'80s Metal History (June 30th)

Happy Birthday to guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen (June 30, 1963).

Late-June 1989: Two years after it was released, Guns N' Roses' debut album "Appetite For Destruction" was locked in to the collective metal conciousness and so another single was issued with "Nightrain", a tribute to a certain cheap wine. Cheers! R&R radio trade publication ad - June 30, 1989

June 30, 1979: Motörhead's "No Class", the second single from the album "Overkill", debuted on the UK Singles Chart. It was available in three different covers, with a picture of Lemmy, "Fast" Eddie Clarke or Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor.

Released in late May 1980 in North America, the fourth studio album from Krokus, "Metal Rendez-vous", their first to feature singer Marc Storace, was getting some airplay on US rock radio stations with lead single "Heatstrokes".

June 30, 1981: After securing a major label record deal with A&M, Y&T released their third studio album "Earthshaker" in North America, their first under the name "Y&T" (after shortening it from "Yesterday and Today"), influenced by encores where fans would chant "Y&T!" Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - June 26, 1981.

June 30, 1992: With the return of singer Ronnie James Dio, drummer Vinny Appice and bassist Geezer Butler, the "Mob Rules" lineup had reunited and "Dehumanizer", the 16th album from Black Sabbath, was now available in North America (June 22nd in the UK). Release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - June 5, 1992; Billboard Magazine ad - July 4, 1992.

June 30, 1992: Suicidal Tendencies released their sixth studio album "The Art Of Rebellion" in North America (July 20th in the UK), the band's most commercially successful LP to date, with the songs "Nobody Hears" and "I'll Hate You Better" their only top 40 hits. Release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - June 26, 1992; [UK] Kerrang! - July 18, 1992.

Happy Birthday to Pantera singer Phil Anselmo (June 30, 1968).

Happy Birthday to Helix singer Brian Vollmer (June 30, 1955).

Happy Birthday to Angel Witch co-founder, guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne (June 30, 1963).

Happy Birthday to former Iron Maiden drummer Doug Sampson (June 30, 1957.) A member of one of Steve Harris' previous groups (Smiler), Sampson played with Maiden in 1978-79, including on "The Soundhouse Tapes" demo.

Happy Birthday to Killer Dwarfs singer Russ "Dwarf" Graham. (June 30, 1960).

June 30, 1988: With support from Great White, Whitesnake played the first of two shows at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Southern California, one of the first US dates following the band's recent tour of Japan. "Cheering the band on in the audience were Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Bryan Jay of Keel and--on a break from the 'Monsters Of Rock' tour--Don Dokken and Jeff Pilson of Dokken." -Press Release

June 30, 1984: Issued a few weeks earlier, Twisted Sister's "Stay Hungry" album was on the rise in the UK and frontman Dee Snider was featured in Sounds Magazine... "MY FAMILY invented this dance called 'The Worm'..." 🙃

June 30, 1981: Ozzy Osbourne was on the cover of Circus Magazine wearing a pink tutu, boxing gloves and boots. According to Photographer Mark Weiss, the mag was going to name Ozzy "Most Athletic" for a future Rock Yearbook issue.