendrix are pioneers but not always metal.  Though influential, there are to many songs that aren't metal by Zeppelin.  I really can't comment on Hendrix but I do know that some of his songs weren't.  Does a band stay metal because that is all they do 100% of the time?

  Nickelback is pop metal, but does little for me.  I do like the song "Never Again".  That is so metal for the chick to get a gone and blow the jerk away.  I was glad to hear a song where a man doesn't have to rescue a woman from abuse.

The rest aren't metal. I like some U2 (The Joshua Tree and individual songs).  Oasis are not that interesting, unless you like whiny vocals.  My Chemical Romance I am not familiar with so no opinion.  I was listening to "The Wall" last night in bed.  PF are great musicians, but more in the progressive vein.  Also love "Dark Side of the Moon".

I guess a more integral question is what makes a band metal?  In today's metal scene, there are so many sub genres (thrash, death, progressive, grindcore, metalcore, black, etc.) that it can be difficult to differentiate bands.  I thought Sam Dunn did a good job in categorizing them on "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey".  I really like Rush but don't consider them metal, but he does have them in a progressive category. 

Guitar distortion, heavy bass, dual guitar attack preferably unless your a metal maestro (Rhoades, Malmsteen, etc.) and excellent drumming skills with a leather lunged vocalist makes it metal.  I am starting to appreciate some of the bands that use keyboards (Dark Tranquility, Kamelot).  So the debate has begun.

Jimi Hendrix isn't metal because i don't think there was metal in the 60's or the 70's.

Black Sabbath were in the 70s and so were Judas Priest and others.

Well the 60's

I guess you could say im not a true METAL head, i grow up on such bands as Tool, Metallica, Rage against machine, ACDC, Floyd, Jimy Hendrix, powerman 5000

But over time moved towards Slayer, than belive it or not i liked RNB but quickly moved in to alternative like  foo fighters, green spoon, off spring,

so i like a wide range of music and would not be the best juge of weather its metal or not.............ill leave it there, Oh and i hope the group grows so i can learn a thing or two about what bands are what :-)

Well it's all subjective opinion but with Metallica, AC/DC, Slayer etc in your collection your opinion is as valid as anyone else's.

For what its worth. I think Hendrix developed some guitar techniques that have been used by mtal bands for decades - but his music was not generally metal. I'm not a great fan but can listen to it.

Led Zep - certainly have some metal songs and along with Purple developed the stage show side of things with the lights, huge Marshall stacks etc. More difficult but I'd agree with metalhead65 above and overall say not. I'm not the greatest fan but I listen to Led Zep 4 from time to time.

Floyd, definately not - prog rock. I like the 3 albums most people have heard of - the Wall, Wish u were here and Dark Side of the Moon. For some reason they seem more accessible to Metal Fans that stuff like early Geneshit - sorry Genesis - which sends me comatose with boredom. I don't care how accomplished they think they are - its tedious and pointless.

I again agree with metalhead65 about Nickelback, U2 and Oasis in that none of them are metal. One of my kids likes Nickelback so I hear it quite a lot and I don't mind it. Wouldn't buy it, but it's honest rock music which isn't all about how wonderful love is. Oasis, don't really understand how they became a huge band. The vocals are whiney and not particularly interesting. If somebody could explain to me what Wonderwall is all about I'd be grateful - actually don't bother, I don't really care.

Deep breath now - U2. My wife loves this band from way back before I met her. I've always loathed them. I loathe the music, the lyrics, the band, if they have a U2 dog I loathe that as well, the ill considered political speech making, the false sincerity of very rich people urging non rich people to give money to charity etc. The Edge a great guitarist? do me a favour. Zakk Wilde could probably play that crap when he was 5. Certainly not Metal. 

Def Leppard and Bon Jovi - more difficult. Both radio friendly rock. Both good live bands with talented guitarists capable of playing metal solos. I've seen Def Lep on the same bill as Ozzy, Motorhead, Scorpions and Bon Jovi headlining a bill with Dio, Metallica (obviously in their earlier days) Anthrax and WASP. Generally speaking I like stuff by both of them - Pyromania being the best album either of them ever did - but overall not metal.

My Chemical Romance (MCR) have been given the tag "Emo" over here. Some controversy with rubbish newspaper trying to link their music to teenage suicides and claiming they are a cult. Total nonsense of course. People seem to love them or hate them but I think they deserve to be called Metal. Their music can be brutal at times both musically and lyrically but never thrashy. Thrash is metal, but you don't have to be thrashy to be metal - Iron Maiden for instance. They have slower bits as well but so do many metal bands - Ozzy for instance. Their first couple of albums are mixed quality in my opinion, certainly a couple of duff tracks on the first one, but I really like the Black Parade which is very accomplished. Try and hear it before buying though because it's a little different and may not be everybody's taste.

I'll stop there and give somebody else a chance.

My fav band at the moment would have to be AC/DC, now im not sure if would call them metal, to its more like old school metal, my dad calls says they are rock and roll but i feel like thats a bit degradeing to them.

As for metal thats what i would call  Metallica, to me a clasic band, they've had there up's and downs but there early stuff is leagendy, and thanks for the tip on there new album Metalhead65 looking forward to getting it. Pantera ranks high on my list of greatest metal bands too, they remind me a lot of Metallica but they have gorn that littie bit further and made it there own.

Not a U2 fan, Nickelback well i don't mind what ive heard on T.V,Bon Jovi the only song i can remmber is that bed of roses (i hope thats his song) and i guess he's good for the ladies, sorry wed13 i would have a F*ckin clue what a wonder wall is (what happend to them guys anyway), all these band are comeny known as soft rock or woss rock, at leaest in my circle they are, so no to me they are not metal.

