'80s Metal History (July 22nd)

Remembering the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, who died July 22, 2025, just weeks after his farewell show. R.I.P.

July 22, 1981: Judas Priest and Iron Maiden played the first of three nights at the Palladium in New York City. One of the shows was simulcast on local rock radio station WNEW. That was a thing back then... really miss it.

July 1981: Three shows in New York City... what to do with your spare time? Judas Priest went roller skating in Central Park. Of course, they still dressed as metal as possible. Glenn Tipton may or may not have gotten the wear all black memo. 😁

July 22, 1984: "You're a dreamer One night at the fair"... that song wasn't out yet, but DIO was on the road with "The Last In Line" tour that included a summer night show at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Northern California. "We Rock!!" 🤘

Summer 1984: While the music video for "Round And Round" was in heavy rotation on MTV, Ratt were filming the next video for "Back For More", with cameos from Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee. The video began airing on MTV in mid-August.

July 22, 1982: Mötley Crüe played the first of two nights at the Country Club in Reseda, California. Promoting their self-released "Too Fast For Love" on their own label, Leathür Records, they had just signed a major label deal with Elektra.

July 22, 1988: On a sweltering night, "thousands of 'rivetheads' jammed themselves in front of the stage and around two bars to pay homage to the latest addition to New York's premier Power Metal ranks: Overkill" for the first of two shows at L'Amour in Brooklyn. -Kerrang!

Happy Birthday to Savatage founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist Jon Oliva (July 22, 1960).

Happy Birthday to guitar virtuoso Jason Becker (July 22, 1969). Jason played with guitarist Marty Friedman in Cacophony [1986-89] and with David Lee Roth [1990-91]. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1989.

July 22, 1985: On the heels of their latest album "Long Live The Loud", Canadian thrash legends Exciter issued "Feel The Knife" as a single from the band's forthcoming three-track EP "Feel the Knife" that also features two live songs from the tour. The EP was Exciter's last recording with the original lineup as guitarist John Ricci would leave and be replaced by Brian McPhee. Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - July 19, 1985.

July 22, 1985: Norwegian hard rockers TNT released their second studio album "Knights Of The New Thunder" in North America (October '84 in Europe), their first with new vocalist Tony Harnell and featuring the song "Seven Seas". Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - July 19, 1985.

July 22, 2003: Queensrÿche released their eighth studio album "Tribe" in North America with an assist from recently departed guitarist Chris DeGarmo. The record label misrepresented his involvement as a "reunion". He left again before recording was completed. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - June 21, 2003.

July 1981: A Top 15 US rock hit in June, Van Halen released "Unchained", from the "Fair Warning" album, as a single in Europe. David Lee Roth's working title for the song was "Hit The Ground Running" and producer Ted Templeman's only vocal contribution to the band is featured when he says "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" during the interlude.

July 22, 1987: With a stage show featuring an inflatable Harley, lots of pyro, and a contraption that spins Tommy Lee and his drum kit upside down while he plays, Mötley Crüe with special guest Whitesnake, brought the "Girls, Girls, Girls" tour to Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.

July 2016: Twisted Sister released "Metal Meltdown Live! A Concert To Honor AJ Pero". The show was recorded at The Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas on May 30, 2015, two weeks after Pero passed away. Mike Portnoy played drums. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - July 22, 2016.

A young Kirk Hammett with Exodus in 1981. He had formed the band two years earlier.