Hair Band History (July 1st)

"From Golden Girl To Platinum And Still Climbing", what a year it was for Lita Ford, with her third and most successful album "Lita", featuring US Top 15 hit singles "Kiss Me Deadly" (12) and "Close My Eyes Forever" with Ozzy Osbourne (8), reaching the Top 30 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Billboard Magazine ad - July 1, 1989

A young Jon Bongiovi recorded "Runaway" with studio musicians. The song was a hit in New York and Jon signed with PolyGram Records on July 1, 1983. Looking for a band name, "Johnny Electric" was considered before settling on "Bon Jovi".

The original "Runaway" recorded with studio musicians featured Tim Pierce, who played all the guitars on the track, but was passed over for Richie Sambora. Since then, Tim has performed on albums by acts like Michael Jackson, Phil Collins and others. Read More

Happy Birthday to White Lion co-founder and guitarist Vito Bratta (July 1, 1961).

July 1, 1989: White Lion's third studio album "Big Game" debuted at No. 73 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Featuring singles "Little Fighter", "Radar Love" and "Cry For Freedom", it reached the Top 20 a month later.

July 1, 1989: After playing Japan at the end of June, Poison launched the "Nothin' But A Good Time Down Under Tour" with two shows at National Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia. The band next performed in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne again, Adelaide and Perth before concluding the entire tour at The Supertop in Auckland, New Zealand on July 15th.

July 1, 1985: RATT brought the "World Infestation Tour" to the Mesker Amphitheater in Evansville, Indiana. Bon Jovi was listed as opener on the ad, but didn't join the tour until July 4th. Y&T and Mama's Boys opened this show.

July 1, 1988: Released a few days earlier, the new album from Stryper titled "In God We Trust" was on sale at Tower Records... $6.99 on LP or cassette and $12.99 for the CD. Overall, sales of CDs overtook vinyl in 1989 and cassettes in 1991.

Released in North America in late March 1987, Whitesnake's self-titled album went platinum in US sales by July 1st that year. Featuring singles "Still Of The Night", "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love" and "Give Me All Your Love", the LP has sold 15x platinum as of 2017.

Summer 1987: Ahead of the release of their debut album due July 10th in North America, Faster Pussycat issued the first single, "Don't Change That Song". The music video was directed by Russ Meyer, who wrote and directed '70s sexploitation films such as "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!"

July 1, 1996: Def Leppard released "Work It Out" in the UK as the second single from the album "Slang". Written by guitarist Vivian Campbell, it was a Top 25 pop hit in the UK. The track had a more successful run on the US rock chart, reaching No. 6 in May that year. Release information source: Debuted on the UK Official singles chart on July 13, 1996.

July 1984: Sammy Hagar released "Two Sides of Love" as the lead single from his forthcoming album "VOA". "I Can't Drive 55" followed in August and then a year later Sammy joined Van Halen, replacing David Lee Roth. Release information source: R&R radio trade publication ad - July 6, 1984.

July 1, 1982: Judas Priest released their eighth studio album "Screaming For Vengeance" in North America (one day later in the UK). Propelled by hit single "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", the LP debuted on the UK album chart on July 17th, reaching No. 11 and the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart on July 24th, peaking at No. 17. Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication 'New Releases' - June 25, 1982; [UK] Kerrang! Ad - July 1, 1982.

Happy Canada Day! Celebrate safely and enjoy non-stop Hair Band hits of the '80s and '90s on HAIR BAND RADIO! Get the app or listen online.