'80s Metal History (January 6th)

Anthrax released their debut album "Fistful Of Metal" in January 1984, their only LP with original frontman Neil Turbin and bassist Dan Lilker, and featuring tracks "Metal Thrashing Mad" and "Soldiers Of Metal". Release information source: Kerrang! - January 26, 1984.

January 1988: With Megadeth and Savatage, DIO continued the "Dream Evil" Tour in the new year with dates in the US and Canada. The laser battle with a monstrous stainless steel spider was worth the price of admission alone 🤘

January 1983: "Voted No. 1 Rock Act In America", Ozzy Osbourne was on the cover of Hit Parader Magazine and Ozzy's latest album "Speak Of The Devil", was in the Top 15 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

Metal Blade released "Metal Massacre II" in 1983 featuring more unsigned, underground metal bands including Armored Saint, Obsession, Warlord, Aloha with future Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman and Trauma with future Metallica bassist Cliff Burton.

Remembering AC/DC co-founder and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who would have celebrated a birthday today (January 6, 1953). Malcolm died in 2017. R.I.P.

January 6, 1982: Sammy Hagar released his sixth studio album "Standing Hampton" in North America featuring rock hits "I'll Fall In Love Again", "Heavy Metal" and "There's Only One Way To Rock". Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - December 11, 1981.

Remembering Waysted guitarist Barry Benedetta, who died January 6, 2022 at age 64. Barry also worked with Tom Keifer as lead guitarist on several tracks for Cinderella's debut album "Night Songs". R.I.P.

January 1989: One of the first female-fronted metal bands, doom thrashers Sacrilege, heavily influenced by Sabbath, released their third studio album "Turn Back Trilobite". Release information source: Kerrang! ad - January 28, 1989.

January 6, 1983: With special guest Night Ranger joining them for the first of four shows, KISS brought the "Creatures Of The Night/10th Anniversary" Tour to Lexington, Kentucky. In December 2023, former Night Ranger guitarist Jeff Watson recalled KISS having burnt toast next to their stage when playing live... "And every night an older lady, like someone's mom or older sister, would walk up right before they hit the stage, carrying a plate stacked with burnt white bread toast, and stand there the entire show watching Gene. It turns out that the flammable liquid Gene was gulping into his mouth before igniting with a torch was very toxic, and if he mistakenly swallowed any, which did happen, the fastest remedy before getting medical attention is eating as much burnt toast as possible. It does something to help neutralize the poison until proper treatment. And that’s why I always smell burnt white toast in my head whenever I see photos of the KISS lads."

January 1958: Gibson launched the Flying V guitar, a little before its time. It really took off with hard rock and metal guitarists in the '70s and '80s... Metallica, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Michael Schenker and more.