'80s Metal History (December 9th)

Formed in London in 1976, Angel Witch became a key band in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement with their debut album available in UK record shops by December 1980. Release month source: Sounds Magazine - November 29, 1980.

December 1985: The music video for "The Hunter", the first single from Dokken's latest album "Under Lock And Key", was about to hit MTV in the US. The just issued LP was a big seller out of the gate and would debut on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart on December 21st.

December 1988: From Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville in Quebec, Canadian metal band Sword released their second studio album "Sweet Dreams" in Canada, their last until 2022's "III". Release information source: Kerrang! - November 26, 1988.

Prisoner released their debut album "Rip It Up" in 1986. Singer Coburn Pharr later joined Omen [1987-89] and Annihilator [1990-92]. He is currently the Vice President of a US plastic injection molding facility.

December 9, 1988: Anthrax were recovering after delivering a blistering set a night earlier opening for Ozzy in their hometown at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

December 9, 1979: AC/DC filmed the "Let There Be Rock" movie at the Pavillon de Paris in Paris. It was released theatrically in September 1980 and on VHS later that year. Bon Scott died two months after the filming.

'80s Metal goes 'round the world and lands in Brazil, who couldn't get enough of the heavy sounds from the Northern hemisphere. Rock Bridgade Magazine ad 1986

December 1984: This ad appeared in Billboard Magazine with the definitive statement on Metallica who had sold 250,000 copies of "Ride The Lightning" in the US with no music video on MTV and no radio airplay 🤘

When rock guitarists ruled! Guitar Magazine ad 1985