80s Metal History (June 2nd)

June 2, 1986: DIO released their first live album "Intermission" in North America (Late-June '86 in the UK), recorded with guitarist Vivian Campbell during the first leg of the "Sacred Heart" tour. Craig Goldy replaced Campbell mid-tour and one studio track "Time To Burn" was added with Goldy.

DIO "Intermission" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine ad - May 10, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! ad - June 26, 1986.

June 2, 1982: Iron Maiden's "Beast On The Road" tour landed in Nashville, Tennessee and found the rising metal legends opening for... 38 Special 🙃 The setlist was only seven songs, including the encore, where they performed "Drifter" from "Killers".

June 2, 2004: With the Metal God back where he belongs, a reunited Judas Priest played the first show of the "Reunited" tour at Stadiumsporthalle in Hannover, Germany.

June 2, 1983: In North America, Def Leppard released "Rock of Ages" as the second single from the album "Pyromania". It peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August, but may have been No. 1 on your summer soundtrack that year. Release date source: Def Leppard News

June 2, 1986: We were all introduced to Cinderella when their first single "Shake Me" was issued to radio one week before the release of their debut album "Night Songs". The music video began playing on MTV in early July. Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - May 23, 1986.

June 2, 1984: RATT made an in-store appearance at Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream, New York before their sold out show with Mötley Crüe at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Mötley Crüe's latest album "Shout At The Devil" had just gone platinum... "CRÜE! CRÜE! CRÜE! shouts the crowd... "beneath all the brouhaha and bumph, you'll find four genuine rock'n'roll sleazeballs dedicated to raising hell, highwater and hair." -Kerrang!

June 2, 1984: It was a "Heavy Metal Massacre" with Raven's "Live At The Inferno" tour plus Neil Turbin-fronted Anthrax thrashing Chicago's Embassy Ballroom. Local heavy metal fanzine Midwest Miltia later featured a cover shot of Raven's Mark Gallagher from this show.

June 2, 1978: Forefathers of '80s metal Thin Lizzy released the album "Live And Dangerous". Around this time, music writers often characterized the harmonic guitar leads between Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham as heavy metal. A must have LP.

June 1980: Accept released their second studio album "I’m A Rebel" in Europe featuring the title track written by Alexander Young (aka George Alexander), the elder brother of AC/DC siblings Malcolm and Angus Young.

June 2, 2015: Armored Saint released their seventh studio album "Win Hands Down" in North America. "One of the most underrated bands in US Metal," one review stated there was "no other band at the moment" who played "classical metal in such an inspired and versed manner". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - May 29, 2015.

June 1985: German metal band Stormwitch released their second studio album "Tales Of Terror". Similar to Helloween, their lyrics focus on fantasy, occult, and history. They have been called "The Masters Of Black Romantic" by their fans.

June 2, 1981: Van Halen's fourth world tour was under way and after playing Spokane, Washington two nights earlier, the band crossed the border into Canada for a show in Vancouver. At the time, the 10-month "Fair Warning" outing was considered the largest continental tour in rock and roll history.

Remembering American fantasy artist Ken Kelly, who died June 2, 2023 at age 77. He painted album covers for Rainbow (Rising), KISS (Destroyer, Love Gun), Manowar (Fighting The World, Kings Of Metal...) and many others. R.I.P.

June 2, 1986: Heard in a radio ad, "Birmingham's favourite Heavy Metal sons" Black Sabbath returned to where it all started for a show at the Odeon, but with guitarist Tony Iommi the only original member left, joined by future Badlands frontman Ray Gillen, who would be replaced before the next album a year later. -Kerrang!

June 2, 2020: Featuring the iconic and never-before-published photography of Mark Weiss, "The Decade That Rocked" was released. The 378 page book covers the biggest names from the ’80s hard rock scene—including Ozzy Osbourne, Twisted Sister, KISS, Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses and more. Click Here for details.