Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music

The Boys Are Back In TownTHIN LIZZY

Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town (Official Lyric Video)

The twin-lead guitar style started to emerge around this time.

I think hard rock bands where the bassist handles vocals are also rare.

This song is the one released during what could be called Thin Lizzy’s peak period, known in Japanese as “Yatsura wa Machi e” (“The Boys Are Back in Town”).

Bon Jovi and Def Leppard have covered it as well.

Metal Health (Bang Your Head)Quiet Riot

Metal Health (Bang Your Head) (Re-Recorded / Remastered)

Quiet Riot is a quintessential hard rock/heavy metal band of the 1980s, also known for having the legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads in its lineup.

This song opens their album Metal Health—dedicated to Randy Rhoads—which marked their comeback after their first breakup and became a massive hit upon its release in 1983.

The album is famous for being the first in heavy metal history to reach No.

1 on the U.

S.

Billboard chart.

Kicking off with Kevin DuBrow’s exhilarating shout and featuring a simple yet dynamic guitar sound, it’s a textbook example of 1980s hard rock.

Deserted Cities of the HeartCream

Cream – Live Cream II – 1 – Deserted Cities of the Heart

This is a track from the 1968 double album Wheels of Fire by the supergroup that featured legendary players Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker.

Also known in Japan by the title “Arehateta Machi” (“Deserted City”), it’s a hidden gem that showcases their harder edge.

As you can especially tell from the live recordings, the band’s ensemble—three players each refusing to back down—is thrilling and undeniably cool.

Busy, intricate drumming, a restlessly moving bass, and a roaring guitar solo… it’s a number so powerful it would send your average hard rock band running for the hills.

wicked sensationLynch Mob

LYNCH MOB ¤ Wicked Sensation (1990)

A band formed by former Dokken guitar hero George Lynch.

Featuring soaring high tones in the vocals riding over an LA-style sound, this is a textbook example of American hard rock.

The guitar solo—flashy yet tightly composed, with stretchy, rapid-fire runs—is a must-hear.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Remastered 2003Poison

Every Rose Has Its Thorn (2003 Remaster)

A signature ballad by Poison, one of the quintessential rock bands of the 1980s, who gained popularity not only in their home country of the United States but also in Japan, armed with flashy makeup and catchy melodies.

They were often labeled a hair metal band and faced critical pushback due to their commercial success, but listening to ballads like this makes their gift for crafting memorable songs clear—and helps explain why they sold so well.

The song first appeared on their second album, Open Up and Say.

.

.

Ahh!, released in 1988, which sold over eight million copies worldwide.

Lay It DownRatt

Lay It Down (2007 Remaster)

In Japan, this band is known—alongside Mötley Crüe—as one of the quintessential groups among those dubbed “LA metal.” This track appears on their second album, Invasion of Your Privacy, released in 1985, and it was issued as a single, reaching No.

40 on the U.

S.

charts.

With its dynamic guitar sound, solid, weighty rhythm, and an easy-to-grasp chorus that repeats the title, it encapsulates the exhilarating appeal of ’80s hard rock.

A highlight is the dazzling playing by Warren DeMartini—celebrated not only for his guitar prowess but also for his good looks!

Sweet Home AlabamaLynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama – 7/2/1977 – Oakland Coliseum Stadium

People refer to rock from the American South as Southern rock, and among them, I think Lynyrd Skynyrd leans strongly toward hard rock.

Conversely, the Allman Brothers Band has the image of a classic, straight-ahead Southern rock band.

The loud guitars and pounding rhythms make it unmistakably Southern hard rock.