Megadeth is an American thrash metal band that has been active since 1984.  The band, along with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax make up the Big 4 of Thrash.  Following Dave Mustaine’s departure from Metallica, Megadeth was formed with the aim of being the fastest and baddest band on earth.  Today Megadeth is Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, Chris Broderick on guitar, Dave Ellefson on bass, and Shawn Drover on drums.  However, when considering the Top 10 Megadeth songs, the focus gears toward the Marty Friedman years:

1.  ”Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” Rust In Peace (1990)

2.  ”Peace Sells” Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying (1986)

3.  ”Hangar 18″ Rust In Peace (1990)

4.  ”A Tout Le Monde” Youthanasia (1994)

5.  ”Sweating Bullets” Countdown To Extinction (1992)

6.  ”Angry Again” Last Action Hero Soundtrack (1993)/Hidden Treasures (1995)

7.  ”Symphony of Destruction” Countdown To Extinction (1992)

8.  ”Trust” Cryptic Writings (1997)

9.  ”In My Darkest Hour” So Far, So Good, So What! (1988)

10.  ”Foreclosure of a Dream” Countdown To Extinction (1992)

Poison is an American 80′s hair metal band that is still active and popular to this day, mainly due to the television success of singer Bret Michaels.  Poison features C.C. DeVille on guitar, Bobby Dall on bass, and Rikki Rockett on drums.  They aren’t the greatest musicians in the world, however, they have created some damn catchy tunes.  Here are my Top 10 Poison songs:

1.  ”Nothin’ But A Good Time” Open Up and Say…Ahh! (1988)

2.  ”Something To Believe In” Flesh & Blood (1990)

3.  ”Look What The Cat Dragged In” Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986)

4.  ”Fallen Angel” Open Up and Say…Ahh! (1988)

5.  ”Talk Dirty To Me” Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986)

6.  ”Cry Tough” Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986)

7.  ”Every Rose Has Its Thorn” Open Up and Say…Ahh! (1988)

8.  ”I Want Action” Look What The Cat Dragged In (1986)

9.  ”Unskinny Bop” Flesh & Blood (1990)

10.  ”Stand” Native Tongue featuring Ritchie Kotzen on guitar (1993)

Bon Jovi is an American hard rock band for females that has been active since the early 1980s.  The New jersey-based outfit features Jon Bon Jovi on vocals, Richie Sambora on guitar, and a few other guys that nobody knows the names of.  Even though the music is far from hard or heavy, you can’t deny that “Wanted Dead or Alive” is a bad ass tune.  If I wasn’t a dude, this is what my Top 10 Bon Jovi list would look like:

1.  ”Wanted Dead or Alive” Slippery When Wet (1986)

2.  ”Livin’ On A Prayer” Slippery When Wet (1986)

3.  ”Bad Medicine” New Jersey (1988)

4.  ”Runaway” Bon Jovi (1984)

5.  ”Blaze of Glory” Young Guns II Soundtrack as Jon Bon Jovi and featuring Jeff Beck on guitar (1990)

6.  ”You Give Love A Bad Name” Slippery When Wet (1986)

7.  ”Lay Your Hands On Me” New Jersey (1988)

8.  ”I’ll Be There For You” New Jersey (1988)

9.  ”It’s My Life” Crush (2000)

10.  ”Bed of Roses” Keep The Faith (1992)

Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, that has been active since 1981.  They are the kings of glam metal and the Sunset Strip.  The band still features the original members including Vince Neil on vocals, Mick Mars on guitar, Nikki Sixx on bass, and Tommy Lee on drums.

1.  ”Kickstart My Heart” Dr. Feelgood (1989)

2.  ”Wild Side” Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)

3.  ”Home Sweet Home” Theatre of Pain (1985)

4.  ”Shout At The Devil” Shout At The Devil (1983)

5.  ”Girls, Girls, Girls” Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)

6.  ”On With The Show” Too Fast For Love (1981)

7.  ”Primal Scream” Decade of Decadence (1991)

8.  ”Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” Dr. Feelgood (1989)

9.  ”Same Ol Situation” Dr. Feelgood (1989)

10.  ”Dr. Feelgood” Dr. Feelgood (1989)

Ozzy Osbourne is arguably the greatest frontman of all time when it comes to classic heavy metal.  From his legendary Black Sabbath roots to a highly successful solo career, he has never failed to release great material (well, there are a few tiny exceptions).  Here are my Top 10 Ozzy Osbourne songs from the post-Sabbath era featuring the guitar talents of Randy Rhoads (most awesome), Jake E. Lee (solid/underrated), and Zakk Wylde (hairiest).

