Heavy metal music
Critics disagree over who can be thought of as the first heavy metal band. Most credit either Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, with American commentators tending to favour Led Zeppelin and British commentators tending to favour Black Sabbath, though many give equal credit to both. A few commentators—mainly American—argue for other groups including Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf or Blue Cheer. Deep Purple, the third band in what is sometimes considered the "unholy trinity" of heavy metal (Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple), despite being slightly older than Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, fluctuated between many rock styles until late 1969 when they took a heavy metal direction.
Music of Washington (state)
Mondo Bando may be the earliest documented all out original Heavy Metal band in the Seattle area dating to early 1976 to 1977., Live Radio broadcast early 1976:, Rock Scene Magazine 1/77 Page 53: Members were: Electra Blue, Vocals; Mark Maye, Guitar; Carl Joseph Seltice, Bass Guitar; and Gary Herrman, Drums. Disco Music was certainly the music of choice at that time and Punk was on the rise in Seattle so Mondo Bando was in the musical wilderness but played around 25 shows during 1976-1977. Mark Maye, Joe Seltice and the original singer Warren Ferger migrated to Seattle in 1975 from Spokane, Washington and reformed Mondo Bando with Brad Butler on Drums and played High School Dances, self promoted shows and some parties playing very hard rock. Warren Ferger left the band very early and Roger Williams joined as lead vocalist. Mondo Bando disbanded in December 1975 and then reformed again in January 1976 when they added Electra Blue and Gary Herrman to their lineup. The newly revived band then began writing their own music and went extra hard in their delivery. "We didn't call ourselves Heavy Metal, it was what people were calling us". The band once again disbanded in 1977 and it was permanent. Mondo Bando has also made the Ranker list of most famous Seattle musical acts at the 111 spot. Electra Blue moved on to the Seattle Punk Scene and performed with Violent World for a while before relocating to San Francisco. In 1991 Mark Maye played guitar for the Spokane, Washington Christian Heavy Metal band Amethyst (band). With lead singer and founder Mark Fekete on lead vocals, Gary Rose on bass, and Charles Heinzerling on drums. Mark Fekete and Gary Rose started Amethyst (band) in Spokane, Washington in 1985, and are still recording new material to this very day. Their style and sound are similar to the styles of bands like Iron Maiden, Metal Church, Metallica, and Dokken.