Hair Band History (January 20th)

January 20, 1983: Def Leppard released their third studio album "Pyromania" in North America (March 4th in the UK) featuring singles "Photograph", "Rock Of Ages", "Foolin'" and "Too Late For Love". With heavy MTV exposure in the US, the LP was selling 100,000 copies a day.

Def Leppard "Pyromania" release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine ad - January 22, 1983; Cashbox Magazine review - January 29, 1983; [UK] Kerrang! - January 27, 1983 (Release date noted as February 25th, but delayed until March 4th - see ad).

Happy Birthday to KISS co-founder, frontman and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley (January 20, 1952).

Happy Birthday to L.A. Guns co-founder and guitarist Tracii Guns (January 20, 1966).

Happy Birthday to former McAuley Schenker Group singer Robin McAuley (January 20, 1953).

Remembering former Whitesnake and Blue Murder guitarist John Sykes who died in December 2024, but wasn't officially announced until January 20, 2025. R.I.P.

January 20, 1986: Ozzy Osbourne released "Shot In The Dark" as the lead single from his forthcoming album "The Ultimate Sin". To promote the record, Ozzy personally signed the first 5,000 copies. Did you get one? Poor Oz is still resting his wrist. Release date source: Kerrang! - December 26, 1985.

Actor Julie Gray (Ozzy Osbourne "Shot In The Dark" Music Video, January 1986)

January 20, 1988: The success of Great White's "Once Bitten" album a year earlier brought them a broader audience, but a throwback to their more hard-driving metal sound was welcome with the release of "Recovery: Live!" Release date source: Billboard Magazine - January 9, 1988.

January 20, 1990: Tesla peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Love Song". It was written by Frank Hannon and Jeff Keith and the music video was filmed during a concert in the band's hometown of Sacramento, California.

January 20, 1990: Alice Cooper concluded the Canadian leg of the "Alice Cooper Trashes The World" Tour at Northland's Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta with special guest Great White.

January 20, 1991: Launching the "Use Your Illusion" Tour, Guns N’ Roses headlined the first of two nights at the second "Rock In Rio" festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Drummer Matt Sorum and keyboardist Dizzy Reed debuted as new bandmembers.

January 1992: "The Perils Of Poison", Bret Michaels was on the cover of RIP magazine who revealed the internal conflict that's destroying his band!