For those of you too young to know I'm talking about the new wave of British heavy metal, which occured around the early eighties. British punk had been shown up for what it was, i.e. talentless oiks manipulated by savvy promoters.
Many bands appeared under the banner of the NWOBHM, some crap, some good. What I'm interested in is those Zoners that were into the gig scene around that time: Who should have made it, who was good and who was crap.
For my money Diamond Head were stunning, and possibly the most underrated band of a generation. Other good bands of the time included Angelwitch, Samson, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Praying Mantis. There was some dross too mind. Quo Vardis, Tygers of Pang Tang and Venom spring to mind.
I had the pleasure (!) of seeing all these bands live (some many times). There must be many other Zoners who were, like me, into live gigs at the time (I was 17 in 1980 and allowed to go to London with friends, so virtually had a space reserved for me at the Marquee Club).
Who, in your opinion, should have stood the test of time, and who else slipped into (un) deserved obscurity
Further to your reply PG. I had the dubious pleasure of seeing Iron Maiden as support to Judas Priest (in 1980 I think). They were no more of a tribute band than The Darkness are currently to Queen (although I see a distinction). There is a distinct correlation between The Darkness and Iron Maiden in so much as at their time there were comparisons with their peers. As a Priest fan at the time I can tell you there was some consternation between the Priest 'twin guitar' sound and the almost copycat sound of Maiden at the time.