'80s Metal History (February 17th)

February 17, 1984: RATT released their debut album "Out Of The Cellar" in North America (March '84 in the UK) with Tawny Kitaen on the cover and featuring smash hit "Round And Round", plus "Back For More" and "Wanted Man". The album debuted on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart on March 24th and peaked at No. 7 in August that year.

RATT "Out Of The Cellar" release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - February 13, 1984; [UK] Kerrang! review - March 22, 1984.

February 17, 1984: With a hard-driving metal sound, Great White released their debut album in North America (three days later in the UK). They had gone through several name changes and with Jack Russell in jail at one time, auditioned other singers like Armored Saint's John Bush. Great White had been covering The Who's "Substitute for awhile and included it on the album with a few "lyric changes 'I see right thru that Satan crap' instead of the original 'plastic mac', a dig about L.A. bands that go in for Devil posing. When they asked Pete Townshend's permission to put the altered words on plastic, the man issued an emphatic 'no'. Until the band teased him about getting old, and he finally relented." -Kerrang!

Great White debut release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - February 13, 1984; [UK] Kerrang! - February 9, 1984

February 1986: King Diamond released their debut album "Fatal Portrait" in North America (March 14, 1986 in the UK). Guitarist Andy LaRocque joined the recording sessions at the last minute as the band's second guitarist "wasn't working out". He then stuck around for awhile 🤘 Release information source: [US] Metal Blade Records; [UK] Kerrang! ad - March 20, 1986.

February 17, 1981: Iron Maiden launched the "Killer" World Tour in Ipswich, England. It was the band's first world tour with debut shows in North America supporting Judas Priest, as well as Japan where they recorded the live album "Maiden Japan".

February 17, 1984: Skull Splitting Metal!!! Fast...Loud...and Rude! Megadeth played their very first show at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley, California. The line-up included Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Kerry King, and Lee Rausch on drums.

Happy Birthday to long time Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood (February 17, 1950).

February 17, 2005: A reunited Mötley Crüe launched the North American leg of the "Red, White & Crüe... Better Live Than Dead" Tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

February 17, 1988: Megadeth released a cover of the Sex Pistols "Anarchy In The U.K." as a single. Dave Mustaine has said he couldn't understand Johnny Rotten's singing, so some lyrics are altered and the country was changed to "USA". Release information source: Kerrang! ad and review - February 20, 1988.

February 1981: Ron Keel founded American band Steeler in Nashville before moving to Los Angeles. Two years later 19-year-old Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen arrived in America and joined the band. Steeler's debut was released in June 1983.

February 17, 1989: Whitesnake's David Coverdale married actress Tawny Kitaen, star of several Whitesnake videos including "Here I Go Again". They divorced two years later. R.I.P. Tawny.

Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton released his debut solo album "Baptizm Of Fire" in 1997. Glenn plays guitar and... sings on this record. Musicians who guested include Billy Sheehan, Robert Trujillo and Cozy Powell.

Remembering former Lizzy Borden guitarist Tony Matuzak, who died February 17, 2021 at age 59. R.I.P.

AC/DC released their debut album "High Voltage" in Australia in 1975... Europe and North America would have to wait until the following year. The band were influenced by glam rock, but would soon move to the riff-based hard rock sound we know and love.

February 17, 1985: W.A.S.P., Metallica and Armored Saint lit up a Sunday night at Cotillion Ballroom in Wichita, Kansas.

February 1987: Quiet Riot "terminated their relationship" with vocalist Kevin DuBrow. The band's press release pulled no punches in citing "severe personality and musical differences" as the basis for the decision. DuBrow responded: "Quiet Riot seems to be blaming me for everything, including AIDS, WWII, the situation in Iran and the sinking of the Titanic!" -Kerrang!

February 17, 1988: A 12-year-old boy in Florida doused himself with rubbing alcohol and set himself on fire in an attempt to imitate a scene from Mötley Crüe’s "Live Wire" music video. Crüe issued a statement after saying their stunts should not be tried at home.