When you take a deep look at the world of heavy metal, you will see a number of musicians who are not satisfied with one successful band. They are addicted to success, and they enjoy the challenge and excitement of creating music with different groups, and bringing their unique talents to multiple projects.
Their desire to work with a lot of bands, have helped them achieve a great amount of success.
In this article, we will take a look at ten of these metal musicians. Every one of them has been part of multiple successful bands. We will look at their musical journeys and the impact they have had on the metal scene.
1. Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl is a name that a large majority of rock and metal fans know, and have come to love. Best known as the drummer for the iconic grunge band Nirvana, Grohl’s career didn’t end with the tragic death of Kurt Cobain. Instead, he went on to form the Foo Fighters, where he took on the role of frontman and lead guitarist. The Foo Fighters quickly became one of the most successful rock bands of the 21st century, with hits like “Everlong” and “The Pretender.
One thing that has majorly contributed to Grohl’s legendary status is his ability to transition from drummer to lead vocalist and guitarist, all within the same band.
Grohl has also been involved in several other projects, including the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, where he played drums alongside Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
2. Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan is another musician who has found success with multiple bands. He is best known as the enigmatic frontman of Tool.
In addition to Tool, Keenan is also the lead vocalist for A Perfect Circle. TO Perfect Circle’s debut album, “Mer de Noms,” was a commercial success, and the band has continued to release music that resonates with fans. Keenan’s third major project is Puscifer, an experimental band that allows him to explore different musical styles and themes.
3. Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor is a powerhouse vocalist known for his work with two highly successful bands: Slipknot and Stone Sour. As the frontman of Slipknot, Taylor has helped shape the band’s aggressive and theatrical style, contributing to their rise as one of the most influential metal bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Slipknot’s intense live performances and albums like “Iowa” and “Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)” have earned them a dedicated fanbase.
Taylor’s versatility as a vocalist is also showcased in Stone Sour.. With hits like “Through Glass” and “Bother,” Stone Sour has achieved significant commercial success.
4. Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy is a well-known drummer who has been an important member of several successful bands. He first gained fame as the drummer for Dream Theater. Portnoy’s drumming skills were a driving force behind Dream Theater’s success, and his contributions to albums like “Images and Words” and “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory” are highly regarded by fans and critics.
After leaving Dream Theater, Portnoy continued to make his mark on the metal scene by joining several other bands. He became a member of avenged sevenfold, contributing to their album “Nightmare,” and later formed the supergroup Sons of Apollo with former Dream Theater bandmate Derek Sherinian. Portnoy’s ability to seamlessly integrate into different musical projects and his relentless work ethics have made him one of the most respected drummers in the metal community.
5. Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio is a legendary vocalist whose powerful voice and charismatic stage presence have left an indelible mark on the metal genre. Dio first gained prominence as the lead singer of Rainbow, a band founded by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
Dio’s next major success came when he joined Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne as the lead vocalist. His tenure with Black Sabbath produced classic albums like “Heaven and Hell” and “Mob Rules,” which are considered some of the band’s best work. After leaving Black Sabbath, Dio formed his own band, simply named Dio, and released iconic albums such as “Holy Diver” and “The Last in Line.”
6. Slash
Slash, born Saul Hudson, is a guitar virtuoso best known for his work with Guns N’ Roses. As the lead guitarist for the band, Slash’s iconic riffs and solos on songs like “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “November Rain” made Guns N’ Roses an internationally recognized band. The band’s debut album, “Appetite for Destruction,” remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
After leaving Guns N’ Roses, Slash continued to make waves in the music industry by forming the supergroup Velvet Revolver with former members of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N’ Roses. Velvet Revolver’s debut album, “Contraband,” was a commercial success, and the band earned a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
7. Josh Homme
Josh Homme first gained recognition as the guitarist and primary songwriter for Kyuss, a pioneering band in the stoner rock genre.
After Kyuss disbanded, Homme went on to form Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA), where he took on the role of frontman and lead guitarist. QOTSA quickly became one of the most innovative and successful rock bands of the 2000s, known for their eclectic style and hits like “No One Knows” and “Go with the Flow.” Additionally, Homme has been involved in other projects such as Eagles of Death Metal and the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures.
8. Matt Cameron
Matt Cameron is a highly respected drummer who has played a crucial role in the success of multiple iconic bands. He first rose to prominence as the drummer for Soundgarden, contributing to classic albums like “Badmotorfinger” and “Superunknown,” which featured hits such as “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman.”
Following Soundgarden’s initial breakup, Cameron joined Pearl Jam, another legendary band from the Seattle scene. As Pearl Jam’s drummer, he has been part of numerous successful albums, including “Binaural” and “Riot Act,” and has continued to tour and record with the band.
9. Scott Ian
Scott Ian is a founding member and rhythm guitarist of Anthrax, one of the “Big Four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Anthrax’s aggressive and fast-paced music, combined with Ian’s distinctive guitar playing, helped define the thrash metal genre.
In addition to his work with Anthrax, Ian has been involved in several other successful projects. He formed the crossover thrash band SOD (Stormtroopers of Death) with members of Anthrax and Nuclear Assault, releasing the influential album “Speak English or Die.”
10. Ron Thal (Bumblefoot)
Ron Thal, better known by his stage name Bumblefoot, is a highly skilled guitarist known for his work with several successful bands. Thal first gained attention as a solo artist. His solo work, including albums like “The Adventures of Bumblefoot” and “Normal,” earned him a dedicated following and respect within the guitar community.
Thal’s career took a significant turn when he joined Guns N’ Roses as a lead guitarist in 2006. During his tenure with the band, he contributed to the long-awaited album “Chinese Democracy” and toured extensively with them. After leaving Guns N’ Roses, Thal continued to collaborate with various artists and bands, including the supergroup Sons of Apollo, where he plays alongside former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian.
