'80s Metal History (December 13th)

December 1980: Motörhead's fourth studio album "Ace Of Spades" was finally available in North America (October '80 in the UK) featuring the "unbridled sensual assault" of the title track, "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch", "(We Are) The Road Crew" and much more... 🤘 Release information source: [US] Cashbox Magazine review - December 13, 1980; Rolling Stone Magazine ad - January 22, 1981.

December 13, 1983: Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark At The Moon" Tour with support from Y&T stopped in Sidelfingen, West Germany. Carmine Appice played drums on the European dates with Tommy Aldridge taking over in North America.

December 13, 1987: Megadeth unveiled their new lineup and headlined "Christmas On Earth" at Queen’s Hall in Leeds, England. They also filmed the music video for "Anarchy In The UK" ahead of the release of their new album "So Far, So Good… So What!" -Kerrang!

December 1988: The band name inspired by the 'Meliah' Indian tribe's practice of taking opium before going into battle, Boston metal band Meliah Rage released their debut album "Kill To Survive". Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication "LP released a few weeks ago" - January 6, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! review - December 10, 1988.

December 13/14, 1989: After two shows at London's Wembley Arena, Alice Cooper played two more in the UK in Birmingham that were recorded and released a year later as "Alice Cooper Trashes The World".

Happy Birthday to Slaughter and former Vinnie Vincent Invasion bassist Dana Strum (December 13, 1958).

Remembering Sanctuary singer Warrel Dane, who died December 13, 2017 at age 56. R.I.P.

December 1994: Guns N' Roses released Rolling Stones cover "Sympathy For The Devil". Slash called this tune from the "Interview With The Vampire" soundtrack "the sound of a band breaking up."

This cool ad shows Mötley Crüe playing Los Angeles with Guns N' Roses on December 13, 1987. However, it is inaccurate as Crüe were in Japan on this day, performing the first of five shows at Rainbow Hall in Nagoya. The band played L.A. in October with Whitesnake opening. GnR opened all shows for Crüe in November 1987. The "Girls, Girls, Girls" Tour would end on December 18th in Tokyo where the band would be presented with a gold record for their latest album.

December 2003: Ozzy Osbourne was celebrating his 35th year in the music business and receiving congratulations from people and other creatures 😬

'80s Metal rockers getting into the Christmas spirit the only way they knew how, but then leave it to Raven to ruin the fun 😁 🤘 Kerrang! - December 13, 1984