Heavy Metal Thunder: The Music, Its History, Its Heroes (Paperback)

In one of the earliest definitive studies of the genre, former music magazine editor and writer Philip Bashe dives into the origins of heavy metal rock, compiling a fascinating history and timeline of its pioneering bands.

In this insightful study, Bashe--the former editor of both International Musician & Recording World and Circus magazines--dissects the style, tracing its origins from Link Wray's 1954 guitar distortions on "Rumble," to the first true heavy metal single: the Kinks' 1964 "You Really Got Me."

In addition to the genre's high-volume, high-drama history, Bashe illuminates the songs and performances of ten of the most lauded groups in heavy metal history, all of whom were interviewed at length for Heavy Metal Thunder:

• Black Sabbath
• Judas Priest
• Scorpions
• Rush
• AC/DC
• Van Halen
• Iron Maiden
• Def Leppard
• Quiet Riot
• Mötley Crüe

Featuring a foreword by Judas Priest front man Rob Halford, as well as dozens of photos, Heavy Metal Thunder also includes a chronology and discography for collectors.

Readers interested in related titles from Philip Bashe will also want to see: Dog Days (ISBN: 1635615739).