'80s Metal History (October 30th)

Inspired by Rob Halford's interest in leather culture, Judas Priest adopted the leather-and-studs look for their fifth studio album "Killing Machine" released the week of October 30, 1978 in the UK (March 1979 in North America and retitled "Hell Bent For Leather").

Judas Priest "Killing Machine" release information source: [UK] Magazine ad "This October"; Music Week ad - October 28, 1978; Record Mirror album preview - October 28, 1978 (not yet released); UK Official album chart debut - November 11, 1978.

October 30, 1982: As he was launching the Megaforce record label, Jon Zazula was already at near legendary status in the US as owner of the Rock'n-Roll Heaven record store in New Jersey when he organized a special Halloween party at St. George's Theatre, Staten Island, that included a fire-breathing dragon, topless cavorters, a Harley Davidson doing a 'wheely' and eventually some live metal courtesy of Riot, Anvil and Raven. The latter played a 90 minute set plus two encores for an audience of about 2,500 people. -Kerrang!

October 30, 1989: Queensrÿche released "Video: Mindcrime" a conceptual video version of the "Operation: Mindcrime" album featuring actors taking the parts of Mindcrime characters cut with performance footage of the band. Release date source: Kerrang! October 21, 1989.

October 30, 1990: King Diamond released their fifth studio album "The Eye" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), "lyrically the most evil album we've done, but it's actually a Christian album." -The King. Release date source: Kerrang! - October 6, 1990.

October 1984: Pretty Maids released their debut album "Red, Hot And Heavy" in Europe (June '85 in the UK) featuring "Back To Back" and the title track. The song "Night Danger" also appears on the soundtrack for the 1985 Italian horror film "Demons".

Pretty Maids "Red, Hot And Heavy" release information source: [Europe] Kerrang! - July 26, 1984; [UK] Kerrang! - June 27, 1985.

October 30, 1987: Moving away from Satanic themes in favour of "sword and sorcery" material (although it did not last long), Venom released their fifth studio album "Calm Before The Storm" in the UK. Originally called "Deadline", the title was changed when guitarist Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn left the band and was replaced by Jimi Clare and Mike Hickey. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - October 31, 1987.

Happy Birthday to former AC/DC drummer [1989-94, 2015-20] Chris Slade (October 30, 1946).

October 30, 1979: After playing Fort Worth, Texas on the 3rd, Scorpions took a few weeks off before resuming the "Lovedrive" Tour in El Paso. The album hit North American record stores in late June of that year and peaked at No. 55 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart on September 29, 1979.

October 30, 1983: DIO launched the European leg of the "Holy Diver" Tour at the Apollo Theatre in Manchester, England with support from Waysted. Tickets only £4 🤘 Sounds Magazine review - November 5, 1983

October 30, 1989: Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani released his third studio album "Flying In A Blue Dream" in North America, one of his most popular and his second highest-charting release to date, reaching No. 23 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - October 6, 1989.

October 30, 1990: Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose was released on $10,000 bail after being arrested for allegedly hitting a neighbor over the head with a wine bottle. The incident happened after a complaint to police about loud music coming from the singer’s house. "I live next door to a psycho," Axl told a TV reporter. According to the alleged victim — who lived on the same floor as Rose in a chic West Hollywood high-rise — the singer also threw a piece of chicken her way. It was a neighborly dispute turned up to 11, one that Rose claimed had started as soon as he moved in. In the end, the case was dismissed, but Rose didn't let it lie: He wrote the not-so-subtly titled "Right Next Door To Hell" for "Use Your Illusion I".

October 30, 2021: Randy Rhoads was posthumously inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with a "Musical Excellence" award. Kirk Hammett, Tom Morello and Zakk Wylde paid tribute.

The METAL SHOP Halloween Party starts soon with 24 hours of non-stop Horrific Dark Spooky Creepy '80s Metal tracks. "Come On In!" without leaving where you're at. The Killer setlist starts at Midnight Eastern 😱🤘