'80s Metal History (October 8th)

October 1982: Accept released their fourth studio album "Restless And Wild" in Continental Europe (March '83 in the UK and North America) featuring "Fast As A Shark", "Princess Of The Dawn" and the title track. Available as an import in the UK, a review in the September 1982 issue of Kerrang! called Accept "without a doubt the heaviest Metal band in the world!"

"Restless And Wild" was issued in the UK and North America in March 1983, but with a different cover and only as a picture disc in the UK, where the LP wouldn't get a proper release until August 1986. Release information source: [Europe] Many sites show October 2, 1982 as the release date, but this was a Saturday so not likely; [US/UK] Music Master Metal Catalogue Edition 2; Kerrang! ad - August 7, 1986.

October 1989: Megadeth covered Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for the "Shocker" movie soundtrack in a more metalesque style. The song was the only recorded material by the band as a trio, with Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson and newcomer Nick Menza on drums. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - October 6, 1989.

October 8, 1983: Iron Maiden brought the "World Piece" Tour to Madison Square Garden in New York City. Fastway had been opening all summer and now it was a red hot Quiet Riot. This was the final Maiden tour to feature a drum solo.

Happy Birthday to Raven bassist and singer John Gallagher (October 8, 1958).

Metal Church released their fifth studio album "Hanging In The Balance" in 1993, their last with singer Mike Howe until his return in 2015, who left because of too much record label interference, the final straw being this album cover.

October 1986: The band M.A.R.S. featuring bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge, along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine and singer Rob Rock released their only album "Project: Driver". Release information source: [US] Kerrang! - September 18, 1986.

Featuring guitarist Axel Rudi Pell and named after the Judas Priest song, German metal band Steeler released their third studio album "Strike Back" in Europe in 1986 (May 1988 in North America). Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - May 27, 1988.

October 1987: Australian thrash metal band Mortal Sin released their debut album “Mayhemic Destruction” in the UK. At the time, rock magazine "Metal Forces" rated the album as one of the best of its genre ever issued. Release information source: Kerrang! ad 'Unleashed On October 1st" - October 3, 1987; Kerrang! 'delayed' - October 17, 1987.

October 8, 1988: AC/DC brought the "Blow Up Your Video" World Tour to the Spectrum in Philadelphia with special guest Cinderella. Fan Memory from the AC/DC website: "The best and most loudest concert I've ever been to. 4th row on the floor. Angus never stopped jamming, even between sets. There was never a second of silence. When "For those about to rock" started it was extended in the beginning. Angus walked down the center aisle flanked by road crew jamming away, all the way to the stage. And the cannons, couldn't hear any thing after the show. And of course, Angus shoots the moon (with Brit flag boxers on.) Extremely loud, Extremely awesome."

October 8, 2023: Bringing the festival to a close as only they can, Metallica destroyed the typical Sunday night vibe by bringing the energy back to Power Trip with a brief (local curfew) setlist that ended with "Seek & Destroy", "One" and "Master Of Puppets". It was an incredible weekend in the California desert 🤘