The Headbangers Ball Tour was a North American tour presented by MTV's Headbangers Ball, which took place in April and May 1989. It was headlined by American thrash metal band Anthrax, and supported by Exodus and Helloween.
History The tour began on April 3, 1989, in Seattle, and ended on May 12, 1989, in Poughkeepsie, New York. Anthrax was promoting their platinum-selling album State of Euphoria, while Exodus and Helloween were promoting their respective albums Fabulous Disaster and Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2.
The Headbangers Ball Tour is notable for being Exodus' last tour with drummer Tom Hunting, until he rejoined the band in 1997. Due to health problems, Hunting left the band in the middle of the tour and was temporarily replaced by Vio-lence drummer Perry Strickland and then permanently by John Tempesta, who was a drum tech for Anthrax and would remain in Exodus until their breakup in 1993.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
MTV and Island Records paired up for a Headbangers Ball Tour contest. The winner was Lori Gutman who lived in Kinnelon, New Jersey. Members of Anthrax and Exodus taped a spot for Headbangers Ball at the winner's home. It aired later that year. The grand prize was a 1989 Jeep Wrangler, $1,000, and some Headbangers Ball swag.
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueNorth AmericaApril 3, 1989SeattleUnited StatesParamount TheatreApril 4, 1989PortlandCivic AuditoriumApril 6, 1989Salt Lake CityThe ColiseumApril 8, 1989OaklandKaiser Convention CenterApril 9, 1989Long BeachLong Beach ArenaApril 10, 1989PhoenixPride PavilionApril 13, 1989San AntonioFreeman ColiseumApril 14, 1989DallasState Fair ColiseumApril 15, 1989HoustonThe ColiseumApril 16, 1989New OrleansLakefront ArenaApril 18, 1989MiamiJames L. Knight CenterApril 19, 1989TampaThe SundomeApril 20, 1989AtlantaCivic CenterApril 21, 1989MemphisNorth Hall AuditoriumApril 22, 1989LouisvilleThe GardensApril 25, 1989DanvilleDavid S. Palmer ArenaApril 24, 1989DaytonHara ArenaApril 26, 1989MilwaukeeThe OmnibusApril 28, 1989ChicagoAragon BallroomApril 29, 1989DetroitCobo ArenaApril 30, 1989ClevelandMusic HallMay 1, 1989PittsburghSyria MosqueMay 3, 1989Upper Darby TownshipTower TheaterMay 4, 1989BostonOrpheum TheatreMay 5, 1989New York CityFelt ForumMay 6, 1989May 8, 1989TroyRPI Field HouseMay 10, 1989BaltimoreBaltimore ArenaMay 11, 1989SpringfieldSpringfield Civic CenterMay 12, 1989PoughkeepsieMid-Hudson Civic Center
Personnel Anthrax: Joey Belladonna – vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar Frank Bello – bass Charlie Benante – drums
Exodus: Steve "Zetro" Souza – vocals Gary Holt – guitars Rick Hunolt – guitars Rob McKillop – bass Tom Hunting – drums (April 3–10 shows) Perry Strickland – drums (filling in for Hunting on select dates) John Tempesta – drums (filling in for Hunting on select dates)
Helloween: Michael Kiske – vocals Michael Weikath – lead guitar Roland Grapow – rhythm guitar Markus Grosskopf – bass Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums
References