'80s Metal History (September 26th)

September 26, 1983: Mötley Crüe released their second studio album "Shout At The Devil" in North America (October 7th in the UK), a breakthrough success that sold 200,000 copies in its first two weeks. The pentagram cover drew attention and "Looks That Kill" and the title track kept it. A demo tape for the album recorded almost a year earlier included the title track and "Too Young To Fall In Love", but also three songs that didn't make the cut... "Run For Your Life", "I Will Survive" and "Black Widow".

Mötley Crüe "Shout At The Devil" release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - September 26, 1983; [UK] Music Week 'New Albums' - October 1, 1983.

September 26, 1986: Originally titled "A Fine Mess" but changed when a movie opened that year with the same title, RATT released their third studio album "Dancing Undercover" in North America (October 10th in the UK), featuring singles "Dance", "Body Talk" and "Slip Of The Lip", that put the LP in the Top 30 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.

RATT "Dancing Undercover" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine "Hot Album Releases" - September 6, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! - October 16, 1986; [Note] There is some evidence the US release was delayed until early October, possibly because of a music industry divide over audiocassette packaging... The record labels wanted tapes in a 4-by-12-inch cassette box, while record stores feared losing precious shelf space.

September 26, 1981: After months of speculation, Iron Maiden formally parted ways with singer Paul Di'Anno and announced his replacement, Bruce 'Neanderthal' Bruce Dickinson of fellow NWOBHM band Samson.

September 26, 1986: Metallica played Stockholm with James Hetfield back on guitar after breaking his arm. This would also be the last show with bassist Cliff Burton, who was killed in a tour bus accident while traveling to the band's next show in Copenhagen.

September 26, 1982: With Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge, Ozzy Osbourne performed the first of two shows at The Ritz in New York City, later released as "Speak (or Talk) Of The Devil".

September 26, 1984: Armored Saint released their debut album "March Of The Saint" in North America (January 1985 in the UK) featuring single and MTV music video "Can U Deliver". The band wasn't happy with the work of producer Michael James Jackson (KISS) and claim to still be in debt.

Armored Saint "March Of The Saint" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - September 14, 1984; [UK] Kerrang! ad - January 24, 1985.

Happy Birthday to guitarist Al Pitrelli [Alice Cooper 89-91 and many more acts] (September 26, 1962).

September 26, 1989: Over a year after the release of their debut album, "Highly approved bonk rockers" BulletBoys concluded their first tour of the UK with a show at London's Marquee Club before heading off to Germany. -Kerrang!

September 26, 1990: Danzig with special guest Trouble played the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Las Vegas. The venue stopped allowing metal shows several years later because it kept getting trashed.

September 26, 1990: Whitesnake concluded the "Liquor & Poker" World Tour at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, with "Still Of The Night" the last song played before David Coverdale put the band on hold, largely due to exhaustion and being in the middle of divorce proceedings with Tawny Kitaen. Coverdale resurfaced in 1993, when he and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page released an album together.

October 2, 1982: "Screaming (for Vengeance)" across the North American Midwest, Judas Priest played Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan with special guest Iron Maiden.

September 26, 1980: Tygers of Pan Tang released "Euthanasia" as the second single from their debut album "Wild Cat" in the UK. The following week the band would play the first of two nights at London's Marquee Club. Release date source: Melody Maker - September 13, 1980.

Nikki Sixx was exploring Satanism at the time, and wanted to call the song (and the album) "Shout With The Devil". Tom Zutaut, who signed the band to Elektra Records, was having a hard enough time getting the label to promote the band, and he knew the title would make it an even harder sell, but Sixx was determined to go with the devil theme, telling Zutaut: "It just looks cool. It's meaningless symbols and shit. I'm just doing it to piss people off. It's not like I worship Satan or something." (from the band's biography "The Dirt")