Fun fact: I am a committed headbanger.

As a true child of the 80s, I eagerly await the return of big hair, ripped jeans, leather jackets, and Doc Marten boots.

I’ve headbanged up and down the east coast, logging miles to see everybody from Pantera to Ozzy to Iron Maiden.

I’ve hung backstage with Corrosion of Conformity, Metallica, Anthrax, and more.

Some of my first writing gigs were with underground heavy metal magazines and ezines.

And I absolutely understand that there may be only a handful of you, at best, who have any idea who I’m talking about, or understand why this news gets me giddy and takes me back to some fond, frantic memories of mosh pits and ringing ears.

The news, as reported by Loudwire, is that a non-profit organization called the Hall of Heavy Metal History will be inducting nine giants of heavy metal.

Thus far, nine figures will be enshrined in the Hall of Heavy Metal History. The inductees are as follows: Ronnie James Dio (Wendy Dio accepted the induction), Rudy Sarzo (bass, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake), Frankie Benali (drums, Quiet Riot), Lemmy Kilmister (bass / vocals, Motorhead, special guest accepting induction), Ross ‘The Boss’ Friedman (guitars, Manowar), Vinny Appice (drums, Black Sabbath, Dio), Don Airey (keyboards, Deep Purple), Andy Zildjian (President/CEO of Sabian Cymbals) and Randy Rhoads (guitar, Ozzy Osbourne, Rhoads family accepting induction).

There will also be a 33rd anniversary induction of Quiet Riot’s Metal Health album, the first metal record to ascend to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. More artists and music industry executives are expected to be announced.

I don’t see one name on that list that doesn’t get me excited.

DJ Eddie Trunk (another name those of the heavy metal realm will recognize) will be hosting the January 18 event at the Anaheim Expo Center in (where else?) Anaheim, California.

There will be a press conference from 8pm to 9pm, followed by an hour-long ceremony, and then bands playing for the rest of the night.

Don’t balk. True metalheads know you don’t look for the show to start before 11pm, anyway.

“The Hall of Heavy Metal History is dedicated to preserving the legacy of those legendary metal musicians who are often forgotten,” commented Hall of Heavy Metal History President / CEO Pat Gesualdo. “This event is something the fans have been wanting for a long, long, time. As a non-profit organization, we are also dedicated to working with Wendy Dio and the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.”

Dio passed away in 2010, after a year-long battle with stomach cancer.

Tickets for the show can be purchased here, with proceeds going to the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

If I could make it to Anaheim, I would likely go to see this event, although my days of toughing it out at the front of the stage, as 200 to 300 rabid concert goers crush me against the guard rail are pretty much over.

Aaahhh… good times.

That being said, if someone wants to go and then report back, I would gladly live vicariously through your experiences.

In the meantime, how about a little Motorhead, to tide you over?