First heavy metal song?

[cjefferys]

I disagree, genres and style (not just music) usually begin to exist before a name is attached to them. Heavy metal is no exception.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think I would go with steppen wolfs "born to be wild" also from 68.

Well, I think that's the first song the name is mentioned, anyway:

"I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder..."

Chris

[grayhank]

I think I'd go with Vanilla Fudge's version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" from 1967 or Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida" from 1968.

[fallensaviour]

Where is Wrath he can straighten out this whole mess!!!

[fallensaviour]

To me, Born to Be Wild was just regular rock -- or the beginning of hard rock -- not metal

Funny I thought hard rock was the begining of metal?

[4NDR01D]

YouTube - the kinks- you really got me

[kingdom warrior]

For me it's Helter Skelter.....Paul wanted to write something that was dirtier and heavier than they ever did before.

The Opening screaming guitar. Heavy bass line. The Strong drums and Distorted Guitars.I don't remember any rock song sounding like that song before it.

Many Heavy Metal bands have covered it to add to it.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

If you've seen "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" Sam Dunn traces metal back to Vivaldi.

Don C.

[Joe90]

I think I'd go with Vanilla Fudge's version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" from 1967 or Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida" from 1968.

Ditto.

In A Gadda Da Vida

[saildog]

Hmmmm....

If you've seen "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" Sam Dunn traces metal back to Vivaldi.

Don C.

Yeah, it's definitely a progression as artists worked with elements that make up what now defines Heavy Metal all along the way. I think that Link Wray had elements of Heavy Metal in some of his music from the late 50's (power chords, distortion).

Finding the beginning and pointing to the "first Heavy Metal song" is subjective and impossible to nail down. Good arguments can be made for any number of songs. Heck, people can't even agree on the first Rock and Roll song and similar to the term "Heavy Metal" being used in "Born to Be Wild", the term "Rock and Roll" was used in recorded songs as far back as 1916. Rock and Roll was around loooong before Elvis Presley or Bill Haley and the Comets.