# What band can be defined as the archetypal heavy metal band?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 2, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206 "2004-02-02T17:18:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206/61 "2004-02-06T06:51:29Z")

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I actually liked a lot of the work that Ronnie James Dio did with Sabbath. the _Heaven and Hell_ album in particular was pretty good. I liked the title song and “Children of the Sea” from that album.

Ian Gillan (formerly of Deep Purple) also did one decent album with them.

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206/62 "2004-02-06T16:33:30Z")

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Of the following, who is closest to being the archetypal heavy metal vocalist?

Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)  
Tarja Turunen (Nightwish)  
Glen Benton (Deicide)  
Ihsahn (Emperor)  
Seth Putnam (Anal Cunt)  
Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

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**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206/63 "2004-02-06T16:40:13Z")

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Another vote for **Black Sabbath**.

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**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206/64 "2004-02-06T16:56:46Z")

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Back when I was talking about acid rock bands I forgot to mention Vanilla Fudge.

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**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-band-can-be-defined-as-the-archetypal-heavy-metal-band/227206/65 "2004-02-06T21:07:29Z")

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> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#):
>
> I actually liked a lot of the work that Ronnie James Dio did with Sabbath. the _Heaven and Hell_ album in particular was pretty good. I liked the title song and “Children of the Sea” from that album.
> 
> Ian Gillan (formerly of Deep Purple) also did one decent album with them.

“Neon Knights”, “Heaven and Hell”, “Children of the Sea”. I have just listed all the good songs RJD did with Sabbath. I try not to think about _Mob Rules_ too much. Dio’s voice and lyrical style just didn’t sit well on the Iommi/Butler musical style.

Ian Gillan did one album with them, period. It was a pretty good one, tthough. (“Zero the Hero” remains near the top of my list of favorite Sabbath songs)

Um, see what I mean about Black Sabbath being a purgatory for singers who have gotten on Ritchie Blackmore’s bad side? Ian Gillan did his penance, then Deep Purple got back together for one good album, and a couple of really mediocre ones…

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