My interest in Metal would possibly have to be started by Motorhead. Once I heard "Ace of Spades," I was hooked for life. Being one of the so called outcasts in "Small Dot" MI, US, I caught their name in '81 after reading about No Sleep Till Hammersmith being a huge #1 album in The UK (yes, I was a Library kid who read Billboard from cover to cover!) and thinking I had to hear them as hardly anyone else in my area did, and I was glad I did once I was lucky enough to hear a song by them. Although I knew of their popularity in other areas of the world, where I was it was almost like discovering a great secret. Liking Motorhead and even Iron Maiden (who were not that popular in Small Dot at the time either) as well as some Prog bands like King Crimson connected me with the more serious music listeners in my area.

Maybe I can mention Rainbow, who's killer live performance of "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" was aired on a syndicated (US) TV show called Rock World around the same time. It was possibly the same show that introduced me to Motorhead.

My parents would possibly say Kiss in my childhood, but once I started to really get into music, they lacked the flavor of the classic Alive! by that time with Dynasty, although a friend's copy of Music From The Elder, for all of it's faults, made me think twice about them and thankfully Creatures of the Night was their next move. Still, I say that my Pre-Motorhead Heavy Rock Alliance was more with Deep Purple.

it was Slipknot's self-titled for me. had heard their song duality on the radio and became obsessed with it, it was the most aggressive thing I'd ever heard at that point, and so when I found one of their CD's at a thrift store I had to get it. my next metal album was Amon Amarth's Twilight of the Thunder God, and from there started a passion :)

Look at me! I'm going to use a real metal band!

It was Amon Amarth. Then I moved on and completely forgot about them and every other boring melo-death band ever.

Except when I'm YouTubing and get the strange urge for With Oden On Our Side. What can I say? Catchy album.

So I'll come clean...I got into proper Metal via Nu Metal, starting with Limp Bizkit as I had Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water bought for me on my 10th birthday. Then via Korn/Slipknot my eyes were opened to the glory that is Iron Maiden, and then to Metallica and AC/DC

I kinda went off Metal at about 14 but last year I found out my uncle was pretty good mates with Yannick Gers at school and I kind of surprised myself by how excited I got, even though it's been ages since I listened to Maiden.

I'd have to say Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Metallica, and Motorhead. Iron Maiden also had some kind of effect on me getting into Metal.

The obvious choices then.

Those are just the bands that got me into Metal. I listen to WAYY more Metal bands than those.

Glad to hear it, what stuff do you like?

It all depends on what kind of Metal you're talking about. I really like Metal bands such as Hatebreed,Mudvayne,Slipknot,System of a Down,Disturbed,Avenged Sevenfold,etc.

As for really Heavy Metal bands, I like Slayer,Megadeth,Metallica,Pantera,etc. What kinds of stuff do you like?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...t8Gz-6lRHgU9AT
This band and this album after hearing it in 1986. Still here talking crap and still loving music so thank you Maiden. Hallowed Be Thy Name still gives me goosebumps.