80s Metal History (May 31st)

May 31, 1986: Judas Priest brought the "Fuel For Life" tour to Landover, Maryland. Outside before the show, filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn interviewed fans that would become the documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot".

May 31, 1985: Exodus were playing Chicago with Slayer and Venom when their debut album "Bonded By Blood" was finally released on April 5th, so when they returned to the Bay Area there was going to be a record release party for the hometown fans, a show at The Kabuki Theater with opening act Megadeth 🤘

May 31, 1986: Metallica completed most of their tour dates opening for Ozzy Osbourne 10 days earlier, and were now headlining shows in the Midwest, including this one in Decatur, Illinois.

May 31, 1988: So many great metal concerts to see in London, but on this night you had to choose, Vicious Rumours at Marquee Club or Testament at Astoria Theatre. And then the following night, you had to do it again... Exodus or Flotsam and Jetsam 😏

May 31, 1988: After making their way across Canada with 10 shows, Iron Maiden crossed the border from British Columbia into Washington State to begin the US leg of the "Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour" in Spokane.

May 31, 1989: With new singer Tony Martin and Cozy Powell on drums, Black Sabbath launched the North American leg of the "Headless Cross" tour in Poughkeepsie, New York. Kingdom Come opened. Geezer Butler chose to tour with Ozzy Osbourne.

Happy Birthday to Skid Row guitarist Scotti Hill (May 31, 1964).

Formed in 1977, Strana Officina is considered one of Italy's first metal bands, but their debut album "Rock & Roll Prisoners" didn't come out until 1989. Their name came from the police when called to their rehearsal space for noise complaints.

May 1986: "Calling All Dirtbags!" Twisted Sister were on the cover of Faces Magazine. Inside, details on a contest for "Motley Maniacs Only! Are You Crue Crazy?"