Hair Band History (August 31st)

Late August 1988: Originally formed in 1980 in St. Paul, Minnesota by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund and after numerous lineup changes, Vixen released their self-titled debut album featuring singles "Edge Of A Broken Heart", "Cryin'" and "Love Made Me".

Vixen debut release information source: [US] Billboard Magazine front page ad - August 27, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! review - September 10, 1988.

Happy Birthday to Scorpions founder and guitarist Rudolph Schenker (August 31, 1948).

Happy Birthday to Winger and Whitesnake guitarist Reb Beach (August 31, 1963).

August 31, 1987: Ahead of the release of their new album "Crazy Nights", KISS issued the lead single "Crazy Crazy Nights" in North America (late September in the UK). While it only reached No. 65 in the US, the song was a Top 5 smash in the UK, the band's first Top 10 hit across the pond. Release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - August 28, 1987; [UK] Kerrang! ad - September 17, 1987; Debuted Official Singles chart on October 3, 1987.

August 31, 1986: The "Monsters Of Rock" Festival traveled to Mannheim, West Germany with headliner Scorpions, preceded by Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, McAuley Schenker Group, Bon Jovi and Warlock.

August 31, 1991: Skid Row were in London opening for Guns N' Roses at Wembley Stadium, which would turn out to be their last time playing that venue as the band was banned from the Wembley complex after Sebastian Bach "defied a swearing ban some 40 times, bassist Rachel Bolan dived into the crowd, and drummer Rob Affuso reputedly lowered his flies!" -Kerrang! The scheduled November show was moved to London Docklands Arena. On September 2nd, the title track from their latest album, "Slave To The Grind", was released as the second single in the UK.

For Guns N' Roses, their Wembley appearance would turn out to be the last for guitarist Izzy Stradlin as an official member of the band.

August 31, 1984: Before they were hair band stars, Trixter were just kids when they played the roller rink in their hometown of Paramus, New Jersey. They were called Rade when they were formed a year earlier by guitarist Steve Brown (who was then twelve years old) and bassist Doug "Dougie C." Cowie.

August 1991: Montgomery, Alabama hard rockers McQueen Street released their self-titled debut album featuring singles "When I'm In The Mood" and "In Heaven". The LP was produced by Tom Werman [Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Stryper, Kix, L.A. Guns, Poison, Dokken, Krokus, Lita Ford]. Kerrang! ad - August 31, 1991

August 31, 1988: After completing drug rehabilitation, Aerosmith came back strong with the "Permanent Vacation" album and the tour to support it picked up Guns N' Roses as opener for the summer '88 dates including a stop in Pittsburgh.

The August 1983 issue of Circus Magazine featured the lyrics for Quiet Riot's monster hit single "Metal Health", because it was 1983... A reminder how easy we have it today.