Metallica Voted 'Most Influential Rock Band'

Metallica Voted "Most Influential Rock Group" By Kerrang Magazine

posted Jun 2, 2011 at 4:16 AM by The_Avant_Garde. (41 Comments)

Band Photo: Slipknot (?)

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has revealed that the band has just been declared the "the most influential rock group of the last 30 years" by Kerrang magazine. Ulrich commented on the announcement by saying;

"It gives me a very warm and fuzzy feeling that Kerrang! magazine have voted Metallica as the band that most changed their lives. I remember the first issue of the magazine in 1981. I had made a pilgrimage to England because I was obsessed with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. I travelled all over the country and that first issue accompanied me everywhere."

The poll, which was voted on by Kerrang readers, is included in the next issue of the magazine, which celebrates 30 years since its launch in June 1981.

The top 10 bands included:
1. Metallica
2. Green Day
3. Iron Maiden
4. Slipknot
5. My Chemical Romance
6. Linkin Park
7. Bullet For My Valentine
8. Blink 182
9. Ozzy Osbourne
10. Foo Fighters

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41 Comments on "Metallica Voted 'Most Influential Rock Band'"

1. anon writes:

Influential in making me throw away all their sh** that I owned, that is.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 7:57 AM ET | IP Logged

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2. WOLF7 writes:

Well, I could see why they chose Metallica. I don't know if it's really true, and of course there's the question of influential "in which way"? But, they're the biggest band in the world today along with U2, so there you go.

But That top 10 list p***ed me off complitely. Just look who's 2nd!
What, no Rage Against The Machine, NIN, Rammstein, Marilyn Manson (he brought back shock rock, say what you want), Priest or Slayer?

wow...

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 8:23 AM ET | IP Logged

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3. Diamond Oz writes:

Well, this is Kerrang we're talking about.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 8:38 AM ET | IP Logged

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4. VanMetal writes:

Kerrang is Garbage!! #5,6,7,8. WTF?
I think Korn should of made the list.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 8:45 AM ET | IP Logged

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5. brandedcfh420 writes:

wow, minus MAIDEN, its a list of the top 10 "toilet paper" bands!!!!

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:21 AM ET | IP Logged

Podcaster/Writer

6. n0thinghead writes:

more than HALF of those bands weren't even around 30 yr.'s ago. maybe even 20 either.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:23 AM ET | IP Logged

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7. Jay3730 writes:

Not even Pantera on here? Are you fvcking kidding me?

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:38 AM ET | IP Logged

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8. Drum_Junkie writes:

Minus the Mighty BLACK SABBATH???
huge WTF, right there! I know it is a list of the most influential "Rock" bands, but over the past 40 years, their influence has reached many different genres of music and life. Without them, there would be no Metallica (#1), Iron Maiden (#3), Slipknot (#4), BFMV (#7), Ozzy (#9), or Foo Fighters (#10). The remaining sh** bands on the list also owe their dues to Black Sabbath - at least indirectly.
For Kerrang to completely overlook the great ones that helped to start it all is inexcusable. They must be employing a bunch of 12year old girls.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:39 AM ET | IP Logged

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9. brandedcfh420 writes:

PEOPLE LOOK AT WHO DID THE POLL.....KERRANG. that alone tells you the people who responded to the poll are retarded to begin with and dont know the true legends that still inluence today...dont get worked up over it.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 10:24 AM ET | IP Logged

Podcaster/Writer

10. n0thinghead writes:

"voted on by Kerrang readers"... 14 yr old teens? 0.o why don't actual metalheads actually vote for stuff?? >;.>;

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:01 AM ET | IP Logged

11. JBenny5781 writes:

Stupidest top 10 ever. I can understand 1,2,3,9 and maybe 10 (outside shot) but wtf is with the rest. Who have they ever influenced to pick up an instrument and play....

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:02 AM ET | IP Logged

News Correspondent/Writer

12. sonictherapy writes:

Typical reader polls. Reminds me of another poll that one of these magazines did about the top 50 guitarists. The list had Kirk Hammet on it, but not Uli Jon Roth, Yngwie, Steve Morse or anyone truly good or technical. Basically, some 16 year old probably thought about what his favorite band was and wrote down the guitarist from it.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:09 AM ET | IP Logged

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13. brandedcfh420 writes:

I JUST NOTICED THE TITLE SAID "ROCK GROUP"....AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:35 AM ET | IP Logged

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14. Brucezombie writes:

Drum_Junkie, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking.

