Hair Band History (May 19th)

May 1989: Winger released power ballad "Headed For A Heartbreak" in North America as the third single from their debut album. Kip Winger has said he was fooling around with his keyboard and "basically the riff just fell onto me by accident." Release information source: R&R radio trade publication ad - May 19, 1989.

May 19, 1992: Dedicated to drummer Eric Carr who passed away six months earlier, KISS released their 16th studio album "Revenge" in North America (May 15th in the UK) that spawned five singles including "I Just Wanna" (co-written by former guitarist Vinnie Vincent), power ballad "Everytime I Look At You" and "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II" that also appears on the soundtrack to the movie "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey".

KISS "Revenge" release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - May 15, 1992; [UK] Kerrang! review - May 9, 1992; Debuted Official album chart on May 23, 1992.

May 19, 1990: The second studio album from Netherlands glam rockers Sleeze Beez, "Screwed, Blued And Tattooed", debuted at No. 174 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and was on the rise with single and MTV music video hit "Stranger Than Paradise".

May 19, 1992: Memphis rockers Tora Tora released their second studio album "Wild America" in North America (one day earlier in the UK), a worthy follow-up to their successful 1989 debut, but it achieved limited sales. Single "Amnesia" was a US Top 40 rock hit. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - May 15, 1992; [UK] Kerrang! - May 16, 1992.

May 1995: Van Halen released "Amsterdam" in North America as the third single from the album "Balance". Based upon Sammy Hagar's tourist impression of the Dutch city and the freedom he felt there, it was a US Top 10 rock hit. Release information source: The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - May 19, 1995.

Remembering former Rough Cutt guitarist [1983-87] Chris Hager who died May 19, 2025 at age 67. Chris also formed Mickey Ratt with Stephen Pearcy in 1977. R.I.P. “This morning I’m very saddened to hear about the passing of my dear friend, guitarist and musician Christopher (Chris) Hager. Chris and I started Mickey Ratt together in San Diego 1977 and in moving to L.A. actually created the band RATT in 1981. Chris was an amazing person, a great guitarist, songwriter and so committed to being just that. He went on to create a few projects over the years with Sarge, Rough Cutt, Woop and the Count and our solo project Pearcy/Hager. We were actually working on new songs recently, and they will be heard. I’m at loss my friend, we’ve been through a lot together. God bless you brother." -Stephen Pearcy

Remembering Smashed Gladys lead singer Sally Cato, who died May 19, 2020. R.I.P. Formed in Toronto in 1984, the glam rockers released two albums in the late '80s.

May 1984: Dokken were in the studio recording their second album "Tooth And Nail". The UK's Kerrang! Magazine referred to guitarist George Lynch as "briefly a member of Ozzy's band". 🤔

May 19, 1986: W.A.S.P. released "Wild Child" in the UK as the second single from the album "The Last Command". The music video was filmed in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - May 15, 1986.

For your younger friends looking to catch up, Alice Cooper's best of from the '80s "Freedom For Frankenstein (Hits & Pieces 1984-1991)" was issued in 1998 with all the classic cuts including "Hey Stoopid" and of course, "Poison".

May 19, 1992: With new guitarist Vivian Campbell, Def Leppard began a 13 day European club tour in Madrid as a warm up for the "Adrenalize" World Tour, also known as the Adrenalize "Seven Day Weekend Tour".

May 19, 2023: Def Leppard released the album "Drastic Symphonies", a refresh of their back catalogue performed with Britain's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, including "Pour Some Sugar On Me (Stripped Version)" which is presented in a quieter piano-and-strings arrangement. Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - March 20, 2023.