Plot Synopsis

WHEN METAL RULED THE '80S is a four-part documentary that reveals the stories behind the rise of metal, which dominated the US music scene during the '80s. The series made its U.S. debut on Sunday, February 26, 2023 on ReelzChannel:

"The Rise of Metal" (U.S. premiere on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 9pm): As 1970s rock gets a makeover a dazzling Dutch guitarist rips up the rock'n'roll rule book and in L.A. a glitzy glam scene explodes onto the charts. Explore the genesis of 1980s glam metal scene through the stories of 1970s glam rock acts like Sweet and Slade and shock rocker Alice Cooper who created the template for what would follow in the next decade. At a time when disco and punk seemed to be the ascendant musical styles a back yard party band from California called Van Halen reinvented rock. Find out how a new wave of British heavy metal bands broke into the U.S. mainstream and see Metallica become the band that defined thrash metal. Guitarists Joe Bonamassa and Marty Friedman reflect on the musical and visual impact of KISS. Six string virtuoso Steve Vai explains how the arrival of Eddie van Halen was a game changer for rock while Twisted Sister's Dee Snider reveals how his wife encouraged his ever more outrageous styling. Those close to Def Leppard recall how the popularity of the music video was perfectly timed to help the Sheffield rockers gain a foothold with American audiences.

"Metal Goes Massive" (U.S. premiere on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 10pm): Glam metal gets a cutting edge with the arrival of Guns N' Roses while a gang of New Jersey rockers take the world by storm and the hedonistic rock'n'roll lifestyle leads to tragedy. Glam rock pioneers KISS had led the way with showmanship in the 1970s but suddenly found themselves out of touch with new audiences until the release of "Kiss It Up" showed the band was willing to risk everything. Glam metal reaches mainstream success as British rockers Ozzy Osbourne and David Coverdale's Whitesnake muscle in on the U.S. metal boom. Also see how Guns N' Roses achieved global notoriety on the band's own uncompromising terms and how the fortunes of Bon Jovi turned around after the band broadened its appeal to embrace a wider audience. Derek Shulman signed Bon Jovi and shares his stories about pairing the band with song writer Desmond Child and the global hits that followed. Hanoi Rocks vocalist Michael Monroe recalls how the band's first trip to L.A. ended in tragedy while the team who mixed the multi-million selling debut album from Guns N' Roses remember the electric recording sessions which produced breakthrough hits. Sharing their stories of 1980s metal are Michael James Jackson, producer for KISS hit "Lick it Up," music historian, author and broadcaster Eddie Trunk as well as Michael Alago, A&R Elecktra Records 1983-2004.

"Excess All Areas" (U.S. premiere on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 9pm): We relive the peak years of 80s metal mayhem as on stage performances become spectacles and individual band members become world famous creating splinters in mega bands. See how British rockers Def Leppard bounced back from the shocking tragedy of drummer Rick Allen losing an arm in a car crash and former Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray recalls getting the boot after David Coverdale revamped the Whitesnake line up entirely to finally reach the top of the charts. Guns N' Roses founding member Tracii Guns shares the gut wrenching and history altering event that led to Slash joining the band in his place as lead guitarist while 1970s rock pioneer Alice Cooper has a brush with death that leads him to revamp his entire career and reinvent himself for the 1980s metal craze. Plus, see how bands adapted to the ever-growing sonic gulf between uncompromising thrash metal pioneers like Metallica and others like Bon Jovi who looked to soften their sound in search of success. Witnesses to the extremes of excess recall the wild parties and the often shocking consequences. Metal fashion guru Ray Brown reminiscences on dressing the biggest names in metal while former HEADBANGERS BALL host Riki Rachtman describes his "greatest job in the world" as everyone tuned in to see the latest music videos.

"The Party's Over" (U.S. premiere on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 10pm): Journey through the final years of the glam metal boom as a new serious and introspective strain of heavy rock was emerging as audiences grew tired of the excess in everything glam metal music party. With glam metal reaching its saturation point the fallouts begin as acrimonious splits take bands down. But before the dust settled see how music video budgets reached absurd heights with Guns N' Roses spending nearly $2 million for their epic ballad "November Rain". Guitarists Steve Vai and Joel Hoekstra discuss the shifts in audience tastes as their flashy and technical guitar styles once hailed by rock fans in the 1980s had started to become obsolete. Motley Crue producer Bob Rock reflects on his disbelief over the chain of events that led to the band sacking singer Vince Neil while Poison insider Riki Valentine remembers how tensions within the band came to a head in front of a TV audience of millions and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider recalls the shrewd planning saw Bon Jovi ride out the threat of grunge.