Happy birthday to the Red Rocker!

October 13, 1947: Sammy Hagar (Samuel Roy Hagar) - birthday

"Samuel Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947), also known as the Red Rocker, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose before launching a successful solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55". He enjoyed further commercial success as the second lead vocalist of Van Halen from 1985 through 1996, and from 2003 to 2005. In 2007 Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. His musical style primarily consists of hard rock and heavy metal. A lifelong entrepreneur, Hagar has founded four spirits brands and 13 restaurants. In 2008, with his wife, Kari Hagar, he founded a private non-profit focused on children's causes and hunger relief, the Hagar Family Foundation." -Wikipedia

Sammy Hagar - VOA (Voice of America)

Extol metal anniversary

Extol metal anniversary

October 12, 2023: Extol — Labyrinth of Ill / Exigency [EP] - Indie Recordings

"Extol is a Norwegian Christian metal band from Bekkestua, formed in 1993. The band is known for playing different styles of metal, including progressive metal, death metal, black metal and thrash metal. Over the course of their career, the band has released five studio albums and two EPs, beginning with their debut, Burial, in 1998. The band are noted for their precise, technical musicianship. The fourth album, The Blueprint Dives, received a Spellemannsprisen nomination for Best Metal Album of 2005. Extol has toured the United States and Europe several times with such bands as Mastodon, God Forbid and Opeth. Extol has sold over 500,000 albums worldwide." -Wikipedia

Extol - Labyrinth Of Ill (Official Visualizer)

All That Remains anniversary of melodic metalcore, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic death metal

All That Remains anniversary of melodic metalcore, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic death metal

October 12, 2010: All That Remains - For We Are Many - Prosthetic Records / Razor & Tie

"For We Are Many (stylized as ...For We Are Many) is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band All That Remains. Released on October 12, 2010, it is the third album by the band to be produced by the Killswitch Engage guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz, who also produced This Darkened Heart and The Fall of Ideals." -Wikipedia

All That Remains - "For We Are Many"

Terrorizer grindcore anniversary

Terrorizer grindcore anniversary

Terrorizer studio album number 4

October 12, 2018: Terrorizer - Caustic Attack - The End Records

Terrorizer - Caustic Attack

in memory of 1980s heavy metal bassist Jody Henry (OMEN)

in memory of 1980s heavy metal bassist Jody Henry (OMEN)

October 12, 2025: RIP Jody Henry (1962-October 12, 2025) (Omen bassist 1983-1989)

Jody Henry was an American musician best known as the original bassist and a founding member of the Los Angeles heavy metal band Omen. Originally a guitarist, he made the switch to bass when he joined forces with guitarist Kenny Powell, vocalist J.D. Kimball, and drummer Steve Wittig in 1983. Together, they established Omen as one of the defining acts of the early U.S. power metal scene. During his initial run with the band from 1983 to 1989, Henry played bass and provided backing vocals on all of Omen's classic early releases. His work featured on the albums Battle Cry (1984), Warning of Danger (1985), The Curse (1986), and Escape to Nowhere (1988), as well as the 1987 EP Nightmares.

The 1986 album The Curse is a personal favorite of mine. Here is song number three from said album.

OMEN - Holy Martyr

McAuley Schenker Group anniversary

Michael Schenker 1980s heavy metal anniversary

Michael Schenker 1980s hard rock anniversary

October 12, 1987: McAuley Schenker Group - Perfect Timing - Capitol / EMI Records

"Perfect Timing is the debut album recorded by the McAuley Schenker Group. It was the first collaboration between Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley (ex-Grand Prix and Far Corporation), resulting in Schenker's first top 100 US hit with the song 'Gimme Your Love.'" -Wikipedia

Robin McAuley – lead vocals; Michael Schenker – lead guitar; Mitch Perry – rhythm guitar, additional lead guitar on tracks 1 and 6, backing vocals; Rocky Newton – bass guitar, backing vocals; Bodo Schopf – drums; additional musicians: Steve Mann – keyboards and rhythm guitars

Gimme Your Love - Here Today Gone Tomorrow - Don't Stop Me Now - No Time for Losers - Follow the Night- Get Out - Love Is Not a Game - Time - I Don't Wanna Lose - Rock 'Til You're Crazy

