10 Greatest Shock Rock Acts

The granddaddy of shock rock, ladies and gentlemen! At the tail end of the 60's, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown made waves in the counterculture by bringing a macabre twist into rock music. The intensity of his tracks not only caused a stir amongst the hippy crowd but also foreshadowed the emerging heavy metal scene by a few years. His live shows were also radical at the time, featuring graphic imagery and even Brown himself incorporating a fiery headdress while performing.

While many point to Brown as a one-hit wonder figure, his influence extends far beyond just one song. His theatrics of wearing what would be called "corpse paint" had a huge impact on visual connoisseurs from David Bowie to Peter Gabriel. In addition, his singing style, which favored more high-pitched screams, was aped by many different heavy metal vocalists from Mercyful Fate's King Diamond to Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson.

Brown became so popular that he was able to nab a huge hit with "Fire," which was kept off the number one slot by the Beatles' "Hey Jude." While never able to gain back the initial traction, Arthur Brown is rightfully regarded today as a true shock rock innovator.