Hair Band History (August 29th)

Late August 1989: Going less glam and more blues-influenced, Faster Pussycat released their second studio album "Wake Me When It's Over", featuring singles "Poison Ivy" and power ballad "House Of Pain", the latter a US Top 30 hit.

Faster Pussycat "Wake Me When It's Over" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! 'set for release in August' - June 24, 1989; Kerrang! review - September 2, 1989; Kerrang! ad - September 9, 1989; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight, but no radio adds yet - September 8, 1989.

Late August 1989: Nashville hard rockers Giant released their debut album "Last Of The Runaways", featuring singles "I'm A Believer", "Innocent Days" and their biggest hit, US Top 20 power ballad, "I'll See You In My Dreams". Release information source: The Hard Report radio trade publication spotlight - August 25, 1989.

August 29, 1987: Def Leppard's fourth studio album "Hysteria" debuted at No. 1 in the UK, their first LP to reach the top spot in their home country. It would be almost another year before it topped the charts in the US.

August 29, 1992: Guns N' Roses' second highest charting single "November Rain" peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. At nearly nine minutes long, it would become the longest single to enter the Top 20 at that time. Slash has stated in his biography the band recorded an 18-minute version of the song in 1986.

August 29, 1987: The debut album from Guns N' Roses, "Appetite For Destruction", debuted at No. 182 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. The LP received little attention initially and their record label was about to "walk away" from it until the band hit with third single, "Sweet Child O' Mine".

White Lion single "Wait" was issued in June 1987 and promoted to North American radio stations in late August, but didn't start receiving airplay until December. The song first charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 in late February 1988. The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - August 28, 1987

August 29, 1989: After signing with Megaforce, Phoenix rockers Icon released their fourth studio album "Right Between The Eyes" in North America (April 1990 in the UK), that includes an appearance by Alice Cooper and features single "Taking My Breath Away".

Icon "Right Between The Eyes" release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - August 18, 1989 (Note: 'Street date' noted as August 28th. However, starting in April 1989, all US LPs were released on Tuesdays); [UK] Kerrang! ad - April 7, 1990.

Happy Birthday to original Faster Pussycat guitarist [1985-93] Greg Steele (August 29, 1963).

August 29, 1988: With their debut album in stores for several weeks, Winger were in heavy promotion mode and brought the "Too Tuff To Tame" Tour to Santa Monica, California with Mr. Big and King's X.

Scorpions and RATT were touring together and performed in Tacoma, Washington on August 29, 1985. I was at this show and put the ticket stub in a scrapbook, writing above it "Excellent Concert". I was short on details in those days 😀

August 29, 1986: Bon Jovi and Cinderella were shaking up the summer on American rock radio with the "infectious hooks" of singles "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Shake Me".