Hair Band History (April 29th)

April 29, 1983: After 24 shows opening for Billy Squier in America, an appearance on "American Bandstand" and "Pyromania" selling 100,000 copies a day, Def Leppard moved to headliner status for a show in Odessa, Texas and beyond.

April 29, 1983: Krokus were "the next kings of the hard rock jungle" when they began opening for, now headliners, Def Leppard on the "Pyromania" Tour in Odessa, Texas. That would last all summer until August 30th when they were kicked off the tour for, as Krokus claimed, providing too much competition for Def Leppard, who countered the tour contract ended with the August 30th show in Detroit 🤦

Happy Birthday to Great White guitarist Mark Kendall (April 29, 1957).

April 29, 1989: Def Leppard's "Rocket", the last single from the "Hysteria" album, peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also reached the Top 15 in the UK, Australia and Canada.

April 29, 1991: Mr. Big played Newcastle, England, part of a UK tour that launched one night earlier in Edinburg, Scotland. Enuff Z'nuff were originally scheduled to open, but backed out after deciding they were not yet ready to tour. -Kerrang!

April 29, 1988: L.A. rockers Tuff played the last of three nights at the Eagles Club in Oshkosh. Wisconsin. They were making a name for themselves on the Sunset Strip, but decided to head to the midwest for some shows... "Guys, I really think we should go back to Wisconsin, and play my hometown." -Stevie Rachelle

April 1988: L.A. rockers Impellitteri featuring former Quiet Riot and future House Of Lords bassist Chuck Wright, along with future Mr. Big drummer Pat Torpey, guitarist Chris Impellitteri and singer Graham Bonnett, released their first studio album "Stand In Line" in North America (June '88 in the UK).

Impellitteri "Stand In Line" release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - May 20, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! ad - June 18, 1988.

Featuring singles "Unchained" and "Mean Street", Van Halen released their fourth studio album "Fair Warning" in late April or early May 1981. "Their hardest and most muscular album", it was "the closest to being true metal." -Noel Monk, former manager

Van Halen "Fair Warning" release information: Most sites show the LP was released on April 29, 1981, but there is no evidence to support this. American radio began playing "Unchained" the second week of May 1981. An ad appeared in May 16th issue of Billboard Magazine and the album debuted on the Billboard Top LP & Tapes chart on May 30, 1981 (May 23rd in the UK).

April 29, 1999: Mötley Crüe announced that drummer Tommy Lee had quit the band to spend time with his family and work on a new group called Methods Of Mayhem. Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford) filled-in for the "Maximum Rock" Summer Tour.

April 29, 2008: Def Leppard released their 10th studio album "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" in North America (April 30th in Japan, May 5th in the UK). Members of the band described the LP as written in the style of Hysteria with the production of High 'n' Dry. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - April 20, 2008.

April 29, 1989: On the road in Canada, Poison brought the "Open Up And Say...Ahh" Tour to Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton with special guest Tesla.

April 29, 1989: Jon Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley on the steps of Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas. They are still married.