'80s Metal History (October 3rd)

American rock radio stations were all over "Handle With Care"... The third studio album from Nuclear Assault was the No. 1 Most Added Metal LP the last week of September 1989 and in stores the first week of October (September 11th in the UK). Featuring singles "Critical Mass" and "New Song", one review called it "one of the East Coast's best offerings to the thrash metal genre".

Nuclear Assault "Handle With Care" release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - October 6, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - August 5, 1989.

October 1987: With their new album "Triumph And Agony" due out on the 19th in the US, Warlock were getting attention with first single "All We Are" and the music video played for the first time on MTV Headbangers Ball.

Happy Birthday to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee (October 3, 1962).

Happy Birthday to Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon (October 3, 1966).

October 3, 1988: Motörhead released their third live album "Nö Sleep At All" in the UK (Mid-October in North America)... With everyone recording at Hammersmith Odeon, Fillmore East and Budokan, "we thought we'd do it in Finland." -Guitarist Würzel.

Motörhead "Nö Sleep At All" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! - September 10, 1988; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - October 28, 1988.

The second studio album from Australian thrash metal band Mortal Sin, titled "Face Of Despair", finally made its way to North America the first week of October 1989 (April '89 in the UK). Recorded in 1988, the LP was delayed for more than a year as they supported Metallica on the Australian leg of the "Damaged Justice" Tour.

Mortal Sin "Face Of Despair" release information source: [US] CMJ New Music Report ad - October 6, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - April 22, 1989.

October 1994: Seven years after they disbanded, we were reminded of the good times with the release of Twisted Sister "Live At Hammersmith" recorded ten years earlier at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

October 1983: Savatage released their debut album "Sirens" in the UK (April '83 in North America) which used the cover of the children's book "The Borribles Go for Broke". Metal Blade also began using this cover worldwide when the LP was issued on CD years later, replacing the original sailing ship cover art. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - October 20, 1983.

You may see others posting that Diamond Head released their debut album "Lightning To The Nations" on October 3, 1980. A tough date to confirm, Diamond Head Official and the band's Facebook page note it was issued June or July 1980.

October 3, 1980: Thin Lizzy released their 10th studio album "Chinatown" in the UK (November '80 in North America) that introduced guitarist Snowy White, who replaced Gary Moore and went on to perform on the next album as well as tour with the band between 1980 and 1982. Release date source: Music Week UK - September 27, 1980.

October 3, 1989: Metal Blade issued "Nosferatu" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), the fourth studio album from Texas metal band Helstar, the first half a conceptual piece based on Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula" and featuring single "Baptized In Blood". Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - September 29, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - September 30, 1989.

October 1984: L.A. heavy metal band Warlord released their debut album "And The Cannons Of Destruction Have Begun..." After renting The Raymond Theatre to stage what would turn out to be their only live performance, the album was filmed and recorded without an audience present. The LP was accompanied by a VHS home video release of the same name. The song "Lucifer's Hammer" also appeared on Metal Blade's "Metal Massacre II" two years earlier.

October 3, 1988: Girlschool released their seventh studio album "Take A Bite" in the UK (March '89 in North America) featuring the song "Head Over Heels" that contains a text written by Motörhead bassist Lemmy on a napkin during a night out in a pub with Girlschool's Kim McAuliffe and other friends. The album also includes a cover of Sweet's "Fox On The Run" that was distributed to radio stations in the USA. Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - October 8, 1988.

Remembering Omen singer J.D. Kimball, who died October 3, 2003 at age 45. R.I.P.

October 3, 1991: Ronnie James Dio was presented with the Dave Pritchard Memorial Award for his help with the "Children Of The Night" project. Meanwhile, rumours were swirling that he had rejoined Black Sabbath.

October 3, 1985: With the release of "Live After Death" imminent, Iron Maiden's Steve Harris was featured in the UK's Kerrang! Magazine. The "World Slavery" Tour was notorious for being the band's most arduous to date. Although it was very successful, the band were left exhausted by its end in July 1985 and demanded a break for the rest of the year.