'80s Metal History (March 31st)

March 31, 1980: Scorpions released their seventh studio album "Animal Magnetism" in Germany (Late April 1980 in North America; May 16th in the UK) featuring singles "The Zoo" and "Make It Real". Like their previous record "Lovedrive", the cover art courted controversy in the US, but wasn't replaced.

Scorpions "Animal Magnetism" release information source: Official Deutsche Charts; Launched "Animal Magnetism" tour April 11, 1980 in Kaunitz, Germany; [US] Billboard Magazine chart debut and review - May 17, 1980; [UK] Record Business - April 28, 1980.

Happy Birthday to AC/DC guitarist Angus Young (March 31, 1955). "There's nothing sexy about a schoolboy, is there?" -Angus speaking to Kerrang! - Dec. 21, 1991.

March 31, 1984: Mötley Crüe's "Shout At The Devil" peaked at No. 17 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart. Released in late September 1983, it sold 200,000 copies in its first two weeks. I know one copy was me... couldn't wait to get it! 🤘

March 31, 1985: Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil was on the cover of Circus Magazine. There was talk at the time that he received so many compliments about this "Shout At The Devil" era cover that it inspired his costume colors for "Theater Of Pain".

March 31, 1991: Judas Priest ended the European leg of the "Painkiller" Tour in Dublin. Two more shows in Alaska and three in Japan concluded the entire tour. Rob Halford would leave the band the following year.

March 31, 2009: Nearly 20 years after it was recorded, Island/Mercury issued Cinderella's "Authorized Bootleg: Live At The Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan Dec. 31 1990". The band was promoting the "Heartbreak Station" album on this tour. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - February 21, 2010.

Happy Birthday to former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young (March 31, 1962), who played on the album "So Far, So Good... So What!"

Happy Birthday to original Fates Warning guitarist Victor Arduini (March 31, 1963), who played with the band from 1982–85 on their first two albums, "Night On Bröcken" and "The Spectre Within".

Happy Birthday to Warrant rhythm guitarist Erik Turner (March 31, 1964).

From Cologne, Germany, power metal band Brainfever (translation: "Hirnhautentzündung"!) released their second studio album "Face To Face" in 1986 featuring the title track and "Black Jack - Heavy Metal Germany". The band received little distribution outside of Europe and after issuing an EP two years later, called it a day.

Spring 1983: Venom were preparing for a short tour of America... "We'll take the Union Jack, ram it down their throats, out their arses and skewer them for elevenses." -Cronos (Kerrang!)

March 1988: Whitesnake's Rudy Sarzo and Adrian Vandenberg promoting Peavy.