There's only 3 bands on this list who at one time or another actually played good music.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:52 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

15. RTB writes:

^ you beat me again B
thats the key word, " rock"...so i really dont GAF

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:55 AM ET | IP Logged

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16. MetalMattUK writes:

KERRANG is a pile of sh** stopped reading it years ago i read metal hammer much better Kerrang think Take that is rock for f***s sake lol they wouldnt know a metal band if it bit them on the ass

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 1:22 PM ET | IP Logged

17. THRASH TILL DEATH writes:

green day above maiden is a joke

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 1:59 PM ET | IP Logged

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18. btbamfav20 writes:

most i dont agree with, like Metallica more influential than Iron Maiden?? pffft
but i can see why Blink is on there though. when i was a kid, i was forced to listen to crappy 90's pop/rock music. Now, imagine being that naive in music lmao where u think that Shania Twains new song was kickin!! :D
Then i heard some Blink 182, and was very impressed! it was the first time i heard faster music, the lyrics are funny, and the music videos were even funnier.
Blink pulled back a laarge curtain over my eyes. After them it was the Offspring, then progressively heavier music started catching my attention more. Sum 41 was the 2nd transition band. "Pain For Pleasure" by sum 41 got me into iron Maiden, then i started listening to bands like Drowning Pool, Slipknot, and Mudvayne. Metallica i heard before, but no way were they responsible for getting me into the music i love today... They were always to me kind of just... there...
The rest was me searching the next heaviest riff and/or song. Necrophagist finished me off for being a 100% metal fan though, long live Necrophagist XD

NP: The Disappearing Sun - Chimaira

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 2:23 PM ET | IP Logged

19. EvilOne 71 writes:

Yeah, over the last 30 years, this is easily Metallica. Sabbath is owed a HUGE debt by ALL rock bands, but their influence was prior to 30 years ago. I began listening to Metallica in 1984, and they were without a doubt one of the biggest influences in my life, not just in music. They had a few bad years, but loyalty has never let me stray, and I still love that band as much as I ever have. Losing Jason and gaining Rob has breathed new life back into them and Death Magnetic is (in my opinion) their best album since Puppets. Long live 'tallica....well deserved.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 2:56 PM ET | IP Logged

20. woah woah woah writes:

WTFF? How is Metallica more influential than iron Maiden? How is that possible since Metallica was influenced by Iron Maiden. Blink 1-82??? My Chemical Romance, WTF???? Didn't Blink-182 have like one smash hit album in like '98??? Complete and utter garbage for pop/rock fan boys

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 3:26 PM ET | IP Logged

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21. Ryanopuffs writes:

Bullet for my Valentine... Influential?

Yeah, my left nut.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 3:35 PM ET | IP Logged

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22. silvermountains writes:

HA! this made me laugh, from Green Day to Bullet? Probably the most teeny bopper list I've ever seen. But as stated before it is Kerrang, what do they know?

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 4:52 PM ET | IP Logged

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23. metalfan653 writes:

These bands influence me. To feel the need of punching them in the face. Linkin Park? Really?

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 6:06 PM ET | IP Logged

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24. Overlord writes:

i lold.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 7:15 PM ET | IP Logged

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25. coldiem writes:

I have to agree that this list is, unsurprisingly, ridiculous. But here we go anyway...

I think people are searching their hearts too much in this debate. The fact of the matter is Metallica is a more accessible band than Iron Maiden is to most people. Cut and dried. Record sales don't lie. I love Iron Maiden like the rest of you, but just look at the numbers guys. Metallica's worst selling album has sold more copies than Iron Maiden's best selling album.

Assuming that Kerrang meant "more influential" in a quantitative sense, the answer is clear. The debate on "more influential" in a qualitative sense is a debate for another day and certainly not a magazine like Kerrang.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:24 PM ET | IP Logged

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26. Cynic writes:

I think it's more simple than that coldiem, this list is essentially what you get when you ask a bunch of 12-25 year olds rock/metal fans what the most influential bands of the last 30 years are, and they completely ignore you and just list their favourite bands.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:36 PM ET | IP Logged

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27. coldiem writes:

Well, I was thinking of this as more of an arbitrary list that they've come up with on their own rather than a poll of some sort. I guess I skipped the word "voted" in the headline and read "declared" in the article instead. Either way... the quantitative/qualitative argument still applies. LOL :P

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 10:39 PM ET | IP Logged

Former Contributor

28. Cynic writes:

Agreed! In fact they probably at least got Metallica right at no. 1 in that respect.