Bands like Slayer, Cradle of flith, Disturbed, i had a short term fling with and yes i would consider them metal but i would near have to say no, they are DEATH metal and thats something diferent, however thats getting a bit to whats what for my likeing. Korn is a hared one for me cos i like there music and i guess one could consider them as metal, just a poor version, My Chemical Romance well to be honest i havent heard much of them so carnt realy coment but here go's, if they are the band that sings Chemical heart than going off that song i would have troble calling them metal but i will download some of there tunes this weekend to get a clearer pictor

Any of you Metal heads like Alisen in chains???

Well AC/DC have a unique sound - well almost. Years ago a mate of mine lent me some stuff by a band called Rhino Bucket (this is true, I kid u not) and they sound just like AC/DC. Basically they are a little known band who have totally ripped off AC/DC sound without doing cover versions or being a tribute band. I liked them, but if you like AC/DC its difficult not to. If you get the chance to hear any, do so cause it'll make you smile at the cheek of it. I've not got any of it anymore cuase I figured what was the point, I've got plenty of AC/DC. I only had a crappy cassette tape anyway.

AC/DC are a metal band in attitude, heads down ballsy guitar playing and fan base. Whatever definition you have for heavy metal, I think you have to stretch it to encompass AC/DC.

I suppose Metallica are now a classic band but they were following on the backs of the likes of Maiden, Motorhead, Sabbath and Priest - the true classic quartet of heavy metal for me.

Rhino Bucket, i have to hear there sound if not just for the smile, thanks for the tip.......do you know where they are from?  

You make a good point with Metallica, but i was born in the 80's and Metallica was like a god to me back then, Maybe thats why i hold them in such up regeard, Black Sabbath, are a sick band for their time, some of my mates love them but i just feel like Metallica put on a better show.

I don't know where Bucket are from - I fancy either Britain or Australia but its a guess.

I agree Metallica put on a better show and Metallica were innovative at the time and gave the metal scene a much needed kick in the arse and provided a much needed antidote to the hairspray bands like Poison. However, it could be argued that the opening track on Black Sabbath was the real start of Metal. Metallica may claim to have been one of the instigators of thrash but it was not entirely new with Priest having already gone a little in that direction with tracks like Exciter. 

There are plenty of bands that are metal that aren't thrash.  I tend to listen to more thrash than anything.  If it weren't for Priest and Maiden, metal would be much different today.  I remember seeing Maiden on the World Slavery tour in '85 and consider them one of the most important metal bands along with Priest, Sabbath, and Ozzy/Rhoades. 

Yes, I must agree that it was Sabbath that started metal.  I remember many nights a little stoned/inebriated listening to Sabbath and swearing they were of the devil from their earlier albums.   I don't like Motorhead that much.  Saw them over the summer and put earplugs in so I could hear Heaven & Hell and Priest after them.  I like a couple of their songs ("Ace of Spades", "Iron Fist").

I would also have to add the song "Screaming for Vengeance" going in a thrash vein.  "Exciter" is one of my favorite Priest songs though.  Through a series of sad events, I never saw Priest until 2005.  Even then they still kicked butt.  I saw the Live Vengeance video to fill in until I could see them.

 I'm of the opinion listen to what you like.  I think Foo Fighters and The Offspring to be fun bands.  I like everything from Tchaikovsky to Kreator to Yanni.  I like good music.  Metal is my favorite, but I'm willing to listen to more than just metal.

Tool I understand to be industrial metal, RATM were rap metal with strong political views, and Metallica is still metal.  I didn't listen to them for a long time as I didn't like what they were putting out.  They seem to be coming around from the virus that infected their music and getting back to where they started. (Check out the video for "All Nightmare Long" on their website!  Very Cool!)  Now if you come on here and try to convince me that Barry Mannilow or Celine Dion are metal, we will come head to head!   But listen to what you like and forget what anyone else thinks of it. 

Also, RNB?  Not sure what that means.

I'd agree with Blackened - I suppose Slayer would be the first band that comes to mind of a top class thrash metal band. To me, thrash is a sub genre of heavy metal not a separate one.

Thrash Bands

Metallica (First 5 and current release), Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax are considered the 4 biggies.  Over Kill, Exodus, Testament, Nuclear Assault got there start in the 80's along with these other bands. 

But to be honest, I rather listen to a good hair band than a poor thrash band.

Depends how I feel. Sometimes I really fancy early Metallica, Slayer type stuff, other times Pink Floyd and lots of points in between. I know Dave Mustaine was involved with Metallica in the early days but I never really understood why Megadeth was classified as a thrash band. A lot of their stuff isn't thrash to me - I like them, just never saw them as a thrash band really.

Wasn't Dave frontman of Metallica in the early days?

Yes, Mustaine was part of early Metallica and wrote some of the stuff on "Kill 'Em All".  I guess he drank and drugged to much for there liking and they kicked him out.  There was a moment on "Some Kind of Whiner (oops, Monster)" where Dave confronts Lars about being kicked out of the band with no shot at redemption.  Get out, sayanora, drop dead.  Then to see that James has a sobriety schedule would torque me off too!  Granted, James has been with the band since inception but I can see his hard feelings.  They were all dumb kids back then makind dumb kid decisions.  You hardly hear Mustaine talk about Metallica anymore, which I'm glad for.  Move on with your life and enjoy it.

I remember a story in a rock mag about Dave Mustaine trying to get on stage at a Metallica gig, early days but after he had left. Hetfield kicked him back in to the crowd - claimed he didn't know who he was what with all the lights and smoke etc. Hmmmmm.

Mustaine was a bit of a twat in his early days. He went on stage in Belfast during the times of sectarian terrorist violence and introduced a song with "this is for the cause". As his audience consisted of metal fans from all sides of the Irish community it was a pretty divisive thing to come out with.