'80s Metal History (September 19th)

September 19, 1985: Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, along with John Denver and Frank Zappa testified at a US Senate hearing to defend musicians against proposed censorship by the PMRC. Soon after warning labels were placed on albums with explicit lyrics.

September 19, 1984: W.A.S.P. were on the rise with their debut album, well-received in Europe, and ready to launch their first tour across the pond in Dublin, but the band was banned in Ireland so they started in Newcastle two days later.

September 19, 1990: Billed as the Holy Smokers, Iron Maiden launched the "No Prayer On The Road" Tour with a secret show in Milton Keynes, England, the band's first tour with guitarist Janick Gers who replaced Adrian Smith.

Late September 1986: RATT released "Dance" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Dancing Undercover", with a reluctant to perform band in the music video that played often on MTV in the US, but not until December that year as the video wasn't shot until well after the album was out. The song was also used in a Miami Vice episode... "Thrash disco by L.A.'s popular party-metal quintet." -Billboard Magazine. Release information source: [US] R&R radio trade publication ad - September 26, 1986.

Happy Birthday to guitarist and singer Lita Ford (September 19, 1958).

Happy Birthday to Prong guitarist and singer Tommy Victor (September 19, 1966).

Remembering drummer Lee Kerslake [Ozzy Osbourne, Uriah Heep], who died September 19, 2020 at age 73. He wasn't credited, but Lee played drums on Ozzy's first two albums.

September 19, 1985: On the road in the US most of the year, Megadeth brought the "Killing For A Living" Tour back to Chuck Landis' Country Club in Reseda, California. After a short break, the band would startup again at the Ritz in New York City.

September 19, 1985: Accept concluded the "Metal Heart" Tour in Nagoya, Japan. The show was recorded and released in December that year as a six-track live mini-album titled "Kaizoku-Ban" (which roughly translated is Japanese for "Bootleg").

September 18, 1974: Their debut album "Rocka Rolla" was released two weeks earlier and Judas Priest were now touring the UK, peforming at London's Marquee Club for the first time. With Bob Halford on vocals and harmonica, the band had just completed their first international tour with dates in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. One show at Hotel Klubben in Tønsberg, Norway, scored the band a somewhat negative review in the local press.