Because even legends needed a leg-up once
1. Ozzy Osbourne Took Metallica on Tour (1986)
Back when Metallica were just thrashing it out in dingy clubs and hadn’t even touched a stadium, Ozzy Osbourne saw something special. In 1986, he took them out as support on his Ultimate Sin tour. It was Metallica’s first arena tour, and it exposed them to the masses. And yes, Cliff Burton was still alive. This was right before “Master of Puppets” took over the world.
🔥 “I remember Sharon telling me not to take them. She thought they were too heavy! Look at them now.” – Ozzy, probably
2. The Rolling Stones Brought AC/DC to the Big Leagues
In the mid-1970s, The Rolling Stones were royalty. When they invited a young, wild Aussie band named AC/DC to open for them, it gave the Bon Scott-fronted rockers serious credibility. That exposure helped AC/DC get taken seriously outside of Australia.
🍻 From pub gigs in Melbourne to stadiums with the Stones? That’s one hell of a leap, mun!
3. U2 Championing The Killers
It’s easy to forget, but before “Mr. Brightside” became the UK’s unofficial national anthem, The Killers were just another alt-rock act trying to break through. Bono loved them early and invited them on tour during How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. That gave the Las Vegas lads massive exposure in Europe.
👀 And let’s be honest, The Killers owe at least one thank-you pint to Bono.
4. Limp Bizkit and Korn: Nu-Metal Brotherhood
Korn’s early success in the ’90s kicked open the door for bands like Limp Bizkit, who Fred Durst literally handed a demo to backstage. Korn loved it, and ended up taking them on tour. Fred Durst went from tattooing people to shouting “Break Stuff” on massive stages.
🤘 Nu-metal: messy, chaotic, beautiful. Ta, Korn.
5. Green Day Mentoring Billie Eilish (Yes, really)
When Billie Eilish was still more known for SoundCloud than stadiums, Billie Joe Armstrong took her under his punk wing. He praised her artistry, invited her to festivals, and gave her some rock cred in a pop-heavy world.
🎤 “She’s punk in spirit,” Billie Joe once said. And you know what? He’s not wrong.
6. Nirvana Dragged the Melvins Into the Spotlight
Okay, technically Melvins came before Nirvana – but it was Kurt Cobain who kept shouting them out in interviews, wearing their merch, and dragging them into the alt-rock spotlight during the grunge explosion. They were sludge, stoner, and way too weird for MTV – but they got their moment thanks to the Nirvana wave.
😈 “Without the Melvins, there’d be no Nirvana” – Fact.
7. Foo Fighters and Royal Blood: A Match Made in Thunder
Before Royal Blood were smashing Reading & Leeds and headlining arenas, they were just a bass-and-drums duo blowing amps. Dave Grohl loved their raw power and invited them to support the Foo Fighters in the US. That was the rocket fuel they needed.
🥁 “Dave Grohl is a lovely man and we’re forever grateful,” said Mike Kerr with exactly the right amount of British politeness.
8. Nine Inch Nails Took Marilyn Manson on Tour (and Regretted It)
Back when Marilyn Manson was still a creepy dude with a demo tape, Trent Reznor saw potential and signed him to his label, Nothing Records. He took Manson on tour and produced Antichrist Superstar – basically building the Manson machine.
🖤 They later fell out spectacularly, but Trent still deserves credit for launching the shock rocker into goth stardom.
9. Slipknot Helping Bring Up Motionless In White
Slipknot could’ve kept the heavy metal ladder all to themselves, but nah, they gave the next wave a boost. Motionless In White credit Slipknot with inspiring their sound and taking them on massive tours when they were still in the trenches.
🎭 Black eyeliner? Spooky masks? Screaming breakdowns? Sounds familiar…
10. Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance
When My Chem were still emo darlings in New Jersey basements, Linkin Park invited them on the 2007 Projekt Revolution tour. It introduced Gerard Way and co. to a wider (and slightly heavier) audience. That crossover appeal? Massive.
🎫 Some fans came for “Numb,” left crying to “Helena.” Beautiful chaos.
11. Rage Against The Machine Shouting Out Run The Jewels
Two politically charged powerhouses? Yes please. Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello were early champions of Run The Jewels, inviting them to tour and shouting them out in interviews. RTJ even toured as Rage’s support in 2022 – solidifying their status as modern protest legends.
🎧 From mosh pits to marches – that’s the Rage way.
🤘Final Riff
Music’s a mad, beautiful mess — and behind every overnight success is someone who handed them the mic, said “go on then,” and watched them blow the bloody roof off. These 11 handovers weren’t just support slots — they were torch passes, career boosts, and sometimes pure rock ‘n’ roll magic. ✨
So next time you’re at a gig, get there for the opener. You might just be watching tomorrow’s headliner… and you’ll get to say “I was there first, butt.”
Want more underdog stories and loud legends?
🖤 Follow us on @theriffreportuk | 🥁 Read more chaos on The Riff Report Blog
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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