What were the best live albums from rock and metal bands in the 1980s?
What a decade it was to be alive, as the live chops often matched the showmanship and bravado of some of decade’s biggest acts.
Metal was emerging and we got amazing live albums from Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, with the latter being a tribute to the late guitarist Randy Rhoads.
Rock was also alive and well, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and U2 showing us all how it was supposed to be done.
Let’s take you back and fill your world with killer riffs, rocking guitar solos and plenty of stage antics that translate so well within the live setting.
Check out the 10 Best Live Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s below.
10 Best Live Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s
The live album was a live and well, with these bands bringing us the best of the concert format records.
Black Sabbath, Live Evil (1982)
New singer, no problem. Black Sabbath seemed to pick up momentum after the addition of Ronnie James Dio to the lineup. Though he only had two albums under his belt, there was no denying the talent of Dio and the need to get his live performance down on record.
The record provides a mix of Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell fan favorites along with classic Sabbath standards such as “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.” and “Children of the Grave.”
The Big Highlight: Though it’s interesting to see just how such standards as “War Pigs” and “N.I.B.” are covered with Dio’s power vocals, one of the better showcases on the album comes with “Children of the Sea.” The cut allows Dio to show off a more soulful side with a nuanced performance.
Iron Maiden, Live After Death (1985)
There’s no doubt that Iron Maiden were hitting their stride in the ‘80s with Bruce Dickinson leading the band through some of their biggest albums. In this case, Live After Death was captured over the course of the band’s World Slavery tour supporting their Powerslave album.
While the music is always great, heavy and aggressive, it’s really Dickinson who proves to be the star here. The singer nimbly shows off his vocal prowess, but proves every bit the entertainer with his banter between tracks. Cuts such as “Revelations,” “The Trooper,” “The Number of the Beast” and “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” all shine here.
The Big Highlight: It’s hard not to pick the album’s opening, complete with the Winston Churchill speech opening things up and leading straight into the sizzling opening of “Aces High.” What a way to kick off the night.
Motorhead, No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981)
Given their penchant for leaving audiences absolutely rocked live, it’s probably no surprise that one of Motörhead’s most successful releases was the live album, No Sleep ’Til Hammersmith. Despite the title, most of the recordings actually came from performances at Leeds and Newcastle in the U.K., with the band riding him from the success of their Ace of Spades album.
Staples such as “(We Are) the Road Crew,” “The Hammer” and “Bomber” all cut through your speakers with the power of a band truly on top of their game.
The Big Highlight: C’mon. It’s always gonna be “Ace of Spades,” which fires out of the gate on No Sleep ’Til Hammersmith and sets the stage for the absolutely electric live collection to follow.
Ozzy Osbourne, Tribute (1987)
The word “iconic” truly fits this Ozzy Osbourne live album, as it serves as a tribute to the singer’s late guitarist Randy Rhoads. The music was recorded prior to Rhoads’ unexpected passing and shelved until five years after his death. It features some of the guitarist’s flashy yet catchy lead guitar work as well as his fleet-fingered guitar solos.
The live version of “Crazy Train” served as the album’s lone single and video release, but the set had many well-deserving standouts that require your attention and make this a must-listen package.
The Big Highlight: While Rhoads brings extra vibe and energy to classics “I Don’t Know” and “Flying High Again,” the overwhelming audience choice from this collection appears to be the absolutely blistering version of “Paranoid.”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pack Up the Plantation LIVE! (1985)
Though Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had established themselves as a dynamic live band, it was 1985 before they officially released a live album. The Pack Up the Plantation: Live album was recorded during Petty’s support of the Southern Accents album, with live recordings pulled from five different stops. The set included two songs with longtime pal Stevie Nicks, including the single release “Needles and Pins.”
The Big Highlight: It’s hard not to join in with the audience that takes over the classic Petty track “Breakdown” for the entire first verse. As Petty says, “You’re gonna put me out of a job.” Maybe so, but it’s so much fun to sing along.
