'80s Metal History (September 25th)

September 25, 1986: Megadeth released their second studio album "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" in North America (October '86 in the UK), the title lifted from an article in Reader's Digest. Featuring singles "Wake Up Dead" and "Peace Sells", the latter was the band's first music video.

Megadeth "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - September 19, 1986; Billboard Magazine front page ad October 4, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! review - October 30, 1986.

September 25, 1990: AC/DC released their 12th studio album "The Razors Edge" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), a huge commercial success that returned the band to the popularity of its glory years thanks to massive rock hit "Thunderstruck".

AC/DC "The Razors Edge" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - September 1, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! review - September 22, 1990.

September 25, 1981: Saxon released their fourth studio album "Denim And Leather" in the UK (November '81 in North America) featuring singles "And The Bands Played On", "Never Surrender" and "Princess Of The Night".

Saxon "Denim And Leather" release date source: [UK] Record Mirror - September 12, 1981; [US] FMQB radio trade magazine ad - November 27, 1981; Billboard Magazine ad - November 28, 1981.

Late September 1988: Helloween released their third studio album "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II" in North America (Late August '88 in the UK) featuring singles "Dr. Stein" and "I Want Out", the latter one of their best-known songs. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight 'four weeks on the chart' - October 21, 1988.

September 25, 1985: Ahead of appearances at Camden Palace to record a set for the 'Live In London' series, plus a show at the Marquee, Warlock released the title track from their album "Hellbound" as a single in the UK. Kerrang! ad - September 19, 1985

September 1984: Formed in Hartford, Connecticut two years earlier, progressive metal band Fates Warning released their debut album "Night On Bröcken", the title a reference to a mountain in Germany traditionally associated with witches. Release information source: [US] CMJ New Music Report 'Hard Rock' spotlight - October 29, 1984; Kerrang! - January 10, 1985.

Featuring guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen and singer Ron Keel, L.A.'s Steeler released their only album in 1983 as the band broke up soon after. Most websites and social media, as well as Ron Keel himself, have September 25, 1983 as the release date. In fact, Ron replied to my inquiry questioning this date in 2023... "I was there. Recording didn't even commence until April. (the April 11 SF/Old Waldorf show occured during the session). The lineup in that flyer had splintered by the time the album came out on September 25th. My timeline is correct. Fuck "most evidence," trust the truth." ... Okay, that is straight from the singer's mouth. However, there are still two important pieces of infomation that don't square this date. The first is September 25, 1983 was a Sunday and nothing was ever released on a Sunday. Number two is a flyer for a Steeler show in Pasadena, California on July 30, 1983 which notes, "The first ten people in line with Steeler T-shirts on receive autographed copy of new steeler album." (Additional release date sources: Band flyer from June 3, 1983 "Debut Album On Shrapnel Records In June" and the UK's Kerrang! Magazine, April '83 "Album due out on Shrapnel Records in the Spring).

Happy Birthday to guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal [Guns N' Roses, Lita Ford] (September 25, 1969).

September 25, 1977: With Ronnie James Dio, Rainbow launched the "On Stage" Tour in Stockholm. Originally planned to start two days earlier in Helsinki, that show was canceled after the truck carrying the band's equipment was stopped by customs multiple times for a drug search on the trip from England to Finland.

September 25, 1976: This ad for Judas Priest's second studio album "Sad Wings Of Destiny" featuring "Victim Of Changes" and "The Ripper", appeared in a radio trade magazine in the US. The LP was released in the UK in March and North America in June '76.

September 1983: The latest issue of Hit Parader Magazine featured "Heavy Metal Championship - Def Leppard Vs. Iron Maiden" because you couldn't listen to both 🤦‍♂️ Inside the mag, under the glitz, was a little blurb on up and coming Canadian thrashers Exciter... "With song titles like 'Stand Up And Fight' and 'Cry Of The Banshee', Exciter is certain to loosen fillings and turn unsuspecting brains into puddles of guava jam."