'80s Metal History (August 21st)

August 21, 1990: Anthrax released their fifth studio album "Persistence Of Time" in North America (one day earlier in the UK) featuring singles "Got The Time" (Joe Jackson cover) and "In My World". The LP was nominated a year later for a Grammy Award in the "Best Metal Performance" category.

Anthrax "Persistence Of Time" release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - August 17, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! - August 11, 1990.

August 21, 1983: With new singer Ian Gillan, Black Sabbath brought the "Born Again" Tour to Helsinki. The band "were on flight 666... even the baggage label said 'HEL'... we were all shitting ourselves getting on that plane." -Geezer Butler

Somehow over time, the actual release date went from August 12 to 21... hmmm. August 21, 1977 was a Sunday and August 12th was a Friday. Here is an ad showing the release date for Motörhead's debut album as August 12, 1977 😎🤘

Remembering Metal Church singer [1988-94, 2015-21] Mike Howe, who would have celebrated a birthday today. Mike died in 2021. R.I.P.

August 21, 1990: Featuring former Metal Church singer David Wayne, Reverend released their debut album "World Won't Miss You" in North America. The record was dedicated to Armored Saint guitarist Dave Prichard who had passed away in February that year. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - August 17, 1990.

August 21, 1990: Bay Area thrashers Vio-Lence released their second studio album "Oppressing The Masses" in North America featuring single "World In A World". The original print of the LP contained the song "Torture Tactics", but all copies were destroyed because of Atlantic Records' objection to the lyrical content. However, the song can be found on the Japanese version of the album. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - August 17, 1990.

August 21, 1990: After replacing long-time producer Beau Hill with Desmond Child, RATT released their fifth studio album "Detonator" in North America (one week later in the UK) featuring Top 20 US rock hit "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job" and power ballad, "Givin' Yourself Away". Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - August 4, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 1, 1990.

August 21, 1989: Accept released their eighth studio album "Eat The Heat" in the UK (May 29th in North America), their only LP with David Reece on vocals and until 2010, the only Accept album without singer Udo Dirkschneider. U.D.O. covered the song "X-T-C" on 2001's "A Tribute to Accept II". Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - August 19, 1989; [US] CMJ New Music Report - May 5, 1989.

Happy Birthday to former Deep Purple and Black Sabbath ["Seventh Star" LP] singer Glenn Hughes (August 21, 1951).

August 21, 1982: Scorpions last three albums were killer! Billboard Magazine advertisement

August 21, 1981: Ozzy Osbourne and the "Blizzard Of Ozz" Tour was rolling through the Midwestern US and stopped in Evansville, Indiana for a show at Mesker Music Theater.

August 21, 1980: Black Sabbath canceled their concert in Denver at the last minute after drummer Bill Ward quit the band. Opener Blue Oyster Cult played an extended set. Ward's replacement, Vinny Appice, performed his first show with Sabbath on August 31st that year in Hawaii.