'80s Metal History (May 2nd)

Remembering Slayer co-founder and lead guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died May 2, 2013 at age 49. R.I.P.

May 2, 1983: Iron Maiden launched the "World Piece" Tour in Hull, England in support of their fourth album "Piece Of Mind". The European leg continued for another month. North American dates began June 21st. Images: Kerrang!

May 2, 1986: In support of "Turbo", Judas Priest began the "Fuel For Life" Tour at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Opening bands on the tour included: Dokken, Bon Jovi, Krokus, Loudness and Warlock.

May 1986: Metallica's "Master Of Puppets" was selling big and two months after its release went gold in the US with no videos and almost no radio airplay. As of 2023, the LP is near 19x platinum. Ad from FMQB radio trade publication - May 2, 1986

May 2, 1988: With new singer Mark Slaughter, Vinnie Vincent Invasion released their second studio album "All Systems Go" in North America (May 9th in the UK) featuring singles "Ashes To Ashes" and "Love Kills". Headlining small clubs, the band toured briefly, but broke up after the last show at the end of August that year. The LP was recorded with Jeff Scott Soto on backing vocals.

Vinnie Vincent Invasion "All Systems Go" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade magazine - April 22, 1988; Billboard Magazine ad "Just Shipped" - May 7, 1988; Debuted on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart on May 21, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! - May 14, 1988.

May 1974: UFO released their third studio album "Phenomenon" in the UK (July '74 in North America), their first with lead guitarist Michael Schenker and a new hard rock sound on tracks like "Doctor Doctor" and "Rock Bottom". Release information source: [UK] magazine ad with tour dates - May 1974; [US] Billboard Magazine Top Album Picks - July 27, 1974.

Happy Birthday to former Liege Lord singer Joe Comeau (May 2, 1964). Joe also played with Overkill in the '90s and Annihilator in the early 2000s.

Happy Birthday to Killer Dwarfs drummer Darrell "Dwarf" Millar (May 2, 1965).

Before they made it in metal, German bands Helloween (more thrash and speed, than power metal) and Running Wild (not yet "pirate metal") were featured on a compilation album titled "Death Metal" released in 1984. That same year, Helloween issued the same two songs featured on that release ("Metal Invaders", "Oernst of Life") on cassette.

May 1988: German metal band Rage released their third full-length album "Perfect Man" in the UK (July '88 in North America) featuring the title track and "Don't Fear The Winter". 13 musicians have been part of Rage over the years, with the most successful from 1988-94. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - April 30, 1988; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - August 5, 1988.

Featuring guitarist Kurt Colfelt, who left Agent Steel two years earlier, Holy Terror released their debut album "Terror And Submission" in 1987. Taking the thrash metal path less traveled, the band has achieved cult status.

May 2, 1989: In the midst of a European tour, including the Aardshock Festival in Holland, Floridian metal band Crimson Glory released "Lonely" in the UK as a single from the album "Transcendence". Release date source: Kerrang! - April 22, 1989 + ad - May 2, 1989.

May 2, 1989: Sacred Reich and Forbidden played Metro Republique in Paris.

May 2, 1987: The beginning of what would become a juggernaut album included a record store appearance by Whitesnake's David Coverdale in Ferndale, Michigan.

May 2, 1981: After filming a live performance of four songs for the "After Hours" TV show in Rochester a few days earlier, Ozzy Osbourne was now in New York City for a "Blizzard Of Ozz" Tour show at the Palladium. Opener Motörhead spent some time earlier in the day walking the streets of The Big Apple.

May 2, 1977: Marshall Berle brought two Warner Bros. execs to The Starwood in West Hollywood, California to check out Van Halen. After the show, producer Ted Templeman and music executive Mo Ostin offered the band a recording contract, which they accepted less than 24 hours later.