'80s Metal History (October 2nd)

October 2, 1982: Welcome to Rocktober! A "Screaming" (for Vengeance) start to the month when Judas Priest played Madison Square Garden in New York City with opener Iron Maiden. Get them horns up!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

October 2, 1980: Ozzy Osbourne's first tour as a solo artist brought the "Blizzard Of Ozz" to Southampton. The show was recorded and live versions of "Mr. Crowley" and "Suicide Solution" were released as an EP a month later, along with new studio track "You Said It All".

October 1983: From Black Sabbath's "Born Again" album, new frontman Ian Gillan composed the lyrics for single "Trashed" after taking a car belonging to drummer Bill Ward without permission and crashing it during an alcohol-fuelled joyride.

October 1985: Still glam metal for one more record, Pantera released their third studio album "I Am The Night" featuring single "Hot And Heavy". The LP was their last with singer Terry Glaze, who was replaced by Phil Anselmo in late 1986.

October 1987: New Jersey thrashers Whiplash released their second studio album "Ticket To Mayhem". One of the first East Coast thrash metal bands, drummer Tony Scaglione filled-in for Slayer's Dave Lombardo on the "Reign In Blood" Tour and was replaced for the album by Joe Cangelosi. The opening and closing tracks, both called "Perpetual Warfare", are simply sound effects of guns, explosions, and fighter planes. Release information source: Kerrang! review - October 24, 1987.

October 1985: Canadian speed/thrash metal pioneers Razor released their second studio album "Evil Invaders" in Canada (January 1986 in the UK) with cover art reminiscent of "The Terminator" movie from a year earlier. Release information source: [Canada] RPM radio trade publication - September 21, 1985; [UK] Kerrang! review - January 23, 1986.

October 1986: Helloween released "Judas" as a single in North America, which was the only way you could get it until the "Walls Of Jericho" album was re-released in 1987 on CD.

October 2, 1989: Recorded in May at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands, Sacred Reich released live mini-album "Alive At The Dynamo" in the UK (August '89 in North America). "Frontman Phil Rind commented modestly: 'It's not perfect, but neither are we.'" -Kerrang! Release date source: Kerrang! - September 23, 1989.

October 2, 1990: Megadeth released their fourth studio album "Rust In Peace" in North America (September 24th in the UK), their first with lead guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza and featuring singles "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18". Now considered one of the best thrash metal records of all time, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1991 for "Best Metal Performance". Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - October 6, 1990; [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 29, 1990.

October 2, 1995: Iron Maiden released their 10th studio album "The X Factor" in the UK, their first of two with former Wolfsbane singer Blaze Bayley, who replaced Bruce Dickinson. Longtime producer Martin Birch retired before recording commenced. Release date source: UK music industry publication ad - September 30, 1995.

October 2, 2015: Queensrÿche released "Condition Human", their 14th studio album and second with singer Todd La Torre, who replaced Geoff Tate in 2012. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - September 9, 2015.

October 1988: Kerrang! reported that Krokus sacked singer Marc Storace after he refused to perform at a Swiss open air festival while on holiday. He was replaced by Björn Lodin and Peter Allan, but returned to the band in 2003.