'80s Metal History (February 18th)

February 18, 1986: After KISS and W.A.S.P. played Salt Lake City a night earlier, a review in the local newspaper the next day noted the "opening act far outshining the main attraction."

To mark their ten-year recording anniversary with Iron Maiden, EMI released a series of CDs and double Maxi-Singles in 1990. "The First Ten Years: The Videos" was also issued later that year and we all lost our minds. Up The Irons! Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - February 10, 1990.

February 18, 1987: After a drastic shift in a more commercial direction, Raven returned to the brutally bludgeoning basics of their early work with the release of their sixth studio album "Life's A Bitch" in the UK (one day later in North America), their last with original drummer and founding member Rob "Wacko" Hunter who was replaced by Joe Hasselvander (ex-Pentagram).

Raven "Life's A Bitch" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! review - February 19, 1987; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - February 13, 1987.

Remembering former Megadeth drummer Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson, who would have celebrated a birthday today (February 18, 1958). He played on Megadeth's first two albums and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal drummers. Gar died in 1999 at age 41. R.I.P.

February 18, 1988: Promoting their latest album "Among The Living", Anthrax concluded a short tour of Japan at Koseinenkin Hall in Osaka. "You certainly won't find any Moshing or stage diving at a Japanese show - yet there is plenty of fist-flailing, shaking of heads and general grooving." -Kerrang!

February 1983: English all-female heavy metal band Rock Goddess released their debut and most commercially successful album "Rock Goddess", featuring singles "Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll" and "My Angel". Release information source: Kerrang! ad + review - February 24, 1983.

February 18, 1983: Five years after performing at a London charity event to raise money for the preservation of William Wordsworth manuscripts, Motörhead's second live album titled "What's Words Worth?" was issued in the UK. For contractual reasons at the time, Motörhead had to perform under the name "Iron Fist And The Hordes From Hell". Lemmy is heard at the end of the concert saying "read plenty of Wordsworth." Release date source: Record Mirror - February 12, 1983.

February 18, 1978: This ad for Judas Priest's fourth studio album "Stained Class" appeared in the UK's New Music Express. The tour would start five days later in Liverpool.

German metal band Stormwitch released their fourth studio album "The Beauty And The Beast" in 1988. Similar to Helloween, their lyrics focus on fantasy, occult and history. They have been called "The Masters of Black Romantic" by their fans

Canadian thrash/speed metal band Piledriver released their debut album "Metal Inquisition" in 1984 featuring songs like "Sex With Satan" and "Sodomize The Dead". They didn't gain much traction and were good for one more record "Stay Ugly" two years later.

February 18, 1992: Four days after the movie "Wayne's World" opened in US theaters, the soundtrack was available in record stores featuring songs from Cinderella, BulletBoys, Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath with "Time Machine".

February 18, 1988: Opening with "Teenage Frankenstein", Alice Cooper was "Live In The Flesh" in Canada with special guest Motörhead at the Agridome in Regina, Saskatchewan.

February 1985: It was RATT Vs Mötley Crüe! "Battle Of The Bulge!" in this issue of Creem Magazine. And if that wasn't enough for you, inside was a David Lee Roth Calendar Poster!

Advertising for recent hard rockin' albums in early 1984... "Go 'Balls To The Wall' with the cream of screaming metal"... Oh my 😝 Accept, Saxon, Ozzy... Listen for them all on METAL SHOP 🤘