The first time you realized heavy riffs and wailing leads were your jam?

[Podaar]

Yesterday, while driving home from the office, Mississippi Queen by Mountain came on the radio. Briefly it took me back to the Summer of '70 when I was nine years old and my best friend's father bought a used '68 AMC Javelin. He'd parked in the driveway while he was washing and waxing it. Brent (the friend) and I were goofing around, lobbing lawn darts at each other in friendly attempt to skewer each other...when I heard the coolest sound coming from the Javelin's radio. I loved it and wanted more.

Unfortunately, the rest of Mountain Climbing! wasn't quite as cool, but it sent me on a path to Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Amboy Dukes (Ted Nugent), ZZ Top, Blue Oyster Cult, Nazareth, Rush, and Judas Priest.

[bosk1]

I believe the exact day was December 2, 1983.  I can be that specific because I know the exact series of events, and they are easy to pinpoint to that exact day.  My family and I were gathered around the TV waiting for the world premier on MTV of Michael Jackson's Thriller video.  One of the videos played in the leadup to that was Def Leppard's Rock of Ages.  My reaction was basically this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW9lHOMVFaY

From that moment on, I knew.

Yeah, Def Leppard isn't what many would consider "heavy" nowadays.  But they were at the time.  And that guitar-based hard rock was really the basis for what I ended up liking to this day, even though I have over time gravitated to music that is much heavier than that.  That day is easily the most defining day of my musical tastes.

[Buddyhunter1]

I heard Panic Attack and Painkiller when they were featured in Rock Band 2 back in like, 2007 or 2008. The rest is history.

[The Walrus]

Welcome to the Jungle. I was like 10 years old I think. I don't recall ever hearing the song before then, but if I did, that moment was one of those moments you never forget, where the song just clicks and your taste is forever changed after that. That riff, Axl's voice, the dangerous energy that hints at chaos and violence right around the corner, inject it right into my veins.

[MirrorMask]

Does hard rock count?

I discovered as a young teen that there was this called foreign music when I discovered Bon Jovi with Always, that was playing all over the radio. Bon Jovi was my first musical introduction into "heavy" stuff, followed by Guns n' Roses.

Then I discovered Iron Maiden and my musical world changed forever.

All of this happened in 1994-95. Started to listen to Bon Jovi and then Guns n' Roses and then in September 1995, back at school, I discovered Iron Maiden, all of this happened thanks to a schoolmate who was making me cassette tapes, in compilations style (so to this day I can never answer the question about "my first Maiden album" or "my first Metallica album", it was all compilations on tapes)

[TAC]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

[The Walrus]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

Ohhh, this explains A LOT. 

[El Barto]

Early 1981 when Back in Black, Hell's Bells, And the Cradle Will rock, Crazy Train, and I Don't Know were all over the radio. It was a pretty good year for turning impressionable 10 year olds on to badass music. Late 85/early 86 changed things again when Spreading the Disease and Master of Puppets came out. I'd been somewhat into Metallica since Ride, but Master was the album that really sucked me in.

[jingle.boy]

From the '7 songs for 7 days thread'

And to wrap it up ...

Day 7:
The song that had the most profound impact on my life.  Growing up, neither of my parents were all that in to music, so I just kinda wandered musically, never really finding anything that I could get truly connected to.  I had to discover things myself, and ultimately ended up on pop stuff like Wham, Madonna, Culture Club, Cindy Lauper etc...  Sure, there were some bouts of Supertramp, Yes, Halen, but only their fluffy songs that made it on to top 40 radio in the early/mid 80s.

It was 1986, and my older brother had just bought a new stereo with a CD player (those were brand new at the time).  He pops in Led Zeppelin IV, and I'm like wtf with the little wah wah wah wah opening.  Then Bobby Plant chimes in and I'm  with his god-like voice.  It changed my musical tastes forever.  Up to that point, I was a wussy little teenager listening to all that poppy crap. 