McAuley Schenker Group - Gimme Your Love

Mortification death metal anniversary

October 12, 1991: Mortification - Mortification - Intense Records

"Mortification is the debut studio album by Australian Christian death metal band Mortification. It was released on 12 October 1991. This album leans more towards death metal than the band's demo album Break the Curse, but retains thrash metal elements. Five songs from the demo album were re-recorded for Mortification. In 2002, The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music described the album's sound as 'punk-meets-metal grind-core'. A bundle containing Mortification and Scrolls of the Megilloth was released on KMG Records in 1998 and on Rowe Productions in 2015, with the latter being exclusively on cassette. Soundmass Records re-released the album with five bonus tracks in 2020, and again in 2022 with new remastering and nine bonus tracks recorded at Q.U.T. Campus Club in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 27 September 1991." -Wikipedia Mortification - Until the End

in memory of BLUE CHEER's Dickie Peterson

in memory of BLUE CHEER's Dickie Peterson

October 12, 2009: RIP Dickie Peterson (Richard Allan Peterson (September 12, 1946 – October 12, 2009)

"Richard Allan Peterson(September 12, 1946 – October 12, 2009) known as Dickie Peterson was an American musician, best known as the bassist, lead singer and only constant member of Blue Cheer." -Wikipedia

"Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock or acid rock style. They are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of heavy metal, with their cover of 'Summertime Blues' sometimes cited as the first in the genre. They have also been noted as influential in the development of genres as disparate as stoner rock, experimental rock, and grunge." -Wikipedia

Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues (American Bandstand,1968)

BARQUE OF DANTE remembers this very important date in history: the great explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas!!!

BARQUE OF DANTE remembers this very important date in history: the great explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas!!!

October 12, 1492: Christopher Columbus's first expedition makes landfall on San Salvador Island in the Caribbean

Christopher Columbus lands in the Americas on October 12, 1492 connecting two parts of the world that did not know each other. This single event changed human history forever. Before 1492, people in Europe, Asia, and Africa knew nothing about the Americas, and native people in the Americas knew nothing about them. Plants, animals, and foods moved across the ocean. American foods like potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and chocolate moved to Europe and Asia, feeding millions and growing the world's population. In return, horses, cows, wheat, and coffee came to the Americas. Trade exploded across the Atlantic Ocean. Ships carried goods, silver, and people across the sea, creating the very first truly global economy and kicking off modern science, travel, and mapmaking. Christopher Columbus was a intrepid navigator whose bold 1492 transatlantic voyage permanently linked the Old World and New World, fundamentally altering the course of human history.

Columbus by Barque of Dante (2023 album)

Overthrust - death metal anniversary

October 10, 2019: Overthrust - Suicide Torment - Indian River Music Company

"Overthrust a 4-piece old school death metal band from Ghanzi-Botswana. Band theme of songs is about death, purgatory, false preachers and Morbid subjects. The band was started in 2008 and have 5 albums (Freedom in dark, Desecrated deeds to decease, Suicide Torment, Demon Grave and Infected by myth). Vulture -Bass/vocals, Spencer -lead guitar, Zehst-Rhythm guitar and Beast-Drums." -Bandcamp

Suicide Torment by Overthrust

Tony MacAlpine - instrumental guitar anniversary

October 10, 1995: Tony MacAlpine — Evolution - Shrapnel Records (Wikipedia date) [The Metal Archives shows only the year 1995 for the earliest release date.]

Tony MacAlpine Guitars, Keyboards, Songwriting

Mike Terrana Drums

Tony Franklin Bass

Tony MacAlpine - Futurism

Thin Lizzy - classic rock anniversary - hard rock anniversary

Thin Lizzy - classic rock anniversary - hard rock anniversary

October 10, 1980: Thin Lizzy - Chinatown - Vertigo Records

Chinatown - Thin Lizzy

in memory of VIXEN's Jan Kuehnemund

in memory of VIXEN's Jan Kuehnemund

October 10, 2013: RIP Jan Kuehnemund (Janice Lynn Kuehnemund; November 18, 1953 – October 10, 2013)

"Janice Lynn Kuehnemund (November 18, 1953– October 10, 2013) was an American guitarist who founded the all-female hard rock/glam metal band Vixen." -Wikipedia

Vixen - Cryin'

Vixen - How Much Love Official Video 1990 From The Album Rev It Up 1

Imari Tones - heavy metal from Japan

October 10, 2010: Imari Tones - Victory in Christ - Kitchen Knife Records

The band describes themselves as the first Christian heavy metal from Japan.

