1978 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1978.

Bands formed

• Amebix
• Ampage
• Anvil (as Lips)
• Blind Illusion
• Bodine
• Cockney Rejects
• Christopher Lee
• E.F. Band
• Earthshaker
• Electric Sun
• Exciter
• Fist
• Fortune
• Gamma
• Gillan
• Girlschool
• Grand Prix
• Leño
• London
• Mama's Boys
• Mike Reno
• Messiah Prophet
• New England
• Nightwing
• Pagan Altar
• Pendragon
• Plasmatics
• Riblja Čorba
• Savage
• Survivor
• Trespass
• The Exploited
• Tommy Tutone
• The Next Band
• Tygers of Pan Tang
• Vanexa
• Venom
• Whitesnake
• Wild Horses
• Wrathchild America
• Yngwie Malmsteen

Bands disbanded

• Ian Gillan Band
• Lone Star
• Ram Jam
• Sex Pistols

Events

• Vocalist Ozzy Osbourne had a change of heart and returned to Black Sabbath after leaving abruptly the year before.
• Gary Moore embarked on his third and final stint as Thin Lizzy's guitarist, replacing Brian Robertson.
• Paul Di'Anno took over as Iron Maiden's vocalist, succeeding Dennis Wilcock.
• Original Def Leppard drummer Tony Kenning departed the band, making way for Rick Allen, who, at just 15 years old, became their permanent drummer.
• Uli Jon Roth parted ways with Scorpions due to creative differences, leading to Matthias Jabs joining as his replacement.
• Guitarist Michael Shenker left UFO and rejoined Scorpions.

Deaths

• January 23 – Terry Alan Kath, founder and guitarist of Chicago, died from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the age of 31.
• September 7 – Keith John Moon, founding member and drummer of The Who, died from an overdose of clomethiazole at the age of 32.

Albums

February

March

April

May

June

August

September

October

November

December

Unknown release date

References