By a 17‑year‑old kid from Launceston with a fresh set of P‑plates, a bass guitar he barely knew how to play, and a glovebox full of cassettes!

1987 wasn’t just another year — it was a cultural explosion. It was the year I got my P‑plates, rolled down the windows of my first car, and blasted whatever cassette I’d taken a chance on from the “New Release” rack at the local record store. No Spotify. No Apple Music. No algorithm. You discovered bands by flipping through shelves, staring at album covers, and hoping the music inside was as good as the artwork promised.

And if you were lucky, you had tape trading — the underground lifeblood of metal discovery. Friends dubbing friends. Cassettes passed around at school. Bootleg live shows. Demo tapes from bands who barely existed. It was social media before social media, and it made discovering new music feel like uncovering buried treasure.

For my 17th birthday, my family handed me a stack of gift vouchers, and I marched straight into the shop to grab Whitesnake – 1987, Def Leppard – Hysteria, and W.A.S.P. – Live… in the Raw. I didn’t know it then, but I was living through one of the greatest years in metal history.

1987 was the perfect storm:

• Hair metal was ruling the charts

• Thrash was exploding

• Doom was getting darker

• Power metal was being born

• And new bands were forming everywhere, inspired by the chaos

And it was a year of many shifts in the metal landscape - here is just a few to remember:

• Udo Dirkschneider leaves Accept - Citing management issues, Udo departs Accept and later forms U.D.O., launching a new chapter in his career.

  
  

• Bon Jovi headlines the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, joined onstage by Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson, and Paul Stanley for a massive performance of “We’re an American Band.”

  
  

• Girls, Girls, Girls peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, cementing Motley Crue's commercial peak. It was also highlighted by Nikki Sixx’s near‑fatal overdose - in December, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx suffers a heroin overdose and is declared clinically dead before being revived — an event later immortalised in “Kickstart My Heart.”

  
  

• Headbangers Ball debuts on MTV - On April 18, 1987, MTV launches Headbangers Ball, giving metal its own dedicated platform and helping countless bands reach new fans.

  
  

• Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet becomes the biggest rock album of 1987 - Released in ’86 but unstoppable in ’87, it becomes the best‑selling rock record of the year, powered by “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

  
  

• Metallica rebuild after tragedy - Still recovering from Cliff Burton’s death in late ’86, Metallica regroup and release The $5.98 EP – Garage Days Re‑Revisited, their first recording with Jason Newsted.

  
  

Here are some other great memories forever entrenched in my mind - memories of a time since past. Take a look at the year that shaped a generation!

🎸 MAINSTREAM & HARD ROCK DOMINANCE

Whitesnake – 1987

A polished, arena‑ready juggernaut that redefined the band and cemented David Coverdale as a global rock icon. With massive hits like “Still of the Night” and “Here I Go Again,” this album became the soundtrack of car stereos and late‑night parties everywhere. It remains one of the most iconic hard‑rock albums ever recorded.

Def Leppard – Hysteria

A studio masterpiece that pushed production boundaries and delivered hit after hit. “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Animal,” and “Hysteria” turned the band into stadium‑filling giants and made this one of the most successful rock albums of all time. It’s the sound of a band refusing to be defeated.

Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction

A raw, dangerous, street‑level explosion that changed hard rock forever. “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City,” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” made this one of the most influential debuts in music history. It was the antidote to glam’s polish — dirty, hungry, and real.

Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet

Released in 1986 but absolutely owned 1987, becoming the biggest‑selling rock album of the year and turning Bon Jovi into the most commercially unstoppable band on the planet. With massive hits like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” it delivered arena‑sized anthems that defined the decade and dominated radio, MTV, and every party soundtrack.

Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation

A triumphant comeback that brought Aerosmith roaring back into the mainstream with slick production and infectious hooks. “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” and “Angel” dominated radio and reintroduced the band to a new generation. This was the start of their second golden age.

Kiss – Crazy Nights

A glossy, hook‑driven album that embraced the polished sound of the era. “Crazy Crazy Nights” became an instant anthem and remains one of the band’s most recognisable hits. It’s Kiss at their most radio‑friendly.

