10 Most Important Metal Bands Of All Time

10. Van Halen

Towards the end of the '70s, metal had certainly come a long way from the blues tradition from which it was birthed. Instead of playing just a typical expansion on the regular blues sound, these new bands were taking the next step in musical evolution and bringing more intense playing to the table. Though a lot of bands may have been heavier than Van Halen, heavy metal would not exist in its present state without them.

Emerging after being discovered by KISS' Gene Simmons, Van Halen were one of the main draws coming from California with one of the greatest guitarists in the world in tow. Instead of cribbing from jazz or classical, Eddie Van Halen was one of those rare guitar players who didn't sound like anybody else. Taking the initial glam rock style of the day to mammoth proportions, each party anthem these guys played became unstoppable with the intense tapping solos going on just underneath.

When this amazing playing paired with the charismatic stage presence of David Lee Roth, the world had found their next favourite metal band. Van Halen may get the credit (or blame) for starting the hair metal movement, but their tunes went beyond just '80s fashion and quickly became adopted as some of the greatest hard rock tunes ever written.