'80s Metal History (July 15th)

July 1980: Iron Maiden released their debut album in North America (April '80 in the UK), with the song "Sanctuary" included (single only in the UK). The LP didn't chart in the US, but the band also didn't tour the states until the summer of 1981. Release information source: Cashbox Magazine review - July 26, 1980; Billboard Magazine ad - August 2, 1980.

July 1984: Lita Ford was on her way to her first rock radio hit with single "Gotta Let Go" from her second album "“Dancin’ On The Edge". The music video with Lita taking out Lenny and Squiggy type home invaders with her guitar is pure '80s. R&R radio trade publication ad - July 13, 1984

KISS' "Creatures Of The Night" was reissued in 1985 with a new cover. Guitarist Bruce Kulick is pictured but he did not play on the record, just like Ace Frehley was on the original '82 cover, but Vinnie Vincent played on the recording 🤦‍♀️

July 1987: Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone released their second studio album "Children Of Madness". The former Iron Maiden singer's band received some criticism from the media for the track "Metal Tears" being similar to Queensrÿche's 1986 song "London". Release information source: Kerrang! review - July 23, 1987.

Doom metal pioneers Trouble released their third studio album "Run To The Light" in 1987, their last on the Metal Blade label and featuring the song "The Misery Shows".

Happy Birthday to guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani (July 15, 1956).

Happy Birthday to original Overkill guitarist [1982-90] Bobby Gustafson (July 15, 1965).

Remembering Girlschool lead guitarist Kelly Johnson, who died July 15, 2007 at age 49. R.I.P.

July 15, 1983: It was "Metal Mania At The Calderone!" with Motörhead shakin' up the town of Hempstead in Western Long Island, New York with openers The Rods and Virgin Steele ensuring no one got out alive.

July 1985: "Invasion Of Your Privacy" was out worldwide and with red hot RATT scheduled to play the "Monsters Of Rock" festival at Castle Donington for the first time, the band got the cover of the UK's Kerrang! Magazine... "And believe me we're really looking forward to it. We need to go to Europe very badly because this world infestation isn't going to be completed until we've infested everybody." -Stephen Pearcy