'80s Metal History (August 31st)

August 31, 1985: Scorpions, RATT, Y&T, Metallica, Rising Force featuring Yngwie Malmsteen and Victory performed at "Day On The Green" in Oakland, California. Some of the video shot was later shown on MTV.

Happy Birthday to Scorpions founder and guitarist Rudolph Schenker (August 31, 1948).

Late August 1981: Triumph released their fifth studio album "Allied Forces" in North America featuring singles "Fight The Good Fight" and the title track. Their most successful LP, it reached the US Top 25 and their live shows were a huge draw in North America.

Triumph "Allied Forces" release information source: [US] Record World "due for release this month" - August 28, 1981; FMQB radio trade publication "#3 Most Added" ad - August 28, 1981; Billboard Magazine ad - September 5, 1981.

August 31, 1982: Ronnie James Dio performed his first last show with Black Sabbath as the "Mob Rules" Tour concluded in Chicago. The first album with his new band DIO "Holy Diver" would be released less than a year later.

August 31, 1991: Skid Row were in London opening for Guns N' Roses at Wembley Stadium, which would turn out to be their last time playing that venue as the band was banned from the Wembley complex after Sebastian Bach "defied a swearing ban some 40 times, bassist Rachel Bolan dived into the crowd, and drummer Rob Affuso reputedly lowered his flies!" -Kerrang. The scheduled November show was moved to London Docklands Arena. On September 2nd, the title track from their latest album, "Slave To The Grind", was released as the second single in the UK.

For Guns N' Roses, their Wembley appearance would turn out to be the last for guitarist Izzy Stradlin as an official member of the band.

Happy Birthday to guitarist David Chastain [CJSS, Chastain] (August 31, 1963).

August 31, 1999: Megadeth released their eighth studio album "Risk", their last with guitarist Marty Friedman and first with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Ozzy, Y&T). Dave Mustaine has said if "anybody else's name was on 'Risk', it would have sold". Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - August 23, 1999.

August 1986: Atlanta thrash metal band Hallows Eve released their second studio album "“Death & Insanity" featuring "Lethal Tendencies" and the title track.

Late August 1990: UK thrashers Xentrix released their second studio album "For Whose Advantage?" in the UK (September 11, 1990 in North America) featuring the title track issued as a single and filmed as the band's first music video. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 1, 1990; [US] CMJ New Music Report - August 31, 1990.

August 1993: Blue Murder, featuring John Sykes on guitar and vocals, released their second and final album "Nothin' But Trouble". After their 1989 debut, progress was slow on completing a follow up as Sykes was deeply affected by that record's disappointing sales.

Happy Birthday to Winger and Whitesnake guitarist Reb Beach (August 31, 1963).

August 31, 1988: Slayer brought the "South Of Heaven" Tour to New York City with support from Danzig for a show at The Felt Forum, opening with the title track from the new album followed by "Raining Blood" 🤘

August 31, 1986: The "Monsters Of Rock" Festival traveled to Mannheim, West Germany with headliner Scorpions, preceded by Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, McAuley Schenker Group, Bon Jovi and Warlock.

Happy Birthday to drummer Gene Hoglan [Dark Angel, Testament, Forbidden] (August 31, 1967)

August 31, 1980: After drummer Bill Ward quit Black Sabbath, the band was forced to cancel six US West coast dates and when they resumed in Hawaii at the "Honolulu Summer Blowout", Vinny Appice was behind the kit for his first show.