Best Heavy Metal One-Hit Wonders
In honor of fun metal one-offs, Audio Ink Radio presents its roster of the best heavy metal one-hit wonders. – Author: Anne Erickson, Courtesy photo of Autograph
Heavy metal certainly isn’t a genre known for its one-hit wonders. Metal, by definition, usually means the band has a plethora of music and worked their way up the old-fashioned way, but releasing music and playing shows for years before hitting it big. But, looking at the history of metal music, there are a bevy of metal one-hit wonders. These songs struck a chord with metal fans around the world, and they ended up being the most popular song from said band.
There’s nothing wrong with being a one-hit wonder band, even in heavy metal. It also doesn’t mean that your career ended after that hit arrived, because many of these bands kept making music, just not to the chart-topping level as that hit. In honor of these fun one-offs, Audio Ink Radio presents its roster of the best heavy metal one-hit wonders.
Heavy Metal One-Hit Wonders
American Head Charge, “Just So You Know”
So, American Head Charge is more industrial metal than heavy metal, but either way, they hit it big with 2001’s “Just So You Know.” This track is an industrial metal gem, complete with spinning electronics and heavy riffing. It was by far their biggest hit.
Autograph, “Turn Up the Radio”
Autograph released “Turn Up the Radio” in 1984, and it was their lead single off their debut album, “Sign In Please.” Any band would love their debut single to do as well as “Turn Up the Radio,” seeing that the heavy song peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a huge hit for the band and bolstered their early career. They have kept making new music and rocking throughout the years, too.
Green Jellÿ, “Three Little Pigs”
Comedy metal always has a special place in the musical landscape, and while bands like Tenacious D did it for a long time, Green Jellÿ had its moment. This comedy metal band featured Tool drummer Danny Carey, and this song is a take on the favorite children’s tale, “Three Little Pigs.” The track even adds rock and metal heavyweights Maynard James Keenan, Les Claypool and Pauly Shore and climbed up the charts. Green Jelly broke up in 1993 but got back together in 2008, so there are more songs out there, just none of them quite as big as “Three Little Pigs.”
Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”
Iron Butterfly was a very early metal band, even around before Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut in 1970. San Diego’s Iron Butterfly crafted a very influential song in 1968’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which went on to influence countless heavy metal bands to follow. It’s so wild to think that this band was metal before Black Sabbath even made metal a thing.
Kix, “Don’t Close Your Eyes”
Kix scored a Billboard Hot 100 hit with 1988’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s an emotional song about mental health and more and really resonated with metal and rock fans at the time.
So, there are some of the greatest one-hit wonders in heavy metal. What about great reunions? For more rock and metal fun, check out the best classic rock reunions.
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