'80s Metal History (September 3rd)

September 3, 1984: Iron Maiden released their fifth studio album "Powerslave" in the UK (September 14th in North America) featuring singles "2 Minutes To Midnight" and "Aces High", plus the epic "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and their last recorded instrumental "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)".

Iron Maiden "Powerslave" release date source: [UK] Music Week - August 18, 1984; [US] Billboard Magazine - September 1, 1984.

Getting close, but we had to wait a little longer for the new Judas Priest album "Painkiller". Check the ad from the September 1, 1990 issue of Billboard Magazine for the release date... "In Store September 18". However, in the UK, the title track was available as a single. Guitarist Glenn Tipton has stated the solo is his favourite to play. It was nominated for a US '91 Grammy Award.

September 3, 1980: Billed as "The Law", Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake and Lindsey Bridgewater played a secret warm-up gig in Blackpool, England. It was Ozzy's first solo show since leaving Black Sabbath.

September 3, 1983: Metallica and Raven concluded the "Kill 'Em All For One Tour" in San Francisco. Megaforce founder Jonny Z called the trek "historic" and as a result, "Raven have now extended their stay and are currently hiking around the East Coast with new Megaforce signing Anthrax acting as support." -Kerrang!

September 3, 1991: Megaforce and Atlantic records issued Overkill's fifth studio album "Horrorscope" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), their first to feature two guitarists, Merritt Gant and Rob Cannavino, who replaced longtime guitarist and songwriter Bobby Gustafson. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - August 23, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! review - August 31, 1991.

September 3, 1988: Helloween's new album "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II" was in record shops in Europe and the band featured on the cover of Kerrang! as the first single "Dr. Stein" debuted on the UK Singles Chart. The track about Frankenstein features an organ solo.

September 1984: Just seven months after the release of their previous album "Hail To England", Manowar issued single "All Men Play On 10" in the UK from their forthcoming album "Sign Of The Hammer". Release information source: Music Week ad - September 1, 1984; Kerrang! - September 6, 1984

September 1984: From Jonquière, Quebec, Canadian metal band Voivod released their debut album "War And Pain". The original cassette featured the track "Condemned To The Gallows" that was firt recorded for the Metal Blade compilation album "Metal Massacre V". A music video was made for the title track.

September 3, 2021: Iron Maiden released their 17th studio album "Senjutsu" in North America featuring singles "The Writing On The Wall", "Stratego" and "Days Of Future Past". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - July 19, 2021.

September 3, 1987: Mötley Crüe with special guest Whitesnake brought the "Girls, Girls, Girls" Tour to the Civic Center in Huntington, West Virginia. Crüe had just been hit with a lawsuit by a woman claiming to have suffered “severe hearing dysfunction and mental anguish” after attending a Mötley Crüe concert with her daughter in St. Petersburg, Florida almost two years earlier. The band's insurance company eventually paid the woman $30,000.

September 3, 1984: In the US, Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer and RATT, Twisted Sister, Y&T and Mama's Boys made it tough to say goodbye with a blowout show at Roberts Municipal Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.

September 3, 1992: Ozzy Osbourne brought the "No More Tours" Tour to the Meadowlands in New Jersey with support from Motörhead. Later that month, Ozzy was featured in The New York Times with headline that read "AT TEA WITH: Ozzy Osbourne; Family Man. Fights Fat, Is Good With Kids"

September 3, 1987: W.A.S.P. were close to releasing their first live album "Live...In The Raw" and that got Blackie Lawless the cover of Kerrang!