'80s Metal History (April 29th)

April 1983: Twisted Sister released their second studio album and major label debut "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" in the UK (June '83 in North America) featuring the title track and "The Kids Are Back".

Twisted Sister "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" release information source: [UK] Record Mirror review - April 30, 1983; Debuted Official Album Chart on May 7, 1983; [US] Debuted Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart on August 27, 1983.

April 29, 1977: Judas Priest released their third studio album and major label debut "Sin After Sin" in the UK (May '77 in North America) featuring "Dissident Aggressor" and single "Diamonds & Rust" (issued the same day). It was produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.

Judas Priest "Sin After Sin" release information source: [UK] Music Week ad - April 23, 1977; [US] Billboard Magazine 'Recommended LPs' - June 4, 1977; Cashbox Magazine review - June 4, 1977.

Featuring singles "Unchained" and "Mean Street", Van Halen released their fourth studio album "Fair Warning" in late April or early May 1981. "Their hardest and most muscular album", it was "the closest to being true metal." -Noel Monk, former manager

Van Halen "Fair Warning" release information: Most sites show the LP was released on April 29, 1981, but there is no evidence to support this. American radio began playing "Unchained" the second week of May 1981. An ad appeared in May 16th issue of Billboard Magazine and the album debuted on the Billboard Top LP & Tapes chart on May 30, 1981 (May 23rd in the UK).

April 29, 1985: Iron Maiden "Behind The Iron Curtain" was issued on VHS/Beta/LaserDisc/VHD featuring footage of the band on the road in Eastern Europe performing concerts in Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia on the '84 "World Slavery" Tour.

April 29, 1989: Another killer lineup for Aardschok Festival in Zwolle, Netherlands... Queensrÿche, Flotsam And Jetsam, House Of Lords, Crimson Glory, Vengeance, Leatherwolf and Wolfsbane. Images: Metal Hammer, Kerrang!

April 29, 1983: After 24 shows opening for Billy Squier in America, an appearance on "American Bandstand" and "Pyromania" selling 100,000 copies a day, Def Leppard moved to headliner status for a show in Odessa, Texas and beyond.

April 29, 1983: Krokus were "the next kings of the hard rock jungle" when they began opening for, now headliners, Def Leppard on the "Pyromania" Tour in Odessa, Texas. That would last all summer until August 30th when they were kicked off the tour for, as Krokus claimed, providing too much competition for Def Leppard, who countered the tour contract ended with the August 30th show in Detroit 🤦

Formed a year earlier in Hamburg, German speed metal band Helloween released their debut EP. It would be followed later that year by their debut album "Walls Of Jericho". The band evolved to their signature power metal sound when singer Michael Kiske joined the group in 1986.

Happy Birthday to Great White guitarist Mark Kendall (April 29, 1957).

Happy Birthday to original Testament bassist [1983-96] Greg Christian (April 29, 1966).

Remembering Crimson Glory singer Midnight (John Patrick Jr. McDonald), who would have celebrated a birthday today (April 29, 1962). Midnight died in 2009. R.I.P.

April 1990: UK thrashers Xentrix recorded a cover of "Ghostbusters", but its release was delayed... "Columbia Pictures will not approve the artwork since it is a defamation of Columbia's registered trademark." 😁 -Kerrang!

April 29, 1982: Iron Maiden brought "The Beast On The Road" Tour to the Messehalle in Sindelfingen (near Stuttgart), Germany. After that, only two shows remained on the European leg in Dusseldorf and Amsterdam. Maiden would then come to America less than two weeks later.

April 29, 1999: Mötley Crüe announced that drummer Tommy Lee had quit the band to spend time with his family and work on a new group called Methods Of Mayhem. Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford) filled-in for the "Maximum Rock" Summer Tour.

April 1987: Ronnie James Dio was on the cover of Rock Scene Magazine holding a real boa constrictor snake just above a headline for King Kobra.. clever.