1.  ”Mr. Crowley” Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

2.  ”Over The Mountain” Diary of a Madman (1981)

3.  ”Crazy Train” Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

4.  ”Bark At The Moon” Bark At The Moon (1983)

5.  ”Diary of a Madman” Diary of a Madman (1981)

6.  ”No More Tears” No More Tears (1991)

7.  ”Goodbye to Romance” Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

8.  ”S.A.T.O.” Diary of a Madman (1981)

9.  ”Mama, I’m Coming Home” No More Tears (1991)

10.  ”Perry Mason” Ozzmosis (1995)

What are your Top 10 Ozzy songs?

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from California that has been active since 1981.  They are arguably the best thrash band of all time as they have not changed their style or direction since their debut album Show No Mercy.  Slayer performs before Metallica at the Big Four shows, although many would argue that this is an absolute injustice.

1.  ”Raining Blood” Rein in Blood (1986)

2.  ”War Ensemble” Seasons in the Abyss (1990)

3.  ”Angel of Death” Rein in Blood (1986)

4.  ”Dead Skin Mask” Seasons in the Abyss (1990)

5.  ”South of Heaven” South of Heaven (1988)

6.  ”Seasons in the Abyss” Seasons in the Abyss (1990)

7.  ”Hell Awaits” Hell Awaits (1985)

8.  ”Mandatory Suicide” South of Heaven (1988)

9.  ”Black Magic” Show No Mercy (1983)

10.  ”Chemical Warfare” Haunting the Chapel (1984)

Here are 10 songs containing some of the most influential and greatest guitar riffs of all time listed with band, album, and guitarist. You have heard them all and if you play guitar, you know how to play these riffs and songs inside out.

1.  ”Iron Man” Black Sabbath, Paranoid (1970), Tony Iommi

2.  ”Heartbreaker” Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II (1972), Jimmy Paige

3.  ”Sunshine of Your Love” Cream, Disraeli Gears (1967), Eric Clapton

4.  ”Smoke on the Water” Deep Purple, Machine Head (1972), Ritchie Blackmore

5.  ”Crazy Train” Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), Randy Rhoads

6.  ”Back in Black” AC/DC, Back in Black (1980), Angus Young

7.  ”Enter Sandman” Metallica, Metallica (1991), James Hetfield

8.  ”Sweet Child O Mine” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (1987), Slash

9.  ”Ace of Spades” Motorhead, Ace of Spades (1980), Eddie Clarke

10.  Tie – “Cat Scratch Fever” Ted Nugent, Cat Scratch Fever (1977), Ted Nugent & “Walk This Way” Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic (1975), Joe Perry

Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Texas.  They were the most important act of the genre during the 1990s, they were the kings of all groove, thrash, and modern metal bands.  Their influence is tremendous and it can be heard in virtually all of today’s hard music.  Here are 10 of Pantera’s greatest songs featuring Phil Anselmo on vocals, Dimebag Darrell on guitar, Rex Brown on bass, and Vinnie Paul on drums.

1.  ”Cowboys from Hell” from Cowboys from Hell (1990)

2.  ”Mouth for War” from Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

3.  ”Cemetery Gates” from Cowboys from Hell (1990)

4.  ”Revolution is My Name” from Reinventing the Steel (2000)

5.  ”Domination” from Cowboys from Hell (1990)

6.  ”F*cking Hostile” from Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

7.  ”Becoming” from Far Beyond Driven (1994)

8.  ”A New Level” from Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

9.  ”Walk” from Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

10.  ”Drag the Waters” from Great Southern Trendkill (1996)

Black Sabbath is the original heavy metal metal band from Birmingham, England.  They began their conquest of the universe in 1968 and have influenced every real rock n roll band that you hear today.  In my opinion, they are more important than Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple combined.  Here are the Top 10 songs of the classic lineup featuring Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, and Bill Ward on drums.

