Since the dawn of time -- or at least the dawn of heavy metal -- record labels have asked their metal bands to please, please, PLEASE temper all that noise by recording someone else’s pop song – something the suits can promote as a single and maybe even take to radio.

Fact is, heavy music has always had, in the words of Spinal Tap manager Ian Faith, a “selective” audience, otherwise known as “limited commercial potential,” and thus, if bands couldn’t or wouldn’t pen material that was either more accessible or less heavy-handed, they were often pressured to cut a previous hit that might expand their fan base. And it's not always a bad idea.

Over 50-something years, our favorite form of music has accumulated an expansive and intriguing collection of non-heavy metal songs covered by heavy metal bands, so come along as we revisit ten of the most memorable.

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