'80s Metal History (March 10th)

"LOUD and HEAVY!" snarled British rock DJ Tommy Vance in a TV ad for K-Tel's "Axe Attack" released in 1980. Featuring Judas Priest, Motörhead, Whitesnake and more, the first pressing mistakingly had the demo version of Iron Maiden's "Running Free".

British K-Tel compilations had some teeth and the first "Axe Attack" sold well, so why not "Axe Attack Vol II" issued in 1981 with this awesome cover art 😁 and more Judas Priest, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Samson, Black Sabbath and Michael Schenker Group.

March 10, 1984: After only a year with the band and the "Born Again" Tour ending March 4th, Ian Gillan announced his departure from Black Sabbath. He went on to reunite with Deep Purple and they released "Perfect Strangers" in October that year. Gillan later said "I was the worst singer Black Sabbath ever had."

March 10, 1983: With Vinnie Vincent on lead guitar, KISS' "Creatures Of The Night/10th Anniversary" Tour landed in Houston. During this time, KISS were accused by religious groups of promoting Satanism and several protests were held outside venues.

March 10, 1985: With a week left of dates in Europe, Accept were touring their home country that included a show in Düsseldorf, Germany. The special guest was Exciter.

Recorded on the "World Vengeance" Tour, Judas Priest released "Judas Priest Live" on video in the UK and Japan in 1984.

Metal Blade issued the debut album from doom metal pioneers Trouble in 1984, originally self-titled but later renamed "Psalm 9" after the release of the band's self-titled fourth album in 1990.

March 10, 1986: Agent Steel released the EP "Mad Locust Rising". Vocalist John Cyriis was the first singer for Megadeth, but fired after only 8 months. He was really interested in UFO's, but Dave Mustaine was against the idea for Megadeth. Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - March 7, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 4, 1986.

March 1986: Ahead of the release of their new album "Shadows Of War" in Japan, Loudness released "Let It Go" as the lead single. The album was retitled "Lightning Strikes" for its North American release in early May that year.

Happy Birthday to Rick Rubin (March 10, 1963), who produced albums for Slayer [Reign In Blood, South of Heaven...], Danzig, Trouble, Metallica and more.

Remembering former Michael Schenker Group drummer Ted McKenna, who would have celebrated a birthday today (March 10, 1950). Ted played on MSG albums Assault Attack '83, Rock Will Never Die '84 and Built To Destroy '84. He died in 2019. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday to The Rods bassist Garry Bordonaro (March 10th).

March 10, 1977: As they were starting to attract large crowds in bars in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, a very hungry Twisted Sister played at Mad Hatter of Stony Brook, with a second show scheduled for St. Patrick's Day 🍀

March 10, 1989: "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege" opened in US theaters. Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil had filmed a scene for the movie, but it wound up on the cutting-room floor. "Vince's acting potential? I don't know. That's hard to tell. He's very, very nice looking. He's got the hair for it. He's wearing his own wardrobe. He got the part simply because he was honest. The others tried to act, and the secret of film acting is not to appear to act at all but just to sort of exist." -Director Peter Bonerz

March 10, 2003: AC/DC were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. The band performed "Highway To Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long", the latter with Tyler.

March 10, 2004: Metallica's Lars Ulrich was mistaken for Jesus Christ 😁