Hair Band History (January 30th)

January 30, 1989: Def Leppard won "Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist" at the American Music Awards, beating out Van Halen and Guns N' Roses. They also picked up the "Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album" AMA for "Hysteria".

January 30, 1984: Whitesnake released their sixth studio album "Slide It In" in the UK (April '84 in North America) featuring singles "Gulity Of Love", "Give Me More Time" and "Love Ain't No Stranger". Release date source: Kerrang! ad - December 29, 1983.

Happy Birthday to Firehouse founder and guitarist Bill Leverty (January 30, 1967).

January 30, 1989: With drummer Steven Adler in rehab, the Eagles Don Henley filled in for Guns N' Roses' performance of "Patience" at the American Music Awards. "Fortunately it was a ballad...Not a balls-to-the-wall number." -Henley.

January 30, 1989: The "Jersey Syndicate" Tour with Bon Jovi and special guest Skid Row landed in Austin, Texas.

January 30, 1987: With future Tyketto singer Danny Vaughn and future Britny Fox drummer Johnny Dee, Waysted released their third studio album "Save Your Prayers" in North America (November 1986 in the UK) featuring single "Heaven Tonight". Release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - January 30, 1987.

January 30, 1989: Europe brought the "Out Of This World" Tour to Münster, Germany.

January 30, 1984: The "Bark At The Moon" Tour with Ozzy Osbourne and opening act Mötley Crüe brought the hard rock hits and wild antics to New York City's Madison Square Garden. The Big Apple battiness continued at the afterparty held at The Limelight, where Mötley Crüe were presented with Gold Record Awards for the "Shout At The Devil" album, which was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA on January 12th. The success of the tour with Ozzy would propel the LP to Platinum less than a month later.

January 30, 1989: Def Leppard released "Rocket" as the sixth and final single from "Hysteria" in the UK. The track is notable for many callouts to songs and artists who influenced the band, including David Bowie, Elton John and more. The flip side features the song "Release Me", a one-time collaberation between Def Leppard (The Good Ol' Boys) with their tour manager Malvin Mortimer (Stumpus Maximus). "Stumpus" took over vocals while Def Leppard's singer Joe Elliot played piano. The song was intended as a joke, with Malvin singing higher and higher on each verse until by the end he's hurting his throat trying to get the lyrics out. Release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - January 28, 1989.

January 30, 1989: Femme Fatale released "Falling In And Out Of Love" in the UK as the second single from their only album "Femme Fatale". Release date source: Kerrang! ad - January 28, 1989.

January 30, 1992: After a record store appearance at Shades, New York City's Danger Danger made their UK debut with a show at London's Astoria. The single "Monkey Business" from their second studio album "Screw It!" was the band's first issued across the pond.

Remembering Talisman founder and bassist Marcel Jacob, who would have celebrated a birthday today (January 30, 1964). He also played with Europe and Yngwie Malmsteen. Marcel died in 2009. R.I.P.

January 30, 1986: Supporting Twisted Sister on the "Come Out And Play" Tour, Dokken performed at The Fox Theatre in Detroit, opening with "Unchain The Night" and "The Hunter", the first two songs from their latest album "Under Lock And Key". The band closed with "Just Got Lucky" from the "Tooth And Nail" LP.

January 30, 1986: KISS and W.A.S.P. were scheduled to play The Forum in Los Angeles, but the show was postponed until February 11th because Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley fell ill. Phoenix was also postponed that week and Albuquerque canceled.

January 1988: Y&T were featured in Rock Scene Magazine... "After years of hard work and little recognition," the band "gets refueled for a brand new start" with their latest album "Contagious". "Forget yesterday... Today is here!"