Who was the first METAL band....Led Zepplin or Black Sabbath?

In their own way, they both are. If its in terms of Hard Hitting Riffs, then its Sabbath. But anyway, I really think, Sabbath are Pioneers of Heay Metal, and for the record, I dont consider Page the Best Guitarist in the World......Thats Jimmy Hendrix or Ritchie Blackmore....

I am a HUGE fan of Led Zeppelin, and I appreciate you as another...but... please learn to spell their name correctly! (you left out an 'e'). Now who was 'first'? Black Sabbath was called Earth in 68, and Led Zeppelin was The New Yardbirds but it wasn't until 69 that Earth change the name to Sabbath, and Zeppelin already had 2 albums out by then. I would say Led Zeppelin was first in that case. Deep Purple was also out and about during those same days and I would call them heavy metal too! Eric Clapton formed the supergroup Cream in late 66 which precedes all of the above...but was Cream considered heavy metal? I guess all in all it just is not fair to give credit to any single band as the "first" heavy metal band as there was so much going on at the same time over in the UK...but I think it would be fair to give credit to England for introducing heavy metal to the world! p.s. I too think Jimmy Page is the greatest guitarist ever...because of the depthness of his playing, his composing skills, his creation of fabulous solos, his ability to create and write music of such varied styles and his awesome stage presence (I saw them in '77).

Hi, DebraK! What a change! If I were to judge, Jimi Hendrix was first. Sabbath was next, but at just about the same time as Zeppelin.

I think you should check out this blog : http://medmetal.blogspot.com .It talks about Def leppard which I think can be the first heavy metal band. They say the band is 30 years old. I think you should check it by yourself.

i say BLACK SABBATH was more metal ZEPPLIN was good hard rock

My vote would have to go for Black Sabbath. Both bands are considered pioneers of heavy metal, but sabbath has that hard metal sound and that dark persona. I do like both bands, but I'd say Black Sabbath first.

Both Bands were so Different!!!!! I go with Led Zeppelin!!!! They used to Be The Who Friends!!!!!!! They did more!!!!! Black Sabbath is Terriffic!!!!!!! Led Zeppelin were Bigger,tough!!

Im a Diehard fan of both bands, but my vote goes sabbath. Yes zeppelen had a heavy powerful sound from the get go but when you think of zeppelen you think magesty and imopsible mistical lands, not to mention the strong sexualy that comes along with every zeppelin record. However when you think sabbath you think of dark, grim figures hiding under your bed and lurkin in your closet. You think of ozzy and you think of upsidedown crosses, virgin sacrifices and wild madmen that bark at the moon. Listen to the song Black Sabbath of the record Black sabath with the lights turned out and tell me that you dont feel and evil presence. The song Black sabath is based on the tritone, a progression of notes that was belived in the middle ages to talk to deamons and bring satan to earth. and Because of toni iomi's factory accident, his guitar playing was heavily distorted giving a twisted sound that had never been heard before. If anyone questions, Sabbath was the first to create the sound that metal bads still mimic today.

there is simply no way that you can classify led zeppelin as a "metal" band. that type of music really is more for hardcore bands like distrubed and KoRn. led zep made alot of great hard rock music like black dog and heartbreaker, but there are also alot of songs by them that are much more quiet and peaceful. fool in the rain, all of my love, and i got a woman are certainly not metal songs. as for black sabbath, they were one of the only bands in that period producing their type of music. they had more of a punk and dark image than led zeppelin's flowery spiritual image. black sabbath is much closer to the first metal band, but i'd still classify them as rock. led zep was way more popular than black sabbath, so i'd say they were more successful. but if you want to drop the metal label and just go with rock, the rolling stones were clearly the first great rock band, and they're still around today!