1.  ”Children of the Grave” from Master of Reality (1971)

2.  ”Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

3.  ”Fairies Wear Boots” from Paranoid (1970)

4.  ”Symptom of the Universe” from Sabotage (1975)

5.  ”War Pigs” from Paranoid (1970)

6.  ”N.I.B.” from Black Sabbath (1970)

7.  ”Snowblind” from Vol. 4 (1972)

8.  ”Paranoid” from Paranoid (1970)

9.  ”The Wizard” from Black Sabbath (1970)

10.  ”Iron Man” from Paranoid (1970)

Metallica, the largest heavy metal band on earth, from Los Angeles/San Francisco has been active since 1981.  They are the most successful of all the Big Four of Thrash.  Here are the Top 10 Metallica songs.  Note that the greatest songs of the catalog come from the 80s, although the band still can write solid material.

1.  ”Creeping Death” from Ride The Lightning (1984)

2.  ”One” from …And Justice for All (1989)

3.  ”Master of Puppets” from Master of Puppets (1986)

4.  ”Fade to Black” from Ride The Lightning (1984)

5.  ”Blackened” from …And Justice for All (1988)

6.  ”Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” from Master of Puppets (1986)

7.  ”Battery” from Master of Puppets (1986)

8.  ”Seek & Destroy” from Kill ‘Em All (1983)

9. “Harvester of Sorrow” from …And Justice for All (1988)

10.  ”The Unforgiven” from Metallica (1991)

Alice Cooper is an American hard rock legend that has been active since the late 1960′s.  He is the originator of hard and heavy shock rock.  Known for his big theatrical stage shows, Cooper would gain notoriety for playing with giant snakes and chopping his head off with a guillotine.  Yes, he is just that awesome.  Here are ten great Alice Cooper tracks from his catalog that spans nearly five decades:

1.  ”School’s Out” School’s Out (1972)

2.  ”No More Mr. Nice Guy” Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

3.  ”Only Women Bleed” Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

4.  ”Billion Dollar Babies” Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

5.  ”I’m Eighteen” Love it to Death (1970)

6.  ”Welcome to My Nightmare” Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

7.  ”Under My Wheels” Killer (1971)

8.  ”Elected” Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

9.  ”Poison” Trash (1989)

10.  ”Feed My Frankenstein” Hey Stoopid (1992)

Guns N’ Roses is an American hard rock band from Hollywood that was the largest band on earth in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s.  This band had the potential to be the all-time greatest act of hard rock, but then blew it by splitting up in the mid-90′s.  The original GN’R lineup was the best featuring Axl Rose on vocals, Slash on lead guitar, Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar, Duff McKagan on bass, and Steven Adler on drums.  Guns N’ Roses still exists, however in extremely limited form; Axl is the only remaining original member.  Slash and McKagan still rock hard together in Velvet Revolver, but even they are struggling to find an awesome new vocalist.  GN’R is now eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame and recently received a nomination.  In closing, a true GN’R reunion should be these guys’ number one priority; they need it, the world needs it!  Here are ten great tracks from GN’R:

1.  ”Sweet Child o’ Mine” Appetite for Destruction (1987)

2.  ”Welcome to the Jungle” Appetite for Destruction (1987)

3.  ”November Rain” Use Your Illusion I (1991)

4.  ”Mr. Brownstone” Appetite for Destruction (1987)

5.  ”Paradise City” Appetite for Destruction (1987)

6.  ”Civil War” Use Your Illusion II (1991)

7.  ”Patience” G N’ R Lies (1988)

8.  ”Don’t Cry” Use Your Illusion I (1991)

9.  ”It’s So Easy” Appetite for Destruction (1987)

10.  ”You Could Be Mine” Use Your Illusion II (1991)

Aerosmith is a legendary hard rock band from Boston that has been active since the early 1970s.  The “Toxic Twins,” Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, have proven to be a very effective partnership for four decades.  Aerosmith’s best material was written in the 70′s and their concert setlists today definitely reflect that.  Aerosmith is Tyler on vocals, Perry on lead guitar, Brad Whitford on rhythm guitar, Tom Hamilton on bass, and Joey Kramer on drums.  Here are 10 of the greatest songs from one of America’s best hard rock bands of all time:

