I tried to choose the most influential classical composers for rock and heavy metal artists, let us find out…
1. Richard Wagner
Sorry guys! But Wagner beat them all indeed! Currently, most of the researches and rock historians call him “Father of Metal Music”. Well, we do not have much to say, check this out…
Bands like: Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Manowar, Savatage, Therion, Glenn Danzig, Apocalyptica, Dimmu Borgir and Rammstein.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven
He is awesome of course! And we all have seen many tributes done by many artists and bands, such as: Yngwie Malmsteen,The Great Kat,Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rahowa, Rainbow, Quartz, Apocalyptica, Accept, Theatres des Vampires, Necrophagist, Tourniquet, Lacuna Coil, Viper, Kevin James LaBrie, Dragonland, Dark Moor, Serenity, Eddie Van Halen, Michał Jelonek, Muse, Iris, and many others.
3. Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach is known with his various compositions for organ, orchestral, chamber music, choral, and many other works. He was a big influential for many rock and metal musicians such as Richie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sebastian Bach,Rahowa, Suspyre, and Randy Rhoads. In addition to that, Bach was one of the inspirations in Symphony X’s third album The Divine Wings of Tragedy.
4. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The influence of all! He has been an influence and a mentor for many great composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Besides that he has a huge impact over heavy metal and rock artists, bands and artists whom tribute and were influenced by his works are: Accept, Savatage, Therion, Evanescence, Scatterbrain (Thrash band), Simone Simons from Epica, Amy Lee, Extreme, Rahowa, Tarja Turunen, Suspyre, and George Lynch.
5. Antonio Vivaldi
The master of the Four Seasons! He got many rock and metal inspired bands and artists like: Children Of Bodom, Dark Moor, Ritchie Blackmore, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Uli Jon Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Douglas R. Docker, Richard Andersson, Extreme and Yngwie Malmsteen.
6. Igor Stravinsky
Stravinsky (also Strawinsky) is a Russian composer, pianist and conductor. His works were influenced bands and artists like: YES, Devin Townsend and Merlin.
7. Pyotr Tchaikovsky
The famous Russian composer had many tributes from many artists around the world. Many rock/metal artists and bands were inspired by his works, such as: Accept, Muse, Emerson Burton from HIM, Jonny Maudling, X Japan, Dark Moor and The Move.
8. Gustavus Theodore von Holst
Holst is a famous English composer, arranger and instructor. He has a big influence on Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, Nile, Symphony X, King Crimson and Led Zeppelin.
9. Niccolò Paganini
This Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer had a big influence on artists like: Timo Tolkki, Richard Andersson, Michael Romeo, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, The Great Kat. The influence has also reached bands like: Angra (Brazilian power metal band), Ulytau (Folk metal band from Kazakhstan), Spelled Moon (American Heavy Metal) and Venturia (French progressive metal band)
10. Béla Bartók
Bartók is a Hungarian composer and pianist. Artists and bands who got inspired by him are: Voivod, Roger Miller and Jeff Buckley.
Edited by: Duha Moussa
