'80s Metal History (October 10th)

Ahead of the release of Ozzy Osbourne's new album "Diary Of A Madman", the lead single "Flying High Again" was just issued to UK record shops (official release date 9 October 1981). Written about marijuana use or inspired by Ozzy's successful re-emergence as a solo artist? Could be both 🦇 💨 Release information source: [UK] Music Week - October 17, 1981; [US] FMQB radio trade publication ad - October 23, 1981.

Happy Birthday to Van Halen singer David Lee Roth (October 10, 1954).

October 10, 1988: Filmed on the "Among The Living" Tour at London's Hammersmith Odeon in November 1987, Anthrax released "Oidivnikufesin N.F.V." on home video, "The Most Exciting Thrash Metal Video Ever Made".

October 10, 1985: Saxon brought the "Live Innocence" Tour to Böblingen, Germany with opener Pretty Maids. Supporting the album "Innocence Is No Excuse", the band played 87 shows in 15 countries.

Savatage "destroyed" the L'Amour East in Brooklyn the weekend of October 10, 1986 before heading off to Europe for round 3 of their overseas campaign, including Germany with Motörhead.

October 10, 1988: Helloween launched the "Pumpkin's Fly Free" Tour in Kiel, Germany with 13 more shows to follow in their home country, plus seven in the UK and nine in Japan.

October 1988: Hades released their second studio album "If At First You Don't Succeed" featuring single "Opinionate". Formed in New Jersey in 1978, Hades opened for Twisted Sister in 1982 and appeared on Metal Blade and Megaforce compilations. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - October 1, 1988; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - October 21, 1988.

Influenced by Iron Maiden and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Brazilian metal band Viper released their second studio album "Theatre Of Fate" featuring "Living For The Night" and "A Cry From The Edge" in 1989.

October 10, 1986: Released in North America in late September, RATT's third studio album "Dancing Undercover" was now available in the UK... "This record is nasty, sleazy, Ratt 'n' Roll. It's music to f**k by!" -Robbin Crosby as told to Kerrang! - October 16, 1986

In 1983, K-Tel released "Heavy" and "Heavy 2" in Australia and New Zealand that featured '80s metallers Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Scorpions and Motörhead, but also confusingly, Free's "All Right Now" and Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" 🤦‍♂️

October 10, 2025: Testament released their 14th studio album "Para Bellum" featuring singles "Infanticide A.I." and "Shadow People". Taken from the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum—“If you want peace, prepare for war”—the album stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity's uneasy alliance with its own creations.