'80s Metal History (December 5th)

Accept released their fifth studio album "Balls To The Wall" in Europe in late 1983. North America and the UK had to wait an extra month as to not compete with the band's then-current album "Restless And Wild".

Accept "Balls To The Wall" release information source: [Europe] Kerrang! (import review) - December 1, 1983; [UK] Kerrang! blurb - November 17, 1983 and advert - January 12, 1984; [US] Billboard Magazine album review - January 28, 1984.

December 5, 1981: A full page ad in Billboard Magazine signaled the arrival of "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" in North America, AC/DC's follow up to their multi-platinum smash album "Back In Black". The title track issued as the first single in the US debuted (also on this day) on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and the LP would make its debut one week later.

December 5, 1987: On the road in the UK, DIO and Warlock played the first of three nights at London's Hammersmith Odeon... "Props galore, stuff like massive flying insects, strange dragon-shaped ray guns, lasers and brilliant light show impressing every single soul in the joint and making the music just a tiny bit more mystical and magical." -Kerrang!

Remembering Great White singer Jack Russell, who would have celebrated a birthday today (December 5, 1960). Jack died in 2024. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday to former Yngwie Malmsteen singer [Trilogy '86] Mark Boals (December 5, 1958).

December 5, 1988: Formally known as Scraps, Chicago rockers Tattoo re-recorded and released their debut cassette-only album "Blood Red" for Metal Blade (originally released in 1985 on their own label) featuring tracks "Top Of The Rock" and "Red Light". Release date source: Kerrang! - November 26, 1988.

December 5, 1987: Kerrang! reviewed a show in Portland, Maine from the Dokken/Aerosmith tour in August that year, noting there were a lot of t-shirts and some banners for Dokken, who could have been the main act as their star was on the rise.

December 1987: Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley and his band Frehley's Comet were touring America with Alice Cooper.

December 5, 1979: The bomber flew over the unsuspecting town of Malvern as Motörhead continued touring their home country with show after show in the UK.

December 1981: "Diary Of A Madman" had been out about a month, but maybe you didn't know about Ozzy Osbourne's other releases like "Blizzard Of Ozz"? There was probably someone... Hence the need for advertisements.