Released February 22, 1986

Yes, kids… This is how we used to do it 40 years ago!

On this day in 1988, Judas Priest released their 11th studio album, RAM IT DOWN. Back in 1986, the band wanted to release a double album called Twin Turbos, half of which was supposed to feature mainstream hard rock, while the other half would showcase a much heavier (and synthesizer free) sound. The record company hated the idea and made the band release them as two separate albums. Not surprisingly, the more commercial sounding tunes ended up on Turbo in ‘86, while the heavier tracks made their way onto Ram It Down in '88. Aside from the band’s awkward cover of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” Ram It Down proved to be a solid piece of work with a number of searing riffs from Tipton & Downing. American audiences appeared to embrace it wholeheartedly, as album sales were strong enough to garner a gold certification in less than two months.

On this day in 1989, Dangerous TOYS released their eponymous debut album! Having formed in October 1987, the bad boys from Austin were signed to Columbia Records in the Spring of ‘88 after being discovered by a publishing rep at SXSW. Oddly enough, even though guitarist Danny Aaron is pictured on the back cover of the album (and credited for playing), Scott Dalhover actually played all the guitar parts on the recording. Another guitarist named Tim Trembley (who formed DT with singer Jason McMaster) co-wrote what would become the band’s biggest hit, but inexplicably jumped ship before the recording sessions began. The album rose to #65 on the Billboard 200 that year and was eventually certified Gold in 1994. Now go crank a little Teas'n, Pleas'n!!

May 3, 1988, Queensrÿche released their quintessential album, OPERATION MINDCRIME. Geoff Tate came up with the “revolutionary” idea when the opening chords of the title track found their way into his conscience while sitting alone in a church in Montreal. The inspiration for Mary’s character came later when he witnessed a sad-looking girl in Amsterdam clutching a teddy bear and dancing by herself in a nun’s costume. With the help of Chris DeGarmo, the band took those ideas and produced one of the greatest concept albums ever written, and like it or not, it became the benchmark against which their entire body of work would forever be compared. The album was certified gold a year after its release, and eventually went platinum in 1991. Revo-lution!

April 18, 1992, thirty years ago MTV premiers the new KISS video, “Unholy”. It’s the first Gene single in ten years, and it’s Eric Singer’s first video with the band. The heavier sound set the stage for a powerful new album called Revenge. Do you remember the first time you heard or saw the video?

1983 Hard Rock & Heavy Metal

“Laguna Mayhem”

Marina’s brother! Blacklight reactive! Happily owned by one of the Rip tour guides!

Ok here’s the tea…

A biopic about Def Leppard should absolutely be made. Their journey as a band is seriously like no other. They all come from troubling backgrounds and the drummer became disabled after a car accident but he still continued playing for the band!!! If this wasn’t already enough, their songs are inspirational and have important messages behind all of them. They had to deal with a death of a band member which would have been heartbreaking.

In conclusion, their story would make a really interesting movie.

(repost if you agree)

Thank you and goodnight.

✨Studio Ghibli✨