Hair Band History (May 17th)

May 1991: Released in March, Steelheart power ballad "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" was rising on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the music video showing often on MTV. Their biggest hit, by the summer, it would rise into the Top 25. R&R US radio trade publication ad - May 17, 1991

May 1987: Vince Neil was on the cover of Blast! Magazine, where you could learn about his "Hot Desire", plus "Win! a phone call from Poison's Bret Michaels"...From the "Talk Dirty To Me" music video "Cindy, it's for you...That Bret sounds like such a nice boy."

May 17, 1986: Van Halen's "Why Can't This Be Love", the first single from the album "5150" and first with Sammy Hagar, peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the Top 10 in the UK, Australia and Germany, and No. 13 in Canada.

May 17, 1987: With nearly 30,000 in attendance, Bon Jovi and Cinderella performed at Iowa Jam held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Happy Birthday to Great White drummer Audie Desbrow (May 17, 1957).

Remembering producer Bruce Fairbairn [Bon Jovi "Slippery When Wet" & "New Jersey", Poison "Flesh & Blood, Van Halen "Balance" and many more), who died May 17, 1999 at age 49. R.I.P.

May 1980: Original KISS drummer Peter Criss left the band. Dozens of replacement candidates auditioned, including future Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres, but they settled on a little-known drummer-guitarist-pianist-keyboardist-singer from Brooklyn named Paul Caravello, who adopted the stage name Eric Carr.

May 17, 2005: Def Leppard released two-disc anthology album "Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection" in North America, featuring 35 songs. It peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard 200. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - April 8, 2005.

May 1987: Guitarist Jake E. Lee parted company with Ozzy Osbourne's band. Replacement candidates at the time included Vinnie Moore and Chris Impellitteri. "One thing is certain... one of the finest guitarists around today and whatever he decides to turn his hand to in the future will be worthy of instant investigation." -Kerrang!