'80s Metal History (October 15th)

October 15, 1983: As their first music video hit MTV, this photo appeared in Billboard Magazine of Queensrÿche filming "Queen Of The Reich". The EMI America re-release of the band's self-titled debut EP was well-received worldwide.

AC/DC had made it big worldwide, but not all of their early material had made it to North America, so the song "Jailbreak" followed by the EP "'74 Jailbreak" with four additional tracks originally recorded in 1976, was issued the week of October 15, 1984. Release date source: FMQB radio trade publication - October 12, 1984.

October 1985: Formed five years earlier from the ashes of punk band "The Lubricunts" and named after Motörhead's second LP, New Jersey metal band Overkill released their debut album "Feel The Fire" (working title "First Blood") on Megaforce Records.

Overkill "Feel the Fire" release information sources: Ad for final show before going into studio - July 28, 1985; Ad for new tour, album promo - October 1, 1985.

Further developing their very heavy progressive metal sound with haunting lyrics and melodies, Metal Blade issued the second studio album from Connecticut-based Fates Warning in North America titled "The Spectre Within", featuring "The Apparition" and "Orphan Gypsy", in the fall of 1985.

October 15, 1983: After Yngwie Malmsteen left Steeler, he joined up with former Rainbow singer Graham Bonnet to form Alcatrazz and they released their debut album "No Parole From Rock 'n' Roll" in North America (January '84 in the UK). Release date source: [US] Kerrang! - October 6, 1983.

October 15, 1982: In the UK, Judas Priest released "(Take These) Chains" as the second single from the album "Screaming For Vengeance" which included on the B side, "The Judas Priest Audio File; A Musical Biography" a summary of the band's history up to that point. Release information source: Kerrang! review - November 4, 1982.

October 15, 1987: Mötley Crüe were working the West Coast USA on the "Girls, Girls, Girls" Tour and stopped in Tacoma, Washington, the show notable for having pro-shot video footage that wasn't released until 2017.

October 1996: Abandoning fantasy-themed songs and focusing on modern issues, DIO released their seventh studio album "Angry Machines" with guitarist Tracy G and former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson. It was their last LP with original drummer Vinny Appice.

October 15, 1982: Recorded a year earlier and meant as a demo, Diamond Head released their second album and first for a major label, "Borrowed Time" in the UK. The band "seemed to be getting somewhere after six years of building." -Guitarist Brian Tatler. Release date source: Record Mirror - October 16, 1982.

October 1987: Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani released his second studio album and most successful to date, "Surfing With The Alien", featuring the title track and "Satch Boogie".

October 15, 1991: Savatage released their sixth studio album "Streets: A Rock Opera" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), their last with Jon Oliva as lead vocalist. The concept album centered around a fallen rock star called DT Jesus (DT is short for De-Tox or Down-Town), took almost a year to record. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - October 11, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - September 21, 1991.

October 1985: Metal Blade issued "Raging Violence", the debut album from SoCal thrashers Hirax with logo created by Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost).

October 15, 1983: Mötley Crüe's second studio album "Shout At The Devil" debuted at No. 157 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. Fueled by singles "Looks That Kill", "Helter Skelter" and "Too Young To Fall In Love", plus the title track, the LP peaked at No. 17 in late March 1984 and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

October 15, 1983: "Lick It Up", the 11th studio album from KISS, debuted at No. 121 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape Chart. It would rise to No. 24 a month later on the strength of singles the title track and "All Hell's Breakin' Loose".

October 1993: For the compilation "First Blood Last Cuts" due in the UK at the end of the month, W.A.S.P. recorded two new songs, "Rock And Roll To Death" and "Sunset And Babylon", the latter issued as a single with music video a flashback to the band's '80s output... "It''s the land of the twenty four hour party And my fist firmly wrapped around a fifth of Bacardi On the Sunset Strip''s where the orphans play tonight." -Kerrang!

October 1987: The latest from Tesla and Whitesnake were on sale at Sam Goody and Musicland stores.