1983 in heavy metal music

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This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1983.

[edit] Newly formed bands

[edit] Albums

[edit] Events

  • At the end of the year, drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist Brian Robertson leave Motörhead. The band is reborn with a new, four-piece line-up (Lemmy/Phil Campbell/Würzel/Pete Gill).
  • Yngwie Malmsteen got his start this year in the band Steeler. Also in that band was (Future Keel vocalist) Ron Keel & Former W.A.S.P. bassist Rik Fox. The band had only one album, Steeler.
  • Dave Mustaine, lead guitarist for Metallica, is fired for drug/alcohol abuse, and is replaced by Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett, after which he formed the L.A. Thrash band Megadeth
  • Mötley Crüe - Shout at the Devil Becomes a huge hit marking one of the turning points into commercialization of Heavy Metal. Helping make the L.A. Glam Metal scene even bigger.
  • KISS put away their makeup.
  • On November 19, 1983 Quiet Riot's Cum on Feel the Noize Becomes the first ever top 5 hit in Heavy Metal history.
  • November 26, 1983 Cum on Feel the Noize is #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for a second week. This week, Quiet Riot's Metal Health Album Also Tops The chart. The first time a metal band had a top 10 hit song & a #1 album the same week. Metal health also sells over 6 Million copies. Other bands such as Def Leppard, & Albums like Shout at the Devil by Mötley Crüe are Sometimes falsely considered the "breakthru". However it wasn't Until Quiet Riot had their success that the Metal scene really started.
  • Black Sabbath Vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice left the band to form Dio and were replaced by ex-Deep Purple Singer Ian Gillan and former Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward
Preceded by:
1982		 Heavy Metal Timeline
1983		 Followed by:
1984