HEAVY HISTORY
On December 23rd, 1985, two Judas Priest fans killed themselves after listening to the band’s classic 1978 album, Stained Class album. Raymond Belknap died instantly, and James Vance died in 1988 after lapsing into a coma. In 1990, a judge decided Judas Priest did not place subliminal messages on the album and the song "Better By You, Better Than Me" (a SPOOKY TOOTH cover) in particular.



TALENT WE LOST

R.I.P. Mieszko Talarczyk (NASUM): December 23rd, 1974 - December 26th, 2004

Late NASUM singer/guitarist Mieszko Talarczyk would’ve turned 47 today (December 23rd, 1974). On December 26th, 2004, he was one the 23,000 victims in what was the world's worst earthquake since 1964 as tsunamis cause destruction across Asia, with the worst hit areas being Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives. Mieszko and his girlfriend went to Thailand to spend the holidays. His body wasn’t identified until Thursday, February 17, 2005.

HEAVY BIRTHDAYS 

Happy 78th Derek Albion Smalls (real name Harry Shearer; SPINAL TAP) - December 23rd, 1943

Happy 74th
Graham Bonnet (ALCATRAZZ, MSG, RAINBOW, IMPELLITTERI)- December 23rd, 1947

Happy 72nd 
“Adrian” Robert Steven Belew (KING CRIMSON) - December 23rd, 1949

Happy 65th
David Michael Murray (IRON MAIDEN) - December 23rd, 1956 (photo credit: Mats Andersson)

HEAVY RELEASES

Happy 12th
HEATHEN’s The Evolution Of Chaos - December 23rd, 2009
HELLOWEEN’s Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary - December 23rd, 2009