Hair Band History (January 31st)

January 31, 1989: Warrant released their debut album "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" in North America (June 5th in the UK) featuring singles "Down Boys", "Heaven", "Big Talk" and "Sometimes She Cries". The cover depicts the fattest of all fat cats, a man called "Fugazi".

Warrant "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" release information source: [US] Cashbox Magazine Weekly Ear Ringer - February 11, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - May 27, 1989.

January 31, 1989: Tesla released their second studio album "The Great Radio Controversy" in North America (one day earlier in the UK) featuring four songs that rocketed the band to stardom: "Love Song", "The Way It Is", "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)" and "Hang Tough". Release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - January 7, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - December 10, 1988; Kerrang! ad - February 4, 1989.

January 1989: Bon Jovi were on the cover of Japan's "Music Life" Magazine and big winners in the '89 "Readers' Pop Poll" including Best Group, Best Male Vocalist, Best Guitarist, Bassist, Drummer, Album... they won everything! Even Sex Symbol 😎

"Here are the boys ready to roar - Vito Bratta at the guitar, Mike Tramp laying bare his famous tonsils in a song snitched from last year's 'Pride' album in readiness for their visit to the UK. Never have I heard so much excitement about a band from hardened critics, all eagerly calmouring to see them. You'll hear why from this; superb playing, intense feeling, can't go wrong Guv'nor." -Kerrang! (January 1988)

Happy Birthday to Vandenberg and former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (January 31, 1954).

Happy Birthday to guitarist Jimi Bell (January 31, 1958), who almost landed the Ozzy gig in 1987, finishing second to Zakk Wylde. Jimi most recently played with Autograph.

January 1986: One year after the release of "Thunder In The East" that brought them success in North America, this ad was placed in US radio trade magazines proclaiming Loudness will be thundering again in 1986. "Lightning Strikes" hit record stores in May that year.

January 31, 1984: "Footloose" the film wouldn't hit theaters until February 17th, but the soundtrack was now in US record stores featuring the No. 1 hit single from Kenny Loggins and a solo Sammy Hagar with "The Girl Gets Around". Quiet Riot's "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" was heard in the movie, but not included on the original soundtrack.

January 31, 1985: Bruce Dickinson was on the cover of Circus Magazine. Inside were features on Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister and RATT, plus "How Kevin DuBrow Patched Up His Feud With Mötley Crüe"

Whitesnake's success in 1987 continued the following year with the album in the Top 5 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart for 35 consecutive weeks and the band featured on the cover of seven music magazines simultaneously in January 1988.