'80s Metal History (August 6th)

August 6, 1984: Iron Maiden released "2 Minutes To Midnight" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Powerslave" in the UK (Late-August '84 in North America). The protest song about nuclear war reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. "We wrote it in about 20 minutes." -Adrian Smith. Release date source: [UK] Record Mirror - August 4, 1984; Kerrang! ad - August 9, 1984 [US] R&R radio trade publication 'Most Added' - August 31, 1984.

Early August 1984: Originally titled "I'm Not What I Seem", Mercyful Fate released their second studio album "Don't Break The Oath" in the UK (one month later in North America) featuring single "A Dangerous Meeting". Despite winning a cult following worldwide, the band broke up in early 1985 due to musical differences. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - June 28, 1984; Music Week ad - August 18, 1984; Kerrang! ad - August 23, 1984; [US] Blabbermouth.net - September 5, 2024.

Happy Birthday to Vinnie Vincent Invasion and former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent (August 6, 1952).

August 6, 1988: With the album's third single "Sweet Child O' Mine" on its way to No. 1 on the Hot 100 singles chart, Guns N' Roses "Appetite For Destruction" hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart more than a year after its release.

August 6, 1971: Black Sabbath released their third studio album "Master Of Reality" in the UK (Mid-August in North America). The critics weren't fans, but who cares about them, real fans made it a Top 5 record in the UK and Top 10 in the US. Release date source: [UK] Disc Magazine - July 1971; [US] Billboard Magazine 'Shipped Aug. 15th' - August 21, 1971.

August 1987: Formed three years earlier in the birthplace of Black Sabbath, doom thrashers Sacrilege, released their second studio album "Within The Prophecy". Release information source: Kerrang! review - August 20, 1987.

August 6, 1991: Floridian metal band Crimson Glory released their third studio album "Strange And Beautiful" in North America, a stylistic departure from the progressive metal of their previous albums to a more bluesy, hard rock sound. The LP did not include longtime members, guitarist Ben Jackson and drummer Dana Burnell, and it was also the last to feature vocalist Midnight. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - August 2, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - July 20, 1991.

August 6, 1984: After peaking at No. 7 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart two days earlier, "Out Of The Cellar", the debut album from RATT, featuring singles "Round And Round" and "Back For More", was certified platinum in the US. It was last certified triple platinum in 1991.

August 1985: Pasadena power metal band Tyrant released their debut album "Legions Of The Dead" featuring the song "Listen To The Preacher".

Hair band hysterics: The Guns N' Roses/Mötley Crüe feud was featured in the August 1991 issue of Kerrang! Axl Rose had been verbally abusing Crüe and other bands and Vince Neil punched GnR guitarist Izzy Stradlin at the 1990 MTV Awards. Adding his two cents, in a shameless publicity stunt, Alice Cooper offered to fight the winner... "I'm a lean, mean fighting machine, and I'll take the winner. But I won't do it for less than $20 million!" 🙃

August 6, 1983: Iron Maiden backstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin, during the "World Piece Tour".