The title may be confusing but here's the gist of it. What bands have become famous when a more famous band covers their material? I really really think that 90% of the interest from people in Diamond Head is because of Metallica, myself included. Also The Misfits. I think that they have been helped tremendously by Metallica's covers too, Cliff's proud endorsement of them, and maybe Guns N Roses cover of Attitude didnt hurt either.

Misfits have been popular for as long as I can remember. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Thorogood's cover of John Lee Hooker's One bourbon, one scotch, one beer.

Tesla's cover of "Little Suzy" gave PHD some exposure

In North America, it wasn't until Quiet Riot covered a pair of Slade tracks (Cum On Feel The Noize being the big one obviously), that Slade themselves were able to crack the pop charts. Even when the band tried to write an album to cater to then-contemporary trends (1976's 'Nobody's Fools' - which sounded a heck of a lot like the Eagles) Slade was never able to get an album in heavy rotation. Come 1984, after the Cum On Feel The Noize cover, Slade hits the top 40 twice with Run Runaway and My Oh My off 'The Amazing Kamakaze Syndrome' (in Europe - in NA the album was released as Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply).

Metallica - Diamond Head
Quiet Riot - Slade