The band continued to have success during the new wave of British heavy metal period, playing the Reading Festival in 1980 and then headlining the festival in 1982. They built a particular following in Poland , where they played as the first heavy metal band behind the Iron Curtain ,…
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In 1980, to increase their chances of landing a recording contract with a major label, the band recorded a single called “Dr. Rock” / “Drivin’ on E”, which was given to fans at their early Los Angeles club shows.
Former Twisted Sister drummer Richard Teeter, who had played with the band in 1980 and 1981, died from complications due to esophageal cancer on April 10, 2012.
After a month of rehearsals, Space Meat alumnus John Jennings joined to create Pentagram’s dual-guitar “Mark II” lineup, but he was soon asked to leave the group and his position was filled by guitarist O’Keefe. After this lineup’s first rehearsal, Jennings called O’Keefe to tell him that he was leaving…
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The model on Invasion ‘ s cover is Playboy Playmate Marianne Gravatte , who also made an appearance in the “Lay It Down” music video. Using a female model on an album cover later became a trend copied by many glam metal bands of the 1980s, including Great White and…
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Blackmore asked Ian Gillan , also formerly of Deep Purple, to replace Dio, but Gillan turned him down. After a series of auditions, Graham Bonnet , former singer/guitarist of The Marbles , was recruited. Powell stayed, but Daisley was fired, and Stone quit the band to be replaced by Powell’s…
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In 1980, bassist Lee Abney and guitarist Victor Griffin formed a Knoxville, Tennessee , (later based in Northern Virginia ) doom metal band named Death Row. Shortly thereafter, drummer Joe Hasselvander joined, and the group recruited Liebling on vocals. Former member Swaney soon replaced Abney on bass and the band…
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It was their last concert before a long hiatus, as at this time Yuya became involved in numerous projects and each member went on to an individual career. Joe Yamanaka recorded numerous solo albums, and collaborated with the iconic reggae band The Wailers in the 1980s. Having quit the guitar…
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Stormwitch was founded in the early 1980s by childhood friends Harald Spengler (Lee Tarot), Stefan Kauffmann (Steve Merchant), and Andy Mück, writing their first songs while they searched for the final pieces of the band to play live shows, including clubs and youth centers. The first lineup was completed by…
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During the 1980s, each of the future members of Tool moved to Los Angeles. Both Paul D’Amour and Adam Jones wanted to enter the film industry, while Maynard James Keenan, who had studied visual arts in Michigan, worked as a pet store remodeler. Danny Carey and Keenan performed for Green…
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