The 1980’s were the glory days for heavy metal – especially hair metal bands. Other than some of the classic metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Judas Priest, most of the best known metal bands released their debut album in the 80’s. While some famous metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Motley Crue got off to a slow start with their debut album, bands such as Quiet Riot, Skid Row and Guns N’ Roses saw massive success. The list below shows the band’s debut album and release year as well as the highest position on the Billboard 200 Album chart and US Sales figures.
Quiet Riot – Metal Health (1983) (Technically, this was not their first album. Quiet Riot released 2 albums in Japan only in 1979. They then broke up and reformed in 1982.
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #1
US Sales: 6 million
Ratt – Out of the Cellar (1984)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #7
US Sales: 3 million
Cinderella – Night Songs (1986)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #3
US Sales: 3 million
Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #3
US Sales: 3 million
Guns ‘n Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #1
US Sales: 18 million
Skid Row – Skid Row (1989)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #6
US Sales: 5 million
Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #21
US Sales: 5 million
Warrant – Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #10
US Sales: 2 million
Winger – Winger (1988)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #21
US Sales: 1 million
W.A.S.P. – W.A.S.P. (1984)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #74
US Sales: 500,000
Twisted Sister – Under The Blade (1982)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #125
US Sales: N/A
Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love (1982)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #77
US Sales: 1 million
L.A. Guns – L.A. Guns (1988)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #50
US Sales: 500,000
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (1980)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: Did Not Chart
US Sales: N/A
Kingdom Come – Kingdom Come (1988)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #12
US Sales: 500,000
Tesla – Mechanical Resonance (1986)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #32
US Sales: 1 million
Dokken – Breaking the Chains (US Release) (1983)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #136
US Sales: N/A
Metallica – Kill ‘Em All (1983)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: 66
US Sales: 3 million
Megadeth – Killing Is My Business … and Business Is Good! (1985)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #169
US Sales: N/A
Black ‘n Blue – Black ‘n Blue (1984) –
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #129
US Sales: N/A
Queensryche – The Warning (1984)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #61
US Sales: 500,000
Kick Axe – Vices (1984)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: #126
US Sales: N/A
Kix – Kix (1981)
Highest US Billboard Chart Position: Did Not Chart
US Sales: N/A
Related Posts:
