80s Metal History (May 28th)

May 28, 1983: Rapidfire performed their last show with singer Axl Rose at Gazzarri’s in Los Angeles. Slash, who was then a member of his second band Roadcrew, was there that night, but the two wouldn't play together in the lineup that formed Guns N' Roses for another two years.

May 28, 1983: In case you hadn't heard, this ad in Billboard Magazine served as a reminder that Iron Maiden's new album "Piece Of Mind" was available in North American record stores. Go get it!

May 28, 2013: Originally only available on video as an edited VHS, DIO "Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986" was re-issued on CD and DVD with the full concert from June '86 and featuring new guitarist Craig Goldy. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - April 26, 2013.

Judas Priest adopted the leather-and-studs look for their fifth studio album "Killing Machine" (October 1978), which was retitled "Hell Bent For Leather" for its North American release in March 1979 and featured the addition of Fleetwood Mac cover "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)", issued as a promotional single to American rock radio stations in May 1979.

Late-May 1985: The first single "Lay It Down" had just been issued to American radio stations and Ratt were getting close to releasing their second studio album "Invasion Of Your Privacy". Frontman Stephen Pearcy posted on social media in 2022, "I was helping with the art directing for the covers and had Marianne Gravatte doing a number of poses, many. I staged her and the room shots. So here’s an option then".

May 28, 1985: Canadian hard rockers Helix released their fifth studio album "Long Way To Heaven" in the US (one day earlier in Canada) featuring the single "Deep Cuts The Knife" that received heavy American rock radio airplay. The LP went to No. 1 in Sweden and Top 30 in Canada. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 24, 1985; [Canada] Kerrang! - May 16, 1985.

May 28, 1983: Twisted Sister debuted on the UK singles chart with "The Kids Are Back", the second single from their second studio album "You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll", issued a month earlier in the UK (late July in North America).

May 28, 1988: Iron Maiden's seventh studio album "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard 200. It went Top 10 in nine countries, including No. 1 in the UK and Finland.

May 28, 1994: "Tears Of The Dragon" debuted on the UK Singles Chart, the first song from, at the time, former Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson's forthcoming second solo album "Balls To Picasso", released a week later.

Happy Birthday to Trouble co-founder and guitarist Rick Wartell (May 28, 1958).

Remembering Plastmatics lead singer Wendy O. Williams who would have celebrated a birthday today (May 28, 1949). Wendy O. died in 1998. R.I.P. “She was great, I used to f**k her. Although sometimes you ought to say she f**ked me. She was a workout freak, muscles like steel rope.” -Lemmy Kilmister, Motörhead.

May 28, 1983: All day and night rock show at Leeds Queens Hall with Girlschool, Anvil, Spider, Picture, Battleaxe, special guests Twisted Sister and headliner Saxon on the "Power And The Glory" tour... What a lineup 🤘

May 28, 1986: Metallica's "Damage, Inc." tour with opener Armored Saint, rolled into Minneapolis for a show at the Orpheum Theater.

May 1984: "The Metal Machine" Judas Priest were on the cover of Hit Parader Magazine in the US. Inside "Def Leppard vs. Quiet Riot" was a thing and "Words to the latest hit songs"... no Google then, you had to buy the mag or the album so misheard lyrics endured.