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

Accept - Restless And Wild
AC/DC - Flick of the Switch
Alice Cooper - DaDa
Alcatrazz - No Parole From Rock N' Roll
Black Sabbath - Born Again
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Dio - Holy Diver
Dokken - Breaking The Chains
Helix - No Rest For The Wicked
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
KISS - Lick It Up
Krokus - Headhunter
Manowar - Into Glory Ride
Metallica - Kill 'Em All
Mercyful Fate - Melissa
Mötley Crüe - Shout At The Devil
Motörhead - Another Perfect Day
Pantera - Metal Magic
Quiet Riot - Metal Health
Ratt - Ratt (EP)
Savatage - Sirens
Slayer - Show No Mercy
Steeler - Steeler
Twisted Sister - You Can't Stop Rock N' Roll
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon
Y&T - Mean Streak

[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 (Kilmister/Campbell/Burston/Gill).
Yngwie Malmsteen arguably one of the best known Metal guitarists ever, 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.
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 Come On Feel The Noise 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