'80s Metal History (March 11th)

March 11, 1982: RATT had to perform under another name at the Troubadour in Hollywood because the owner didn’t like their name all of a sudden, so they changed it to "Gladiators". Shared by singer Stephen Pearcy on social media (see caption for more details).

March 11, 1991: Judas Priest were touring Europe and about to return home for a string of dates, so "A Touch Of Evil" was issued in the UK as the second single from the album "Painkiller". Release date source: Kerrang! - March 9, 1991; ad ran March 16, 1991.

March 11, 1985: Ahead of their headlining performance at London's Hammersmith Odeon on the 15th, Accept released "Midnight Mover" as a single in the UK from their new album "Metal Heart". Release date source: Kerrang! - February 21, 1985.

Happy Birthday to former Kingdom Come and Stone Fury lead singer Lenny Wolf (March 11, 1962).

March 11, 1983: Founded by guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke, who just left Motörhead the previous year, and UFO bassist Pete Way, Fastway released "Easy Livin'" as the lead single from their forthcoming self-titled debut album in the UK. The B-side is "Say What You Will", which became a big rock hit in the US that summer. Pete Way didn't play with the band. He left before the recording to form Waysted. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - March 10, 1983.

March 11, 1983: American metal band Steeler with singer Ron Keel, former W.A.S.P. bassist Rik Fox, drummer Mark Edwards and recently arrived from Sweden, guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, played their first show at The Country Club in Reseda, California. Steeler opened for Hughes/Thrall featuring former Deep Purple and Trapeze bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and guitarist Pat Thrall, along with drummer Frankie Banali, who would join Quiet Riot later that year.

March 11, 1988: KISS played Vancouver and chose opener Anthrax to beef up attendance at West Coast arena shows. Anthrax as headliners were selling out clubs and theaters and thrash metal was very popular out West. Two weeks later, the tour would move to Southern California where Anthrax would get a backstage visit from some thrash metal friends. 🤘

March 11, 2007: Heaven & Hell began a world tour in Vancouver in support of "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years". Megadeth and Queensrÿche opened most dates and Alice Cooper's Psycho-Drama dates were juxtaposed with Heaven & Hell.

March 11, 1989: Guns N' Roses peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Paradise City". The first three singles from "Appetite For Destruction" ("Sweet Child O'Mine" "Welcome To The Jungle" and "Paradise City") reached the Top 10.

March 11, 1991: Helloween released their fourth studio album "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" in the UK, their first without co-founder and guitarist Kai Hansen, who left the band in 1989 following the "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II" Tour. Release date source: Kerrang! - March 9, 1991.

March 1992: Former DIO and Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell had "emerged as red hot favourite to join Sheffield superstars Def Leppard for their forthcoming 'Adrenalize' tour." -Kerrang!

Remembering Pantera co-founder and drummer Vinnie Paul, who would have celebrated a birthday today (March 11, 1964). Vinnie died in 2018. R.I.P.

March 1984: Michael Schenker gives up "demon alcohol", pops question, bun in the oven. -Kerrang!

You may see many posts on social media that Quiet Riot released their third studio album "Metal Health" on March 11, 1983. This is NOT CORRECT. An Internet search has shown that date, but that date originally came from Wikipedia (normally not a good source for release dates). The correct release date is February 28, 1983 (Source: US radio trade publication FMQB; February 18, 1983 issue new releases, see image... also Billboard magazine Feb. 19, 1983 issue, New LP/Tape Releases).