Early Heavy Music

[getBAK]

You guys aren't thinking early enough.
How about Johnny Guitar Watson defining half of the licks used in rock guitar for the next 40 years... back in 1954

 

[40Hz]

The thought of Paul being the father of metal is so laughable.

I’m happy to see you’re so easily amused.

 

[pyrat56host]

What a monster thread...great stuff!! Decca-era UFO is some great tunes and WELL HEAVY~

 

[FilterFunk]

Not exactly…that was Paul trying to keep up with The Who, “I Can See For Miles” in particular. And considering that stuff like Blue Cheer had already come out earlier in 1968(plus what Cream and Hendrix had been up to), it was over for them in that department before they even started. Maybe “TNK”, as mentioned earlier, might count.

Of the songs that are frequently mentioned to support the notion that the Beatles wrote the first heavy metal song:

"Helter Skelter": It sounds like what it is - a conscious attempt to sound heavy. It doesn't sound naturally heavy.

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)": Sounds like it's borrowing from "House of the Rising Sun."

"Tomorrow Never Knows": Sounds more psychedelic and experimental than heavy metal.

All IMHO, of course.

 

[prowla]

Different production and this would be quite something.

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

Surprised they've only had one reference thus far. So I'll add one more . . .

I didn't see the one reference you referred to. Here's another.

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

 

[FilterFunk]

Stravinsky - go in about 7 minutes for some serious heavy and shredding:



This piece of music caused a riot at its premiere in 1913.

As long as we're going wwwwaaaayyyy back:

 

[FilterFunk]

You guys aren't thinking early enough.
How about Johnny Guitar Watson defining half of the licks used in rock guitar for the next 40 years... back in 1954

WOW!!!

 

[srosenthal13]

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

Found this. Hadn't heard of it. Don't know if it was already posted:

 

[MrAB4003]

I love this song! One of the earliest uses of double bass drums, which is now a staple in heavy metal.

 

[bucephylus]

IMHO, “Heavy” started with Beethoven:


And, how did we get to Page 8 with nearly no mention of Zep?


Then there’s this one:


I had a few others; but YT’s new paradigm of requiring 4 or 5 x 3 minute infomercials before you can see anything makes me want to vomit.

 

[DaveParker39]

This is one of my favorite "early metal" picks. It's actually heavier than the stuff in their modern setlists... hasn't been played live since 2017.

 

[Lugan]

The Sonics! Seattle's own mid-1960s garage band, which some people would say is the true root of punk and other noisy and heavy genres later on. This one is possibly recognizable to some of you: Have Love, Will Travel - The Sonics (youtube.com)

That then leads us to The Stooges, who a few years later started to really zero in on a heavy sound and vibe that ended up as punk a decade later: Iggy & The Stooges - Search And Destroy (Bowie Mix) (Audio) (youtube.com)

 

[MrAB4003]

The rare moment of Beck and Page together…


(aka “Train Kept A Rollin’”)
Then pretty much all of the JBG’s Beck-ola album.

1956 - Johnny Burnette & The Rock n Roll Trio recorded "Train Kept a Rollin'". This was the first ever intentional use of distorted guitar. It was so heavy for its time that it didn't sell very well.


1970 - Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath on the album Black Sabbath was the first bona fide heavy metal song.


1982 - Metallica invented thrash metal as we know it today.


1985 - Possessed invented death metal. Jeff Becerra coined the term "death metal" in his high school English class in 1983.

 

[Deleted member 397699]

Always loved this one -

 

[Deleted member 397699]

The Sonics! Seattle's own mid-1960s garage band, which some people would say is the true root of punk and other noise and heavy genres later on. This one is possibly recognizable to some of you: Have Love, Will Travel - The Sonics (youtube.com)

Great pick!

 

[Lugan]

Great pick!

And I see that you are a fan of the first "horror punk" band! Misfits were so awesome in their early years. Heavy!

 

[NigeJ]

Pink Floyd Nile Song