'80s Metal History (April 9th)

April 9, 1982: Motörhead's fifth studio album "Iron Fist" was issued in the UK (April 14th in North America), their last with the 'classic' line up of Lemmy Kilmister, "Fast" Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor.

Motörhead "Iron Fist" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! review - April 8, 1982; Record Mirror feature + ad - April 10, 1982; Debuted on the Official Album chart on April 17, 1982; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - April 9, 1982.

April 9, 1983: Dave Mustaine played his last show with Metallica at L'Amour in Brooklyn, New York. Two days later, just before they were to record their debut album, Mustaine was unceremoniously fired.

April 1980: Black Sabbath were gearing up to release a new album and launch a tour with former Rainbow singer, Ronnie James Dio. Germany may have gotten "Heaven And Hell" a little early as it had a sticker advertising upcoming tour dates, the first April 17th in Aurich. The LP was released in the UK on April 18th and in North America in late May that year.

April 9, 1983: On what turned out to be their final tour, Thin Lizzy played the first of two nights at Dublin's RDS Arena supporting the "Thunder And Lightning" album.

April 1979: Triumph released their third studio album "Just A Game" in the US (July '79 in the UK) featuring single "Lay It On The Line". The vinyl LP featured a sleeve that folded open to reveal a board game designed by bassist Mike Levine who decided to make it impossible to win.

Triumph "Just A Game" Ad (Billboard Magazine - April 14, 1979)

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith bought a Top Twenty Woolworths effort off Dave Murray for a fiver... "It didn't work and I've never forgiven him!" 😁 -Kerrang (April 1982)

April 1990: Featuring Venom founder, vocalist and bassist, Conrad "Cronos" Lant, Cronos released their debut album "Dancing In The Fire" in the UK. Lant left Venom in 1987 to pursue a solo career, but returned in 1995. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - April 14, 1990.

Finnish metal band Tarot released their second album "Follow Me Into Madness" featuring single "Rose On The Grave" in 1988. Tarot was popular in their home country during the '80s. Singer and bassist Marko Hietala has been with Nightwish since 2001.

Angel Witch released their third studio album "Frontal Assault" in the UK in 1986. A promotional copy with different cover art was also released that same year in the US with five tracks from "Frontal Assault" and five from "Screamin' 'N' Bleedin'".

Scottish heavy metal band Holocaust released their debut album "The Nightcomers" featuring the song "Death Or Glory" in 1981. The band combined metal with the tempo and attitude of punk rock.

April 1988: Produced by RATT's Robbin Crosby, New Orleans rockers Lillian Axe released their self-titled debut album in North America. A year earlier, they were considering several singers including Jani Lane of Warrant, who were already in negotiations with Columbia Records. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - April 15, 1988.

April 9, 1986: Black Sabbath with special guest W.A.S.P. played the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh.

April 9, 1984: Judas Priest with special guests Great White rocked Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

April 9, 1986: On the road in Europe, Twisted Sister brought the "Come Out And Play" Tour to Grugahalle in Essen, Germany with special guest UFO. Guitarist Jay Jay (John) French wrote an article for The New York Times in 2008 and noted a week before Twisted Sister played Germany, terrorists targeting American servicemen bombed a disco in Berlin, and on April 26th, "as we drove to Paris for our final show of the tour, Chernobyl exploded." 😬

K-Tel released "Vicious Vinyl" (of course, also available on cassette) in 1987 featuring Guns N' Roses, Ace Frehley, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Dokken and more. The Australian version was an even more loaded two-record collection.

April 1987: Billboard Magazine reported that Ozzy Osbourne had ordered his 3 1/2 year old daughter, Amy, to stop listening to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" album. "It was getting ridiculous - she wouldn't stop playing the tape." said Osbourne. "I like the Bon Jovi album, but there's a limit to just how many times you can hear it a day." Rumours that little Amy has complied with her father's wishes for fear of having her head bitten off have been denied. Incidentally, when Jon Bon Jovi discovered that she was a fan of the New Jersey rockers, he actually called her on the phone to say hello."

April 1988: It was no secret that Dokken's George Lynch and Don Dokken didn't always get along, but they played up the feud for the cover of Hit Parader Magazine.