On 11 July 1982, Pete Willis was fired due to excessive alcohol consumption on the job
In July 1982, the group released its first EP, Ruff Cutts , on the Secret Records label, still featuring Tony Petri on the drums. This was followed shortly by the group’s first studio album, Under the Blade , produced by Pete Way of UFO . Despite rather low production quality,…
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In late 1981, the group wrote a number of songs at Ibiza Sound Studios in Ibiza , Spain, continuing their collaboration with producer Tom Allom . Initially, it was planned for a release in early 1982, but it was decided that they would resume recording after their 1981 World Wide…
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Metal Massacre I was released on June 14, 1982
In June 1982, Frehley’s departure from the band was negotiated
Hetfield played guitar live for the first time at the band’s fifth gig, in May 1982.
The band started its own T-shirt company and record label. The group released two singles that eventually made it over to the UK and caught the attention of Martin Hooker, the president of indie label Secret Records , a small British label that was mainly a punk outlet. Jay Jay…
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The band played as a five-piece at their fourth gig, which took place in April 1982 in Costa Mesa with lead guitarist Brad Parker, though he did not last.
Produced by Ashley Howe, the Abominog album (according to Blows) was “important … in the way it pulled Heep out of the Seventies and thrust them into the Eighties with determination muscle”, even if it sounded a bit too American. Released in March 1982 (and preceded in February by the…
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Hetfield took vocal duties at the band’s first gig, which took place in March 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim with newly recruited bassist Ron McGovney .