Motörhead

Motörhead played rock and roll as loud and fast as it would go, and refused to be called a metal band. Lemmy's growled vocals and distorted, chord-heavy bass, fresh from Hawkwind, drove the band, with 'Fast' Eddie Clarke's guitar and Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor's pounding drums completing the classic line-up.

Overkill and Bomber blurred punk and metal, Ace of Spades gave them their anthem, and the live No Sleep 'til Hammersmith went to number one in the UK. They were a huge influence on thrash metal, and kept touring and recording until Lemmy's death in 2015.