'80s Metal History (October 21st)

October 21, 1985: Anthrax released their second studio album and major label debut "Spreading The Disease" in North America (March '86 in the UK), their first with singer Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. A music video was made for "Madhouse", the only single issued, but it didn't receive much airplay on MTV because the channel deemed the content degrading to the mentally insane.

Anthrax "Spreading The Disease" release information source: [US] Kerrang! - October 17, 1985; [UK] Kerrang! - February 20, 1986.

October 21, 1983: DIO released "Rainbow In The Dark" as the second single from their debut album "Holy Diver" in the UK (August 1983 in North America). The music video with Ronnie James Dio singing from a rooftop is set in Central London. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - October 20, 1983.

Remembering former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno who died October 21, 2024. R.I.P.

October 1983: Kerrang! reported Ozzy Osbourne "will be starring in 'The Evil Dead II'." That didn't happen, but the "Bark At The Moon" album arrived a month later, so maybe this is the makeup job for the cover and video? 🤔

October 21, 1984: Iron Maiden brought the "World Slavery" Tour to Paris with support from an on the rise Mötley Crüe. Featuring a 30-foot mummified Eddie, Steve Harris has said it is "probably the best stage show we ever did."

October 1991: Over a year after its release, Slayer's fifth studio album "Seasons In The Abyss" was still going strong in the UK with the title track released as a single ahead of the start of the band's tour there in November that year. Kerrang! ad - October 19, 1991

October 1991: Originally titled "The Eleventh Honor", Fates Warning released their sixth studio album "Parallels" featuring "Eye To Eye" and "Point of View".

Fates Warning "Parallels" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - October 19, 1991; [US] CMJ New Music Report ads - October 25, 1991.

October 1991: After a promising run in the late '80s, Bay Area thrashers Death Angel were in disarray after being dropped by their label Geffen and opted to change their name to "The Organization" (Kerrang!). "Death Angel" returned in 2001.

October 21, 1983: Just eight months after the release of their debut album, English all-female heavy metal band Rock Goddess issued the follow up "Hell Hath No Fury" in the UK (March '84 in North America). Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - October 20, 1983; Kerrang! spotlight - November 3, 1983; [US] CMJ New Music Report - February 27, 1984.

Happy Birthday to former Keel bassist [1984-89] Kenny Chaisson (October 21, 1963).

Remembering Celtic Frost bassist Martin Eric Ain, who died October 21, 2017. R.I.P.

October 21, 2022: Stryper released their 19th studio album "The Final Battle" in North America featuring singles "Rise To The Call" and "Transgressor". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - October 7, 2022.

October 21, 1979: AC/DC played the final date of the US leg of the "Highway To Hell" Tour in Columbus, Ohio. This was Bon Scott’s last performance in America.

October 21, 1989: With new singer Tony Martin and Cozy Powell on drums, Black Sabbath performed in Nagoya, the last of five dates in Japan. Sabbath had planned to play Australia next, but that never happened, and the band went on to play 20 shows in the Russian Federation.

October 21, 1983: Launched a week earlier in Portugal, KISS brought the "Lick It Up" Tour to the UK, their first without makeup (Kerrang!).

October 21, 1987: Mötley Crüe brought "Girls, Girls, Girls" and apparently violence to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as the local newspaper warned there would be, because you know, hard rock/heavy metal would corrupt us all 🤦‍♂️

October 21, 1982: "Can this man get Lizzy Syke-d up?" screamed the headline in Kerrang! New Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes had just left the Tygers Of Pan Tang six months earlier and was courted by Sharon Arden to join Ozzy Osbourne on tour after Randy Rhoads death... "Sharon kept ringing me, they sent a passport and visas down and I was all set to go. Then nothing! The band got a session player in, Brad (Gillis) somebody, so I didn't go." -Kerrang!