One would think that collecting a list of the best selling heavy metal albums of all time would be an easy task. I suppose it is, but probably the hardest part is defining a “heavy metal” album. I went for the broad definition. Some would argue that some of the albums are not heavy metal at all, but more classic rock, blues or hard rock, or even pop. Piss off is all I can say to you who want to make that argument. You are welcome to your own opinion. We would be happy to publish an alternative list if you compile it. Then there is the whole thing about sales figures. Who really know? No one really knows for sure, but here’s what we’ve come up with based on our resources. The list is best guesses.
Do you think I should have included Nirvana? Do you think I should have excluded Led Zeppelin? I know you hate to see Bon Jovi on the list. Tough. You forgot about Iron Butterfly didn’t you? You should all have these albums in your collection, save maybe Slippery When Wet.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide
http://www.timefm.co.uk/bestselling-albums/
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Most of those bands are NOT heavy metal.
Certainly NOT Def Leppard, AC DC, Led Zeppelin or Bon Jovi. Love Led Zep, but they are NOT heavy metal !
The only band on your list that is heavy metal is Metallica and even then not all their albums.
See… here’s one guy already wanting to argue
I suppose we could classify St. Anger as not heavy metal. We’ll call it bullocks for lack of a better word.
take a look at metal-archives.com and you’ll see which bands from the list above are considered to be metal. just TWO BANDS and you won’t ever guess who the second one is!
btw, why isn’t there a top 50 list or so? would be interesting to know where the real metalmonsters like sabbath, maiden, priest, slayer, megadeth … can be found!
burden of grief–just tell us which on the list is metal according to metal archives. I think there should be a 50 best selling heavy metal albums list. Who wants to compile that based on the numbers?
BTW, don’t give me that crap about defining heavy metal by the number of drum beats and how fast it is. That makes it just speed metal.
Let’s ask Sandy Pearlman what heavymetal is, after all he did coin the phrase in a Blue Oyster Cult song.
When the hell did Bon Jovi started singing Heavy Metal. Worst heavy metal list ever ….. lol…. def leppard …. heavy metal ….. what is ur definition of heavy metal ….
What is your definition of heavy metal? The term heavy metal is ambiguous at best. Some think that it is only speed metal…some think that punk is heavy metal. Why wouldn’t Led Zeppelin be considered heavy metal? Some think that Led Zeppelin invented heavy metal. If they invented it why wouldn’t they be a heavy metal band? When Bon Jovi first started making records, the media dubbed them Pop Metal much like Van Halen at the time. They were still considered pop metal at the time of the release of Slippery When Wet. Def Leppard was considered part of NWOBHM movement when they came on the scene. They diverged from that somewhat but was still considered by the media to be a Heavy Metal act on the release of Hysteria even though it was quite commercial in nature.
Heavy metal is a moving target. There is all sorts of heavy metal. And heavy metal has changed with the times like most everything. This list was compiled with the broadest definition and relies on popular definition at the time of the release.
The definition of Heavy Metal is defined by a set of rules that exclude selected bands, thereby making your favorite band come out on top.
Well said, Erik.
This list does go by the numbers. I had to exclude my favorite heavy metal bands from this list.
Most all of the bands on this list are not Heavy Metal… Have you ever heard of a band named Pantera and Far Beyond Driven? I rest my case…
Scott,
Those are great heavy metal bands, but they just don’t have the sells. Please see the previous comments about the “definition” of heavy metal.
Actually Blackdog the term Heavy Metal was coined by John Kay and Steppenwolf in the song “Born to be wild” in 1968. The lyric is: I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder, racing in the wind…..
BOC’s first album wasn’t released until 1972. But as to your point of what is “Metal”? Any music With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock of the late 60’s and early 70’s, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound.
Hemihead… Thanks for dropping the comments and thanks for tuning in on the Podcast. I would have to check my facts, but I think Sandy Pearlman did coin the phrase in Crawdaddy. Either way both Steppenwolf and BOC had a lot to do with the early development of what would later be known as heavy metal.
AC/DC is the greatest rock artist of all time And led zeppelin is heavy meatal have you heard Whole Lotta Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You dont need a list to tell you Led Zep where the best heavy metal band why do you think so many bands copy them yes the did folk and the blues too but that just added to the appeal… btw what happen to guns n roses im surprised there not in the list they sold loads?
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fucking bisrock
i also iring kabang
well, carlos is right. btw, i’ve just heared
The Best Selling Heavy Metal Albums of all time list from this post. thanks for your info…
Blackdog, thanks for this list…
I have finally compiled a list of the all-time top selling metal albums (Platinum and above), but based only on RIAA data. The list is here:
http://theaceblackblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/music-all-time-best-selling-heavy-metal.html
aceblack1965´s last blog ..Music: All-Time Best Selling Heavy Metal Albums
AC/DC IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE LARGEST SELLING HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL BAND IN THE WORLD…. BY THE NUMBERS NO ONE ELSE EVEN COMES CLOSE.
WHICH EVER WAY THEY ARE CLASSIFIED THEY ARE THE MONSTERS OF ROCK..