Manowar – Fighting the World

A chest‑beating, sword‑raising slab of pure heavy‑metal glory, Fighting the World captured Manowar at their most anthemic and bombastic. With tracks like “Blow Your Speakers” and the immortal “Carry On,” the band doubled down on their warrior‑metal identity and delivered one of the most iconic sing‑along albums of the decade. It’s over the top, gloriously cheesy, and absolutely essential to the 1987 metal landscape.

⭐ THE CULT FAVOURITES THAT SHAPED MY COLLECTION

Faster Pussycat – Faster Pussycat

A sleazy, swagger‑soaked debut that perfectly captured the grit of the Sunset Strip. Taime Downe’s snarl, the bar‑room‑brawl production, and tracks like “Bathroom Wall” and “Don’t Change That Song” made this a cult classic. For me — and many others — this wasn’t just an album, it was an attitude.

Keel – Keel

Ron Keel delivered some of his strongest vocals here, backed by Gene Simmons’ production and a set of anthemic, fist‑pumping tracks. Songs like “Somebody’s Waiting” and “I Said the Wrong Thing to the Right Girl” showcased a band that should have been much bigger. This album became a staple in my early collection.

Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction – Tattooed Beat Messiah

A leather‑clad, tongue‑in‑cheek explosion of sex, swagger, and biker‑metal bravado. “Prime Mover” and “Backseat Education” were irresistible, over‑the‑top anthems that felt like a comic book come to life. Outrageous, ridiculous, and absolutely essential.

⚡ THRASH METAL ASCENDING

Anthrax – Among the Living

A defining thrash record packed with personality, speed, and unforgettable riffs. “Caught in a Mosh” and “Indians” became instant classics, blending humour with social commentary. This album cemented Anthrax as one of the Big Four.

Anthrax – I’m the Man (EP)

A pioneering rap‑metal crossover that showed the band’s humour and creativity. It was playful, experimental, and way ahead of its time.

Exodus – Pleasures of the Flesh

A sharp, aggressive follow‑up that introduced Zetro Souza’s signature snarl. The riffs were tighter, the production heavier, and the band more focused than ever.

Destruction – Mad Butcher (EP)

A ferocious slab of German thrash showcasing the band’s precision and intensity. The title track became one of their defining songs.

Testament – The Legacy

One of the strongest thrash debuts ever, filled with technical riffs and soaring vocals. “Over the Wall” and “Burnt Offerings” showed a band ready to challenge the Big Four.

Kreator – Terrible Certainty

A relentless, tightly executed album that solidified Kreator as leaders of Teutonic thrash. The speed and aggression were unmatched.

Metallica – The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re‑Revisited

A raw, energetic tribute to their influences and their first release after Cliff Burton’s passing. It captured the band at their most loose and joyful. Besides, who was the new kid Jason?

Artillery – Fear of Tomorrow

A razor‑sharp European thrash release that blended speed with darker atmospheres. A cult favourite for fans of technical riffing.

🕯️ DOOM, DARKNESS & THE UNDERGROUND

Candlemass – Nightfall

A monumental doom release featuring Messiah Marcolin’s operatic vocals and crushing riffs. Tracks like “Dark Are the Veils of Death” helped define epic doom metal as a genre.

Celtic Frost – Into the Pandemonium

A bold, experimental album that pushed metal into avant‑garde territory. Industrial beats, orchestral elements, and Tom G. Warrior’s trademark grunt made this a boundary‑shattering release.

Death – Scream Bloody Gore

A groundbreaking debut that laid the foundation for the entire death metal genre. Chuck Schuldiner’s vision was brutal, uncompromising, and revolutionary.

Black Sabbath – The Eternal Idol

Tony Martin’s debut brought a new era of melodic darkness to the Sabbath legacy. “The Shining” remains one of the band’s most underrated tracks.

⚔️ POWER METAL EMERGES

Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I

The blueprint for power metal, filled with soaring melodies, uplifting choruses, and epic songwriting. “Future World” and “Halloween” set the standard for the genre.

Savatage – Hall of the Mountain King

A dramatic, riff‑driven masterpiece that hinted at the band’s future symphonic direction. Criss Oliva’s guitar work was nothing short of breathtaking.

Dio – Dream Evil

Ronnie James Dio delivering mythic storytelling and powerful vocals at full strength. “All the Fools Sailed Away” remains one of his most emotional performances.