Imari Tones - Simple

https://www.facebook.com/imaritones

in memory of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi on his birthday

October 10, 1813: Giuseppe Verdi, 1813–1901, Dies Irae

"Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas ... Verdi came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti, whose works significantly influenced him. He was also strongly influenced by the French Grand opera style, particularly Giacomo Meyerbeer and Gaspare Spontini ... He found further fame with the three peaks of his 'middle period': Rigoletto (1851), Il trovatore and La traviata (both 1853). He surprised the musical world by returning, after his success with the opera Aida (1871), with three late masterpieces: his Requiem (1874), and the operas Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893). Verdi's operas remain among the most popular in the repertoire. In 2013, the bicentenary of his birth was widely celebrated around the world with television and radio broadcasts and live performances." -Wikipedia

IVerdi, Il trovatore - Chi del gitano i giorni abbella? (Prêtre)

THERION - Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spotigle (From "Il Trovatore")

Battle of Tours - Franks defeat Muslim Invasion

ATTACKER remembers this day in history: The Christian Franks led by Charles Martel defeat The Muslim invasion and save Western Europe from Islamic rule

October 10, 732 AD: The Battle of Tours

"The Battle of Tours ... was fought on 10 October 732, and was an important battle during the [Islamic] Umayyad invasion of Gaul [France]. It resulted in victory for the Frankish and Aquitanian forces, led by Charles Martel, over the invading Umayyad forces, led by Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, governor of al-Andalus. Many historians, including Edward Gibbon, have credited the Christian victory as an important factor in curtailing the spread of Islam in Western Europe." -Wikipedia

"Charles gained a victory against an [Islamic] Umayyad invasion of Aquitaine at the Battle of Tours, and Charles is credited as an important factor in curtailing the spread of Islam in Western Europe. Alongside his military endeavours, Charles has been traditionally credited with an influential role in the development of the Frankish system of feudalism." -Wikipedia

ATTACKER - The Hammer [from the 2013 album Giants of Canaan]

Happy birthday to Bolt Thrower drummer Alex Thomas!

October 10, 1978: Alex Thomas - birthday (Bolt Thrower drums 1997-1999; drums on the 1998 album Mercenary)

[The Metal Archives shows Alex's work: ex-Bolt Thrower, With the Dead, ex-Earl Shilton, Anna Calvi (live), UNKLE (live), ex-Adem, ex-Fridge, ex-Group Dogdrill, ex-New Young Pony Club, ex-Prey, ex-Toah Dynamic, ex-Air (live), ex-Bat for Lashes (live), ex-Beth Orton (live), ex-John Cale (live), ex-Mount Kimbie (live), ex-Squarepusher (live), ex-The The (live)]

Bolt Thrower - Mercenary

[Mercenary · Bolt Thrower · Karl Willetts · Gavin Ward · Barry Thomson · Jo Bench · Alex Thomas]

MEGADETH 1980s thrash vinyl anniversary

October 10, 2025: Megadeth > Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! > 2025, 12" vinyl, Century Media Records (Limited edition, 3 color, Remixed) (reissue of 1985)

MEGADETH - Mechanix (Remastered)

Happy birthday to Dave!

October 10, 1954: David Lee Roth - birthday

David Lee Roth - Shyboy

Van Halen - Somebody Get Me a Doctor

David Lee Roth - California Girls

new album out now: TUNGSTEN - Joker (Official Music Video)

Released today: catchy pop power metal band TUNGSTEN new album Ashes.

Check out this song that features … wait for it … yodeling!

You read that right.

Tungsten doing Tungsten things.

TUNGSTEN - Joker (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/tungstenband

in memory of Johnny Ramone on his birthday

October 8, 1948: Johnny Ramone (John William Cummings October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004) "Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Until the band's disbandment in 1996, Johnny, along with the lead vocalist Joey Ramone, were the only two original members who stayed since its inception, and appeared on every one of the band’s albums." -Wikipedia

Well, let's not waste any more time. Here is the band firing on all cylinders!!!

Ramones - Live At The Rainbow - December 31, 1977

Happy birthday to CJ Ramone!

