The Chart Show - Heavy Metal Chart (25th September 1987)

This chart is special, in terms of new artists coming in the chart, who later on became massive worldwide (Guns 'n' Roses and Metallica). Guns 'n' Roses previously had a single before Welcome to the Jungle called It's so Easy. Well it wasn't easy because it didn't hit the UK Top 40, but their second single (Welcome to the Jungle) did slightly better, although not hitting the top 40. By the way Guns 'n' Roses first Top 40 hit was Sweet Child 'o' Mine in 1988. It went into the Top 30 and then they decided to re-release it in 1989 and it went straight into the Top Ten. Axel in this video, looks like he put abit too much make-up. I think in later videos, they avoided putting it on, to avoid critics mixing them up with the Glam Metal bands.

Metallica on the other hand had their $5.98 EP straight into the Top 40, reaching no.27. Their $5.98 EP was basically cover versions of New Wave Metal and Hardcore Punk acts. I've heard some of them and really was disappointed with them. I guess I might be too harsh, because after all they were cover versions of bands who I'm not a fan of. Metallica in their early days were never fans of making videos. They thought it was abit too uncool. It only really changed in 1988, when they made their first video to "One", which was released in 1989.

The early Metallica albums such as "Master of Puppets" and "Ride the Lightning" opened up Thrash Metal to the general public, by introducing variety such as mellow tracks. Previously thrash metal bands only made music that sounded like bang-bang and no melody. But albums such as Master of Puppets really opened up audiences to thrash metal. It opened me up to this genre, because it was an album which fitted all moods (happy, sad and anything in the middle !!!).

Another group which I would say certainly surprised the Rock Charts was the group Bad News. Bad News were basically a spoof rock group, starring Rik Mayall and his other Young Ones companions. They made an appearance on the Comic Strip series that was broadcast on Channel 4 in the 80's. Their cover version of Bohemanian Rhapsody was so awful, it reached nearly laughing point. I do wondered who bought this crap, but I guess it was so bad, that they thought lets try and make this record into the Top 40. Incidentally it only made no.44 in the UK Singles Chart.

Bad News's album, which was also called Bad News was produced by Brian May, the Queen guitarist legend. The man himself also produced Anita Dobson's album, which was worse than any music that Bad News ever made !!! Ironically Anita Dobson's single from the album was voted the worst video of 1987 by The Chart Show. Oh how true it was !!!!