1976 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1976.

Bands formed

• Accept
• Angel Witch (as Lucifer)
• Black Flag
• Bronz
• Chrome
• Citron
• Crys
• Diamond Head
• Ethel the Frog
• Foreigner
• Heavy Load
• Kick Axe
• Līvi
• Marseille
• McCoy
• Mentors
• The Obsessed
• Paice Ashton Lord
• Pat Travers
• Ratt
• Rose Tattoo
• Running Wild (as Granite Hearts)
• Sorcery
• Spider
• Sister
• The Clash
• The Godz
• Thor
• Zoetrope

Bands disbanded

• Deep Purple (reformed in 1984)
• New York Dolls
• Steppenwolf

Events

• "Fast" Eddie Clarke became the second guitarist for Motörhead. Shortly after his arrival, the original guitarist Larry Wallis departed, returning the band to a trio, which is now recognized as the "classic line-up".
• Uriah Heep parted ways with their original vocalist, David Byron, due to his struggles with heavy drinking.
• Guitarist Dave Murray joined Iron Maiden.

Deaths

• December 4 – Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin, former guitarist of Zephyr, James Gang, and Deep Purple, died from an overdose of heroin and other substances, including alcohol, cocaine and barbiturates at the age of 25.

Albums

• Krokus – Krokus
• Lucifer's Friend – Mind Exploding
• Moxy – Moxy II
• Y&T – Yesterday & Today

January

February

March

April

May

June

August

September

October

November

December

References

1. Heavy metal music
2. Table of years in heavy metal music
3. 1984 in heavy metal music
4. 1980 in heavy metal music
5. 1970 in heavy metal music
6. 1975 in heavy metal music
7. 1978 in heavy metal music
8. 1979 in heavy metal music
9. 1986 in heavy metal music
10. 1981 in heavy metal music
11. 1971 in heavy metal music
12. 1969 in heavy metal music
13. 1982 in heavy metal music
14. 1985 in heavy metal music
15. New wave of British heavy metal
16. 1972 in heavy metal music
17. 1977 in heavy metal music
18. 1974 in heavy metal music
19. List of heavy metal bands
20. 1968 in heavy metal music