Zeppelin is still, and always will be, my favourite band.  Have the four symbols on my left shoulder, which makes it so forever.  Black Dog may not be my favorite Zeppelin song, hell, it probably isn't even top 10 for me, but it changed my musical life forever.  At the time, my parents had just split up, and I was turning into a 'problem' teenager - I just didn't give a crap about anything.  I was kinda lost, not really fitting in anywhere or with anything.  Hearing this gave me wonder, appreciation, awe, inspiration, amazement, desire, drive, determination and probably a whole host of other emotions.  It breathed life into me again.  Gave me a purpose.  Made me a fan of something - ultimately it gave me something to love - music.  Nowadays, I don't go anywhere or do pretty much anything without music.  Grocery shopping?  Gotta have my music.  Dog walking?  Music.  Working?  Music.  Chores?  Tunes.  I have spare earbuds planted all over the place, just to be sure there's a pair always handy.  It sometimes drives mrs.jingle nuts ... "take your headphones out and be part of the family!".

[Adami]

I was like 13 getting ready to take a shower and The Memory Remains by Metallica came on. Then I was hooked on Metallica (still am) and then eventually friends got me into Dream Theater, Symphony X, Queensryche, etc. and it kept going.

[cramx3]

Not sure if these bands have wailing leads, but the first "heavy" guitars I heard and fell in love with were in 4th grade (1994) when Green Day's Dookie hit the mainstream radios and around the same time was Offspring's Smash.  Both albums had a bunch of hits and were really heavy for me as a kid.  I loved them, moreso Offspring.  Not sure what song was the first that got me into it all though.  Maybe Green Day's Longview since I think that was the first single from either album.

[Stadler]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

It was hearing Love Gun, but yeah.   Kiss Alive II was likely the first record I bought with my own money, though.   

[The Walrus]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

It was hearing Love Gun, but yeah.   Kiss Alive II was likely the first record I bought with my own money, though.

Love Gun!!  Have you seen this movie? Were you the little kid when you saw that record?  I'll never NOT think of this scene when you talk about KISS.

[Stadler]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

It was hearing Love Gun, but yeah.   Kiss Alive II was likely the first record I bought with my own money, though.

Love Gun!!  Have you seen this movie? Were you the little kid when you saw that record?  I'll never NOT think of this scene when you talk about KISS.

For the record I think it was 5th grade for me; might have been 4th, but it was a friend bringing Love Gun into school and us listening to it during a break in a class.

As for the movie, I've never seen that. That is HILARIOUS.   

"I didn't know Jews could sing like that?  No, no, they couldn't. That's why they had to dress like clowns!"

"See Ronnie?  His dick is the gun!"

Other than the "Jew reference" part, I think I've had that conversation before though. 

[Stadler]

It's not one event though.  Kiss was the FIRST in terms of awareness, but then it was seeing Iron Maiden live and seeing the energy that can be created by people playing music.  Then it was playing/singing live in front of my high school and having people that didn't give me the time o'day before actually knowing who I was.   Then it was sitting at a party at college with a cheap guitar, badly tuned and playing "Stairway To Heaven" crudely, and having it lead directly to sex.   

I imagine other genres affect others the same way, but for me, rock has a primal power to it that can't really be explained.

[Kwyjibo]

I had heard the occasional (hard) rock tune by AC/DC, Deep Purple, Van Halen etc., but it were two different riffs that got me hooked.
The Owner Of A Lonely Heart opening riff, before the band comes in and that Money For Nothing riff, after the keyboard/drum build-up. I was 14/15 at the time and while both songs/riffs weren't really crushingly heavy, those riffs drew me in. They sounded hot, had a hint of rebellion and just flat out blew me away.
That's when I realized, that the electric guitar was the coolest instrument on earth and I went actively searching for songs with cool riffs.
First came the hard rock bands, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Whitesnake and the older ones like Led Zep, Deep Purple and so on, and that led to metal with Anthrax, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Metallica.

And to this day I get goose bumps when that opening riff of Money For Nothing is played.

[TAC]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

It was hearing Love Gun, but yeah.   Kiss Alive II was likely the first record I bought with my own money, though.

Love Gun!!  Have you seen this movie? Were you the little kid when you saw that record?  I'll never NOT think of this scene when you talk about KISS.

That's hilarious. No, I've never seen that before.

[MoraWintersoul]

I got my first computer (or should I say, my brother got one) in 2002, and it was loaded with great music, because that was the way of the pirate  Rock music and pop music. A lot of it I liked, Queen quickly became my favorite band. So I already had "a taste in music", and I was aware metal existed, it just wasn't on my radar yet.