1.  ”Dream On” Aerosmith (1973)

2.  ”Sweet Emotion” Toys in the Attic (1975)

3.  ”Mama Kin” Aerosmith (1973)

4.  ”Walk This Way” Toys in the Attic (1975)

5.  ”Back in the Saddle” Rocks (1976)

6.  ”Toys in the Attic” Toys in the Attic (1975)

7.  ”Same Old Song and Dance” Get Your Wings (1974)

8.  ”Chip Away The Stone” Live! Bootleg (1978)

9.  ”Seasons of Wither” Get Your Wings (1974)

10.  ”Rats in the Cellar” Rocks (1976)

Kiss is a hard rock band from New York that has been active since the early 1970s.  They are the original monsters of rock and the originators of the gigantic stage show.  They proved that it does not take great musicianship to be a successful or powerful rock band.  The ultimate and truest Kiss lineup is the original consisting of Paul Stanley on vocals, Ace Frehley on guitar, Gene Simmons on bass, and Peter Criss on drums.  Here are the Top 10 Kiss tracks of the 1970s era:

1.  ”Black Diamond” Kiss (1974)

2.  ”Detroit Rock City” Destroyer (1976)

3.  ”Deuce” Kiss (1974)

4.  ”God of Thunder” Destroyer (1976)

5.  ”Love Gun” Love Gun (1977)

6.  ”Cold Gin” Kiss (1974)

7.  ”Beth” Destroyer (1976)

8.  ”Strutter” Kiss (1974)

9.  ”Rock and Roll All Nite” Dressed To Kill (1975)

10.  ”Shout It Out Loud” Destroyer (1976)

Judas Priest is a pioneering heavy metal band from England that formed in the early 70s.  The heavy metal look originated with Priest and to this day, there is no band that is more metal.  The group recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the legendary British Steel record with a reissue and world tour.  However, this year the band is embarking on its farewell tour.  Judas Priest’s classic lineup features Rob Halford on vocals, Glen Tipton on guitar, K.K. Downing on guitar, Ian Hill on bass, and Scott Travis on drums.  Here are ten brutal Priest classics/heavy metal essentials:

1.  ”Painkiller” Painkiller (1990)

2.  ”Breaking the Law” British Steel (1980)

3.  ”The Hellion/Electric Eye” Screaming For Vengeance (1982)

4.  ”Rapid Fire” British Steel (1980)

5.  ”You’ve Got Another Thing Comin” Screaming For Vengeance (1982)

6.  ”Living After Midnight” British Steel (1980)

7.  ”Hell Bent for Leather” Killing Machine (1978)

8.  ”Heading Out To The Highway” Point of Entry (1981)

9.  ”Exciter” Stained Class (1978)

10.  ”Victim of Changes” Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

Iron Maiden is a heavy metal band from England that has been active since the late 1970s.  This is the band that pioneered the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement that exploded worldwide in the early 1980s.  Maiden is still releasing solid material to this day, the most recent evidence being 2010′s The Final Frontier.  Iron Maiden currently features Bruce Dickinson on vocals, Dave Murray on guitar, Adrian Smith on guitar, Janick Gers on guitar, Steve Harris on bass, and Nicko McBrain on drums.

1.  ”The Trooper” Piece of Mind (1983)

2.  ”The Number of the Beast” The Number of the Beast (1982)

3.  ”Aces High” Powerslave (1984)

4.  ”Hallowed Be Thy Name” The Number of the Beast (1982)

5.  “Run To The Hills” The Number of the Beast (1982)

6.  “2 Minutes to Midnight” Powerslave (1984)

7.  “Wasted Years” Somewhere in Time (1986)

8.  “Running Free” Iron Maiden featuring Paul Di’Anno on vocals (1980)

9.  ”Fear of the Dark” Fear of the Dark (1992)

10.  ”Blood Brothers” Brave New World (2000)

Led Zeppelin is a legendary hard rock band from England that dominated the world of rock in the 1970s.  The band featured Robert Plant on vocals, Jimmy Paige on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, and John Bonham on the drums.  Here are Top 10 awesome and essential Zeppelin tunes that rule the airwaves to this day.

