1987 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1987.

Newly formed bands

• Arcturus
• Asphyx
• Autopsy
• Burzum
• Cynic
• Danzig
• Darkthrone
• Deicide
• Disharmonic Orchestra
• Entombed
• Follow for Now
• Meshuggah
• Nitro
• Phantom Blue
• Pink Cream 69
• Primordial
• Skid Row
• Therion
• U.D.O.
• Winger

Albums & EPs

Disbandments

• Alcatrazz
• Sound Barrier
• Twisted Sister
• Grim Reaper

Events

• Udo Dirkshneider departs Accept citing management issues and later the same year forms U.D.O.
• Bon Jovi headlined 1987's Monsters of Rock festival with Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella. Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson and Paul Stanley joined Bon Jovi to perform "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk.
• Motörhead's drummer Pete Gill leaves the band and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor returns.
• Mötley Crüe - Girls, Girls, Girls peaked at No. 2 in the Billboard charts.
• The show Headbangers Ball debuts on MTV on April 18, 1987.
• Bon Jovi's album Slippery When Wet topped the Billboard charts for eight weeks.
• In December 1987, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx suffers a near-fatal heroin overdose.
• Bassist Louiche Mayorga leaves Suicidal Tendencies and is replaced by Bob Heathcote. At the same time, the band becomes a five piece as they hire former No Mercy guitarist Mike Clark as their rhythm guitarist.