Christmas Songs: 25 Hard Rock/Metal/Punk Tunes To Help Deck the Halls
Now that it’s finally December, it’s time to fully embrace Christmas songs. (Sure, some may have started long ago, but many like to wait until Thanksgiving is in the rearview.)
Now that it's finally December, it's time to fully embrace Christmas songs. (Sure, some may have started long ago, but many like to wait until Thanksgiving is in the rearview.)
There are a surprising number of rock and roll Christmas songs. Many rockin' holiday tunes tend to be covers, but many artists have tried to pen the next Christmas classic. If they don't end up classics, they are often at least a lot of fun.
One of those songs is "The Magic of Christmas Day." The song was written by Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider, but it was made famous when it was recorded by Celine Dion. Snider wrote the song at the request of his wife, Suzette. The song got into the hands of producer Ric Wake, a friend of Snider's, who thought the song had massive potential.
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Snider said in a Dec. 2020 interview in Ultimate Classic Rock that about five years after writing the song for his wife, he got a fateful call from Wake. The producer let him know that Celine Dion wanted to record the song.
It was perfect timing for Snider. He said was "broke and struggling" at the time he learned the pop icon decided to record his song. Considering Dion's star power, Snider was thrilled she wanted to record the song at all. His big concern was making sure she didn't know he was the one to write the song.
"I said, 'Do not tell her that Satan wrote her Christmas song. Just put it on the f---in’ album,'" said Snider. (Fun fact: Due to the song's success and the revenue it produced, Snider refers to her as "Saint Celine."
To help fully get into the holiday spirit, consider adding these 25 songs to your Christmas playlist. They vary in subgenre from hard rock to metal to punk. Enjoy!
25. Iggy Pop - "White Christmas"
Neilson Barnard/Getty ImagesSAN BERNARDINO, CA - OCTOBER 06: Iggy Pop performs on stage during Cal Jam 18 at Glen Helen Regional Park on October 06, 2018 in San Bernardino, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
24. Alice Cooper - "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
Cole Bennetts/Getty ImagesSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 16: Alice Cooper performs during Fire Fight Australia at ANZ Stadium on February 16, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)
23. Cheech & Chong - "Santa Claus and His Old Lady"
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 18: Tommy Chong (L) and Cheech Marin of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong perform at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort October 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
22. Rob Halford - "We Three Kings"
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Singer Rob Halford of Judas Priest performs on the final night of the band's Firepower World Tour at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
21. Korn - "Kidnap the Sandy Claws"
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Jonathan Davis of Korn performs onstage at a private concert for SiriusXM at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on October 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The performance airs live on SiriusXM's Octane Channel. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
20. My Chemical Romance - "All I Want For Christmas is You"
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 07: My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way performs at the Red Rock Casino October 7, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
19. The Black Crowes - "Back Door Santa"
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 19: Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes performs at The Forum on August 19, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
18. The Killers - "A Great Big Sled"
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 11: The Killers (L-R) guitarist Dave Keuning, singer Brandon Flowers and drummer Ronnie Vannucci perform at the 13th annual Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's Grand Slam for Children benefit concert at the Wynn Las Vegas October 11, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
17. King Diamond - "No Presents for Christmas"
Roadrunner16. Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Rudy Sarzo & Simon Wright - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 08: Musician Ronnie James Dio arrives at the 2nd annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards held at Club Nokia on April 8, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
15. GWAR - "Stripper Christmas Summer Weekend"
Roger Kisby/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Metal band GWAR performs live onstage for the Viva La Bam tour at Roseland Ballroom on November 2, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
14. Twisted Sister - "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino September 2, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
13. Gary Hoey - "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
Surfdog Records12. The Darkness - "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)"
Steve Finn/Getty ImagesLONDON - FEBRUARY 17: Rock Band The Darkness arrive at the "Brit Awards 2004" at Earls Court 2 on February 17, 2004 in London. Darkness is nominated for best British Group. (Photo by Steve Finn/Getty Images)
11. Ramones - "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesJoey Ramone (1951-2001), singer with US punk band the Ramones, on stage during a live concert performance by the band, with drummer Tommy Ramone in the background behind his drumkit, 1977. The backdrop has the band's 'presidential seal' logo and name. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
10. blink-182 - "I Won't Be Home For Christmas"
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesWEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 23: (L-R) Musicians Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus of blink-182 pose at a press party of announce the 2011 Honda Civic Tour featuring blink-182 and My Chemical Romance at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on May 23, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
9. Spinal Tap - "Christmas With The Devil"
Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesLONDON - JULY 07: Harry Shearer (L) and Michael McKean of spoof American heavy metal band Spinal Tap performs on stage during the Live Earth concert held at Wembley Stadium on July 7, 2007 in London. Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07, bringing together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
8. Adam Sandler - "The Chanukah Song"
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 12: Actor/musician Adam Sandler performs onstage during the 3rd Annual VH1 Rock Honors at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion on July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
7. Pearl Jam - "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)"
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs during day 1 of the Hard Rock Calling festival held in Hyde Park on June 25, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
6. AC/DC - "Mistress for Christmas"
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesWILKES-BARRE, PA - OCTOBER 28: Singer Brian Johnson(L) and Angus Young of AC/DC perform during their "Black Ice" Tour Opener on October 28, 2008 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
5. Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24"
Anna Webber/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: Chris Caffery, Roddy Chong, David Z, Joel Hoekstra and members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra perform onstage during an exclusive performance at The iHeartRadio Theater in New York at iHeartRadio Theater on November 17, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for iHeart Radio)
4. Lemmy Kilmister, Billy F Gibbons & Dave Grohl - "Run Rudolph Run"
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 08: Musicians Dave Grohl (right) and Lemmy Kilmister on stage at the 2nd annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards held at Club Nokia on April 8, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
3. Dropkick Murphys - "The Season's Upon Us"
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 13: Musician Ken Casey of the band Dropkick Murphys performs onstage during day 2 of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2013 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
2. Dee Snider & Lzzy Hale - "The Magic of Christmas Day"
BMG1. Corey Taylor - "X-M@$"
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 02: Musician Corey Taylor performs 5th Annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show at Club Nokia on May 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
