'80s Metal History (August 11th)

August 11, 1988: The first live LP from W.A.S.P. was released a year earlier and now the companion video "...In the Raw" was out on VHS in the US (May '88 in the UK) with "60 Loud Viewing Minutes", including "Harder Faster" about the PMRC who declared the band "sexual perverts". Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine ad - July 2, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! ad - May 21, 1988.

"Super Rock '84 In Japan" was a touring rock festival featuring Scorpions, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Michael Schenker Group and Anvil that ran between August 4th through 12th. Select performances were released on VHS and Laserdisc later that year.

August 11, 1983: Over 30 American cities were already devastated by Iron Maiden's "World Piece" Tour and the slaughter continued with a show in Detroit. Saxon and Fastway opened.

Not content with K-Tel owning the metal compilation market, Hit Parader Magazine got in the game and released "The Wild Bunch" in 1985 on cassette only and featuring up and comers Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Raven, Lizzy Borden, Laaz Rockit and more.

Remembering Warrant singer Jani Lane, who died August 11, 2011 at age 47. R.I.P.

August 11, 1986: In celebration of his headlining appearance at Castle Donington on the 16th, Ozzy Osbourne released the EP "Ultimate Live Ozzy" as a picture disc in the UK (September 23rd in North America). The label clearly states these are live versions from Kansas City in 1986 (the Ultimate Ozzy video shoot), but there are no live songs 🤔 Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - August 7, 1986; [US] Billboard Magazine - September 6, 1986.

August 1987: Mötley Crüe released "Wild Side" as the second single from the album "Girls, Girls, Girls". At the time, the song didn't receive much love from radio, but MTV added the video in late August and played it often the next two months.

August 1989: W.A.S.P. released power ballad "Forever Free" in North America and the UK as the third single from the album "The Headless Children". A favorite track on Harley Davidson Forums, it is supposedly a homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird". Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - August 11, 1989; [UK] Debuted Official Singles chart on September 9, 1989.

August 1980: With their latest album "Back In Black" in stores and selling big, AC/DC were touring the Southern US with shows in Atlanta and Knoxville.

August 11, 1986: Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen played live for the first time since losing his arm at a warm up gig at Katie Reilly's Kitchen in Waterford, Ireland. He would play one more full show in Dublin before Def Leppard's performance at Castle Donington on August 16th.

August 11, 1984: From UK rock magazine Record Mirror, "He also demands Moet and Chandon champagne, an air conditioned cadillac, and the finest hotels." And why not, the Scorpions had made it big with their latest album "Love At First Sting".

August 11, 1999: KISS received their star on the Hollywood RockWalk. The celebration coincided with the new movie "Detroit Rock City", about four teenagers who embark on a wild adventure to attend a sold-out KISS concert. At the time, the band had sold over 80 million records worldwide.