'80s Metal History (August 25th)

Happy Birthday to Judas Priest singer Rob Halford (August 25, 1951).

Happy Birthday to KISS bassist Gene Simmons (August 25, 1949).

Happy Birthday to former DIO and current Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell (August 25, 1962).

August 25, 1986: Vinnie Vincent Invasion released their debut album in North America (August 22nd in the UK) with singer Robert Fleischman, who left the band prior to filming of the music video for "Boyz Are Gonna Rock". New singer Mark Slaughter lip-synched the vocals. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - August 8, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! ad - August 21, 1986.

August 25, 1986: Warlock released their third studio album "True As Steel" in the UK (October '86 in North America) featuring single "Fight For Rock". 10 days earlier, Doro Pesch became the first woman to front a band at the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival. Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - August 25, 1985; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - October 24, 1986.

August 25, 1984: DIO brought "The Last In Line" Tour to Philadelphia where the show was recorded and later released on home video as "A Special From The Spectrum". Twisted Sister opened.

August 1980: North American rock radio stations began playing AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" as the first single from the album "Back In Black". The track was offically released in the UK on September 5th that year. There have been claims made that some of the lyrics were written by Bon Scott... "She told me to come but I was already there". Release information source: [US] Billboard Hot 100 debut - September 6, 1980; [UK] Record Mirror review - September 6, 1980.

August 25, 1978: Motörhead released their first single for Bronze Records, a rough-edged cover of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie". The song hit the UK Official singles chart in mid-September and on October 25th, the band mimed their way through a pre-recording on the popular BBC television show "Top Of The Pops". Release date source: Music Week ad - August 26, 1978.

August 25, 1983: A "British Metal Onslaught!" arrived in New York for a show at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island... The "World Piece" Tour featured Iron Maiden, Fastway and Coney Hatch. With the "Piece Of Mind" album, Iron Maiden reached gold in sales for the first time in the US and were presented with gold records after the New York show. Cashbox Magazine - September 17, 1983

August 1983: The EP "Quiet Riot – Live Riot" was issued in Japan with four songs recorded June 4, 1983 in Nashville, Tennessee on the "Metal Health" Tour including "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" and "Slick Black Cadillac".

August 25, 1992: Warrant released their third studio album "Dog Eat Dog", the last with all five original members and featuring aggressive single "Machine Gun". Release date source: Billboard Magazine - August 1, 1992.

August 25, 1984: One week after playing Castle Donington in the UK, the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival played Råsunda Stadion in Stockholm. It was Van Halen's first and only appearance in Sweden with the classic lineup. AC/DC and Mötley Crüe also performed. DIO, Ozzy Osbourne and Accept were on the poster, but DIO was in Philadelphia that night, Ozzy was a no-show and Accept played a gig in France.

August 25, 1983: "SOMETHING'S HAPPENING in Washington State!... A monster of a band..." was getting attention across the pond in the UK and Queensrÿche would sign a major label record deal as Kerrang! was going to press.