'80s Metal History (November 5th)

November 5, 1979: They were opening for "Bruce Bruce" Dickinson and Samson just three months earlier, now Iron Maiden was the headliner at "Heavy Metal Bonfire Night Explosion" in London with Angel Witch and Praying Mantis. A month later, Maiden would secure a major record deal with EMI.

November 5, 1981: Ozzy Osbourne performed in Hamburg, Germany. The "Diary Of A Madman" Tour had launched on November 1st in Essen, but the next three dates, and many others that followed, were called off by manager Sharon Arden due to Ozzy's marriage to Thelma Osbourne falling apart.

November 5, 1991: Recorded and filmed in Wisconsin in May that year, Queensrÿche released live album and video "Operation: LIVEcrime" in North America, featuring the band performing the "Operation: Mindcrime" album front to back. Release date source: [US] Billboard New Releases - November 2, 1991.

From their debut album, W.A.S.P. released "School Daze" as a single in the UK the week of November 5, 1984... According to one review "the most straightforward protest (of) the twelve year imprisonment...of being between six and eighteen." 😆 Kerrang! ad - November 15, 1984

November 5, 1983: Waysted played live for the first time, opening for DIO at London's Hammersmith Odeon, and to bring them some much-needed attention, they invited Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris to perform UFO classic "Too Hot To Handle".

"DIO, meanwhile, had no such problems! With an astonishingly strong debut album and hot new band behind him, this was in every way a stunning performance, highlighting a fact known to many already; namely, that Ronnie has more of a claim to the songs featuring his vocals than either Messrs. Blackmore or Iommi." -Kerrang!

November 1984: Yngwie Malmsteen released his debut album "Rising Force" in Japan and Europe (February 1985 in the UK, April 1985 in North America). Singer Jeff Scott Soto met Yngwie in August 1984 and recorded his vocals for the album in September of that year. Release information source: Kerrang! review - February 7, 1985.

November 5, 1991: Recorded on the "Fabulous Disaster" Tour in 1989 and the title derived from a lyric in the song "The Toxic Waltz", Exodus released live album "Good Friendly Violent Fun" in North America (November 25th in the UK). Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - October 25, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - November 2, 1991.

Happy Birthday to original Mercyful Fate and King Diamond guitarist Michael Denner (November 5, 1958).

Happy Birthday to Tesla bassist Brian Wheat (November 5, 1963).

November 1981: An early photo of Grim Reaper who were making some noise in the UK with new singer Steve Grimmett. A year later, this lineup won a Battle of the Bands competition with over 100 entries.

November 1983: Formed in Salisbury in the late '70s as White Diamond, they changed it to Killer in 1981, then changed it again to Genghis Khan, before finally settling on Tokyo Blade ahead of the release of their debut album. Kerrang! ad - February 23, 1984

Formed in 1981 as Shellshock, they changed it to Dark Angel in 1983 and acquired a cult following in the metal underground that earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine" for their extremely fast play with many tempo changes. The band self-released their debut album "We Have Arrived" in late 1985.

RATT recorded their debut album "Out Of The Cellar" in late 1983 at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles with producer Beau Hill.

They really wanted this... Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Something many fans wanted, a reunion with guitarist KK Downing. At least for one night on November 5, 2022, that happened.