Headbanger Essentials

Metal fans don’t agree on who invented or popularised headbanging in the ’70s—suggested culprits include Ozzy Osbourne, Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan and AC/DC’s Angus Young. It’s much clearer what makes a song headbang-worthy. Monstrous riffs and epic electric guitar flourishes are a good start, as are gigantic-sounding drums and brisk, steady grooves. If those descriptors appear to describe mainstream hard rockers Judas Priest and Van Halen, or hair-metal kingpins Skid Row, you’d certainly be right. However, as thrash metal and sludgier hard rock started proliferating in the ’80s and ’90s, grade-A headbangers also took on new forms. Frantic early songs by Metallica and Iron Maiden introduced speedier tempos; Pantera induced slow-motion whiplash with heavy, hulking riffage; and Kyuss’ fuzzed-out stoner rock blazed a stampeding new trail.