'80s Metal History (August 14th)

August 1981: Originally titled "When The Rain Falls" with different lyrics, Def Leppard released "Let It Go" as the first single from their second studio album "High 'n' Dry". It reached number 34 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Release information source: [UK] Record Mirror - August 22, 1981; [US] Debuted Billboard Mainstream Rock chart on August 22, 1981.

August 14, 1987: Guns N' Roses launched their first North American Tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, opening for The Cult. "We started out as a hardcore band and toured our fucking asses off," Slash recalled.

August 14, 1991: Billed as "The Four Skins", Mötley Crüe played The Marquee Club in London as a warm-up before the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival at Castle Donington three days later.

August 14, 1983: "Heavy Metal Sunday" was a very big deal with Iron Maiden, Fastway and special guest Coney Hatch playing Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio.

August 1892: In Fall River, Massachusetts, Lizzie Andrew Borden was tried and acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother. 95 years later in Southern California, the band Lizzy Borden would bring the terror metal night after night, including two weekend shows at Chuck Landis' Country Club in Reseda.

Pretty Maids album "Jump The Gun" was issued in Europe in April 1990, but for its North American release on August 14th, the band's label Epic decided to change the name to "Lethal Heroes". It was produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - July 20, 1990.

August 1989: After working with (at the time) former Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow, guitarist Guy Mann-Dude released his debut solo album "Sleight Of Hand" in North America (the following month in the UK) featuring songs "On The Verge" and Rolling Stones cover "Paint It Black". Mann-Dude was later a part of hard rock supergroup The Dudes Of Wrath along with Paul Stanley of KISS and Desmond Child, guitarist Vivian Campbell, Whitesnake bassist Rudy Sarzo and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. The band recorded the song "Shocker" for the film of the same name. Release information source: The Hard Report radio trade publication - August 25, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! review - September 9, 1989.

Remembering UFO and Waysted bassist Pete Way, who died today in 2020 at age 69. He also co-founded Fastway, but never recorded with them. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday to former W.A.S.P. [1991-2005] and current Metal Church drummer Stet Howland (August 14, 1960).

August 14, 2015: Iron Maiden released "Speed Of Light" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "The Book of Souls". The music video shows Eddie time-traveling "through the combined 35-year history of video games". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - August 13, 2015.

August 14, 1985: The "Theatre Of Pain" Tour arrived in New York City and the crowd at Madison Square Garden was so psyched to see Mötley Crüe, that during the opening set from Loudness, fireworks were tossed in the crowd. A warning from the venue announcer to stop or the bands would not perform followed.