'80s Metal History (March 15th)

Happy Birthday to Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snider (March 15, 1955). In 2025, Dee officially changed his name to Dee F. Snider 🤘

Metallica performed their very first gig on March 14, 1982. The band's second show was the following day at the Whisky a Go Go on Sunset Boulevard. James Hetfield just sang in the beginning. He started playing rhythm guitar "around our 6th gig." -Original bassist Ron McGovney.

"Beware the Ides of March", the day Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC. The 74th day in the Roman calendar corresponds to March 15th on the Western calendar. We've learned a lot about history from Iron Maiden songs, even this instrumental. Up The Irons! 🤘

March 1976: KISS released their fourth studio album "Destroyer" in North America, featuring maybe their best song "Detroit Rock City". Following "KISS Alive!", that did those earlier KISS songs right, producer Bob Ezrin helped deliver a more sonically pleasing studio album. Release information source: [US] Record World Magazine ad - March 27, 1976; Debuted Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart on April 3, 1976.

That's me with my new KISS "Destroyer" record (released this month in 1976). I remember being sick and my dad coming home from work with that album as a get well gift. That ruled! 🤘

The second best-selling album in music history, AC/DC's "Back In Black" produced another single in 1981 with "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", the last song on the album and last one written (took Angus and Malcolm about 15 minutes).

March 15, 1985: With the new album "Metal Heart" just issued two weeks earlier in the UK, Accept played London's Hammersmith Odeon with special guest Exciter. Prior to the show, Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider humoured the staff at Kerrang! Magazine.

March 1988: Ozzy Osbourne was recording his next studio album (later titled "No Rest For The Wicked") and revealed to Kerrang! that bassist Phil Soussan was no longer in the band and Bob Daisley had returned. "Randy Castillo is on drums and John Sinclair playing keyboards."

March 1988: Featuring future KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer, Portland, Oregon good time party boys Black 'N Blue released their fourth studio album "In Heat" and like their previous effort "Nasty Nasty", it was produced by Gene Simmons. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - March 25, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! ad - March 26, 1988.

March 15, 1994: Mötley Crüe released their sixth studio album "Motley Crue" in North America, the band's only album with former The Scream singer John Corabi, who replaced Vince Neil. A new grungy sound was a tough sell. Still, it went Top 10 on the US Billboard 200. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - March 7, 1994.

March 15, 1993: Following the disbandment of David Coverdale's band Whitesnake and a failed reunion attempt by Jimmy Page's band Led Zeppelin, the two collaborated and released "Coverdale/Page" in the UK (the following day in North America) featuring rock radio hits "Pride And Joy" and "Shake My Tree". Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - January 30, 1993; [US] Billboard Magazine - March 6, 1993.

March 15, 1987: Alice Cooper with special guest Tesla played the Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.

March 15, 1980: Judas Priest with opener Iron Maiden played the second of two shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon. This review appeared in Sounds magazine.

Iron Maiden attributed their time on the road, and not radio airplay, for the hitting the charts so quickly with their first single "Running Free" Music Week - March 15, 1980

March 1991: Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose were on the cover of Hit Parader Magazine. The joint interview was simply a transcript from a Howard Stern radio show phone interview. Axl cited it as an example of media exploitation of Guns N' Roses.