'80s Metal History (October 12th)

October 12, 1979: Only seven months after their breakthrough "Overkill" was issued, Motörhead released their third studio album "Bomber" in the UK, featuring the title track and "Stone Dead Forever", plus one song, "Step Down", with guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke on vocals... "[Clarke] had been bitching that I was getting all the limelight, but he wouldn't do anything about it. I got sick of him complaining, so I said, 'Right, you're gonna fucking sing one on this album'...he hated it, but really, he was a good singer, Eddie." -Lemmy Kilmister

Motörhead "Overkill" release information source: [UK] Record Mirror - September 15, 1979; Music Week ad - October 13, 1979; Debuted UK Official album chart on October 27, 1979.

October 1983: With Mötley Crüe's "Shout At The Devil" album in stores, American rock radio stations were kicking the tires on single "Looks That Kill" and MTV would add the music video to its rotation by the end of the month.

October 1982: Michael Schenker Group released their third studio album "Assault Attack" in the UK (March '83 in North America), with former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet and produced by Martin Birch, who had just finished Iron Maiden's "The Number Of The Beast". Release information source: [UK] Record Mirror ad - October 16, 1982.

October 12, 1986: Two days earlier Motörhead launched the North American leg of the "Orgasmatron" Tour in Oakland and were now in Southern California with support from Megadeth, who would follow them for shows in Portland and Seattle. Motörhead's show featured a snarling, steam-breathing, full-size locomotive onstage, identical to the one on the cover of the "Orgasmatron" album.

Happy Birthday to Tesla singer Jeff Keith (October 12, 1958).

Happy Birthday to Armored Saint drummer Gonzo Sandoval (October 12, 1963).

October 12, 1991: Six years earlier they were opening for Scorpions, RATT and even Y&T, but now Metallica were headlining "Day On The Green" in Oakland, California with Queensrÿche, Faith No More and Soundgarden.

October 1992: Megadeth released "Skin O' My Teeth" as a single in the UK from the "Countdown To Extinction" album. The B-side is a remix of "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due (General Schwarzkopf Mix)" produced around the time of the Gulf War in 1990. Release information source: Debuted UK Official singles chart on October 24, 1992.

October 12, 2009: W.A.S.P. released their 14th studio album "Babylon" (inspired by biblical visions of "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse") in North America, featuring singles "Crazy" and "Thunder Red". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - September 14, 2009.

October 1987: Three months after the release of their latest album "Love Is For Suckers", singer Dee Snider left, the record label canceled its contract, and Twisted Sister disbanded. We would learn about it in January 1988. -Kerrang!