Although heavy metal can be an angry and aggressive-sounding form of music, many of the people behind the music are actually sweet and gentle folks.
Recently, we put together a feature highlighting some of the worst people working in metal, so we only thought it was right to highlight some of the sweethearts of the genre.
The people on this list are not only super friendly, but they have also gone out of their way to help others and support the scene. One quick note, but it obviously goes without saying that there are more than 10 incredibly cool people in the metal community. This feature only highlights a small pool of the wonderfully gracious and kindhearted individuals who represent metal.
Without further ado, here are the 10 nicest people in hard rock and heavy metal.
Dave Grohl
Does inviting a little kid on stage and gifting that kid a guitar make you one of metal’s coolest individuals? What about staying up throughout the night to cook BBQ for the homeless, does that make you wholesome AF? The answer to both of these is yes, and both of these wonderful gestures are small examples that show off how awesome Dave Grohl is.
Jesse Leach
Whether it is through his music or on his podcast Stoke The Fire, Killswitch Engage singer Jesse Leach actively encourages PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). Leach preaches messages of perseverance, acknowledging the struggles that many people go through, and strives to inspire folks to live their best life.
Rob Halford
The Heavy Metal God is one of the coolest guys in the genre. The Judas Priest singer is always a delight to talk to and is incredibly humble. Rob Halford is welcoming of all in the community and always championing the spirit of heavy metal; an example of this is how the singer shuts down the idea of gatekeeping, believing that folks should not be judged for when they get into a band’s music.
Matt Heafy
Another absolute sweetheart is Trivium vocalist Matt Heafy. Let alone the vocalist being one of the nicest dudes to talk to, he is also another incredible champion of the genre. Whether it’s how he supports acts like Frozen Soul, or gives a shoutout to bands on social media, Heafy is always making an effort to shine a light on the smaller bands in metal.
Brann Dailor
Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor has an incredibly welcoming energy to him; Dailor’s cheerful vibe is infectious and bound to make any who chats with him smile. He also cares about important causes; for example, he and the rest of Mastodon performed a charity show back in 2017 where 100% of the proceeds went to suicide prevention and mental health education.
Jamey Jasta
As the frontman behind one of the angriest-sounding bands in the world, Hatebreed singer Jamey Jasta is actually one of the chillest guys around. Jasta’s passion for metal and support of smaller bands easily lands him a spot on this list. Whether it’s bringing artists from smaller bands onto his podcast or featuring them as part of Milwaukee Metal Fest, Jasta deeply cares about the scene.
Jack Black
Hands down, Jack Black is one of rock’s biggest sweethearts. What other artist sends a wholesome message to kids putting on a production of School of Rock? What other artist serenades terminally ill kids with their favorite School of Rock song? Black isn’t just an awesome rocker and a funny actor – he’s a wonderful human being with a golden heart.
Max Cavalera
Whether it’s through the music he created with Sepultura or his work through Soulfly, one might assume that Max Cavalera is one tough motherfucker. Come to find out though, Cavalera is laid back as hell. When we chatted with him last year, he was incredibly open and excited to talk about music, particularly to shout out some of the smaller bands he’s blown away by.
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher
Even though he’s the frontman for one of the greatest death metal bands of all time, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher is one of heavy metal’s biggest softies. With a heart as thick as his neck, Corpsegrinder is one of the nicest and most passionate artists working in metal today. Like others on this list, the Cannibal Corpse frontman cares deeply for the scene and does what he can to help others.
Fenriz
For as controversial as black metal can be, there are also lots of good folks working within the genre, one of those being Darkthrone‘s Fenriz. This black metal legend has such a warm and welcoming energy to him – which is completely opposite of the icy and harsh music he creates.