The year was 2005, I was 13, getting ready for school in the AM, lifting up a spoonful of sugary cereal to my mouth, when a local TV channel played the video for Iron Maiden's Rainmaker during their music video hour. That riff can still knock me out today, but back then? Whew. I was gone, no turning back. Probably busted out my first headbang Got my brother to download us the discography of every hard rock and classic metal band known to man.

Been tuned into the scene ever since.

[King Postwhore]

God of Thunder, KISS.   It was evil in a heavy way and I was hoooked.

[Lowdz]

Bought KISS Alive II in the 4th grade. The rest is history.

This was the album that started it for me as a twelve year old. Saw their pictures in the comics I used to read and was intrigued. One double album later and that was it.

[bl5150]

My first ever album was Kiss Killers (1982) aged 7  - most of their biggest hits and 4 exclusive tracks , some of which remained amongst my favourite songs of theirs  (Nowhere To Run etc..)

I have barely bought an album that isn't rock/metal since.

[TAC]

Nowhere To Run is awesome. As is I'm a Legend Tonight.

[bl5150]

Nowhere To Run is awesome. As is I'm a Legend Tonight.

Yep.  This is "peak Paul" for me in terms of his vocals.  Brilliant.

[wolfking]

There was a late night music video program here in Australia called Rage.  When I was 13 I think (35 now) Marilyn Manson was guest programming.  I use to take a few hours of it on tape and watch the next morning.  He played Aces High.  I was blown away.  At first I thought it was cool but dudes with tight spandex and long hair weren't the thing in 1997.  It stuck in my head and stuck with me and I eventually gave in.  Changed my life and the rest is history.

[bl5150]

There was a late night music video program here in Australia called Rage.  When I was 13 I think (35 now) Marilyn Manson was guest programming.  I use to take a few hours of it on tape and watch the next morning.  He played Aces High.  I was blown away.  At first I thought it was cool but dudes with tight spandex and long hair weren't the thing in 1997.  It stuck in my head and stuck with me and I eventually gave in.  Changed my life and the rest is history.

Funny you mention Rage.

From 82-85 I listened to KISS and KISS only.

IN 1986 (aged 11-12) on Rage these two vids appeared and I was TOTALLY hooked on guitar music and venturing into metal.

https://youtu.be/PYDpM7ljMHk?t=170   (luckily the outfits weren't enough to put me off)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3l7mZySaR4

[Podaar]

I've really enjoyed the responses, folks.

By a show of hands, who's never heard of the Mountain song I mentioned in my post. 

Edit: Added a YT link.

[TAC]

[bosk1]

*raises hand*

That particular song ain't really my jam, but I feel ya'.

EDIT:  But I have no idea who the chick is in TAC's post.

[Podaar]

*raises hand*

That particular song ain't really my jam, but I feel ya'.

Hey, I was nine. Cut me some slack.

[King Postwhore]

I've really enjoyed the responses, folks.

By a show of hands, who's never heard of the Mountain song I mentioned in my post. 

Saw Mountain open up for Triumph and Leslie and the drummer had a full blown fight on stage.

No fists but the drummer throwing drumsticks at Leslie and him taking his headstock and putting it through the  bass drum head.

Wild last song. Lol

[TAC]

EDIT:  But I have no idea who the chick is in TAC's post.

[bl5150]

I know it ..........and 80% of the big songs from the US never got played out here     Can't tell you whether the version I heard growing up was Mountain or one of the many bands who covered it.

[TAC]

I've really enjoyed the responses, folks.

By a show of hands, who's never heard of the Mountain song I mentioned in my post. 

Saw Mountain open up for Triumph and Leslie and the drummer had a full blown fight on stage.

No fists but the drummer throwing drumsticks at Leslie and him taking his headstock and putting it through the  bass drum head.

Wild last song. Lol

Saw that tour in Providence. Triumph filmed a video that night.

[wolfking]

I only know that Mountain song from W.A.S.P.

[bl5150]

I only know that Mountain song from W.A.S.P.

 

It probably took me about 10 years to realise You Really Got Me was a song by some other mob called The Kinks