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.

UFO has been hugely influential and many metal bands. Enough so that they belong on the Metal Family Tree. When they started they were a space rock band with Mick Bolton on guitar. After their first two albums the hugely influential Michael Schenker joined the band and along with the long time members Phil Mogg, Pete Way and Andy Parker formed the classic UFO line up. This list will focus on that classic line up because it is the one that is always cited as an influence. If I find that other versions of the band are also influential on metal bands then I will adjust this list in the future to accommodate.

The Shadows were an instrumental rock band. They were an early influence on Schenker

The grittier sounding British rock band, The Rolling Stones were an early influence on Schenker. Pete also named the Stones as an influence.

Cream’s heavy psychedelic rock sound was a big influence on early metal bands. Schenker named Eric Clapton/Cream as a big influence.

The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart on vocals was a huge influence on Schenker.

Johnny Winter was a influential blues player who is one of Schenker’s influences.

Toeing the line between hard rock and heavy metal, Deep Purple was a hugely influential band. Schenker named them as an influence.

Led Zeppelin was the biggest Hard Rock band of their time and one of the most influential bands. Schenker said they had a huge impact on him and named Jimmy Page as an influence. Pete also named Zeppelin as an influence and remembers seeing them whe… — Led Zeppelin was the biggest Hard Rock band of their time and one of the most influential bands. Schenker said they had a huge impact on him and named Jimmy Page as an influence. Pete also named Zeppelin as an influence and remembers seeing them when they were still called The New Yardbirds.

Although never as big as some of the other hard rock bands of their time, Mountain with guitarist Leslie West has been a big influence on many including Schenker

Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues rock player. Schenker named him and his band Taste as an influence.

Yes were an influential progressive rock band. Pete said they were a band they listened to a lot when transitioning away from their early sound and admired their merging of rock and blues.

The originators of heavy metal, Black Sabbath was an influence on Schenker who is a huge fan of Iommi. Pete also named Sabbath as an influence.

Wishbone ash is a progressive rock band known for their guitar harmonies. Schenker named them as an influence.

Long before the infamous Lulu album with Metallica Lou Reed was in the band Velvet Underground before going solo. Pete named him as an influence.

Lynard Skynyrd was the most successful of the southern rock bands. Pete said they were a band they listened to a lot when transitioning away from their early sound and admired their merging of rock and blues.

I haven’t found anywhere where Phil names influences. The closest thing I’ve found is him saying someone suggested he sing in a band after hearing him singing to The Who.

I haven’t found Andy naming any particular influences but says the band was influenced by blues influenced British bands.

Keys and guitar player Paul Raymond has a lot of co-writing credits on the album Obsession. I’m not sure on his influences but he started out as a jazz player and played in a blues based band before his time im UFO.

Keys player Danny Peyronel who was in the band a short time only has one co-writing credit on the No Heavy Petting album.

Bands influenced by UFO!

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

Steve, Adrian, and Paul all named UFO as an influence or were fans.

Not Ozzy himself, but Randy was a big fan of Schenker.

Industrial Metal Pioneers, with one guitarist influenced by Schenker.

The fathers of thrash, James and Kirk were both influenced by Schenker.

FUCKIN’ SLAYER!!!!!!!

Thrash legends, Eric Peterson named UFO as an influence and Chuck is also a fan.

Sources:

https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/dear-guitar-hero-michael-schenker-talks-sporpions-influences-early-gear-flying-vs-and-more
https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/michael-schenker-picks-10-essential-guitar-albums-568348
http://thebigfootdiaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-questions-with-michael-schenker.html
https://www.loudersound.com/features/heavy-load-phil-mogg
https://www.rocklegendnews.com/pete-way
https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/the-visitor-comes-round-metal-legends-ufo
https://www.paulraymondmusic.com/biography/
https://www.loudersound.com/features/ufo-we-used-to-take-mandrax-as-if-it-were-aspirin-we-didn-t-care