Wednesday, March 29, 2023

March 29, 2011: Surtur Rising

 


Surtur Rising is the eighth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth. It is named after the mythical giant, Surtr. The album was released on 29 March 2011. The album debuted at number 34 on the American Billboard 200 chart as well as number 19 on the Canadian album charts.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

March 28, 1994: The Division Bell

 

The Division Bell is the fourteenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 28 March 1994 by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and on 4 April by Columbia Records in the United States.

The second Pink Floyd album recorded without founding member Roger Waters, The Division Bell was written mostly by guitarist and singer David Gilmour and keyboardist Richard Wright. It features Wright's first lead vocal on a Pink Floyd album since The Dark Side of the Moon (1973). Gilmour's fiancée, the novelist Polly Samson, co-wrote many of the lyrics, which deal with themes of communication. It was the last Pink Floyd studio album to be composed of entirely new material, and the last recorded with Wright, who died in 2008.
 

Monday, March 27, 2023

March 27, 1981: Blizzard of Ozz


Blizzard of Ozz is the debut studio album by English heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne,  released on 12 September 1980 in the UK and on 27 March 1981 in the US.  The album was Osbourne's first release following his firing from Black Sabbath in 1979. Blizzard of Ozz is the first of two studio albums Osbourne recorded with guitarist Randy Rhoads prior to Rhoads' death in 1982. In 2017, it was ranked 9th on Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".

Saturday, March 25, 2023

March 25, 2002: Rock in Rio

Rock in Rio is a live album and video by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, recorded at the Rock in Rio festival, Brazil in 2001 on the last night of the Brave New World Tour.  The band played to approximately 250,000 people; the second largest  crowd of their career (the band's largest concert attendance was their  1985 Rock In Rio performance to an audience of 350,000) and with the relatively recent return of lead singer Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith to the band, they recorded their fifth live release.

Friday, March 24, 2023

March 24, 1986: 5150

 

5150 (pronounced "fifty-one-fifty") is the seventh studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released on March 24, 1986 by Warner Bros. Records and was the first of four albums to be recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. The album was named after Eddie Van Halen's home studio, 5150, in turn named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed person (a reference to Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code). The album hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing the band's previous album, 1984, which had peaked at number 2 behind Michael Jackson's Thriller album, on which Eddie made a guest appearance.

March 24, 1988: Thundersteel


Thundersteel is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Riot, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-1980s. It features a totally different line-up from that of the previous work, with guitarist Mark Reale being the only remaining member.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

March 23, 1976: Sad Wings of Destiny


Sad Wings of Destiny is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 23 March 1976 by Gull Records. It is considered the album on which Judas Priest consolidated their sound and image, and songs from it such as "Victim of Changes" and "The Ripper" have since become live standards. It was the band's only album to feature drummer Alan Moore.

March 23, 1998: Virtual XI

Virtual XI (pronounced "Virtual Eleven") is the eleventh studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 23 March 1998. It is the band's second and final album with Blaze Bayley on vocals.

Friday, March 17, 2023

March 17, 1967: Billy Corgan


William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band Smashing Pumpkins.


 

Monday, March 13, 2023

March 9th, is celebrated as World DJ Day.

 

Today, March 9th, is celebrated as World DJ Day. This musical event was established in honor of the French DJ and record producer, David Guetta, who has been one of the most influential artists in the electronic music scene of the last few decades. World DJ Day has been celebrated since 2002 and aims to recognize the important work that DJs do in promoting and spreading music, as well as creating a unique atmosphere at events and nightclubs around the world. Happy DJ Day!