80s Metal History (May 22nd)

May 1989: Metalshop Magazine had Metallica's James Hetfield on the cover confessing "I Punched Lars Onstage!" plus W.A.S.P.'s Blackie Lawless promising "More Horror & Violence With A Message!" and Guns N' Roses telling lies.

May 22, 1991: Fresh off a performance at Dynamo Open Air in The Netherlands two days earlier, Armored Saint brought the "Symbol Of Salvation" tour to London's Marquee Club.

May 22, 1991: "The Human Factor", the latest album from Metal Church, was now available in the UK and the band began a string of concert dates at Nottingham Rock City.

May 22, 1986: AC/DC released the album "Who Made Who" in North America (Early-June in the UK), which also served as the soundtrack to the Stephen King film "Maximum Overdrive". The music video for the title track, which along with two instrumentals, were the only new songs, hit MTV in the US the week of May 14th. "Ride On" ('76) with Bon Scott was also included on the soundtrack. "So why were AC/DC singled out for this project? Because they're Stephen '(severed)headbanger' King's favorite band." -Kerrang!

AC/DC "Who Made Who" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 16, 1986; Billboard Magazine ad - May 31, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! ad + review - June 12, 1986.

May 1989: Excel released their second studio album "The Joke's On You" featuring "Tapping Into The Emotional Void" with an opening riff that Metallica was accused of plagiarizing on their '91 song "Enter Sandman" and resulted in Excel taking legal action.

Featuring future Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman, speed metal band Hawaii released their third and last studio album "The Natives Are Restless" in 1985. Originally called Vixen, they also appeared on Metal Massacre II (1982) under the name Aloha.

May 22, 1990: Former David Lee Roth and Whitesnake guitarist Steve Vai released his second studio album "Passion And Warfare" in North America (one day earlier in the UK). Whitesnake's David Coverdale has some spoken parts on the LP while Adrian Vandenberg and Rudy Sarzo are credited with backing vocals. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report and CMJ New Music Report radio trade publications ad - May 25, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! - April 28, 1990.

May 22, 1992: The film "Encino Man" starring Brendan Fraser opened in theatres and the soundtrack featured Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil's "You're Invited But Your Friend Can't Come", which also appeared on his debut solo album released a year later. The Scream and Steve Vai also had songs on the soundtrack.

Remembering former Metal Church drummer Kirk Arrington who died May 22, 2023 at age 61. Kirk played on all three of the band's classic 80s records. R.I.P.

May 22, 2001: The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band, a collaborative autobiography of Mötley Crüe, was now available in book stores. The New York Times Bestseller became the unflinching biopic on Netflix in 2019.

After toiling in New York area clubs throughout the late 70s and early 80s, Twisted Sister left the US to find a label in the UK, and they did just that, signing with Secret Records in the Spring of 1982. -Kerrang!