Hair Band History (May 16th)

May 16, 1986: Poison released their debut album "Look What The Cat Dragged In" in North America (October 17, 1986 in the UK), a slow build that didn't chart in the US until August that year, but hit singles "Talk Dirty To Me", "I Want Action" and "I Won't Forget You" made it a Top 3 LP a year later.

Poison "Look What The Cat Dragged In" release date source: [US] Multiple rock magazine ads - May 1986; [UK] Kerrang! - October 16, 1986.

May 16, 1987: Exactly a year after the release of their debut album "Look What The Cat Dragged In", the first single from Poison "Talk Dirty To Me", peaked at No. 9 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canada's RPM Top Singles chart and the music video was still in Heavy Rotation on MTV.

May 1986: Van Halen released "Dreams" in North America as the second single from the album "5150". Producer Mick Jones has said "I was able to push Sammy (Hagar) to new heights – literally. He was singing so high that he was hyperventilating. He almost passed out." Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication ad - May 16, 1986.

May 16, 1989: Featuring former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee, Badlands released their self-titled debut album in North America (May 29th in the UK). Lead single "Dreams In The Dark" was a US Top 40 rock hit and the video, along with Zeppelin-like "Winter’s Call" played on MTV.

Badlands debut release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - May 12, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! - May 27, 1989.

May 16, 1995: Dokken released their fifth studio album "Dysfunctional" in North America, their first after reuniting two years earlier and originally intended to be a Don Dokken solo album until guitarist George Lynch returned. Single "Too High To Fly" was a minor hit. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - May 22, 1995.

May 16, 1987: Two months before the release of their debut album and no longer playing the seedier clubs that curated their sound, Faster Pussycat were the next big thing out of Los Angeles and headlining "Scream At The Embassy Hotel".

May 16, 1987: After a playing five dates in Japan, RATT returned to the US with a show at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"Call Today And Hear About One Of America's Hottest Rock N' Roll Bands"... This ad for the Warrant Hotline appeared in a 1989 music-themed comic book. 😎

May 16, 1992: Guns N' Roses launched the second European Leg of the "Use Your Illusion" World Tour at Slane Castle in Ireland. That same night, KISS with special guest Danger Danger played SECC Hall 4 in Glasgow, Scotland as part of the "Revenge" Tour.