'80s Metal History (March 2nd)

Judas Priest adopted the leather-and-studs look for their fifth studio album "Killing Machine" (October 1978), which was retitled "Hell Bent For Leather" when released in the US in March 1979, and featured the addition of Fleetwood Mac cover "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)". The ad below (published March 17, 1979) promotes the band's new look... "Judas Priest tears off the cloth and puts on the leather"... but what is wrong with the image? These guys look like actors and who is the dude with the leather hood mask? There has to be a story here.

Shortly after the release of their second album "Killers" in the UK, which did not include the song "Twilight Zone", Iron Maiden released it as a single the first week of March 1981 (Source: Record Mirror - March 7, 1981). The track was included on the North American release of "Killers" in May 1981.

Happy Birthday to Anvil guitarist and lead singer Steve "Lips" Kudlow (March 2, 1956). "Metal on metal it’s the only way, to hell with tomorrow let’s live for today!"

March 1986: Released nearly five months earlier in North America, "Spreading The Disease" the second studio album from Anthrax, was now available in the UK. Kerrang! ad - March 6, 1986.

March 1988: Over four months after its release in the UK, "Animal House" the debut album from former Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider's new band U.D.O., was now available in North America. The band toured in early '88 with Guns N' Roses and Lita Ford. Release information source: The Hard Report radio trade publication "Most Added" - March 11, 1988.

March 2, 1989: Nuclear Assault had to delay plans for a full UK tour until Autumn after the release of the "Handle With Care" LP, but they still played their "Growing Roses After The Holocaust" show at London's Astoria.

March 1985: With "Break Down The Wall" hitting its peak on the US rock chart, the next single from Stone Fury's debut album "Burns Like A Star" was "Life Is Too Lonely", which MTV had in rotation as a breakout video. R&R radio trade publication ad - March 1, 1985

Southern California Christian hard rockers Barren Cross released their second studio album "Atomic Arena" featuring single "Imaginary Music" in 1988. The white metallurgists have been compared to (not Stryper) Iron Maiden, because singer Mike Lee sounds a little like Bruce Dickinson. In 1989, the band appeared on "The Morton Downey Show" alongside members of KISS and Anthrax.

Quiet Riot released their debut album exclusively in Japan in 1977. The guitar work of Randy Rhoads sounds familiar here, but the music is more glam pop. They put another record out like this a year later and then "Metal Health" in 1983.

Happy Birthday to former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans (March 2, 1956). He quit the band in 1977 after becoming tired of touring.

March 2, 1984: "This Is Spın̈al Tap" opened in US theaters. Getting lost backstage resonated with Dee Snider and Ozzy Osbourne, and when Dokken's George Lynch saw the film he is said to have exclaimed, "That's us! How'd they make a movie about us?" 😊