On this day in 1983, The US Festival in California hosted a series of themed festival days such as New Wave Day, Rock Day, and Country Day but it was on Sunday, May 29th, 1983 that heavy metal music made their presence known to the world and to an estimated 375,000 people. The show was opened by Quiet Riot who had just stormed the scene with their major label debut Metal Health and also featured sets by Motley Crue (premiering songs from their yet to be released Shout at the Devil album), Ozzy Osbourne with Jake E. Lee and the mighty Judas Priest. How Canadian rock trio Triumph ended up billed above these acts is beyond me but their set was followed by an awesome set by the Scorpions. The night was closed with a headlining set by a very inebriated and very sloppy Van Halen. Van Halen received an upfront sum of $1 million to headline the 1983 US Festival. It was then upped to $1.5 million after it was discovered that David Bowie was to be paid $1 million. Van Halen had a clause in their contract that they would be paid more than any other act performing at the festival.
Quiet Riot
Mötley Crüe
Ozzy Osbourne
Judas Priest
Triumph
Scorpions
Van Halen
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