The early to mid '90s were a confusing time for veteran hard rock and metal icons, with the rise of a new wave of 'alternative' rock bands - Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins among them - taking over radio airwaves and MTV, and changing the musical landscape.
It's a myth to say that grunge swept away the old guard, but certainly it led to a time of uncertainty, insecurity, and some 'interesting' creative left-turns. Metallica embraced country-rock. Metal God Rob Halford quit Judas Priest and went industrial with Fight. Def Leppard stopped sounding like Def Leppard on Slang. Oh, and Ozzy Osbourne recorded a duet of Steppenwolf’s classic biker anthem Born to be Wild with Muppets diva Miss Piggy.
Yes, you read that correctly.
