Other Great Metal Influences, Part 9; The Sweet

If I didn’t include The Sweet in my category of great metal influences, my wife would never let me forget it, my stepson either. While many don’t think of these guys when compared to the likes of Kiss, Alice Cooper, Rush or Aerosmith, The Sweet were one of those bands that put out a string of great rock hits from 1970-78 that had audiences eating out of their hands. Songs like “Blockbuster,” “Whim Wham Bam,” “Pappa Joe,” “Ballroom Blitz” and two songs which were my favourites in 1974 and 1976, “Little Willy” and “Fox On the Run” entertained a generation of rockers.

The driving force behind The Sweet was                  

         Brian Conelly- vocals

Andy Scott- guitar

Steve Priest- bass

Mick Tucker- drums

As much as their hard rocking sound, the glam image was also what The Sweet was known for. Bands like Motley Crue and Poison can take their influences direct from them and with bands like Def Leppard recording covers of their songs, it is only fair to rank The Sweet as one of those great acts who were an influence on the metal of the 80s.

Next post is the final in the chapter of Great Metal Influences and will include Slade and Blue Oyster Cult

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