'80s Metal History (February 22nd)

February 22, 1989: The very first Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" was given to (gasp) Jethro Tull over Metallica. When the award was announced, US television stations cut immediately to a commercial break, so viewers didn't hear the audience's reaction to the award (silence, followed by booing). Tull's Ian Anderson has said members of Metallica "were actually very gentlemanly" about the whole ordeal. Listen for the 1989 Grammy Award Losers on METAL SHOP

Metallica performed "One" live at the 1989 Grammy Awards and although the band didn't win that year, they won the award the following year and eight times after that 🤘

February 22, 1984: Metallica bassist Cliff Burton wrote a letter to his girlfriend during the recording of "Ride The Lightning" at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen. "It's all about pressure!"

February 22, 1987: W.A.S.P., Slayer and Raven continued their tour with a show in Austin, Texas. "Leave Your Mom At Home" was always good advice for rock concerts in the '80s 😁

February 22, 1990: Florida metal merchants Savatage played the final night of their very successful European tour at London's Marquee Club. Following a visit to Germany, their latest album "Gutter Ballet" jumped from No. 78 to 47 on the German charts.

February 1986: Queensrÿche began working on their second studio album "Rage For Order". Basic tracks were not recorded in the studio, but in an "unusal building" where live sound was captured using an SSL Mobile. Most of the song titles including "Walk In The Shadows" were revealed to Kerrang!

February 22, 1986 was a Saturday and new albums were never released on Saturdays, so if you see anyone on social media posting that Ozzy Osbourne's "The Ultimate Sin" was released on this date, well... It was not.

Happy Birthday to Loudness guitarist Akira Takasaki (February 22, 1961).

Happy Birthday to former Forbidden and Testament guitarist Glen Alvelais (February 22, 1968).

Happy Birthday to bassist Dave Spitz [Black Sabbath, Great White, White Lion] (February 22, 1958).

Featuring original Iron Maiden singer Paul Day, new wave of British heavy metal band More released their debut album "Warhead" in 1981. The band toured with Maiden on the "Killer" Tour and played the second annual "Monsters Of Rock" Festival at Donington Park. Release information source: [UK] "We Are The Band" single debuted on Official Charts on March 14, 1981.

February 22, 1994: After W.A.S.P. left Capitol Records, the label issued compilation "First Blood Last Cuts" in North America, featuring their hits, plus "Animal (F**k Like A Beast)" previously only available as a single. Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - February 5, 1994.

February 22, 2005: DIO released live album "Evil Or Divine - Live In New York City". The video album was available on DVD two years earlier. A killer live set with guitarist Doug Aldridge doing justice to Vivian Campbell's licks. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - January 25, 2005.

February 1984: Ozzy Osbourne was on the cover of Hit Parader Magazine. The issue featured a poll asking readers to "Pick Rock's Top Vocalist". With Dickinson, Halford, Dio and more, an impossible task...They all rule!