'80s Metal History (November 9th)

November 9, 1979: Iron Maiden released their debut EP "The Soundhouse Tapes" in the UK with three tracks... "Iron Maiden", "Invasion" and "Prowler". Only 5,000 copies were produced and it was only available by mail order. Of course it sold out 🤘 Release date source: Record Mirror - October 27, 1979.

November 9, 2010: "DIO At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" was issued with full performances from the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival. A "great souvenir of Dio’s halcyon days and a fitting tribute to a true legend." -BBC. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - September 5, 2010.

November 9, 1978: Ozzy Osbourne went missing in Nashville and Black Sabbath, touring with Van Halen, had to cancel their show. Turns out Ozzy overslept after a contest with David Lee Roth on who could snort the most cocaine 🙃

November 9, 1985: W.A.S.P.'s second studio album "The Last Command" debuted on the UK album chart (November 23rd on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart). It was NOT RELEASED On This Day as recordings cannot chart on the same day they are issued. 7-10 days is needed to calculate sales.

November 1987: In between studio albums "Taking Over" (March '87) and "Under The Influence" (July '88), East Coast thrashers Overkill released their second EP "!!!Fuck You!!!", featuring a cover version of the song "Fuck You" (originally by The Subhumans), plus five live tracks recorded at Phantasy Theater in Cleveland. Long out of print, the EP is now extremely rare, but was re-released in 1997 with extra tracks as "!!!Fuck You!!! and Then Some". Release information source: Kerrang! - October 31, 1987' Metal Hammer - November 26, 1987.

November 1987: With Udo Dirkschneider out of the band, Accept auditioned new singers including Rob Armitage, who recorded demos and was featured in promo photos and metal magazine interviews, but they went with David Reece. -Kerrang!

Happy Birthday to former Racer X singer and Badlands drummer Jeff Martin (November 9, 1957).

November 9, 1981: Ozzy Osbourne and headliner Saxon were in Offenbach, one of 18 shows in Germany. Ozzy was having some issues though and only played roughly half of the scheduled concerts.

November 9, 1986: Iron Maiden concluded the UK leg of the "Somewhere In Time" Tour with the last of five shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Kerrang! ad - November 13, 1987

November 1985: With their most recent album "Fly On The Wall", AC/DC celebrated selling over 30 million albums total worldwide. That number today is over 200 million (roughly 100 million in the US) 🤑 Billboard Magazine ad - November 9, 1985

November 9, 1973: Warner Bros. shipped the self-titled debut studio album by Montrose in the US featuring future classic rock favorites "Rock Candy" and "Bad Motor Scooter". Produced by Ted Templeman (Van Halen), the LP marked the recording debut of singer Sammy Hagar, who would later achieve international success as a solo artist and as a member of Van Halen. Release information source: Cashbox Magazine - November 10, 1973; Billboard Magazine review - December 1, 1973.

November 1988: "Rumours of Axl Rose's earthly departure" had been floating around, so much so that the matter was addressed in the L.A. Times when the band's management made a point of denying all the rumors. Metal Hammer - November 7, 1988