80s Metal History (May 30th)

May 30, 1985: "Another batch of solid pop-metal tunes", RATT released their second studio album "Invasion Of Your Privacy" in North America (Mid-June in the UK) featuring singles "Lay It Down", "You're In Love" and "What You Give Is What You Get". Like "Out Of The Cellar", the LP went Top 10 in the US.

RATT "Invasion Of Your Privacy" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 24, 1985; [UK] Kerrang! - May 16, 1985.

May 30, 1980: In the UK, Judas Priest released "Breaking The Law" as the second single from the album "British Steel" and with purchase you received a "Free Satin Patch" to add to your denim jacket as you rocked the streets in your ripped jeans 🤘 Release date source: Music Week ad - May 31, 1980 and Single Releases - 31 May 1980.

Scheduled for release on 16 May 1980, Iron Maiden single "Sanctuary", didn't hit record shops in the UK until 30 May. The censored controversial cover art depicted mascot Eddie wielding a knife while crouching over the corpse of then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, which led to British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror running a story about the single, as well as publishing the uncensored artwork on 20 May under the headline: "It's murder! Maggie gets rock mugging." The song originally appeared on NWOBHM compilation "Metal For Muthas" four months earlier, but not Iron Maiden's debut album released on 11 April 1980. "Sanctuary" was re-recorded for the single and added to the band's debut album for its North American release in July 1980.

Iron Maiden "Sanctuary" release date source: Record Mirror ad "Coming Soon" - 17 May 1980 and 31 May 1980; Music Week Single Releases - 31 May 1980.

May 30, 1985: Grim Reaper followed up the success of their debut album, 1983's "See You In Hell", with the release of "Fear No Evil" in North America (Early May '85 in the UK). A music video was made for the title track. Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 24, 1985; [UK] Kerrang! ad - May 16, 1985.

May 1980: French metal band Trust released the album "Répression" in their home country featuring the song "Antisocial" (covered by Anthrax in 1988). The LP is dedicated to AC/DC's Bon Scott who died while the band was in the studio.

May 30, 1988: Nearly two years after its release in Europe, the third studio album from German metal band Steeler titled "Strike Back", was issued in North America. The band, named after the Judas Priest song, featured guitarist Axel Rudi Pell. Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - May 27, 1988.

Founded in Milan three years earlier, Italian metal band Vanadium released their second studio album "A Race With The Devil" featuring the single "Don't Be Lookin' Back" in 1983. One review calls the LP "a gem of pure heavy metal."

May 1983: Formed four years earlier, Swedish metal band 220 Volt released their self-titled debut album featuring singles "Lonely Nights" and "Prisoner Of War", the latter originally issued a year earlier... A radio station in New Jersey played the single and it soon became one of the most requested songs.

Happy Birthday to producer Max Norman [Ozzy Osbourne, Y&T, Savatage, Grim Reaper, Loudness, Armored Saint, Megadeth, many more] (May 30, 1958).

Happy Birthday to Voivod co-founder and drummer Michel "Away" Langevin (May 30, 1963).

May 30, 1982: Ozzy Osbourne brought the "Diary Of A Madman" tour to Charlevoix, Michigan over Memorial Day weekend for a show at Castle Farms Music Theater.

May 30, 1986: Four days after playing Iowa Jam in Des Moines, Metallica returned to Iowa with Armored Saint for a show at The Col Ballroom in Davenport.

May 30, 2010: The city council in Los Angeles declared May 30th "Ronnie James Dio Day". At a public memorial service for Dio who died two weeks earlier, the news was greeted with rabid cheers and a strong showing of devil horns.