80s Metal History (June 4th)

June 4, 1988: The second stop on "The Monsters Of Rock" 23-city summer stadium tour was in hot and humid Miami with Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica and Kingdom Come... "THE CHANTS of 'Metallica! Metallica! Metallica!'spring up almost immediately Kingdome Come leave the stage." -Kerrang!

June 1980: After starting their own T-shirt company and record label, Twisted Sister released single "Bad Boys (Of Rock 'n' Roll)" that caught the attention of indie label Secret Records in the UK and led to a recording contract in 1982.

June 4, 1983: Released a week earlier, Motörhead debuted on the UK Official album chart with their sixth studio album "Another Perfect Day", their only LP with guitarist Brian "Robbo" Robertson (Thin Lizzy), who replaced "Fast" Eddie Clarke. The album was issued in North America in July '83. On this day, Motörhead also played the first of two shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon with special guests Anvil. Release date source: Record Mirror - May 7, 1983.

Remembering Samson founder and guitarist Paul Samson, who would have celebrated a birthday today (June 4, 1953). An important part of the NWOBHM movement, Samson featured Bruce Dickinson and Clive Burr (Iron Maiden). Paul died in 2002. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday to original Fates Warning drummer Steve Zimmerman (June 4, 1962).

June 1982: Girlschool released their third studio album "Screaming Blue Murder" in the UK, which was delayed as the band had already started a 20-date UK tour. Bassist Ghislaine 'Gil' Weston replaced recently departed founding member Enid Williams. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - June 3, 1982.

German speed metal band Iron Angel released their second studio album "Winds of War" in 1986. Featuring songs "Son Of A Bitch" and "Metalstorm", it would be their last LP until the 2018 release of "Hellbound".

June 1986: NWOBHM band Elixir released their debut album "The Son Of Odin". Featuring songs "Treachery (Ride Like The Wind)" and "Chariot Of The Gods", Metal Hammer ranked it the 21st best power metal album of all time in 2019.

June 1989: Seattle metal band Heir Apparent released their second studio album "One Small Voice", revealing a shift towards progressive metal, compared to the traditional heavy and power metal style of their 1986 debut.

June 1993: With former Ratt singer Stephen Pearcy and former Cinderella drummer Fred Coury, hard rockin' supergroup Arcade released power ballad "Cry No More" as the second single from their first studio album. With the sea change in rock music at the time, American radio stations were slow to add the song, but playing it proved to be a good move as the single went on to be a Top 40 rock hit by the end of July that year.

June 1993: After reuniting a year earlier, Mercyful Fate signed with Metal Blade and released "Egypt" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "In The Shadows".

June 4, 2013: Megadeth released their 14th studio album "Super Collider" that includes a cover of Thin Lizzy's 1983 smash "Cold Sweat". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - June 12, 2013.

June 4, 1996: Metallica continued to switch gears from the sound they established in the '80s with the release of their sixth studio album "Load" in North America (one day earlier in Europe), featuring singles "Until It Sleeps", "King Nothing" and "Hero Of The Day". It debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200. Release date source: [US] R&R radio trade publication - May 17, 1996; [Europe] Trade magazine ad.

June 4, 1982: Motörhead brought the "Iron Fist" tour to Los Angeles for a show at Hollywood Palladium with Krokus and Fist.

June 1983: "Mad Dogs and Englishmen!", the latest issue of Kerrang! featured Raven, who expressed their disappointment "that so many new Metal acts are leaning towards the American/polished-chrome end of the spectrum rather than aiming for good ole 'Sledgehammer Rock' heaviness. 'In all our HM discos now they're playing Journey and Foreigner. I mean, kids are getting up and freaking out to things like "Who's Crying Now"!! It's getting that bad!"