Hair Band History (April 4th)

April 1988: Scorpions released "Rhythm Of Love" (with Lee Aaron on backing vocals) in North America (one month later in the UK) as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Savage Amusement". A US Top 10 rock hit, the futuristic video featured model/actress Joan Severance, who was in the Lethal Weapon movie a year earlier.

Scorpions "Rhythm Of Love" single release information source: [US} The Hard Report radio trade publication - April 1, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! ad - May 21, 1988.

April 4, 2006: "The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock" was released in North America to celebrate Poison's 20th anniversary. The compilation includes a cover of KISS' "Rock And Roll All Nite", previously only available on the soundtrack to the movie "Less Than Zero". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - January 30, 2006.

April 4, 1989: Europe was "Out Of This World" but really still in Europe with a tour that took the band from London on the 1st to the Ahoy' indoor arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands. 73 shows in 20 countries, but only one in North America at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California in September that year.

April 4, 1991: Winger were touring with Deep Purple, but made a pit stop at Saratoga Winners, "a roadside club no bigger than most people's houses," in Albany, New York. A month later, frontman Kip Winger would be on the cover of Playgirl Magazine. -Kerrang!

April 1987: English band Shy released their third studio album "Excess All Areas" in the UK (May '87 in North America), featuring their biggest hit "Break Down The Walls", co-written with Don Dokken. Release information source: [UK] Kerrang! feature - April 2, 1987; Debuted Official Album chart on April 11, 1987.

April 1986: Van Hagar were introduced to the UK with the first single and album now in record shops. "Why Can't This Be Love" from "5150" would hit the Official Charts on April 5th and rise to No. 8. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - April 3, 1986.

April 4, 1986: From the album "The Final Frontier", Keel's cover of "Because The Night" (Patti Smith Group) was now available as a single in the UK. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - April 3, 1986.

April 2003: Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach was fired from the touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and replaced by his understudy. Bach said at the time that after five months of shows, the producers told the cast "a brand new ending" was needed which "would effectively erase any sense of rock'n'roll from the curtain call and leave everyone walking out without the sense of elation and excitement that was part of the show." Read More

April 4, 2007: A Swedish couple tried to name their baby girl "Metallica", but tax officials dub the name "inappropriate." Under Swedish law, both first names and surnames need to win the approval of authorities before they can be used. Eventually, the name was officially accepted.

Spring 1988: Warner Brothers Music filed a plagiarism lawsuit against Poison, claiming their hit single "I Want Action" was a direct rip-off of the 1983 Easy Action song "We Go Rocking", which was released by Sire records and distributed by Warner. The suit claimed $500,000 damages, and Capitol, Poison's record company, withheld royalties due to the band on the song until the matter was settled, which it was when a financial settlement was evenutually awarded in the case. Swedish glam band Easy Action featured guitarist Kee Marcello, who would later replace John Norum in Europe.

"Jesus, it's not like we're poets or philosophers or anything. Sure, sex is a big part of life - without it we all wouldn't be here - but the truth is there's a lot of other things to write about that are just as important and just as much fun." -KISS' Paul Stanely, as told to RAW Magazine - April 1985.