'80s Metal History (March 20th)

March 1983: Accept released their fourth studio album "Restless And Wild" in the UK and North America (October '82 in Continental Europe) featuring tracks "Fast As A Shark", "Princess Of The Dawn" and the title track. "The Germanic gargantuawatt gladiators are metal personified and amplified..." -Kerrang! (May 5, 1983). The LP was issued as a picture disc only in the UK, where it wouldn't get a proper release until August 1986.

Accept "Restless And Wild" release month source: Music Master Metal Catalogue Edition 2; Kerrang! ad - August 7, 1986.

March 20, 1989: Leatherwolf released their third studio album "Street Ready" in North America (March 6th in the UK) featuring the single "Hideaway" which debuted on MTV Headbangers Ball on March 25th, plus "Wicked Ways" and the instrumental "Black Knight". Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music report - March 10, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - February 4, 1989.

March 20, 1989: Doro released her debut solo album "Force Majeure" in the UK (the following day in North America). After the success of Warlock's album "Triumph And Agony", Doro Pesch remained the only original member of the band, but legal issues prevented her from using the name. Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - March 25, 1989.

March 20, 1984: Twas the night before the start of the "Hell On Earth" Tour... oh, what could've been... Metallica, Exciter and The Rods were supposed to entertain the UK for the next two weeks, but it was canceled ☹️

Remembering Twisted Sister drummer A.J. Pero, who died March 20, 2015 at age 55. R.I.P.

March 20, 1985: RATT launched the "World Infestation" Tour in Tokyo, the first of 164 shows. Bon Jovi supported most dates, but Mama's Boys and Y&T also opened. That summer, RATT played "Monsters Of Rock" at Castle Donington in the UK.

March 20, 1984: On the road in Europe, Whitesnake brought the "Slide It In" Tour to Offenbach, Germany.

March 1989: The Cult released "Fire Woman" in the UK and North America as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Sonic Temple". Singer Ian Astbury claims the eponymous "fire woman" is a universal symbol, along the lines of a primary element. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - March 18, 1989; [US] R&R radio trade publication ad - March 24, 1989.

Out of Wichita, Kansas, Manilla Road released their debut album "Invasion" in 1980. Founded by vocalist and guitarist Mark "The Shark" Shelton in 1977, they started out playing progressive and space rock, but went heavy metal in the '80s.

March 1988: Stockholm thrash metal band Agony released their only studio album "The First Defiance" a year before a Bay area band called Defiance released their debut "Product Of Society". The "lonely 80s thrash band from Sweden" spelled their name "Agoni" when they toured the UK during the summer of 1986. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - March 19, 1988.

March 20, 1986: King Kobra released their second studio album "Thrill Of A Lifetime" in North America featuring the theme song from the movie "Iron Eagle" starring Lou Gossett Jr., who for the music video puts the band through vigorous boot camp training. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - March 14, 1986.

March 1987: "Return of the Animal", Kerrang! reported that Motörhead drummer Pete Gill had left the band and was being replaced by "none other than Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor who of course departed the Motör ranks" three years earlier.

March 20, 1988: Opening for Ted Nugent, Krokus played London's Hammersmith Odeon. Kerrang! reported they were quite good... "Okay so they've always been AC/DC kopyists, but you have to admit they do it very well."

Mötley Crüe released 900 copies of their debut album "Too Fast For Love" on their own Leathür Records label in November 1981 and it sold pretty well, so there was a second and third pressing, before the LP was remixed and reissued on major label Elektra in August 1982. Maybe you were lucky enough to get a copy of the original release with back cover photo of Vince Neil's large airbrushed hairdo 😁 Billboard Magazine ad - March 20, 1982

"Iron Maiden served injunctions on several 'pirates' after they were seen selling scarves and T-shirts outside Manchester's Apollo Theater earlier this month... But many of the alleged pirates are claiming that there is no copyright on a design in many cases and they are free to produce the paraphernalia." -Record Mirror UK (March 20, 1982).

March 20, 2020: Def Leppard released "The Early Years 79-81", a box set that includes a history of the band's first two albums "On Through The Night" and "High N Dry" along with personal insights from the bandmembers on the making of those early records, plus rare photos and memorabilia. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - January 29, 2020.

March 20, 1982: The next scheduled show on Ozzy Osbourne's "Diary Of A Madman" Tour sadly did not happen. R.I.P. Randy Rhoads 🤘