80s Metal History (May 19th)

Late May 1980: With new singer Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath's ninth studio album "Heaven And Hell" was now available in North America (April 18, 1980 in the UK). The band toured the states beginning July 2nd that year in Texas. Release information source: Billboard Magazine review - May 31, 1980; Debuted Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart - June 14, 1980.

May 19, 1992: Dedicated to drummer Eric Carr who passed away six months earlier, KISS released their 16th studio album "Revenge" in North America (May 11th in the UK) that spawned five singles including "Unholy", co-written by former guitarist Vinnie Vincent.

KISS "Revenge" release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - May 15, 1992; [UK] Kerrang! review - May 9, 1992; Debuted Official album chart on May 23, 1992.

May 19, 2000: 20 years earlier they refused to lip sync on "Top Of The Pops", but Iron Maiden gave in for this appearance and mimed their way through "The Wicker Man". The stage was small and Bruce was accidentally hit in the face by Jan’s guitar 😬

May 19, 1986: W.A.S.P. released "Wild Child" as the second single from the album "The Last Command" in the UK, where it peaked at No. 71 on the Official Charts. W.A.S.P. covered Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" for the B-side. The "Wild Child" music video was filmed in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - May 15, 1986.

May 19, 1986: Judas Priest released "Locked In" as the second single from the album "Turbo" in the UK.

May 1980: Krokus released their fourth studio album "Metal Rendez-vous" in North America, their first to feature singer Marc Storace. The band received some airplay on American rock radio stations with lead single "Heatstrokes". Release information source: R&R radio trade publication "Most Added" - May 30, 1980.

May 1984: Dokken were in the studio recording their second album "Tooth And Nail". The UK's Kerrang! Magazine referred to guitarist George Lynch as "briefly a member of Ozzy's band". 🤔

May 1988: Former Vicious Rumors and UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore released his second solo studio album "Time Odyssey" featuring the superbly long "Message In A Dream".

Happy Birthday to guitarist Guy Mann-Dude (May 19, 1956), who was also part of the supergroup "The Dudes Of Wrath" (KISS' Paul Stanley, Whitesnakes's Vivian Campbell & Rudy Sarzo, and Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee) who recorded the song "Shocker".

Happy Birthday to AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd (May 19, 1954).

Remembering former Rough Cutt guitarist [1983-87] Chris Hager who died May 19, 2025 at age 67. Chris also formed Mickey Ratt with Stephen Pearcy in 1977. R.I.P. “This morning I’m very saddened to hear about the passing of my dear friend, guitarist and musician Christopher (Chris) Hager. Chris and I started Mickey Ratt together in San Diego 1977 and in moving to L.A. actually created the band RATT in 1981. Chris was an amazing person, a great guitarist, songwriter and so committed to being just that. He went on to create a few projects over the years with Sarge, Rough Cutt, Woop and the Count and our solo project Pearcy/Hager. We were actually working on new songs recently, and they will be heard. I’m at loss my friend, we’ve been through a lot together. God bless you brother." -Stephen Pearcy

May 19, 1978: KISS performed a free concert in the parking lot at Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, California to film the concert scenes for the movie "KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park".

May 19, 1981: With special guest Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne brought the "Blizzard Of Ozz" tour to the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit.

May 1998: The 1984 debut from W.A.S.P. was reissued with the track "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)" reinstated. It was deleted when Capitol Records bowed to pressure from the PMRC. The "Animal" B-side "Show No Mercy" was also included.