'80s Metal History (April 18th)

April 18, 1980: With new singer Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath released their ninth studio album "Heaven And Hell" in the UK (late May '80 in North America). The initial sessions for what became this LP actually began with Ozzy Osbourne in late 1978.

Did you know that Lynn Curlee's cover artwork was inspired by a 1928 photograph of women dressed as angels smoking backstage during a college Christmas pageant? The portraits of the band that appeared on the back cover were drawn by Harry Carmean. -Tony Iommi

Black Sabbath "Heaven And Hell" release information source: [UK] Music Week ad - April 19, 1980; Debuted Official Album Chart on April 26, 1980; [US] Billboard Magazine review - May 31, 1980; Debuted Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart - June 14, 1980; Billboard ad - June 28, 1980.

April 18, 1980: Scorpions released their seventh studio album "Animal Magnetism" in the UK (March 31st in Germany; Early May in North America) featuring singles "The Zoo" and "Make It Real". The album debuted on the UK Official Album Chart on May 3rd and the band launched a UK tour in Newcastle on May 13th. Release information source: Music Week - April 12, 1980.

April 18, 1988: Four years after "Love At First Sting", Scorpions released their tenth studio album "Savage Amusement" in North America (early May in the UK) featuring singles "Rhythm Of Love" (with Lee Aaron on backing vocals), "Believe In Love" and "Passion Rules The Game". Release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine - April 2, 1988; [UK] Debuted Official Album Chart on May 14, 1988.

April 18, 1987: Headbangers Ball premiered on MTV in the US with Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Taylor hosting and interviewing new band Tesla. Later hosted by Adam Curry and Riki Rachtman, it became one of the networks most popular shows.

April 18, 1982: Iron Maiden played at Vorst Nationaal in Brussels, Belgium. "The Beast On The Road" Tour was one of Maiden's longest to date, only surpassed in length by the "World Slavery" Tour with 188 dates over 10 months in 18 countries.

April 18, 1992: Written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent, MTV premiered the music video for the new KISS song "Unholy", the first Gene Simmons sung single in 10 years. Yes, Vincent was fired by the band eight years earlier, but nevermind.

April 18, 1987: Whitesnake's "Whitesnake" debuted at No. 72 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Powered by singles "Still Of The Night", "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love" and "Give Me All Your Love", it would rise to No. 2 in June that year.

April 18, 1980: Initially only available in Japan, Riot released their second studio album "Narita" in the UK (October '79 in North America). Featuring the song "Road Racin", Riot's performance was included on 1980's "Castle Donington: Monsters Of Rock" album. Release information source: Music Week ad - April 19, 1979.

April 18, 1988: Voted 4th best new act by Kerrang!, Testament released "Trial By Fire" in the UK as the lead single from their forthcoming album "The New Order". Release date source: Kerrang! ad - April 23, 1988; Kerrang! - April 30, 1988.

Happy Birthday to Exciter drummer and lead singer Dan Beehler (April 18, 1962).

Happy Birthday to BulletBoys and King Kobra co-founder and former guitarist Mick Sweda (April 18, 1960).

Featuring Rob Halford on vocals, Fight released their second studio album "A Small Deadly Space" in 1995. It didn't fare as well commercially as their debut two years earlier and Fight were dropped by Epic Records, resulting in the band splitting up in the fall of '95.

April 18, 1980: Whitesnake released the original version of "Fool For Your Loving" in the UK as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Ready An' Willing". The song was later re-recorded for 1989's "Slip Of The Tongue". Release information source: Debuted UK Official singles chart on April 26, 1980.

April 1987: Anthrax just finished filming the music video for their next single "Indians" and were preparing to launch the "Among The Living" Tour in the US a month later with Metal Church. The band played five sold out dates in Japan in March '87, where regimental moshing took place at one show during their performance of "Madhouse"... "The entire audience filed in an orderly fashion onto the stage row-by-row to indulge in the traditional Anthrax pastime of stage diving!" -Kerrang!