'80s Metal History (April 2nd)

April 2, 1987: Iron Maiden's "Somewhere On Tour" with futuristic stage set that included flying space ships, inflatable props, laser guns and of course, Eddie!, arrived for a big show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

April 2, 1987: Megadeth performed in Japan for the first time ever with two shows in Tokyo. The second image is the cover of an unofficial bootleg from April 3rd on the "Wake Up Dead" Tour.

April 2, 1984: With opener Great White, Judas Priest concluded four shows in Canada on the "Metal Conqueror" Tour with a rager in Toronto. -Kerrang!

April 1984: Venom released their third studio album "At War With Satan" in the UK (May 30, 1985 in North America). It was touted as the band's crossover into mainstream music. Not quite, but the LP did make the UK album chart on April 21st. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - April 5, 1984; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 24, 1985.

German power metal band Heavens Gate released their second album "Livin' In Hysteria" in 1991. The Helloween and Judas Priest influences are evident, but they filled a void in the genre and created an underrated gem. And the cover art 🤘

Happy Birthday to bassist Tony Franklin [Blue Murder, Don Dokken] (April 2, 1962).

Happy Birthday to Trouble co-founder and guitarist Bruce Franklin (April 2, 1961).

April 1988: Alice Cooper released "Freedom" as the only single from the album "Raise Your Fist And Yell" in the UK (November '87 in North America). Written by Alice Cooper and Kane Roberts, the song did not chart in the US, but did reach No. 50 on the UK singles chart. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - April 2, 1988.

April 1988: Krokus released "Wild Love" in Europe as the only single from the album "Heart Attack". While in the US, "Let It Go" was issued as a promotional single to American rock radio stations. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - April 8, 1988.

April 2, 1991: Loudness released their ninth studio album "On The Prowl" in North America (February '91 in Japan), their last with American vocalist Mike Vescera. The LP is mainly a compilation of self-covers of songs in English from early Loudness albums with only three new songs. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - March 29, 1991.

April 1986: English thrash metal band Onslaught released their second studio album "The Force" in the UK, the first to feature Sy Keeler on vocals but who would be replaced by Grim Reaper frontman Steve Grimmett for the next LP, before Keeler returned in 2007. Kerrang! called Onslaught 'the direct UK equivalent to Slayer'. The US cover was slightly altered. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - April 3, 1986.

April 1989: L.A. Guns were in the studio recording their second album that would later be titled "Cocked And Loaded". The band also had big plans for a 'conceptual' video they called "the first true splatter rock video!" -Kerrang!

April 1975: KISS released "Rock And Roll All Nite" as the first single from the album "Dressed To Kill". It debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 the following month and peaked in June at No. 68. The live version issued in October that year was the bigger hit, reaching No. 12 in January 1976.

April 1981: Formed in January, Mötley Crüe recorded and began distributing their first demo with Vince Neil, who had just replaced O'Dean on vocals.

Rock shirts only £6.99 back in the day, selling for hundreds now 💰 Kerrang! ad: April 2, 1988