# Jun 2, 2011 @ 11:04 PM ET | IP Logged

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29. PROPHETOFDOOM13 writes:

" YOU MUST BE HIGH WHOEVER VOTE FOR THIS" THE 2 MOST INFLUENTIAL BANDS HANDS DOWN -BLACK SABBATH & THE ORIGINAL KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 1:46 AM ET | IP Logged

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30. ma91ck writes:

Gay. Pure buttlove gay. The kind if gay that anyone who voted for these bands most likely ate a whole bag of d***s afterward.

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 1:48 AM ET | IP Logged

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31. hellrat writes:

fvck man, if people are voting for original Sabbath and Kiss, then I'm going for LED FVCKING ZEPPELIN

ya'll hear that now?

NP---When the Levee Breaks---A real HEAVY motherfvcker!!!

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 4:21 AM ET | IP Logged

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32. hellrat writes:

oh, and I didn't know a reptilian serpent was capable of feeling 'warm and fuzzy'...isn't that an oxymoron? god, such paradox when it comes to ANYthing involving Sh!tallica or that crappy rag k-k-k-kerrang :)

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 4:26 AM ET | IP Logged

33. Teacher writes:

I cant stop laughing! Hahahahahaha, wtf is this? I can fully understand Metallica, Maiden and Ozzy, but... Green Day? Blink and Bullet? HAhahahahaha, what a joke! Linkin Park? Foo Fighters?

What about Sabbath? Priest? Slayer? Dio? Zepp? Most moronic poll ever... Kerrang is sh**. Also, comments talking trash about Metallica are also moronic. Get a life, Metallica was no1 and yes they influenced a whole genre.

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 5:14 AM ET | IP Logged

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34. WOLF7 writes:

I think the fact that Green Day was voted 2nd says quite a lot about who actually reads Kerrang.

Would be interesting to see how many votes they all got. I mean WHO reads Kerrang nowadays?? Did Metallica get like 30 votes total, Green Day 15 votes etc etc

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 5:19 AM ET | IP Logged

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35. R10 writes:

Hell, i can rember in jr. high buying a sh** metal rag called Hit Parader, and thier polls would have Motley Crue or Ratt at the top. No Priest,Maiden,or Metallica.Always a popularity contest. Yea,sh** list by Kerrang readers,but they hardly weild any influence anyway,so who cares!

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 8:00 AM ET | IP Logged

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36. fishingforfish writes:

Metallica is the greatest Metal band ever. Sabbath invented Metal. . Metallica perfected it . .

All you haters are a joke . . There is no better band on the face of gods green earth than Metallica.

Yeah lets keep crying because they "sold" out. . who the F--- cares .. You can't touch there first 5 Albums .. Nobody can.

Its easy for a younger generation that listens to SH--t music to go after an Older Metallica . .but make no mistake about it . . IN there Prime .. . no better band..

Don't you get it you younger fans. .METAL SUCKS now a days . .just because you play fast and scream like a moron . . its Doesn't make you Metal. !!

Also ,, 4 5 6 7 8 . should NOT be on the list . Slipnot Sucks . . Pantera . Slayer , Sabbath , Dio , and Priest should be up there

Peace . and F--k all the metal of the past 10 to 15 years . . Go back to the 80's and learn

ps . .All you Haters . .METAL UP YOUR A$$ . .its tough being number 1 . . METALLICA !!!!!!!!!!!

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 8:06 AM ET | IP Logged

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37. zMETALlica writes:

all of you keep in mind that 30 years only dates back to 1981. that means all those amazing 70s bands that DID influence most rock/metal of today, don't count.

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 8:21 AM ET | IP Logged

38. RobM writes:

OK Zepp, Sabbath, and Kiss were 70's. This is 80's and forward. In my opinion, bands that have been around less than 10 years should not even be in here.

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 9:50 AM ET | IP Logged

39. BP writes:

Avenged Sevenfold anyone??? MCR should not be on this list.

# Jun 3, 2011 @ 11:03 PM ET | IP Logged

40. slayer2049 writes:

f*** mettalica

# Jun 5, 2011 @ 11:49 AM ET | IP Logged

41. babydoll writes:

Where the f*** is Nirvana!!! They started the whole Seattle grunge movement, if they're not #1 then they should be #2!

# Jun 15, 2011 @ 7:17 PM ET | IP Logged

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Metallica Voted "Most Influential Rock Group" By Kerrang Magazine

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