'80s Metal History (July 24th)

July 24, 1981: Iron Maiden made a rare personal appearance at Zig Zig Records in New York City and that night, the band performed the last of three shows at the Palladium opening for Judas Priest.

Iron Maiden on the street in New York City after a rare personal appearance at Zig Zig Records (July 24, 1981).

July 24, 1982: In North Wales, concertgoers at Wrexham were full of booze and by the time Twisted Sister were ready to hit the stage, the crowd was armed with bottles and anything else they could get their hands on, ready to use the band as target practice. But that never happened because Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister came out to introduce Twisted Sister and, as Dee Snider details in his book, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic", with that one act Kilmister, if he hadn't already, officially made it "cool" to like Twisted Sister.

July 24, 1988: At the second L.A. show on "The Monsters Of Rock" summer stadium tour, Metallica continued making it tough for Dokken who followed them, when a riot broke out as fans tried to get closer to the band... "We want Metallica!!!"

July 24, 1990: Transitioning away from glam/traditional heavy metal to thrash/groove metal, Pantera released their fifth studio album and major label debut "Cowboys From Hell", featuring the title track and "Cemetery Gates". Release date source: The Hard Report radio trade publication - July 20, 1990.

July 24, 1984: Opening with "We Rock" and "Mystery" from the new album, DIO brought the "The Last In Line" tour to Spokane, Washington for a show that was broadcast on North American rock radio stations. The recording was released in 2014.

July 1986: Filmed in April at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Ozzy Osbourne "The Ultimate Ozzy" was issued on VHS in the US. Music videos for "Shot In The Dark", "Lightning Strikes" and "The Ultimate Sin" are also included. The DVD was available in 2007.

July 1983: Motörhead released "Shine" as the second single from the album "Another Perfect Day". Opening with guitarist Brian Robertson lifting the energized lick from Sweet's amped-up "Set Me Free", it debuted on the UK Singles Chart on July 30th.

July 24, 1989: Produced by Rick Rubin, Wolfsbane released their debut album "Live Fast, Die Fast: Wicked Tales Of Booze, Birds And Bad Language" in the UK (Mid-August in North America), featuring singles "Manhunt" and "I Like It Hot" with music videos that were shown often on MTV Headbangers Ball in the US. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - July 8, 1989; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - August 25, 1989.

July 24, 1987: Part of the second wave of Bay Area thrashers, Heathen released their debut album "Breaking The Silence" in North America (August 10th in the UK) featuring a cover of The Sweet's "Set Me Free" that got them some American rock radio airplay and the music video a spot on MTV Headbangers Ball. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - July 17, 1987; [UK] Kerrang! - August 6, 1987.

July 1987: Just a few years earlier, they were emerging out of coffins at concerts with their bodies drenched in ghoulish paint and pentagrams, but Demon changed direction and went more progressive with the critically acclaimed album "Breakout" issued in the UK. Release information source: Kerrang! review - July 23, 1987.

July 24, 2001: Metal Blade issued Armored Saint compilation album "Nod To The Old School" in North America (June 11th in Europe) featuring new tracks "Real Swagger" and "Unstable", live cuts, the entire 1983 demo and other rarities from their past. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - June 2, 2001.

July 1989: Metalshop Magazine had Ozzy's Zakk Wylde on the cover asking "Hottest Leadman Of 'Em All?". There was a feature on Stryper and King Diamond "Caught Between Heaven & Hell!", plus "Is Kix Upstaging Ratt? Report From The Road".