'80s Metal History (January 15th)

Happy Birthday to Saxon singer Biff Byford (January 15, 1951).

Happy Birthday to Venom founder, singer and bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant (January 15, 1963).

January 15, 1991: "It's Going To Be A Brutal Winter!" with Slayer and Testament laying waste to Southern California. By the end of the month, it was winter for real with Midwest shows that began in Chicago.

January 1985: Featuring a cameo appearance by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, Lita Ford's music video for "Dressed To Kill" was being shown on MTV. Lita and Tony were a couple at the time.

January 15, 1984: Metallica were ripping up the Northeastern US, going from the Riverboat in Rochester, New York to South River, New Jersey for a show at Union Jack.

January 15, 1985: Iron Maiden resumed the North American leg of the "World Slavery" Tour a day earlier in Hartford after returning from Rock In Rio and were now at the Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. Twisted Sister opened the show then left the tour before returning at the end of January. Queensrÿche jumped in to open the New York dates that followed.

January 15, 1986: Two weeks after opening for Metallica, Exodus and Anthrax on New Year's Eve at the San Francisco Civic, Metal Church launched a new tour with two shows in the Bay Area, including this one at The Stone with opener Legacy, who would soon change to their forever name, Testament.

January 15, 1990: Ozzy Osbourne released live EP "Just Say Ozzy" in North America (March 12th in the UK). The sleeve states it was recorded at London's Brixton Academy in November 1989, but no known dates correspond as the tour ended in August. 🤔 Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler performed with Ozzy. Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - January 6, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! - March 3, 1990.

Accept released their 11th studio album "Predator" in 1996, their last with singer Udo Dirkschneider. The LP was produced by Udo's long time (school) friend, successful metal mixer and engineer, Michael Wagener.

January 1989: Cleveland power metal band Shok Paris released their third studio album "Concrete Killers" in North America featuring single and music video "The Heat And The Fire" and "American Dream". Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - January 6, 1989.

January 15, 1988: Elektra Records re-released Metallica's first studio album "Kill Em All" in North America with "Am I Evil?" and "Blitzkrieg" added as bonus tracks, plus the LP's original title and artwork that had been unavailable since shortly after the record's 1983 release. Release date source: Billboard Magazine - January 9, 1988.

January 1984: Their new album "1984" was just released and Eddie Van Halen got the cover of Hit Parader Magazine as Van Halen were "Voted No. 1 Rock Act In America".

January 15, 1984: Five days after launching the North American leg of the "Bark At The Moon" Tour, Ozzy Osbourne with Mötley Crüe and Waysted played the first of two nights at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. "An impressive stage setup resembling something out of a Vincent Price horror movie is being used on this tour, and the music is equally impressive." -The Philadelphia Inquirer

Did you purchase a Metallica "Ride The Lightning" Glow In The Dark T-Shirt (Limited Edition) in 1984-85? Those originals are a rare find these days going for big $$ online. Reprints are available today, but don't glow like the original.