Oldest Rock Legends That Are Still Alive Today

Heavy metal can be traced back to Black Sabbath in the early 1970s, according to most metal fans. When Black Sabbath formed in England in the late 1960s, they brought a darker, louder sound to rock music that changed everything. Albums like Heaven and Hell, Paranoid, and Vol. 4 influenced many bands that learned from these greats.

While Sabbath found some mainstream success in the ’70s, metal truly exploded in the 1980s. American bands like Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, and Guns N’ Roses went head-to-head with British powerhouses like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Def Leppard. Suddenly, loud guitars, spandex, and sky-high hair were everywhere—and heavy metal had officially gone mainstream.
Today, metal has splintered into countless subgenres—glam, thrash, death, black metal, and beyond. But the pioneers are still rocking, decades later. Here’s a look at the oldest heavy metal icons who are still alive and loud.

Tony Iommi
If there’s one person you can thank for heavy metal, it’s Tony Iommi. As the guitarist for Black Sabbath, Iommi helped invent the sound that would define the genre. Born in 1948 in Birmingham, England, he was working as an arc welder when a workplace accident changed everything—he lost the tips of two fingers. At first, he thought his guitar-playing days were over, but he refused to quit. Iommi crafted his own artificial fingertips and found a new way to play.

To ease the pain, he switched to lighter guitar strings and detuned them, creating a darker, heavier tone. That distinct, sludgy sound became Black Sabbath’s trademark and laid the groundwork for what we now know as heavy metal.

Iommi stuck with Sabbath from beginning to end, even appearing with them at their final show in Birmingham in 2017. He was inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Beyond Sabbath, he’s also carved out a strong solo career.

Rob Halford
For a lot of classic metal fans, their first taste of heavy metal came through the fierce sound of Judas Priest—and at the heart of it all was powerhouse vocalist Rob Halford. Born August 25, 1951, in Birmingham, England, Halford joined the band in 1973 thanks to a lucky twist of fate—his sister was dating their bassist. With his soaring vocals and leather-and-chains style, Halford quickly became the face of the band and a metal icon.

Through the late ’70s and ’80s, Judas Priest delivered hit after hit, including “Hell Bent for Leather,” “Breaking the Law,” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.” Fans copied Halford’s look, and his voice defined an era. After leaving the band in 1992 to pursue solo projects, he made headlines in 1998 when he publicly came out as gay—one of the first major metal figures to do so.
Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Halford said he was discouraged by ’80s homophobia, even while glam metal artists in makeup escaped criticism. Back with Priest since the early 2000s, Halford is still rocking stages worldwide in 2024.

Mick Mars
When you think of ’80s hair metal, Mötley Crüe instantly comes to mind—big hair, loud guitars, and a whole lot of attitude. At the core of that sound was guitarist Mick Mars, born April 4, 1951, in Terre Haute, Indiana. With his gritty riffs and dark style, Mars gave the band its heavy edge on hits like “Shout at the Devil,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Kickstart My Heart.”

Long before his fame, Mars was diagnosed as a teen with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful degenerative spine condition. Despite constant discomfort, he kept rocking for over four decades, making his commitment to the band and genre even more impressive. In 2022, at age 71, Mars officially stepped down from touring, citing his health as the reason.

His retirement sparked tension within the band after they brought in guitarist John 5, leading to a very public dispute. But no matter the fallout, Mick Mars’ legacy as Mötley Crüe’s sonic backbone—and a heavy metal legend—is already carved in stone.

Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne, famously dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” is one of the true icons of heavy metal. Born on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, he first made his mark as the frontman of Black Sabbath in the early ’70s, helping shape the sound that would define the genre. After parting ways with the band, Ozzy launched a wildly successful solo career—his first two albums in 1980 and 1981 were instant classics, and he eventually earned a Grammy in 1993 for Best Metal Performance.

He connected with a new generation of fans through Ozzfest, the metal festival he launched in 1996, which helped rising acts like Slipknot break through. Though he “retired” in 1992, Ozzy kept making music and even reunited with Sabbath, scoring another Grammy along the way.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020 and retiring from touring, Ozzy continues releasing music—Patient Number 9 dropped in 2022—and remains a metal legend beloved around the world.

Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson has been the voice of Iron Maiden since 1981—and what a voice it is. Born on August 7, 1958, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, Dickinson is known for his powerful, almost operatic vocal style that helped take Maiden’s sound to a whole new level. While the band already had a following before he joined, everything changed with his debut on The Number of the Beast. That album launched them into global stardom and cemented their place in metal history.

Throughout the ’80s, Iron Maiden delivered classic after classic with Dickinson front and center—albums like Piece of Mind and Powerslave became metal must-haves. He briefly left the band in the ’90s, even playing a legendary 1994 concert in war-torn Sarajevo, but rejoined just before the 2000s and never looked back.

In a 2022 interview with Louder, Dickinson pointed out that Maiden still connects with new generations of fans. Beyond music, he’s also an author, pilot, and radio host—proving he’s more than just a metal legend.

Joe Elliot
They might not have been the loudest or heaviest, but Def Leppard dominated the 1980s metal scene with hook-filled anthems and arena-sized energy. Front and center was Joe Elliott, born August 1, 1959, in Sheffield, England. With his gritty vocals and high-energy presence, Elliott helped launch albums like Pyromania and Hysteria into legendary status—packed with fan favorites like “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Photograph.”

Beyond his work with Def Leppard, Elliott has kept busy with solo projects and collaborations, teaming up with rock legends like Alice Cooper and Ronnie Wood. Even the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t slow him down. While live shows were on pause, Elliott stayed in the studio, recording Diamond Star Halos, which dropped in 2022.

