I'm going to Metallica next month. I've first listened the them in the early 80's, and I still like them. I have some personal differences with them, but I still like their music.
I've been a metal fan for a long time. Here's some of the bands I've listened to or seen since 1982.
Judas Priest, Axe, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead, Megadeth, Motey Crue, Anthrax, Raven, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Fastway, Michael Schenker Group, Scorpions, Accept, etc. Some I liked better than others for sure.
Metal lost it's popularity back in the late 80's/early 90's when MTV and radio stopped playing metal for other formats. That was disappointing, and metal went underground for a long time. Most major cities still had a metal bar or two.
Motorhead is still my favorite. I'm 44 and I still have a black Motorhead t-shirt.