Share

 
Blabbermouth.net: Bob Nalbandian, founder and publisher of the esteemed early ’80s heavy metal music fanzine The Headbanger, has struck a deal with Tokyo-based company Japanime Publishing to release all 11 issues of the Xeroxed ‘zine as ebooks. Never before has the fanzine — which featured early interviews of local and international heavy metal bands, including the very first profiles of then-unsigned Los Angeles bands METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH — been available for mass distribution until now.
 
The first ebook will include an all-new introduction and reminiscence by Nalbandian, along with the entire contents of The Headbanger issue #1, which was released in May/June 1982. The issue features now-legendary all-female New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band GIRLSCHOOL on its cover and a review of the group’s debut U.S. show at the Whisky on April 25, 1982; colorful recaps of live performances by then-local L.A. bands RATT and STEELER; and no-holds-barred commentary on “new” albums by MOTÖRHEAD, IRON MAIDEN, RAINBOW, and the first “Metal Massacre” compilation. As a bonus, the ebook also includes the original full-page “Los Angeles Metal Report” that Nalbandian and his Huntington Beach metal comrade Pat Scott wrote for the March 1982 issue of Ron Quintana’s nationally distributed fanzine Metal Mania. It was through this “Report” that headbangers living beyond the smog of the Sunset Strip were to read the first words ever published about a then-unknown Orange County/L.A. garage band … named METALLICA!
 
headbangercover
Issue #1 of The Headbanger is now available worldwide in the Apple iBookstore and the Amazon Kindle store.
 

80s Metal Trending

Britny . The post Britny Fox guitarist Michael Kelly Smith to play short live set at record store on May 31st first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

For the first single from "Marc Urselli's Best Of Ramones Redux" that will be released parallel to the forthcoming Magnetic Eye Records Redux Series installment "Marc Urselli's Ramones Redux", Canadian [...]

The title track of METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets" album has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. METALLICA commented: "We're psyched to share that 'Master Of Puppets' has just made its [...]

With '1984' and 'Appetite for Destruction' just 61 votes apart with 12 hours left, the UCR staff weighs in on this close battle. Continue reading… [...]

In a recent interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, Don Dokken spoke about the possibility of a new DOKKEN album to follow up "Heaven Comes Down", which came out in [...]

On April 6, 1974, Black Sabbath performed for 250,000 rock fans at the first California Jam festival. It was a gig that would live long in the memory for all [...]

MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren took part in a drum clinic on April 1 at Art Music Club in Tychy, Poland as part of his Tama-sponsored European drum clinic tour. Video [...]

Though known for their heaviness, there is one song in the Metallica catalog that has moved Kirk Hammett to tears. Continue reading… [...]

The Kiss legend tells UCR why he's got complicated feelings about the album. Continue reading… [...]

The album flopped and the band hates it — but what if they're all wrong? Continue reading… [...]

Wednesday 13 discusses his 10th solo album, 'Mid Death Crisis,' looks back on his career and shares why Ozzy Osbourne is so important to him. Continue reading… [...]

Turns out it’s not Fade To Black, One or Mama Said that gets Metallica’s guitarist misty-eyed… [...]

ICED EARTH's founding guitarist Jon Schaffer has given his first interview since being sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service in connection with his involvement [...]

Sharon Osbourne has told Metal Hammer magazine that she is open to the possibility of a BLACK SABBATH avatar-style show. Asked if she would consider the idea of taking inspiration [...]

In a new interview with Alma Hard, vocalist Ronnie Atkins of reactivated Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS was asked if there is any possibility of him and his bandmates [...]

“There’s people trying to get in the locker room, but we’re like ‘Go, go, go!’ and he’s snorting this big line of cocaine” [...]

Joe Satriani’s spectacular albums have dazzled and inspired for the best part of four decades, and these are the best of the bunch [...]

With some big names in the studio and on the tour bus, Here Be Dragons continues Avantasia's all-star journey [...]

Halestorm’s singer/guitarist says that a number of businessmen tried to pull her away from being in a heavy metal band during her teens [...]

Buzz Osborne dives into 'Thunderball,' the new album from Melvins 1983 and reflects on how he discovered music growing up in a small town in Washington. Continue reading… [...]

FnA . The post FnA Records release double album from pre-Lillian Axe band Stiff first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

In a new interview with Ethan Dometrius, ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke about his recently launched "Operation: Mindcrime - The Final Chapter" tour. The U.S. leg of the trek, which [...]

But don't worry, the Kiss legend tells UCR he's still having plenty of fun. Continue reading… [...]