Hair Band History (February 20th)

Featuring Top 5 rock hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane", Scorpions released their ninth studio album "Love At First Sting" in North America in late February 1984 (March 12th in the UK). American radio got the LP the week of February 20th and it debuted on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart on March 17th, peaking at No. 6 in June that year. No stranger to controversy with their album covers in the US, Billboard reported in the May 5, 1984 issue that Polygram was changing the "Sting" cover to the inner sleeve image from the original release.

Scorpions "Love At First Sting" release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine Rock Albums Radio Chart Most Added + full page ad - March 3, 1984. [UK] Music Week Album Releases - March 10, 1984.

February 1989: Bon Jovi released power ballad "I'll Be There For You" in North America as the third single from the album "New Jersey". It would become their fourth and final number one hit, reaching the top spot in May that year. Release information source: [US] HITS radio trade publication ad - February 27, 1989.

February 1989: Def Leppard released "Rocket" in North America as the seventh and final single from the album "Hysteria". The song is notable for the many callouts to songs and artists who influenced the band...The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John and more. Release information source: Billboard Magazine ad - February 20, 1989.

February 20, 1988: Lita Ford's third album "Lita" debuted at No. 161 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Three months later it would peak at No. 29 on the strength of lead single "Kiss Me Deadly".

Cinderella was introduced to North American audiences in June 1986, but didn't arrive in Europe and other parts of the world until the following year. This ad for first single "Shake Me" from their debut album "Night Songs" appeared in the UK's Kerrang! Magazine in February 1987.

Happy Birthday to XYZ co-founder and singer Terry Ilous (February 20, 1968).

Happy Birthday to former Europe guitarist [1986-92] Kee Marcello (February 20, 1960).

Happy Birthday to Scorpions bassist Paweł Maciwoda (February 20, 1967).

February 20, 1990: Whitesnake brought the "Liquor & Poker" World Tour to Richfield, Ohio. One week earlier, the band played Syracuse, New York and the local newspaper there published this little brief about frontman David Coverdale's first wedding anniversary with wife Tawney Kitaen, revealing their next production would be "lots of little Whitesnakes." That never happened as the couple divorced a year later.

Remembering those who lost their lives in the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island during a performance by Great White February 20, 2003. R.I.P.