'80s Metal History (July 6th)

For an unsigned metal band in the '80s options were few for a record deal, so in July 1982, Metallica recorded the "No Life 'til Leather" demo and disbursed it to record companies and fellow metal fans around the world. The word got out 🤘

July 6, 1987: Ahead of their fourth studio album "Dream Evil", DIO released "I Could Have Been A Dreamer" as the lead single. Near the end of the music video, Ronnie James Dio turns into a beautiful blond woman and then into a wolf. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - July 3, 1987; R&R radio trade publication ad - July 3, 1987; [UK] Kerrang! ad - July 23, 1987.

July 1986: Dokken released "It's Not Love" as the third single from the album "Under Lock And Key". MTV was already on the music video that featured the band performing on a flatbed truck as it drives down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Local radio station KNAC had announced the video shoot and that brought out the fans. Billboard Magazine ad - July 5, 1986

July 1983: Seattle metal band Culprit released their first and only studio album "Guilty As Charged" to much critical acclaim. One review has called it "a lost gem of American metal from the 1980s".

July 1987: Canadian speed/thrash metal pioneers Razor released their fourth studio album "Custom Killing" featuring the song "Forced Annihilation".

Happy Birthday to former Saxon guitarist [1979-95] Graham Oliver (July 6, 1952).

July 1984: Iron Maiden completed recording their fifth album "Powerslave" due for release in early September... "On a lighter note, Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson recently challenged David Lee Roth to a fencing duel on MTV. As yet Roth hasn't picked up this verbal gauntlet. It should be noted that Bruce is an expert fencer." -Kerrang!

July 6, 2000: At the turn of the century, the '80s Metal comeback was on as the hair-raising metal party music of Mötley Crüe was paired with thrash icons Megadeth and Anthrax for the "Maximum Rock" tour making a stop at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.

Many sites, including Google, Wikipedia and even the band, show July 6, 1981 as the release date for Def Leppard's second studio album "High 'n' Dry". This is NOT CORRECT. The LP was issued the week of July 13, 1981 in the UK (July 16th in the US). Release information source: [UK] Smash Hits Magazine ad - July 23, 1981 and Music Week ad - July 25, 1981; Debuted Official album chart on July 25, 1981; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - July 10, 1981; Debuted Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart on August 8, 1981.