'80s Metal History (September 10th)

September 10, 1991: Tesla released their third studio album "Psychotic Supper" in North America (September 16th in the UK) featuring singles "Edison's Medicine", "Call It What You Want", "What You Give" and Steve Clark tribute "Song & Emotion" that made it a Top 15 LP in the US. Cover Image 1 (US) Cover Image 2 (UK)

Tesla "Psychotic Supper" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - September 7, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - August 10, 1991.

September 10, 1981: Iron Maiden performed their final concert with singer Paul Di’Anno in Copenhagen. Di’Anno was later dismissed due to his unreliability and replaced by Bruce Dickinson less than two weeks later.

September 10, 1990: Ahead of the release of their new album "The Razors Edge", AC/DC released "Thunderstruck" as the lead single in the UK, Europe and Australia (one week later in North America). It reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Release date source: Kerrang! - September 8, 1990.

September 10, 1990: Iron Maiden released "Holy Smoke" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "No Prayer For The Dying" in the UK, their first single to feature guitarist Janick Gers, who joined the band a few months earlier. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - September 8, 1990.

September 10, 1990: Six days after it was issued in North America, Queensrÿche's fourth studio album "Empire" was released in the UK. Kerrang! referred to the band as a Seattle-based Techno-Metal quintet... 🤦‍♂️

September 1975: KISS released "Alive" in North America (June '76 in the UK) and the weak sound of their early studio tracks finally got their due... "I never thought any of our first three albums captured the intensity of what the band was going for or was." -Paul Stanley. Release information source: [US] Cashbox Magazine review - October 4, 1975; Billboard Magazine review + Top LPs & Tapes chart debut - October 11, 1975; Billboard ad - October 18, 1975; [UK] Debuted Official album chart on June 26, 1976.

September 10, 1983: On the strength of single "Say What You Will", the self-titled debut album from Fastway peaked at No. 31 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, a little higher than their home country where it reached No. 43 on the UK Official album chart.

September 10, 1984: Originally called Depth Charge, San Francisco thrash metal band Lääz Rockit (pronounced Laws Rocket) released their debut album "City's Gonna Burn" featuring singles the title track and "Caught In The Act". Release date source: Target Entertainment Group record label note to American rock radio.

September 10, 1991: Nuclear Assault released their fourth studio album "Out Of Order" in North America (September 16th in the UK), their last to feature founder and bassist Danny Lilker. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - August 23, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 21, 1991.

Released in 2002 to fulfill the band's contract with Sanctuary Records, "Still, Alive... And Well?" is a Megadeth compilation album featuring live tracks from "Rude Awakening" along with several studio songs from "The World Needs A Hero". The LP's name is a quote from Dave Mustaine's answer to an interviewer's question: "What do you want written on your tombstone?" After suffering an injury that caused severe nerve damage to his left arm and hand, Dave Mustaine had disbanded Megadeth, seemingly indefinitely at the time. Recovery took about a year and included physical and electroshock therapy. The band reformed in 2004.