80s Metal History (May 23rd)

May 23, 2013: A public memorial was held in Los Angeles for Slayer co-founder and lead guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died three weeks earlier at age 49. Slayer's Kerry King, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and others spoke, and after a letter sent by Hanneman’s wife, Kathryn, was read to the crowd, "the service returned to classic Slayer form. No less than five limb-flailing circle pits broke out among the crowd during a slide show montage set to Slayer classics. 'You guys are . . . crazy,' said the officiant, Nick Bowcott of Marshall. But the time for funeral decorum was later. This was a Slayer celebration, in the way that every day with a formative, life-changing band can be. Bowcott surveyed his crowd and smiled. 'And he absolutely would have wanted it this way.'" -L.A. Times

May 23, 1981: Their first tour of Japan, Iron Maiden played Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. The show was recorded and released in September that year as "Maiden Japan". The original cover depicted Eddie holding the severed head of singer Paul Di'Anno but was replaced.

May 1977: Judas Priest released their third studio album and major label debut "Sin After Sin" in North America featuring "Diamonds & Rust" and "Dissident Aggressor". The following month, Priest would be touring the US for the first time. Release information source: Billboard Magazine "Recommended LPs" - June 4, 1977; Cashbox Magazine review - June 4, 1977.

Many sites show Helloween released their second studio album "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I" on May 23, 1987. This date is NOT CORRECT. It was released February 16, 1987 in Europe and June 1, 1987 in North America. Release date source: [Europe] Hardwired Magazine ad; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 29, 1987.

May 23, 1980: After their "Stinging Success" with the 'Lovedrive' album and the new record just released in the Western Hemisphere, Scorpions were back in America to start the "Animal Magnetism" tour in San Francisco.

May 23, 1980: Whitesnake released their third studio album "Ready An' Willing" in the UK (July 14th in North America) featuring the original "Fool For Your Loving", later re-recorded for 1989's "Slip Of The Tongue". This was the first LP from the band to chart in the US. Release date source: [UK] Record Mirror ad - May 24, 1980; [US] Billboard Magazine front page ad for first single "Fool For Your Loving" from the forthcoming LP - July 12, 1980; Magazine ad with release date.

May 23, 2005: Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson released his sixth solo album "Tyranny of Souls" in Europe (the following day in North America) featuring single "Abduction". This would be the last solo LP from Bruce until "The Mandrake Project" in 2024. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - April 25, 2005.

Featuring guitarists Jason Becker and Marty Friedman, Cacophony released their second and final studio album "Go Off!" in 1988. Becker was later diagnosed with ALS and unable to play. Friedman joined Megadeth.

May 23, 1989: Having just released their new album "The American Way" in the UK, Phoenix thrashers Sacred Reich played Britain for the first time with a concert in Newcastle. One week later, the band made a personal appearance at Shades Records in London ahead of a show at the Marquee.

May 2022: Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s personally drawn 1985 Iron Maiden "Killers" skateboard, with artwork featuring mascot "Eddie", sold during Julien’s Auctions at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City to professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.