'80s Metal History (May 3rd)

May 3, 1988: Queensrÿche released their third studio album "Operation: Mindcrime" in North America (Late May '88 in the UK). Singer Geoff Tate came up with the idea but it was a tough sell for the rest of the band and he had to convince each of them individually.

Queensrÿche "Operation: Mindcrime" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - April 22, 1988; The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - April 29, 1988; Debuted Billboard Top Pop Albums chart on May 21, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! review - May 21, 1988; Debuted Official Album chart on June 4, 1988.

May 3, 1983: Metallica signed their first record deal with Johnny and Marsha Zazula's Megaforce. The label released "Kill 'Em All" two months later.

Happy Birthday to Overkill lead vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (May 3, 1959).

Happy Birthday to King Kobra guitarist [1983–89, 2010–2021] David Michael Phillips (May 3, 1961). He also played with Icon [1979–81], Keel [1984] and Lizzy Borden [1989-96].

May 3, 1984: After his one off with Black Sabbath for the "Born Again" album, frontman Ian Gillan reunited with Ritchie Blackmore and the rest of Deep Purple. They would release their 11th studio album "Perfect Strangers" in late October that year. -Kerrang!

May 3, 1986: Released in early April, Krokus' ninth studio album "Change Of Address" debuted on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. It would peak at No. 45 in late June. Krokus replaced Bon Jovi as opener on Judas Priest's '86 arena tour.

May 3, 1988: Living Colour released their debut album "Vivid" in North America featuring single "Cult Of Personality" which won the 1990 Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock Performance". The LP is a mix of hard rock, funk metal and glam rock. Release information source: Billboard Magazine Album Releases - April 30, 1988.

May 3, 1985: Canadian thrash legends Exciter released their third studio album "Long Live The Loud" in the UK with a slightly more "mainstream" metal sound than the pure speed/thrash of their first two LPs. Release date source: Kerrang! - May 2, 1985.

May 3, 1985: British metal band Rogue Male released the single "All Over You" in the UK (May 20th in North America) from their debut album "First Visit". Hailed by Kerrang! at the time as "the next big thing" they unfortunately never broke through and disbanded two years later. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - May 2, 1985; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 17, 1985.

May 3, 1985: Flotsam and Jetsam performed "The Heaviest Of Metal!!" at the infamous The Bootlegger in their hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. According to former bassist Jason Newsted, the band had entered a battle of the bands competition that year and won; the prize was 6 hours of free studio use in Chaton Studios, which they used to record their first demo titled "Metal Shock".

May 3, 1988: AC/DC launched the US leg of the "Blow Up Your Video" Tour with two shows at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. Filling in for his uncle Malcolm Young, who was dealing with an alcohol problem, this was Stevie Young’s first concert with the band. Before the tour, Atlantic Records sent AC/DC Survival Kits to North American concert promoters that included a first-aid kit complete with aspirin, band-aid - and two condoms 🙃

May 3, 1990: Yngwie Malmsteen brought the "Eclipse" Tour to Offenbach, Germany. Most of the 77 shows were in Europe with just 19 in North America opening for DIO.

May 1993: Three years after American rock radio stations began playing the song (reached No. 4 in August 1990 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart), Guns N' Roses released "Civil War" from "Use Your Illusion II" as a single in the UK, where it peaked at No. 11 on the Official Charts.

May 3, 2004: The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake who claimed they were owed royalties from Ozzy Osbourne. They believe they are entitled to money from the albums "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman". “Their music is literally everywhere,” their lawyer told justices in a filing.

May 1984: Iron Maiden just completed recording their new album "Powerslave" and it would next be mixed in New York. -Kerrang!