Early-June 1987: King Diamond released their second studio album "Abigail" in North America (April '87 in the UK). The master of the metal macabre's first concept LP was dedicated to his father and a video made for "The Family Ghost".
King Diamond "Abigail" release information source: [US] Based on sales reports taken from independent heavy metal/hard rock specialty stores on June 19, 1987, "Abigail" was the No. 5 selling album. It debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart on July 11th; [UK] Kerrang! review - April 30, 1987.
Happy Birthday to former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain (June 5, 1952).
June 5/6, 1987: Manowar played two shows in the UK in Manchester and London. The band had just released their new single "Blow Your Speakers" from the "Fighting The World" album that included a poster apparently banned in the U.S.
Kerrang! ad - May 28, 1987
June 1983: Featuring guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen and singer Ron Keel, L.A.'s Steeler released their only album as the band broke up soon after. Most websites and social media, as well as Ron Keel himself, have September 25, 1983 as the release date. However, that date was a Sunday and nothing was ever released on a Sunday. In addition, at a Steeler show in Pasadena on July 30, 1983, the ad below notes, "The first ten people in line with Steeler T-shirts on receive autographed copy of new steeler album."
Additional release date sources: Band flyer from Jun. 3, 1983 "Debut Album On Shrapnel Records In June" and Kerrang! April 1983, "Album due out on Shrapnel Records in the Spring.
June 1985: A year away from releasing their debut album "Doomsday For The Deceiver", Flotsam and Jetsam entered a battle of the bands competition in Phoenix and won (according to former bassist Jason Newsted); the prize was 6 hours of free studio use in Chaton Studios, which they used to record their first demo titled "Metal Shock".
June 1986: Hailing from Jonquière, Québec and originally known as Death Dealer, Canadian metal band Deaf Dealer released their debut album "Keeper Of The Flame" featuring the title track and "The Fugitive". The band has since gone back to the name Death Dealer.
June 1985: After original lead guitarist Kelly Johnson left the band, Girlschool released their fifth studio album "Running Wild", but only in America.
June 1986: Under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle (all of the band members), The Rods Project released the album "Hollywood" with Rick Caudle on lead vocals. In January 1987, the band issued one more album with new singer Shmoulik Avigal, before going on hiatus until 2011.
June 5, 1979: Def Leppard played Crookes Workingman's Club in Sheffield, England, not far from the childhood homes of Joe Elliott and Rick Savage. The band performed many covers in their early sets including UFO and Foreigner songs.
June 1999: Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith had returned to Iron Maiden and all was right in the world again as the band prepared for the "Ed Hunter" tour set to begin July 11th that year in Saint John, New Brunswick Canada.
June 5, 2003: Scheduled for release on June 10th, but moved up because of leaks on the web, Metallica issued their eighth studio album "St. Anger" in North America. Producer Bob Rock played bass, filling in for the recently departed Jason Newsted.
Release date source: Billboard Magazine - June 23, 2003.
June 5, 1987: Anthrax with Metal Church played the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The "Among The Living" tour was 140 shows in 14 countries with 85 US dates that began May 26th in Rochester, New York.
June 1984: With DIO's second studio album "The Last In Line" due out in early July and the band playing Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands on June 11th, Ronnie James Dio was featured on the cover of Germany's Metal Hammer Magazine.
King Diamond "Abigail" release information source: [US] Based on sales reports taken from independent heavy metal/hard rock specialty stores on June 19, 1987, "Abigail" was the No. 5 selling album. It debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart on July 11th; [UK] Kerrang! review - April 30, 1987.
