'80s Metal History (January 5th)

January 5, 1991: Despite receiving very little radio airplay, Iron Maiden reached No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart for the first and only time in their career with "Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter".

January 1984: "Monster Airplay Everywhere!", Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark At The Moon" was a massive hit at American rock radio, but their may have been some holdouts, so the record label placed an ad of Ozzy in a white tux 🤦‍♀️

January 5, 1985: Exodus played The Stone in San Francisco and judging by the flyer, planned to call their debut album "A Lesson In Violence". The LP was already recorded the previous summer and according to the same flyer, was supposed to be out this month, but record label issues delayed it until April when it was finally released with the title "Bonded By Blood".

January 1979: In the UK, Judas Priest released "Take On The World" as the second single from the album "Killing Machine", an attempt at producing a stadium shoutalong tune in the mould of Queen's "We Will Rock You". Release information source: Debuted UK Official Singles chart on January 20, 1979.

January 5, 1987: Great White released "Face The Day" in the UK as a single from their second studio album "Shot In The Dark". Available in the US since August 1986, the LP was issued in the UK the following year. Release date source: Kerrang! - December 25, 1986.

Produced by Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Bay Area thrashers Death Angel released the demo "Kill As One" on cassette in 1985, featuring a recording of "The Ultra-Violence", that later appeared and was the title of their 1987 debut album. Death Angel with Kirk Hammett image - 1990

Formed by neo-classical guitarist David T. Chastain in Cincinnati in 1984, CJSS (the band name an abbreviation of the members names) released their debut album "World Gone Mad" featuring the song "Hell On Earth" in 1986. CJSS issued a follow up LP "Praise The Loud" later that year while Chastain also played with the band Chastain, put together in 1984 by Mike Varney, president of Shrapnel Records and featuring singer Leather Leone. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - February 20, 1986.

Happy Birthday to L.A. Guns bassist Kelly Nickels (January 5, 1962).

Remembering original Anvil guitarist Dave "Squirrely" Allison who would have celebrated a birthday today (January 5, 1956). Dave died in 2024. R.I.P.

January 5, 1993: Iron Maiden announced that Wolfsbane singer Blaze Bayley would replace Bruce Dickinson. "We’ve all known Blaze since Wolfsbane toured with us in 1992. We all like the bloke and have great respect for him as a frontman and as a vocalist." -Steve Harris

Mötley Crüe 1982. Kerrang!