My first band was formed at the end of 7th grade. We were called the Psychos, and we only knew how to play “Run To You” by Bryan Adams. We played it over and over again. Our logo was a skull with a knife through it, and we figured we needed to kick it up a few notches if we were going to keep the band name and the logo. Monte, the drummer, lost interest once we decided to expand our repertoire.

The guitarist Mike and I spent the summer of 1985 learning songs. We learned songs by Ratt, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, and Scorpions. We met a new drummer at the beginning of 8th grade named Corey. The first song we played together was “Lay It Down” by Ratt. It felt like electricity going through us. We were in awe. We decided the Psychos wasn’t a proper metal band name. Corey suggested Diamond Knight, and so we were. We acquired a singer named Mike. We played “Flight Of Icarus” by Maiden at the talent show, but we didn’t place. On the last day of school, we played during lunch, and to this day, it remains one of the biggest, most receptive crowds I’ve ever played for.

Perhaps I peaked in Jr High.

losthighway wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:38 pm guitar parts that are only moving power chords and the vocals follow them exactly in melody and rhythm.

Singer/guitarist in one of my bands would do this, I'd say "that sounds like Iron Man" and she'd get super mad. Every time. Bands!

It was 1978-9 and I was in 8th grade. My brother was a senior in high school as were the others but they needed a drummer. We were all competent musicians, several multi instrument capable. Guitar, bass, drums, keys and bassoon (no shit) and blues harp and brass (my brother). We were a fake-o Chicago blues and rock band with a couple originals, some Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon stuff and covers of Beatles and James Gang and Queen among others. We played house parties and our fee was all the beer we could drink and a sack of sliders. God love 'em, my parents were fairly oblivious to my cavorting with drinking age people (it was 18 in Illinois back then), I think largely because I was with Dave and his buddies that the folks knew and all of them were honor students. Was fun being 14 and getting the "band guy" eye from a high school girl or two. We were the Aligators Flying Helicopters Blues Band.

Dave N. wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:01 pm Our logo was a skull with a knife through it

Damn straight.

Technically my very first band was Crimsin, that's an "I" not "O," dear. Our mascot was a skull wearing a top hat. Please mind this was a few years before Guns n' Roses. We had one song titled "Sin" and it had a mosh part which was delineated as such.

The first band where I actively thought we were doing something substantial didn't have a name. We mainly played Metallica and Maiden covers and we were outta sight. Lots of practicing. Guitarist was a rich kid with all of the pro metal NAMM gear and he was fantastic. Total MAGAT now. Total dick. Total dick back then as well but was just too asleep to ruin my in with the heshers and trailer folk. Parlayed being "one of the good ones" for popularity.

My first band was called Spatata, named after one of our friends misread a poster for the band Sparta and said "what the hell sort of band name is Spatata?" It was made up of everyone in our high school circle who could play an instrument or sing, and we wrote songs about the sort of things that amused teenagers (zombies, syphilis, being unable to record bass because the bassist was on vacation). The most involved composition was a fuzzed out proto-electroclash song about dating a pirate, which was entirely pirate-related sexual puns and could be described as "defiantly ugly." We made a lot of photoshopped posters with strong meme energy. The entire thing was very 2002 burgeoning internet universe.

This is my first band. Almost 20 years ago.