'80s Metal History (December 28th)

Remembering Motörhead founder, lead singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister, who died December 28, 2015, just four days after his 70th birthday. "If I have to die and be on my deathbed regretting decisions I made, I'm not interested in that man. I want to die completely satisfied - that I did the best I could." -Lemmy. R.I.P.

December 28, 1982: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine rehearsed with Cliff Burton for the first time. When they asked him to join Metallica, he said yes but only if they would relocate the band from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

In 1990, Metallica's Lars Ulrich gave Slash Matt Sorum's phone number and eventually Matt replaced Steven Adler as drummer for Guns N' Roses. Sorum has said he hadn't rehearsed with Axl Rose before his first GnR show at Rock in Rio.

Happy Birthday to former W.A.S.P. and Steeler bassist Rick Fox (December 28, 1955). It was called Sister when he joined and Rick only played with W.A.S.P. for four months, but he came up with the name WASP after stepping on one where he lived with Blackie Lawless.

December 28, 1988: With former Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler on bass, Ozzy Osbourne brought the "No Rest For The Wicked" Tour to San Diego with special guest Anthrax.

December 28, 1984: Playing select US west coast dates in support of their debut EP "The Yellow And Black Attack", Stryper performed at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California with special guests Autograph and Lȧȧz Rockit.

December 1989: Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart", the second single from the "Dr. Feelgood" album, was "high on speed" as it rose up the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching the Top 30 by late January 1990. The song "was penned to prove that Crüe can still burn." -Nikki Sixx & Vince Neil (Circus Magazine)