October 8, 1965: C. J. Ramone (Christopher Joseph Ward October 8, 1965) "He is best known for performing from 1989 to 1996 as the bassist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of the punk rock group the Ramones after replacing original bassist Dee Dee Ramone — a role that lasted until the band's retirement." -Wikipedia

Ramones - Makin Monsters For My Friends

HELLOWEEN - 1980s German heavy metal anniversary - German power metal anniversary - melodic heavy metal anniversary

anniversary

October 8, 1991: Helloween > The Best, the Rest, the Rare > 1991, CD, Noise Records

October 8, 1991: Helloween > The Best, the Rest, the Rare > 1991, 2 12" vinyls, Noise Records

Michael – Kai – Michael – Markus – Ingo

I Want Out – Dr. Stein – Future World – Judas – Walls of Jericho – Ride the Sky – Halloween – Livin' Ain't No Crime – Save Us – Victim of Fate – Savage – Don't Run for Cover – Keeper of the Seven Keys

A great compilation - 90% CrystalMountain, May 12th, 2009 (The Metal Archives): "For what it is, you couldn't really ask for much more. The 2 early eras of the bands are well represented, and all though a couple of amazing songs were left off, and a couple generic songs were thrown in, it's still about as good as a best of CD can get really. And if anything, it's worth having for 'Victim of Fate' and 'Savage' alone."

A good introduction to classic helloween. - 97% hells_unicorn, August 28th, 2006 (The Metal Archives): "In short, if you are a bit hesitant to invest in 3 full studio albums, but you are curious about this band, the band that pretty much pioneered the Power Metal sound of today, this is the place to start."

This Is What a Compilation Album Should Be Like! - 95% PowerProg_Adam, February 27th, 2003: "Just wanting to consolidate your best of Helloween onto one cd, this is a pretty good place to start. Helloween has some great songs that aren't on here, but this album has what I feel and many others feel to be their best. Its definately worth the cash. You'll probably never find Michael Kiske singing some of Kai Hansen's songs on any other albums."

Helloween - "SAVE US" (Official Audio)

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Happy birthday to Erez Yohanan!

October 8, 1971: Erez Yohanan (drums, percussion, bass, narration [2004-present]) - birthday

The Metal Archives shows Erez's work with the melodic progressive folk metal project AMASEFFER.

Amaseffer - When the Lions Leave Their Den (Exodus Part II) - October 8th, 2026

AMASEFFER - A Flame Unbidden

Amaseffer - melodic progressive folk metal

Bandcamps shows: "Amaseffer is an Israeli progressive/folk metal band formed in Tel Aviv in June 2004. Created by drummer and percussionist Erez Yohanan, the project was envisioned as an epic, three-part musical trilogy detailing the biblical Exodus. Guitarists Yuval Kramer and Hanan Avramovich soon completed the core trio. The group derived its name from the Hebrew phrase Am Ha'Sefer 'People of the Holy Book'".

Amaseffer - When the Lions Leave Their Den (Exodus Part II) - October 8th, 2026

When The Lions Leave Their Den by Amaseffer

AMASEFFER - When The Lions Leave Their Den https://youtu.be/iuprn46OLiM?si=s0tvQs0upuaCogec --

Happy birthday to Cammie Gilbert!

October 8, 1987: Cammie Gilbert (singer for Oceans of Slumber) - birthday

OCEANS OF SLUMBER - Winter (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Untamed Land - anniversary of atmospheric Spaghetti Western soundtrack old western black metal

October 8, 2021: Untamed Land - Like Creatures Seeking Their Own Forms - Napalm Records

Like Creatures Seeking Their Own Forms by Untamed Land

Suffocation - 1990s New York death metal anniversary

Suffocation - 1990s New York death metal anniversary

October 8, 1991: Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten [debut full-length]- R/C Records

Suffocation - Mass Obliteration

in memory of DUNE author Frank Herbert

October 8, 1920: Frank Herbert (Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986)

This author inspired the Iron Maiden song "To Tame a Land." Internet sources seem to show that bassist Steve Harris wrote the song and is a direct retelling of the plot and themes of Dune, featuring characters and lore such as Paul Atreides, the Fremen, the desert planet Arrakis, spice, and the sandworms. Iron Maiden originally wanted to title the track "Dune" and open it with a spoken word quotation from the book. When the band's management reached out to Frank Herbert for permission, Herbert denied the request. His agent famously relayed to the band: "Frank Herbert doesn't like rock bands, particularly heavy rock bands, and especially bands like Iron Maiden." Herbert threatened legal action if they used the title or quote, forcing the band to change the name to "To Tame a Land" for their 1983 album Piece of Mind.

IRON MAIDEN - To Tame a Land

Mary's Blood heavy metal anniversary

October 7, 2015: Mary's Blood - Bloody Palace - Victor Records