This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal music in the year 1987.

Newly formed bands

Albums & EPs

Disbandments

• Alcatrazz (reformed in 2006)
• Sound Barrier (reformed in 2017)
• Twisted Sister (reformed in 2003)

Events

• Udo Dirkshneider departs Accept citing management issues, and later the same year forms U.D.O.
• Bon Jovi headlines the Monsters of Rock festival with Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella. Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson and Paul Stanley join Bon Jovi to perform "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk.
• Motörhead's drummer Pete Gill leaves the band and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor returns.
• Mötley Crüe - Girls, Girls, Girls peaked at No. 2 in the Billboard charts.
• The show Headbangers Ball debuts on MTV on April 18, 1987.
• Bon Jovi's album Slippery When Wet tops the Billboard charts for eight weeks.
• In December 1987, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx suffers a near-fatal heroin overdose.
• Bassist Louiche Mayorga leaves Suicidal Tendencies and is replaced by Bob Heathcote. At the same time, the band becomes a five piece as they hire former No Mercy guitarist Mike Clark as their rhythm guitarist.