'80s Metal History (January 17th)

January 17, 1983: Black Sabbath released "Live Evil" in North America (three days earlier in the UK), their first official live album and last LP with Ronnie James Dio before his return in 1992. Many of the songs on "Live Evil" were also featured on original singer Ozzy Osbourne's "Talk (Speak) Of The Devil" album issued in November 1982. Of the oddly distant crowd sound, Tony Iommi remarked: "We forgot about the audience!"

Black Sabbath "Live Evil" release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine - January 8, 1983; [UK] Kerrang! review - January 13, 1983, Official Chart debut - January 22, 1983.

Mötley Crüe formed in January 1981 when Nikki Sixx left the band London and started rehearsing with Tommy Lee and Greg Leon. Bob Deal (Mick Mars) replaced Leon and Vince Neil was hired on April 1st. The band played their first gig on April 24th.

January 17, 2001: Metallica bassist Jason Newsted quit the band. Needing time to recover from neck and back injuries he sustained from headbanging, Newsted said "It wasn’t easy to walk away from them...The first couple months were real fucked."

January 17, 1985: Iron Maiden began a run of what was supposed to be seven shows at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. The last two were canceled when Bruce Dickinson fell ill. Six months in, the "World Slavery" Tour was exhausting.

Happy Birthday to Helloween co-founder, guitarist and singer Kai Hansen, "The Godfather of Power Metal". (January 17, 1953).

Happy Birthday to Krokus guitarist Fernando Von Arb (January 17, 1953).

January 17, 1986: The movie "Iron Eagle" opened in US theaters. The soundtrack would follow with songs from DIO, King Kobra and Helix. Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" was featured in the film, but not included on the OST.

January 17, 1987: The stage soaked with blood and the aftermath of Metal carnage, Lizzy Borden gave the hometown kids the axe and left them screaming for more with a show in Reseda, California.

January 17, 1986: KISS played UIC Pavilion in Chicago with special guest W.A.S.P. "KISS and W.A.S.P.: Two bands with a sound so loud that their names demand capital letters." -Local review

January 1985: Metal Forces Magazine featured guitarist Jack Starr who left the band he co-founded, Virgin Steele, and released his first solo LP "Out Of The Darkness", chosen by Metal Forces and Kerrang! as one of the best albums of 1984.

January 17, 2007: Ronnie James Dio's handprints were immortalized in the cement at Hollywood's Rockwalk in Southern California. Of course, he did the "Metal Horns" 🤘