Hair Band History (January 18th)

January 18, 1984: Van Halen launched the "1984" Tour in Jacksonville, Florida. With 18 trucks hauling the stage and equipment, Eddie Van Halen said the tour was so over the top, the band didn't make any money from it.

January 18, 1991: Poison performed in Seattle. Warrant had been opening the "Flesh & Blood" World Tour but dropped off after a show in Albuquerque on January 9th. Alice In Chains opened for Poison in Portland on January 17th, but on later dates including this one, Don Dokken joined the tour. As to why Warrant were no longer opening, several comments from fans on the Poison Facebook page speculated there was some sort of fight between the two bands (stage size?).

January 18, 1993: Def Leppard released "Heaven Is" in the UK as the fifth single from the album "Adrenalize". Joe Elliott described the song as "more Queen than Queen" and Phil Collen said that parts of it were taken from the song "Armageddon It". Release information source: Debuted UK Official singles chart on January 30, 1993.

January 1987: Guns N' Roses began recording their debut album "Appetite For Destruction". Axl Rose insisted on recording his vocals one line at a time in a perfectionism that drove the rest of the band away from the studio as he worked.

January 1992: McAuley Schenker Group released "Crazy" in North America as the lead single from their forthcoming third and final studio album "M.S.G." Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - January 17, 1992.

January 18, 1982: Aldo Nova released his self-titled debut album featuring "Foolin' Yourself" and Top 25 hit (US Billboard Hot 100) "Fantasy". A huge commercial success, Aldo purposely avoided the spotlight and tried to stay out of the public eye. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - January 15, 1982.

Happy Birthday to original Autograph guitarist [1983-89] Steve Lynch (January 18, 1955).

Remembering former Rough Cutt guitarist [1983-87] Chris Hager who would have celebrated a birthday today (January 18, 1958). With Stephen Pearcy in 1977, he also co-founded and played guitar in Mickey Ratt. Chris died in 2025. R.I.P.

January 18, 1986: Look at these young and hungry kids playing The Roxy on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on the same night... Guns N' Roses, preceded by L.A. Guns and Plain Jane, the latter featuring future Warrant members Jani Lane and Steven Sweet.

January 18, 1986: On the road promoting their new album "Come Out And Play", Twisted Sister played The Spectrum in Philadelphia with support from Dokken, who also had a new record out with "Under Lock And Key". A review in The Philadelphia Inquirer that ran a few days later made fun of Dee Snider's teeth 😏