1.  ”Stairway To Heaven” Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

2.  ”Heartbreaker” Led Zeppelin II (1969)

3.  ”Over The Hills and Far Away” Houses of the Holy (1973)

4.  ”Black Dog” Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

5.  ”Good Times Bad Times” Led Zeppelin I (1969)

6.  ”Immigrant Song” Led Zeppelin III (1970)

7.  ”Rock and Roll” Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

8.  ”Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” Led Zeppelin I (1969)

9.  ”Whole Lotta Love” Led Zeppelin II (1969)

10.  ”The Ocean” Houses of the Holy (1973)

The Ramones are the greatest punk rock band ever and they are from New York!  Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy started rocking out Forest Hills, Queens in the mid 70s and produced perhaps the rawest and truest sound of all time.  Here are ten classic Ramones tracks:

1.  ”Rockaway Beach” Rocket To Russia (1977)

2.  ”Blitzkrieg Bop” Ramones (1976)

3.  ”Sheena is a Punk Rocker” Rocket To Russia (1977)

4.  ”The KKK Took My Baby Away” Pleasant Dreams (1981)

5.  ”Judy is a Punk” Ramones (1976)

6.  ”Pinhead” Leave Home (1977)

7.  ”I Wanna Be Sedated” Road To Ruin (1978)

8.  ”I Just Want To Have Something To Do” Road To Ruin (1978)

9.  ”Teenage Lobotomy” Rocket To Russia (1977)

10.  ”Do You Remember Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio” End of the Century (1980)

AC/DC is the greatest hard rock band of all time…yeah, I said it again—for the second day in a row—and I mean it.  This Australian war horse has been a mighty force in rock and roll since 1975 when Bon Scott and Angus Young began their assault of the planet.  Since Bon and Brian Johnson are both ridiculously awesome, it didn’t seem fair to make a Top 10 list that included the work of both singers.  Yesterday we covered the Top 10 Brian Johnson songs, today we honor the Top 10 Bon Scott songs.  These are the best AC/DC songs prior to 1980:

1.  ”Highway to Hell” Highway to Hell (1979)

2.  ”Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)

3.  ”It’s a Long Way to The Top (If You Want to Rock ‘N’ Roll)” T.N.T. (1975-Aus)/High Voltage (1976-International)

4.  ”T.N.T.” T.N.T. (1975-Aus)/High Voltage(1976-International)

5.  ”If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” Highway To Hell (1979)

6.  ”Whole Lotta Rosie” Let There Be Rock (1977)

7.  ”Rock ‘N’ Roll Damnation” Powerage (1978)

8.  ”Let There Be Rock” Let There Be Rock (1977)

9.  ”Big Balls” Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)

10.  ”The Jack” T.N.T. (1975-Aus)/High Voltage(1976-International)

AC/DC is the greatest hard rock band of all time…yeah, I just said that and I mean it.  This Australian war horse has been a mighty force in rock and roll since 1975 when Bon Scott and Angus Young began their assault of the planet.  Since Bon and Brian Johnson are both ridiculously awesome, it didn’t seem fair to make a Top 10 list that included both singers.  Here are the Top 10 AC/DC songs that feature Johnson on vocals, beginning in 1980.  Today, AC/DC’s consists of the classic Back in Black lineup; Johnson, Angus on lead guitar, Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass, and Phil Rudd on drums.

1.  ”Back In Black” Back in Black (1980)

2.  ”Thunderstruck” The Razor’s Edge (1990)

3.  ”Shoot To Thrill” Back in Black (1980)

4.  ”Hells Bells” Back in Black (1980)

5.  ”For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” For Those About To Rock (1981)

6.  ”You Shook Me All Night Long” Back in Black (1980)

7.  ”Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” Back in Black (1980)

8.  ”Anything Goes” Black Ice (2008)

9.  ”Money Talks” The Razor’s Edge (1990)

10.  ”Stiff Upper Lip” Stiff Upper Lip (2000)