🤘 GLAM, SLEAZE & SUNSET STRIP MAYHEM

Mötley Crüe – Girls, Girls, Girls

A sleaze‑rock classic that captured the excess of the era and hit No. 2 on the charts. The title track became an anthem for every leather‑clad rocker.

Alice Cooper – Raise Your Fist and Yell

A horror‑themed, high‑energy album that embraced Cooper’s theatrical roots. Brutal, loud, and full of attitude.

W.A.S.P. – Live… in the Raw

A fierce, unfiltered snapshot of the band’s explosive live presence. Blackie Lawless at his snarling, blood‑spitting best.

White Lion – Pride

A melodic gem featuring the hits “Wait” and “When the Children Cry.” Vito Bratta’s guitar work was next‑level.

Tigertailz – Young and Crazy

A glam‑metal cult favourite bursting with colourful attitude and infectious hooks.

Twisted Sister – Love Is for Suckers

A polished, hook‑heavy release that marked the band’s final chapter of the decade. Dee Snider’s vocals were still massive.

Warlock – Triumph and Agony

Doro Pesch’s defining moment, featuring the anthemic “All We Are.” A European metal classic.

🔥 OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES & CULT CLASSICS

Judas Priest – Priest... Live!

A thunderous live document capturing Judas Priest at the height of their arena‑metal powers during the Turbo tour. Packed with classics like “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law,” and “Electric Eye,” it showcased Rob Halford’s commanding vocals and the twin‑guitar attack of Tipton and Downing in full flight — a reminder that Priest were still one of the most electrifying live bands on the planet.

Motörhead – Rock ’n’ Roll

A gritty, no‑nonsense return featuring the comeback of Philthy Animal Taylor. Pure Motörhead attitude from start to finish.

Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute

A powerful live memorial honouring the late Randy Rhoads. His guitar work shines throughout, reminding fans of his genius.

Lizzy Borden – Visual Lies

A theatrical, glam‑tinged metal release with strong hooks and a charismatic performance from Lizzy himself.

Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet

A confident return from the former Kiss guitarist with plenty of melodic firepower. “Rock Soldiers” became a fan favourite.

Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In (released in '86, but still dominating in ’87)

A glam‑rock staple that continued to rule the charts and MTV rotation. Bright, bold, and unapologetically fun.

🎶 TOP 20 SONGS OF 1987

A soundtrack to the year metal ruled my life - in no particular order! What is your fave from this list?

1. Whitesnake – “Still of the Night”

2. Def Leppard – “Animal”

3. Guns N’ Roses – “Welcome to the Jungle”

4. Mötley Crüe – “Girls, Girls, Girls”

5. Helloween – “Future World”

6. Anthrax – “Caught in a Mosh”

7. Testament – “Over the Wall”

8. Candlemass – “Dark Are the Veils of Death”

9. Dio – “All the Fools Sailed Away”

10. Faster Pussycat – “Bathroom Wall”

11. Keel – “Somebody’s Waiting”

12. Zodiac Mindwarp – “Prime Mover”

13. Savatage – “Hall of the Mountain King”

14. W.A.S.P. – “Harder Faster”

15. Kreator – “Behind the Mirror”

16. Death – “Zombie Ritual”

17. Alice Cooper – “Freedom”

18. White Lion – “Wait”

19. Warlock – “All We Are”

20. Ace Frehley – “Rock Soldiers”

🎤 CONCLUSION: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

1987 wasn’t just a great year for metal — it was the year that defined my musical identity. I went from loving everything, including Duran Duran, to becoming completely obsessed with the metal scene. Every new record felt like a revelation. Every cassette added to my collection felt like a step deeper into a world that felt like home.

Yes, I still love Duran Duran. But 1987 was the year my collection — and my heart — became dominated by metal. It was loud. It was rebellious. It was alive. And it shaped who I became.

And it was a year that shaped the world. 1987 also sparked the birth of future giants: Alice in Chains, Biohazard, Dangerous Toys, Danzig, Kamelot, Meshuggah, Nirvana, Porcupine Tree, Pretty Boy Floyd, Ugly Kid Joe, Winger, and more.

And somewhere in Launceston, a teenage Jock picked up a bass and formed the greatest band never to play a gig: The Voodoo Sex Dolls — legends in my own lunchtime.