Hair Band History (April 9th)

April 9, 1991: White Lion released their fourth studio album "Mane Attraction" in North America (one day earlier in the UK) featuring singles "Love Don't Come Easy", power ballad "You're All I Need" and a re-recorded version of the band's 1985 debut single "Broken Heart".

White Lion "Mane Attraction" release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - April 5, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - March 16, 1991.

April 1987: Billboard Magazine reported that Ozzy Osbourne had ordered his 3 1/2 year old daughter, Amy, to stop listening to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" album. "It was getting ridiculous - she wouldn't stop playing the tape." said Osbourne. "I like the Bon Jovi album, but there's a limit to just how many times you can hear it a day." Rumours that little Amy has complied with her father's wishes for fear of having her head bitten off have been denied. Incidentally, when Jon Bon Jovi discovered that she was a fan of the New Jersey rockers, he actually called her on the phone to say hello." 🤗

Europe released EP "On The Loose" in Sweden and parts of Europe in 1985. It is the soundtrack to the Swedish film of the same name and features the original version of "Rock The Night", which was re-recorded for the album "The Final Countdown" a year later and re-issued as a single in 1987. Already stars in their home country, the band was featured in the movie, where singer Joey Tempest sparks the jealousy of the main character Peter who learns his girlfriend Nina had a relationship with Joey many years earlier. At the Europe concert, Peter gets drunk and goes berserk before the safety officer Frasse makes Peter realize he should pull himself together and go sort things out with Nina 🤗

April 9, 1991: Cinderella and Slaughter were touring Canada and landed in Edmonton. The "Heartbreak Station" Tour was 96 shows. A DVD titled "Cinderella: In Concert - The Heartbreak Station Tour" was released in 2005.

April 1988: Produced by RATT's Robbin Crosby, New Orleans rockers Lillian Axe released their self-titled debut album featuring single "Dream Of A Lifetime" in North America. A year earlier, the band was considering several singers including Jani Lane of Warrant, who were already in negotiations with Columbia Records. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - April 15, 1988.

April 1989: Kerrang! reported Pretty Boy Floyd signed a major recording deal with MCA after only eight months on the L.A. club circuit. The band's debut album "Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz" hit stores in early October that year.

April 1990: Released a month earlier in North America, the debut album from Damn Yankees was issued in the UK. Kerrang! ad - April 7, 1990

April 1990: Nearly a year after its release in North America, Tora Tora's debut album "Surprise Attack", featuring singles "Guilty", "Phantom Rider" and US Hot 100 hit "Walkin' Shoes", was available in Europe. RAW Magazine ad - April 4, 1990

April 9, 1991: New Jersey rockers Saraya released their second studio album "When The Blackbird Sings" in North America (May 13th in the UK) and then split up. Lead singer Sandi Saraya was briefly married to Tesla's Brian Wheat in the early '90s. Guitarist Tony Rey has produced Joan Jett and Rihanna. Release date source: [US] CMJ New Music Report - April 5, 1991; [UK] Kerrang! - May 11, 1991.

April 9, 1986: On the road in Europe, Twisted Sister brought the "Come Out And Play" Tour to Grugahalle in Essen, Germany. Guitarist Jay Jay (John) French wrote an article for The New York Times in 2008 and noted a week before Twisted Sister played Germany, terrorists targeting American servicemen bombed a disco in Berlin, and on April 26th, "as we drove to Paris for our final show of the tour, Chernobyl exploded." 😬

April 1988: It was no secret that Dokken's George Lynch and Don Dokken didn't always get along, but they played up the feud for the cover of Hit Parader Magazine.