Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

If there is one band from the thrash scene that deserves more recognition it’s arguably Testament. Testament officially started a few years later than some of the others but were playing as Legacy for several years prior. Personally Alex Skolnick might be my favorite lead player of any thrash band and I know a lot of people agree with that. In the past recent years Testament has put out some of the heaviest thrash albums. In the last few decades the importance of Testament has become even more clear seeing how many of the new wave of thrash bands are taking inspiration from them. At the core of Testament has been Eric Peterson, and Chuck Billy. Alex had stepped away from the band for some time mostly during the 90’s but has been a prominent band member for most their career. With that said, Eric Peterson has been the primary writer over the years and even more so after Alex first left the band. Drummers and Bassists have changed a bit more frequently but a few of them were with the band for extended periods. Let’s get into it… into the pit!

One of the most influential players of all time, Jimi Hendrix. Alex named him as a big inspiration.

Deep Purple pre-date metal but picked up a more metal sound when metal first began. Ritchie Blackmore has been hugely inspirational to many. Eric has some inspirations from Deep Purple.

Jeff Beck along side Clapton and Page were in the Yardbirds together and are three of the most influential guitar players in early rock. Alex said he is a huge influence on him.

Probably the most popular hard rock band of all time, Led Zeppelin. Eric talked going and rocking out to their movie in theaters.

The fathers of metal, Black Sabbath is the band that began heavy Metal. Eric has been inspired by Black Sabbath.

Eric Clapton is one of the most influential blues rock players both solo and with various band including Cream. Alex named him as a big influence.

Another very influential blues player, Johnny Winter was a big inspiration to Alex.

Although UFO started out as a space rock band but when Micheal Schenker joined they moved to a hard rock / heavy metal sound. Schenker was hugely influential and thrash guitar players including Eric. Chuck was also a fan.

Thin Lizzy are influential hard rock legends and metal dabblers. Chuck said he liked them growing up.

Scorpions are one of the earliest metal bands after Sabbath and their guitar players were hugely inspirational to many players after them. Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth were both hugely influential on Eric. Chuck is also a fan.

Mahogany Rush featuring Frank Marino was hard blues rock band very similar to Hendrix. Frank Marino is named as an influence a lot by guitar players including Eric

The great American rock band, Aerosmith has inspired many players. Eric said he was fanatic about Aerosmith growing up and their early stuff molded how he plays.

Montrose is probably best known as the band Sammy Hagar started in. They were a band Eric grew up with.

The Metal gods Judas Priest. Eric named their live album Unleashed in the East as an influence. Chuck names Halford as one of his heroes.

One of the most famous and Hard Rock bands, Kiss had a big impact on future bands. Eric is a fan of Ace’s work on their early stuff. They were the band that made Alex really want to get into guitar.

Pat Travers was a very bluesy guitarist playing hard blues rock that is almost metal. He was guitar player Eric grew up listening to.

The quintessential Hard Rock band AC/DC. Eric named their live album Let There be Blood. — The quintessential Hard Rock band AC/DC. Eric named their live album *Let There be Blood*.

Boston isn’t a band that gets mentioned to often as an influence on metal bands. They are a rock/hard rock band sometimes blues and sometimes progressive rock. They were another band Eric grew up with.

Saxon was probably the band that really kicked off the NWOBHM movement and a to often overlooked band. Eric specifically named the Denim and Leather album. — Saxon was probably the band that really kicked off the NWOBHM movement and a to often overlooked band. Eric specifically named the *Denim and Leather* album.

Angle Witch was one of the biggest bands of in the NWOBHM movement. Specifically Eric named their first album.

One of the most influential guitar players is for sure Eddie Van Halen. Alex said he tried to stay away form his tapping because everyone was doing it but focused on his bluesy licks.

Yingwie Malmsteen basically picked up from where Ritchie Blackmore started and pioneered the neo-classical movement. He was an influence on Alex

Iron Maiden, perticularly Bruce Dickinson is one of Chuck’s heroes.

Randy Rhoads is another hugely inspirational guitarist. Ozzy’s first two albums had his amazing work before his tragic death. He was a big inspiration to Alex.

The Michael Schenker Group was Shcenker’s venture after leaving the Scorpions. Alex said he actually got into MSG before getting into his older stuff and he was a big influence on him.

Venom was a huge inspiration to both the thrash and black metal movements. Eric named their Black Metal album as a big influence. — Venom was a huge inspiration to both the thrash and black metal movements. Eric named their *Black Metal* album as a big influence.

Mercyful Fate is often cited as an influence by thrash guitarists. Eric has been inspired by them as well naming their albums Melissa and Don’t Break The Oath. He said these albums was like the bible to them. — Mercyful Fate is often cited as an influence by thrash guitarists. Eric has been inspired by them as well naming their albums *Melissa* and *Don’t Break The Oath*. He said these albums was like the bible to them.

The Fathers of thrash metal Metallica. Eric and Alex both said early Metallica was a big influence on them. Chuck said that James’s lyrics and cadence were but inspiration to him.

Early thrashers Exodus have had a huge influence thrash bands particularly with the new wave of thrash bands. Eric said their first album was a big influence on them.

Ronnie James Dio is one of Chuck’s heroes.

Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth were huge influences on Eric. Besides being primary guitar players for the Scorpions, they both have had other projects and solo albums. Some of the earliest stuff Eric learned on guitar included riff from Sweet, and Def Leppard but he didn’t name them as an influence.

Chuck Billy names Bruce Dikinson (Iron Maiden), Halford and Dio as his heroes. He puts Dio at #1 and says he was a fan of Bruce back when he was in Samson. For him both Dio and Bruce were great lyricists for story telling. He said growing up he really liked the melodic vocal stuff like Scorpions, UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Priest.

Alex has played a lot of different styles from funk to jazz and a bunch of other things. He took lessons from Joe Satriani for two years when he was young. He has taken time away from metal because he though it would be an injustice if it was the only thing he ever played. Along with the Beatles, rock n’ roll like Chuck Berry helped him get into music and guitar playing.

Original bassist Greg Christian as well as his replacement Derrick Ramirez have been part of the writing process but I’m not sure about their influences.

Original drummer Louie Clemente has co-writing credits but I’m not sure what his influences are.

Most of the songs on The Ritual and Low as well as tracks on The Gathering are co-written by someone named Del James but I don’t know to much about who he is. It is likely lyrics only but I’m not 100% sure.

Dave Lambardo was only drummed on The Gathering album and only has one cor-writing credit on the album.

Steve Souza of Exodus fame was the original vocalist when Testament was still known as Legacy and contributed lyrics the the first album.

Bands influenced by Testament!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

The band that carries the flag of groove, Lamb of God.

Metal-core that pulls in a lot of different influences.

Possibly the biggest of the new wave thrash bands.

Sources:
https://www.ghostcultmag.com/watch-testaments-chuck-billy-discuss-his-musical-heroes/#more-49306
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/testament-frontman-talks-songwriting-influences/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/testaments-alex-skolnick-on-taking-guitar-lessons-from-joe-satriani-514761
https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/alex.htm
https://loudwire.com/testament-alex-skolnick-eric-peterson-rock-reflect-riffs-that-made-them/
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/testament_guitarist_eric_peterson_the_music_that_shaped_my_style.html
https://domaincle.com/music/eric-peterson-of-testament-and-dragonlord-cites-black-sabbath-and-mercyful-fate-as-major-guitar-solo-influences-in-part-two-of-the-making-of-dominion/
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/testament-main-man-eric-peterson-talks-new-dragonlord-album-dominion
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/interview-testaments-eric-peterson-discusses-gear-influences-and-writing-guitar-solos