While I write a lot of columns about bands who never made it, this week is a slightly more uplifting tale. Bands who didn't quite hit the big time during the metal heyday of the 80's, but changed with the times and found fame later on.

First up is L.A. band Rough Cutt. They boasted future members of Ratt, Dio, Ozzy and Quiet Riot in their earlier lineups, but by the time the band got a record deal of their own their shot at fame had already passed them by.

Fast forward 15 years later, and the band found a new singer and a completely different direction. Orgy may have been a one hit wonder, their one hit was huge and way bigger than anything they did as Rough Cutt:

Next up is Meliah Rage, a band I barely even remember.

If their drummer looks familiar, it's because he's now best known as the lead singer of Godsmack:

Here we have glam band Razzle. Squarely in the Trixter/Firehouse mode of completely unoffensive pop metal:

Jump ahead 10 years later and they became Lit:

And last but definitely not least, not many people know before he became the undisputed king of schlock Michael Bolton released 3 metal albums that actually aren't half bad:

(don't worry, I'm not linking a better known Michael Bolton song here..)