The 70s with Kiss
Ever wondered what one of the biggest bands was in the 1970s? A band named “KISS” was created in 1973 by two people: rhythm guitarist and lead singer Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons. One night, they were at a club and saw future drummer Peter Criss playing the drums. They were amazed by him and asked if he would want to join them. He later joined as well as Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist. They still make incredible music today, but the band members have changed through the years. Their current members are Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, the new lead guitarist, and Eric Singer, the new drummer. They have sold a total of 100 million records worldwide! KISS is one of the best rock bands in the world and has won many awards.
One of their most popular songs is named “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” on the hit album “Dynasty,” and it is one of the albums that has made them popular all across the world. The band has millions of fans who come to watch them at their concerts when they travel. KISS concerts are loud and have lots of lights everywhere, with amazing music that sounds better when you are with them! The costumes that they wear every time are very fascinating and big, and they use face paint to make the awesome shapes they put on their face. You could not miss them! Millions of people still listen to and go to concerts and events today, and they have made a great impact on music.
The 80’s with Metallica
Heavy rock/metal has just been getting more and more popular through the 80’s. One of the biggest bands in the world made this happen. A drummer from Los Angeles put out an advertisement to look for other heavy metal musicians to play with other bands like Diamond Head and Iron Maiden. Two people who were already friends, by the names of James Hetfield and Ron McGovney, joined the band. Another guy saw the advertisement by the name of Dave Mustaine. The four men then came up with the name Metallica, and it was officially formed in 1981.
They all played together until 1982–1983, when Dave Mustaine was kicked out and Ron McGovernney left. After this event, they found a bassist, Cliff Burton, who already had a band by the name Trauma. They were amazed by his playing skills and asked if he wanted to join Metallica. Also, on April 1st, 1983, future lead guitarist Kirk Hammett got a call from Metallica, He thought it was a joke just because of April Fools’ Day, but they told him to fly to New York on the 11th for an audition, and then he got in. It all was going great and gained much popularity until 1986.
On September 27, 1986, the band was on their way to another concert in Sweden. In the middle of the night, the bus crashed and flipped over, causing Cliff to pass away during this time. They found somebody to replace him in late 1986 by the name of Jason Newsted. In 1991, when they made “The Black Album,” millions of people loved it, and Metallica rose to fame. They were one of the most popular bands then, and they still are today. This album has the number 1 song on their music, called “Enter Sandman.”
In early 2001, on January 17, Jason Newsted quit the band due to personal reasons. The three still in Metallica held bass auditions to fill the spot. They found another guy named Robert Trujillo, and they thought he was unbelievable. The three haven’t seen anybody play with their fingers since Cliff, and Rob was incredibly fast. They then hired him in 2003, and he has been in the band for 20 years. Everybody already loves him and will continue to do his best in 2023. The newest album created this April 14th, called “72 Seasons,” was one of their best since the 90’s. Their concerts are loud, with hundreds of flashing lights, while they play their guitars and drums with maximum power. I went on November 5th, and it was INCREDIBLE. Metallica is my favorite band and has inspired me and many other people to make music.
90’s with the Foo Fighters
The 1990s was one of the most popular decades, and people loved the music, the styles it made, and other things. There was a band named Nirvana that had formed in 1987, but it ended in 1994 due to the lead singer, Kurt Cobain, passing away. Later in that same year, former drummer of Nirvana, Dave Grohl, started a one-man project for a band soon to gain members called the Foo Fighters. He had drifted away from drumming to be the lead singer and one of the guitarists. Over the years, some of the band members have changed, but that doesn’t stop them from staying together to this day. Some of their former members were William Goldsmith, Franz Stahl, and Taylor Hawkins, who sadly passed away in 2021.
The new bandmates are Dave Grohl, Josh Freese, Rami Jaffee, Chris Shiflett, and Nate Mendel. In 1995, they had risen to fame when they released the album “The Color and the Shape.” They had gained so many fans from this album, and many people loved one of these songs from the album, called “Everlong.” It is such a great song and is one of my favorites of all time. Their music has changed over time because of their mass creativity, and it can be one of the top songs in the country. Their concerts now are very loud and exciting; it feels so good to be there! The instruments sound more full and rich once they start playing, and it’s like one of the best concerts you have ever been to! Many people are inspired by this band to start creating music and change people’s lives, and it’s all because Dave Grohl made it happen. He had started the band with many others, and it turned out to be a worldwide sensation. They have become popular all over the country with their music, and they are a great role model for the music industry in general.
Over the years, from the 1960s to now, music has been a big part of the whole world. Most people I know have never heard of rock bands or any kind of metal, but it is good to share what these bands have created over time and help influence others to do what they have created. These genres of music are great for learning guitar, bass, drumming, and all sorts of other things. Overall, these bands have made great history, and many continue to keep it going.