'80s Metal History (July 29th)

July 29, 1983: Manowar released their second studio album "Into Glory Ride" in the UK and gained headlines in the British music press when it was revealed the band signed a new recording contract in their own blood. Release date source: Kerrang! - July 14, 1983; Kerrang! ad - July 28, 1983.

July 29, 1991: Metallica released "Enter Sandman" worldwide as the lead single from the forthcoming Black Album and would gain more fans than anyone could have predicted, while thrash purists are still pouting. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - July 27, 1991.

Remembering former Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers of Pan Tang and Blue Murder guitarist John Sykes, who would have celebrated a birthday today (July 29, 1959). John died in 2025. R.I.P.

July 29, 1985: It was "Balls To The Wall Metal" with Accept, Helix and Keel playing the Variety Theatre in Cleveland. Accept opened with "Metal Heart", Helix "Wild In The Streets" and Keel "Speed Demon".

July 29, 1986: "You'll Believe ... Dragons Do Exist", DIO brought the "Sacred Heart - Intermission Tour" to Oakwood Lake Amphitheatre in Manteca, California with support from Accept.

Late-July 1991: Helloween released their first compilation album "The Best • The Rest • The Rare" featuring nearly all of their most well-received songs, including "I Want Out", "Dr. Stein", "Judas", "Halloween" and the epic "Keeper Of The Seven Keys", but not including "Phantoms Of Death" and "Eagle Fly Free". 🤔 Release information source: Kerrang! ad - July 27, 1991.

July 1981: British metal band Gaskin released their debut album "End Of The World" featuring the song "Sweet Dream Maker". Another track "I'm No Fool" was included on a 1990 NWOBHM compilation assembled by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.

July 1984: A rare metal sampler, "Hell Comes To Your House" features tracks from then mostly unknown bands, including Manowar, Exciter and Anthrax, plus Japanese acts Loudness, Earthshaker and Tsunami. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - July 26, 1984.

July 29, 1989: Alice Cooper's new album "Trash" was available everywhere and lead single "Poison", on the radio for only two weeks, was already knocking on the door of the Top 30 on American stations. Billboard Magazine ad - July 29, 1989

July 29, 1989: Two years after the release of their debut album "Appetite For Destruction", Guns N' Roses had made their mark and the fifth and final single "Nightrain" made its debut on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Remembering original Iron Maiden lead singer [1975-76] Paul Day who died July 29, 2025. R.I.P.

July 1988: Eight years before the original members reunited, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley joined Ace Frehley on stage at a New York club gig, their first time playing together since 1982 and fueling rumours of a "full-scale KISS reunion with original drummer Peter Criss." -Kerrang!

July 1986: The latest issue of Hard Rock Magazine featured Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson and Michael Schenker.