'80s Metal History (July 13th)

The worldwide Live Aid concert happened this week in 1985 and on July 13th, the original Black Sabbath reunited, performing "Children Of The Grave", "Iron Man" and "Paranoid" at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Judas Priest followed, performing "Living After Midnight," "The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)" and "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

July 13, 1984: DIO released their second studio album "The Last In Line" in the UK (July 2nd in North America) featuring singles "We Rock" and the title track that made it the band's highest-charting album on both sides of the pond. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - July 12, 1984.

July 1984: Six months after it was released in the UK, Grim Reaper's debut album "See You In Hell" was now available in North America. In 1982 they won a Battle of the Bands competition and were awarded studio time to record a demo. Release information source: Billboard Magazine New LP / Tape Releases - July 28, 1984.

July 13, 1984: It was "Molten Metal" with young and hungry bands Raven and Anthrax laying waste to the Seattle Norway Center. Neil Turbin was still singing for Anthrax, but would leave the band a month later. Singer Matt Fallon was briefly hired in late 1984 before Joey Belladonna was chosen as the new vocalist.

July 13, 1980: AC/DC launched the North American "Back In Black" tour in Edmonton, Alberta. 10 more Canadian dates would follow through the end of July before starting the US leg in Erie and Philadelphia.

Happy Birthday to Twisted Sister bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza (July 13, 1955).

Happy Birthday to former Vinnie Vincent Invasion drummer Bobby Rock (July 13, 1963).

July 13, 1987: Loudness released the album "Hurricane Eyes" in North America. A version sung in Japanese was also issued in Japan later that year. The LP was produced by Eddie Kramer (Stones, Zeppelin, Hendrix, KISS). Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - July 10, 1987.

July 1988: Formed in Melbourne a year earlier, Australian thrash metal band Hobbs Angel Of Death released their self-titled debut album. With a sound similar to Slayer, founder and guitarist Peter Hobbs described the band's sound as "virgin metal" – a pure form of metal music 🤔

July 13, 1993: W.A.S.P. released their fifth studio album "The Crimson Idol" in the US (June 1992 in the UK), a rock opera telling the story of the rise and fall of a fictional rock star named Jonathan Steel. It was intended to be a Blackie Lawless solo LP. Release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine - July 3, 1993: [UK] Kerrang! ad - June 13, 1992.

July 13, 2004: Dokken released their ninth studio album "Hell To Pay", produced by Don Dokken himself and the band's first LP with lead guitarist Jon Levin who replaced George Lynch. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - May 2, 2004.

July 1984: Queensrÿche just completed recording their debut album "The Warning" due in September. The band would hit the road in August, playing Japan for the first time before joining the DIO tour in Europe. -Kerrang!