'80s Metal History (June 11th)

June 11, 1991: Skid Row released their second studio album "Slave To The Grind" in North America (one day earlier in the UK). Featuring singles "Monkey Business" and "Wasted Time", it was the first metal album to chart at number one on the US Billboard 200 in the Nielsen SoundScan era.

Skid Row "Slave To The Grind" release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine spotlight - June 15, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - June 1, 1991.

June 11, 1984: MTV in the US began airing the "We're Not Gonna Take It" music video and life would never be the same for Twisted Sister. The "Stay Hungry" album had just been issued in the UK a few days earlier and was close to being available in American record stores.

June 11, 1980: Supporting their debut album, a hungry Iron Maiden were touring the UK relentlessly and stopped in Sunderland to headline a show at the Mecca Centre with guests Praying Mantis.

June 11, 1984: With their sophomore album "The Last In Line" due in early July, DIO warmed up with a performance at Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands. They opened with "One Night In The City" and "We Rock" from the new album.

June 1987: Grim Reaper released the title track as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Rock You To Hell" in North America (October '87 in the UK). The music video received heavy airplay in the US on MTV's Headbangers Ball.

June 11, 1984: Fastway released their second studio album "All Fired Up" in the UK (late June in North America), working again with producer Eddie Kramer (Whitesnake, Pretty Maids, Anthrax, etc.). Outside of the title track, the LP is more blues-based than Fastway's hard rockin' debut. Release date source: Kerrang! - April 19, 1984.

June 11, 1990: Danish thrash metal band Artillery released their third studio album "By Inheritance" in North America and the UK, featuring tracks "Khomaniac" and "Don't Believe". They disbanded a year later, but reunited in 1999 and again in 2007. The band is still together today. Release information source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - June 8, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! review - June 23, 1990.

June 1991: At the time, the last ever album from Y&T "Yesterday And Today Live", was issued on Metal Blade, recorded at the Cabaret in San Jose, California on New Year's Eve 1990... "Sounds like you're pumped up tonight. Well, let's not waste any more time!" -Dave Meniketti

June 1984: Hailing from Belgium, speed metal band Warhead released their debut album "Speedway". One review claims "No pretension, no gimmicks" with this band, "just a great gem of the old school".

Happy Birthday to guitarist Joe Holmes [Lizzy Borden, Ozzy Osbourne] (June 11, 1963).

June 11, 1990: In the UK, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson released a cover of Mott The Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" in the UK as the second single from his debut solo album "Tattooed Millionaire". Release date source: Kerrang! - June 9, 1990.

June 11, 2013: Black Sabbath released "13" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), their 19th and final studio album on Vertigo, the band's original label, and Sabbath's first studio album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!" Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - April 12, 2013.

June 1975: Frontman Ronald Padavona was now going by Ronnie James Dio and Elf released their third and final studio album "Trying To Burn The Sun". Dio's voice had caught the attention of Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who was looking for musicians to record a solo album. With several Elf members including Dio, Rainbow was formed and the album "Rising" released a year later.

June 11, 1976: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow launched the "Rising" tour in Columbus, Ohio. "I think Ritchie's a brilliant guy, a really brilliant guy. I would think I chose Ritchie because I think he's a winner." -Ronnie Jame Dio (as told to Circus magazine, August '76). Thin Lizzy were scheduled to open, but frontman Phil Lynott was diagnosed with hepatitis and the band had to cancel.

June 11, 1981: Van Halen played the first of three nights at Oakland Arena in Oakland, California on the "Fair Warning" tour. The shows were filmed and the footage used in music videos for "Unchained", "So This Is Love?" and "Hear About It Later".

June 11, 1984: The "Metal Conqueror" tour arrived in The North Star State with Judas Priest and opener Great White playing the Civic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

June 11, 1992: Iron Maiden brought the "Fear Of The Dark" tour to Community War Memorial in Rochester, New York with guests Testament and Corrosion Of Conformity.

June 11, 1987: With their debut album "Appetite For Destruction" due in July, Guns N' Roses got the cover of the UK's Kerrang! Magazine... "The rude and tattooed (and major label backed) beat boyz at the forefront of the post Hanoi explosion currently hitting Los Angeles."