80s Metal History (May 16th)

May 16, 1983: Recorded in the Bahamas with the working title "Food For Thought" before it was decided the cover art would be a lobotomized Eddie, Iron Maiden released their fourth studio album "Piece Of Mind" in the UK (Late May in North America), their first with drummer Nicko McBrain.

Iron Maiden "Piece Of Mind" release date source: [UK] Record Mirror - May 7, 1983; [US] Billboard Magazine ad - May 28, 1983.

Remembering Ronnie James Dio (DIO, Black Sabbath, Rainbow), who died May 16, 2010 at age 67. R.I.P.

May 1980: Scorpions "The Zoo" from the album "Animal Magnetism" was starting to get more airplay on North American radio stations. It was written during the "Lovedrive" tour about a street in New York City they humorously referred to as a "zoo".

Already available in Continental Europe since late March 1980 and just issued in the US, Scorpions LP "Animal Magnetism" was finally released in the UK on May 16, 1980. Source: Record Business - April 28, 1980.

May 16, 1986: Judas Priest's "Fuel For Life" tour stopped in Sacramento, California with opener Dokken. That same week, the "auto erotic" "Turbo Lover" was issued as the second single from the "Turbo" album in North America.

Following his concert in Memphis, Tennessee the night of May 15, 1984 and wearing a hockey jersey he picked up in St. Louis three months earlier, Ozzy Osbourne was found "staggering drunk" on Beale Street (where everyone is staggering drunk) and arrested for public intoxication at 12:30 a.m (May 16th). After drying out five hours later, he was released from jail and not charged, allowing him to continue the "Bark At The Moon" tour in Nashville.

May 16, 1989: Featuring former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee, Badlands released their self-titled debut album in North America (May 29th in the UK). Lead single "Dreams In The Dark" was a US Top 40 rock hit and the video, along with Zeppelin-like "Winter’s Call" played on MTV. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - May 12, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - May 27, 1989.

May 1983: A year after achieving international success with their second album "Volumen Brutal", that sold two million copies worldwide, Spanish heavy metal band Barón Rojo (Red Baron) released follow-up "Metalmorfosis".

May 1989: Finnish thrash metal band Stone released their second studio album "No Anaesthesia!" featuring progressive and neoclassical elements the band would expand on their subsequent albums.

May 16, 1995: Dokken released their fifth studio album "Dysfunctional" in North America, their first after reuniting two years earlier and originally intended to be a Don Dokken solo album until guitarist George Lynch returned. Single "Too High To Fly" was a minor hit. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - May 22, 1995.

Happy Birthday to original Malice singer [1981-87] James Neal (May 16, 1956).

May 16, 1988: The first live LP from W.A.S.P. was released nearly a year earlier and now the companion video "Live...In the Raw" on home video in the UK (August '88 in North America) with "60 Loud Viewing Minutes", including "Harder Faster" about the PMRC who declared the band "sexual perverts". Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - May 21, 1988; [US] Billboard Magazine ad - July 2, 1988.

May 16, 1992: KISS brought the "Revenge" tour to Glasgow, the first of seven UK dates. That same night, Guns N' Roses launched the second European Leg of the "Use Your Illusion" world tour at Slane Castle in Ireland.

May 16, 1991: Co-headlined by Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, the second "Clash Of The Titans" tour launched in North America (Dallas) and ran through mid-July. There was talk of Metallica being included, but they were working on the Black album.

May 16, 1980: With new singer Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath brought the "Heaven And Hell" tour to the Oden Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland.