'80s Metal History (March 16th)

March 16, 1987: Anthrax released their third studio album and major breakthrough "Among The Living" in North America (March 20th in the UK) featuring singles "I Am The Law" and "Indians". The LP is dedicated to Cliff Burton. Anthrax were touring with Metallica at the time of the accident.

Anthrax "Among The Living" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - March 7, 1987 and FMQB radio trade publication - March 6, 1987; [UK] Kerrang! - March 5, 1987.

March 1982: Metallica recorded the Whiskey Audition Tape that got them booked to open Saxon's L.A. show. One year later, they recorded demos of "Whiplash" and "No Remorse", their first with Cliff Burton and only recordings with Dave Mustaine.

Accept released their third studio album "Breaker" in 1981. Angry and defiant in tone, especially the profanity-laced "Son Of A Bitch", Udo Dirkschneider has said the song is "absolutely anti-record company" and "among Accept's best records."

March 16, 1984: Judas Priest launched the North American leg of the "Metal Conqueror" Tour in Niagara Falls in support of their latest album "Defenders Of The Faith". Following opener Great White, who had just released their debut album a month earlier, the Metal Gods launched their set with "Love Bites", "Jawbreaker" and "Grinder".

Happy Birthday to "Metal Mania" Magazine founder Ron Quintana (March 16th). In 1981, he met Lars Ulrich. One day when deciding on a name for his fanzine, he asked Lars what he thought of "Metal Mania" or "Metallica"? 😏

March 16, 1984: "The headbangingist band in Los Angeles", Armored Saint along with Malice played a sold out Perkins Place in Pasadena, California. "It's the first show Armored Saint have played since December, the last before they start on their album, and the crowd's going ape, chanting 'Saint! Saint! Saint!'" -Kerrang!

March 16, 1982: Scorpions were in Barcelona as the "Blackout" Tour was under way in Europe. The band played 150 shows across 14 countries through December 1983. The North American leg was supported by Iron Maiden, Girlschool, Rainbow and Riot.

Remembering Megaforce records co-founder Jon "Jonny Z" Zazula, who would have celebrated a birthday today (March 16, 1952). Jonny died in 2022. R.I.P. Megaforce released the first albums from Metallica, Anthrax, Overkill and many others.

March 1983: The Rods released their third studio album "In The Raw" in North America. A cousin of Ronnie James Dio, singer and guitarist David Feinstein pulled the main riff from Rainbow's "Man On The Silver Mountain" for the song "Another Night On The Town". Release information source: Kerrang! - February 24, 1983.

March 16, 2010: Armored Saint released their sixth studio album "La Raza". Like their previous release in 2000, the band had been on hiatus for a lengthy time (8 years) before reforming the "Symbol Of Salvation" lineup to make the album. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - December 17, 2009.

March 16, 1990: Wolfsbane released "I Like It Hot" as a single in the UK from their debut album "Live Fast, Die Fast: Wicked Tales Of Booze, Birds And Bad Language". The music video was shown often in the US on MTV Headbangers Ball. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - March 17, 1989.

Happy Birthday to drummer Jimmy DeGrasso [Mama's Boys, Y&T, White Lion, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, more] (March 16, 1963).

Remembering Sacred Reich founder and rhythm guitarist Jason Rainey, who died March 16, 2020 at age 53. R.I.P.

Originally scheduled for March 16, 1979, Twisted Sister had sold out The Palladium in New York City (cap. 3,000) with no album, record label or radio airplay thanks to the band's "S.M.F." fan base, but canceled at the last minute when guitarist Eddie Ojeda suffered a seizure during rehearsal. The show was postponed to April 6th.

March 1984: Supporting their debut album released a month earlier, Great White were touring the East Coast USA and after one show, the local police "paid a visit backstage to haul frontman Jack Russell off to the hole, charging him with 'profanity': Jack dedicated 'Stick It' to a bouncer who was persistently hassling some people at the front, and the offended official called the cops. The band managed to talk themselves out of arrest by showering the coppers with T-shirts and a contribution to the policeman's ball." -Kerrang!