'80s Metal History (February 19th)

Happy Birthday to the "Riff Lord" and "Godfather of Metal", Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi (February 19, 1948).

February 19, 2015: Iron Maiden announced that singer Bruce Dickinson was recovering from treatment for tongue cancer. Fortunately, it was caught early and his prognosis was extremely good. Bruce is still rockin' us! 🤘

Remembering AC/DC singer Bon Scott, who died February 19, 1980 at age 33. R.I.P.

Bon Scott's obituary by David Lewis in Sounds Magazine UK (1st, March 1980).

February 19, 1982: Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for urinating on the Alamo. After a few drinks too many, he stumbled out into the street wearing a dress owned by his future wife Sharon (she had hidden his clothes to keep him from going out) 🥴😁

February 18/19, 1983: W.A.S.P. played two shows at L.A.'s Troubadour that featured a chance to win a $50 door prize with a bondage costume contest the first night and wet t-shirt contest on night two 🥳

February 19, 1988: Along with "The World's Most 'State-of-the-Art' Speed Metal Band", Megadeth, plus special guest Savatage, DIO played Chicago on the "Dream Evil" Tour.

February 19, 1983: After launching the "Never Surrender" Tour three days earlier in Spokane, Washington, Triumph rolled back into their home country for a one-off concert in Vancouver before returning to the states.

February 19, 1992: Guns N' Roses played the first of three nights in Tokyo as part of the "Use Your Illusion" Tour. According to one fan who attended, Axl complained about the stage size, saying it was different from the contract.

February 19, 1990: Iron Maiden's "No Prayer On The Road" Tour was working its way across North America with support from Anthrax and stopped in San Diego, California for a show at the Sports Arena.

Remembering Scorpions bassist [1974-92] Francis Buchholz, who would have celebrated a birthday today (February 19, 1954). Francis died in 2026 at age 71. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday to Queensrÿche singer Todd La Torre (February 19, 1974).

Happy Birthday to Shok Paris singer Vic Hix (February 19, 1959).

February 19, 1983: As Tommy Iommi was celebrating his 35th birthday, the UK's Record Mirror reported that former Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan had been approached about joing Black Sabbath. One of Gillan's friends said "I'm sure it's just a publicity stunt." After Robert Plant and David Coverdale were also considered, and even receiving an audition tape from Michael Bolton, Sabbath announced Gillan had joined the band just over a month later.

February 19, 1995: Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee married actress Pamela Anderson in Cancun, Mexico. They divorced three years later.

February 19, 1986: With support from RATT, Ozzy Osbourne brought "The Ultimate Sin" Tour to London's Hammersmith Odeon. "He's not been blessed with a particularly good voice, his stage movements are clumsy and his 'let's go f**king crazy' raps are more predictable than the speaking clock. He's a kind of Co-Co the Clown with Marshall amplification, but the bond of mutual admiration between Ozzy and his audience is quite touching." -Kerrang!