
- The 1980s marked a commercial boom for metal music, with the rise of subgenres like thrash and glam metal, leading to widespread popularity and commercial success.
- MTV played a crucial role in popularizing metal music, especially glam metal, through visually engaging music videos that connected bands with a global audience.
- Metal bands achieved significant chart success with albums and singles, highlighting the genre’s commercial peak during the decade.
The Commercial Surge of ’80s Metal
The 1980s heralded a remarkable commercial boom for metal music, an era that witnessed the genre’s significant evolution and diversification. This decade is often venerated as a defining epoch for hard rock and metal, marking the birth of various subgenres such as thrash metal, glam metal (also known as hair metal), death metal, and black metal. Each of these styles contributed uniquely to the genre’s broad appeal and commercial triumph.
Iconic bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC, which laid the foundational stones in the ’70s, continued their legacy into the ’80s with influential albums that further cemented their status in the rock and metal music. Meanwhile, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), burgeoning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, played a pivotal role in the genre’s explosive popularity. The NWOBHM, characterized by a fresh and energetic sound, laid the groundwork for the metal music boom, revitalizing the scene with a raw, powerful energy that appealed to a wide audience.
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a catalyst, igniting the metal scene with unprecedented vigor.
Spawning as many as a thousand bands, NWOBHM was crucial in rejuvenating the metal scene. Among the plethora of bands that emerged, only a select few, such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, managed to achieve enduring success. These bands not only achieved critical acclaim but also enjoyed commercial success, captivating massive audiences both in the UK and internationally. Despite limited chart success, other bands like Diamond Head and Venom played instrumental roles in influencing the extreme metal subgenres that would gain prominence towards the late ’80s and ’90s.
As the decade progressed, bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax brought thrash metal to the forefront, distinguishing themselves with fast-paced rhythms and aggressive lyrics. Concurrently, glam metal bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Bon Jovi dominated airwaves, charts, and MTV, creating a global phenomenon. Glam metal, known for its catchy hooks, anthemic choruses, and power ballads, achieved mainstream success and appealed to a broader audience.
The visually striking style of glam metal bands, characterized by their use of makeup, flashy clothing, and elaborate hairdos, was perfectly suited for the era of music television. MTV, in particular, played a significant role in popularizing the genre, broadcasting music videos that showcased the theatrical performances of these bands, further propelling metal into the commercial stratosphere.
The 1980s also witnessed significant changes within the music industry itself. The corporatization of record companies and the advent of music television, especially MTV, were instrumental in promoting metal bands and their music videos to a global audience. The commercial success of metal during this era was not solely about album sales; it also involved merchandise, sponsored tours, and soundtrack albums, transforming rock music into a valuable form of intellectual property and capital.
The Rise of Metal Music in the MTV Generation
The advent of MTV in 1981 marked a seismic shift in the music industry, fundamentally transforming how metal bands connected with their audiences. This groundbreaking platform enabled artists to reach an unprecedented audience through visually engaging music videos, amplifying their appeal far beyond the traditional confines of the genre.
Glam metal, with its visually captivating aesthetic, was particularly well-positioned to leverage this new medium. The genre’s hallmark—power ballads—with their emotional crescendos and anthemic finales, resonated with a wide audience, driving the commercial success of numerous singles and propelling glam metal bands to the pinnacle of the 1980s music scene.
MTV’s launch turned visually appealing metal bands into mainstream sensations, altering the music industry landscape forever.
Bands such as Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi not only gained massive exposure through heavy rotation on MTV but also became emblematic figures of the MTV era. Their success story is proof of the network’s unparalleled reach and its ability to elevate bands to new heights of fame and commercial achievement.
Cinderella and Poison, known for their catchy tunes, flamboyant fashion, and dynamic performances, exemplify the glam metal bands that thrived under the spotlight of MTV. Cinderella’s journey, particularly with their albums “Night Songs” and the follow-up “Long Cold Winter,” showcases the profound impact MTV had on the genre. The power ballad “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” from “Long Cold Winter” climbed to number 12 on the charts, with the album itself achieving multi-platinum status. This success was bolstered by heavy touring and the strategic release of singles by their record label, all amplified by MTV’s promotion.
Similarly, Poison’s ascent to stardom underscores the potent combination of MTV exposure and glam metal’s intrinsic appeal. Their album “Open Up And Say… Ahh!” peaked at No.2 on the Billboard 200, propelled by hits like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” epitomizing the MTV-driven success story. The album’s worldwide sales of over 8 million copies, alongside the continued success of “Flesh & Blood,” cemented Poison’s status as icons of the glam metal movement.
Metal’s Chart-Topping Triumphs
Throughout the 1980s, metal bands not only dominated the airwaves and MTV but also made a significant impact on music charts, further showcasing their commercial success through chart-topping hits and best-selling albums. Bands like Def Leppard and Van Halen vividly demonstrated this success, with singles and albums that became cultural touchstones of the decade.
Def Leppard’s journey through the ’80s charts was marked by singles like “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages,” both reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. These tracks underscored the band’s widespread appeal and commercial triumph during an era dominated by heavy metal and hard rock.
Similarly, Van Halen’s “Jump” spent an impressive 8 weeks at the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1984. This achievement showcased the band’s significant impact on the rock scene during the decade, blending technical prowess with mainstream accessibility.
Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction” underscored the era’s defining albums, shaping the soundtrack of the 1980s.
Metallica, emerging as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s, marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of thrash metal with their third album, “Master of Puppets.” Although it did not top the Billboard 200 upon its initial release, its enduring significance and sales have made it a landmark album, eventually being certified 6x Platinum in the U.S.
Guns N’ Roses debuted with “Appetite for Destruction” in 1987, achieving massive commercial success. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling debut albums in history.
Def Leppard continued to capture the hearts of fans with their fourth album, “Hysteria” (1987), reaching No. 1 on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. The album, which spawned seven hit singles including “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Love Bites,” has been certified 12x Platinum in the U.S.
Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet” (1986) marked a zenith for glam metal, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spending 8 weeks at the top. With hits like “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name,” the album contributed to its 12x Platinum certification in the U.S.
Lastly, AC/DC’s “Back in Black” (1980), although released at the dawn of the decade, became a monumental success and stands as one of the highest-selling albums of all time. The RIAA has certified it 25x Platinum in the U.S., featuring iconic tracks like “You Shook Me All Night Long” and the title track “Back in Black.”
The decade was truly a commercially golden era for metal, characterized by groundbreaking albums and singles that continue to resonate with fans around the world.