Geoff Barton

Operatic indulgence, heavy-duty politicising, sabre-rattling polemics and songs you can dance to, welcome to the strange world of System Of A Down

As humanity celebrates 50 years of heavy metal, here’s half a century’s worth of pioneering heavy music, from the classics to the contemporary hard-hitters

Mock muggings, sexual advances and sweat stains were all part of the Vinegar Joe story – along with some blistering British blues-rock. But one member was plotting to leave...

So who were the most important band to emerge from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal? Iron Maiden? Def Leppard? Nope. It was Venom, Geordie Devil-worshippers who invented a brand-new genre

Def Leppard's career took a serious turn 35 years ago, when they signed a major record deal. But their second single was to create controversy

She grew up in Detroit with Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent, but became a glam-rock superstar in The UK: it's Suzi Quatro

After two Australia-only album releases, it was time to look abroad, and a compilation was AC/DC's first step towards global fame

Ten vital videos from Jake E Lee's three-decade ride on rock's great merry-go-round

Ozzy’s career with Black Sabbath lasted for almost the entire 1970s – and it changed rock forever. Here he looks back over the decade that made his career, invented heavy metal, and more.