Along with Eddie Van Halen, Kiss' Ace Frehley inspired numerous up-and-coming rockers to pick up the guitar in the 1970s -- and come the '90s, was listed by just about every contemporary rock guitarist (Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Pantera's Dimebag Darrell, etc.) as an important influence. Born Paul Frehley on April 27,... [+] Read More

Yes No

Angel was a '70s heavy metal band based on the East Coast featuring singer Frank DiMino, guitarist Punky Meadows, and keyboard player Greg Giuffria. They had their biggest success in 1978 with the album White Hot, which featured their Top 50 cover of "Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore." The group broke up after the release of Can You Feel It,... [+] Read More

Yes No

One of the most promising '80s supergroups that never was, England's Fastway was never quite able to come to grips with their sonic identity, and despite a promising start, in the end their career was an almost absolute flameout.

Following his acrimonious departure from metal legend Motörhead, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke wasted no... [+] Read More

Yes No

Finland's major export to the world of heavy metal, Hanoi Rocks, drew much of their sound and inspiration from '70s glam-rock and were thought by some to have fused the two styles more successfully than similar acts such as Motley Crue. Hanoi Rocks was founded in 1980 by singer Michael Monroe (born Matti Fagerholm) and guitarist Andy McCoy (born... [+] Read More

Yes No

Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry... [+] Read More

Yes No

One of two solo stars to spring from the ashes of the '70s all-girl hard rock band the Runaways, Lita Ford has long been a more frustrating, contradictory proposition for critics than former colleague Joan Jett. Ford is subtly feminist in her musical approach, displaying guitar heroics on the level of any male metal hero; the mere fact of her... [+] Read More

Yes No

Lynyrd Skynyrd was the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger. Skynyrd never relied on the jazzy improvisations of the Allman Brothers. Instead, they were a hard-living, hard-driving rock & roll band -- they may have jammed endlessly on-stage, but their... [+] Read More

Yes No

Starz were a mid-'70s pop-metal band consisting of lead singer Michael Lee Smith (brother of Rex Smith), guitarists Richie Ranno and Brenden Harkin, bassist Peter Sweval, and drummer Joe X. Dube. They had several singles scrape the bottom ranges of the chart. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Yes No

Vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker formed the British space metal outfit UFO in 1969. Originally known as Hocus Pocus, the group, which took the name UFO in honor of a London club, debuted in 1971 with UFO 1. Both the album and its follow-up, the same year's UFO 2 -- Flying, found great success... [+] Read More

Yes No