Hair Band History (February 26th)

February 1986: With new singer Sammy Hagar, Van Halen released "Why Can't This Be Love" in North America as the lead single from their forthcoming album "5150". It reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and propelled the album to number 1, a first for VH. Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publicaton ad - March 7, 1986.

February 26, 1989: Bon Jovi with special guest Skid Row, played Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Just prior to Skid Row’s set, Bon Jovi’s crew pranked frontman Sebastian Bach by pouring iced milk on him. Skid Row’s crew responded by throwing eggs at Bon Jovi’s crew. Bach then insulted Jon Bon Jovi on stage which enraged the Bon Jovi crew. Bach recounted in his book ("18 And Life On Skid Row")... "We saw about 60 people coming toward us. Leading the pack was Jon Bon Jovi himself, his dad and brother. Behind them was the full Bon Jovi road crew." Jon Bon Jovi threw a punch at Bach, which missed. The Bon Jovi crew then corralled Bach in his dressing room and threw him against a wall. "Bon Jovi Senior pointed in my face as I was held against the wall," Bach writes. "He said, 'I’ll (blanking) kill you,' or something like that."

February 26, 1987: Bon Jovi brought the "Slippery When Wet" Tour with Cinderella to Kansas City. Bon Jovi has not released any live audio from this tour because at the time Jon Bon Jovi was dosed up on cortisone and "my voice was shot."

February 26, 1991: Great White released their fifth studio album "Hooked" in North America, featuring singles "Desert Moon" and "Call It Rock And Roll". The original cover art was judged too risque by the label and replaced with the nude model partially submerged. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - February 22, 1991.

February 26, 1987: Five months after its release, RATT's third studio album "Dancing Undercover" was certified platinum in the US. The red hot rodent rockers were also featured in the February 1987 issue of Hit Parader Magazine.

February 26, 2016: "Catch A Falling Star" was released, a posthumous album of cover songs by Warrant's Jani Lane, featuring his versions of "Photograph", "Lay Your Hands On Me" and more, plus a guest appearance by Alice Cooper. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - February 18, 2016.

February 24, 1990: Aerosmith power ballad "What It Takes", the third single from the album "Pump", hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It was co-written by Desmond Child who also co-wrote "Angel" for Aerosmith's previous album "Permanent Vacation". The track would reach No. 9 on the Hot 100 a month later. R&R radio trade publication ad - March 2, 1990.

February 26, 1991: Starting out in St. Louis as a cover band called Broken Toyz, they changed their name to KingOfTheHill and released their self-titled debut album in North America, featuring singles "I DO U" and power ballad "If I Say". Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - February 22, 1991.

Happy Birthday to Michael Bolton (February 26, 1953). Check the 1985 video for "Everybody's Crazy"... MB was heading down Hair Band Boulevard before going full crooner 🙃

Happy Birthday to Journey and former Bad English keyboardist Jonathan Cain (February 26, 1950).

February 26, 1988: Alice Cooper and Motörhead played Long Beach, California. Alice was joined by Axl Rose, Slash and Izzy Stradlin for "Under My Wheels" that was recorded and later used on the soundtrack to "The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years".

February 1988: The Circus Magazine "1987 Reader's Poll" revealed Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee voted "Best Drummer" for a fourth straight year... "We just got long hair and we play loud rock & roll. I don't think we do anything that out of the ordinary."