In a 2023 interview with Louder Than War, Elliott admitted the pandemic made it tough to tour like before. Still, that didn’t stop the band—Def Leppard returned with Drastic Symphonies and hit the road alongside Mötley Crüe, bringing back a full dose of ’80s metal magic.

Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine is one of heavy metal’s most respected figures, known for founding Megadeth and helping shape the thrash metal movement. Born on September 13, 1961, in La Mesa, California, Mustaine got his early inspiration from British bands like Iron Maiden. He was briefly part of Metallica’s early lineup, but personal clashes and alcohol issues led to his dismissal—a move that sparked one of metal’s most talked-about rivalries.

Instead of fading out, Mustaine came back swinging. He formed Megadeth and dropped their explosive debut Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! in 1985. From there, he delivered metal classics like Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?, Rust in Peace, and Countdown to Extinction. Known for his blistering guitar work and sharp lyrics tackling war, politics, and excess, Mustaine became a metal icon.

Though he struggled with addiction during Megadeth’s early years, he’s been sober since the early 2000s. After beating throat cancer, he returned stronger than ever, releasing The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! in 2022.

David Lee Roth
Born on October 10, 1954, in Bloomington, Indiana, David Lee Roth is one of heavy metal’s most unforgettable frontmen. As the lead singer of Van Halen, Roth brought wild energy, flashy outfits, and larger-than-life charisma to the stage—perfectly complementing Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar work. His high-octane vocals helped turn songs like “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher” into heavy metal anthems.

Roth wasn’t just about the voice—he helped define the attitude and showmanship of ’80s metal. In the mid-1980s, he left Van Halen for a solo career that started strong but lost momentum over time. A brief reunion with the band in 1996 didn’t stick, but over a decade later, they finally reunited for good. That reunion led to a new album, A Different Kind of Truth (2012), and a live record, Tokyo Dome: Live in Concert (2015).

After Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020, the band officially came to a close. Roth, however, has kept performing, including a short Las Vegas residency in 2020–2021.

Axl Rose
As the unpredictable frontman of Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose has always been as wild as his voice is unforgettable. With his piercing wail and raw energy, Rose helped turn Appetite for Destruction into a metal masterpiece, delivering hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” and “Paradise City.” But after a string of successful albums, the band began to unravel in the ’90s, leaving Rose as the only original member still standing.

Despite lineup changes and long delays, Rose kept the GNR name alive, eventually releasing the long-awaited Chinese Democracy in 2008. Then in 2016, fans got what they had been waiting for—the classic lineup reunited and hit the stage once again.

Though he’s only ever been in GNR, Rose’s legacy is larger than life. He’s sparked controversy with mid-show walkouts, canceled gigs, and the infamous song “One in a Million.” Still, few embody the chaos and charisma of rock stardom like Axl Rose, making him one of metal’s most legendary voices.

Tom Araya
Since the early ’80s, Slayer has pushed the limits of how heavy heavy metal could get—and at the center of that storm was frontman and bassist Tom Araya. Born on June 6, 1961, in Viña del Mar, Chile, Araya helped shape Slayer’s intense, no-compromise sound. With blistering speed, raw riffs, and Araya’s signature screams, the band stood in stark contrast to the glam and hair metal dominating the charts at the time. They built a fierce underground following before breaking into the mainstream in the ’90s.

Araya stayed with Slayer for their entire run, which came to an end with a farewell tour in 2019. During their career, Slayer was nominated for five Grammys and won two for Best Metal Performance. A metal bass legend in his own right, Araya even has a signature ESP bass.

In a 2020 interview with Louder, Araya shared that due to neck surgery—which left him with a metal plate—he can no longer headbang like he used to. Still, his legacy is untouchable, and fans continue to salute him wherever he goes.

Lita Ford
Heavy metal has long been a male-dominated genre, but trailblazers like Lita Ford proved that women could rock just as hard—and leave a lasting legacy. Born on September 19, 1958, in London, England, Ford first made waves as the lead guitarist for The Runaways, the all-female rock band that also launched Joan Jett’s career. After the group split, Ford leaned into the glam metal scene and kicked off a solo journey that made her a standout name in ’80s heavy metal.

Her biggest hit came with the haunting ballad “Close My Eyes Forever,” a Top Ten duet with Ozzy Osbourne. She also scored major success with anthems like “Kiss Me Deadly,” “Falling In and Out of Love,” and “Can’t Catch Me,” the latter co-written with metal legends Nikki Sixx and Lemmy Kilmister.

In a 2022 interview with Metal Edge, Ford revealed she was working on a new album, following 2016’s Time Capsule. As of 2023, she’s still touring and rocking stages, proving her place as a true metal icon.

Al Jourgensen
If you’re into industrial metal, then you definitely know the name Al Jourgensen. Born on October 7, 1959, in Havana, Cuba, Jourgensen is the mastermind behind Ministry, the band that helped shape and define the industrial heavy metal sound. He got his start playing new wave with a band called Special Effect, but everything changed in 1981 when he formed Ministry. Originally rooted in electronic music, the band eventually took a darker, heavier turn—mixing pounding metal riffs with harsh vocals to create something entirely new.

Ministry’s big breakthrough came in 1988 with their third album, The Land of Rape and Honey, a defining moment that cemented their place in metal history. Over the years, Jourgensen has also explored solo projects and collaborated with numerous artists, all while keeping Ministry alive and thrashing.

In a 2022 Metal Edge interview, he said he’s still fully committed—touring hard and working on new music. After more than 40 years, Jourgensen remains a true force in the metal world.