1976 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1976.

Bands formed

 * Accept
 * Angel Witch (as Lucifer)
 * Black Flag
 * Bronz
 * Chrome
 * Citron
 * Crys
 * Diamond Head
 * Ethel the Frog
 * Foreigner
 * Heavy Load
 * Kick Axe
 * Līvi
 * Marseille
 * McCoy
 * Mentors
 * The Obsessed
 * Paice Ashton Lord
 * Pat Travers
 * Ratt
 * Rose Tattoo
 * Running Wild (as Granite Hearts)
 * Sorcery
 * Spider
 * Sister
 * The Clash
 * The Godz
 * Thor
 * Zoetrope

Bands disbanded

 * Deep Purple (reformed in 1984)
 * New York Dolls
 * Steppenwolf

Events

 * "Fast" Eddie Clarke became the second guitarist for Motörhead. Shortly after his arrival, the original guitarist Larry Wallis departed, returning the band to a trio, which is now recognized as the "classic line-up".
 * Uriah Heep parted ways with their original vocalist, David Byron, due to his struggles with heavy drinking.
 * Guitarist Dave Murray joined Iron Maiden.

Deaths

 * December 4 – Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin, former guitarist of Zephyr, James Gang, and Deep Purple, died from an overdose of heroin and other substances, including alcohol, cocaine and barbiturates at the age of 25.

Albums

 * Krokus – Krokus
 * Lucifer's Friend – Mind Exploding
 * Moxy – Moxy II
 * Y&T – Yesterday & Today