Hair Band History (August 3rd)

August 3, 1987: Over four years after the release of "Pyromania", Def Leppard's fourth studio album "Hysteria" was now in stores in North America (August 21st in the UK). The wait was worth it for fans as seven hit singles drove the LP to over 20 million copies sold worldwide.

Def Leppard "Hysteria" release date source: [US] Billboard Magazine - August 1, 1987; Billboard ad - August 8, 1987; [UK] Kerrang! ad - August 20, 1987.

August 3, 1987: Bon Jovi released "Never Say Goodbye" as the fourth and final single from the album "Slippery When Wet" in the UK. Not officially released as a single in the US, rock radio played it anyway and the song reached No. 11 on the US Billboard Mainstream rock chart. Release date source: Kerrang! ad - August 6, 1987.

August 3, 1984: Ahead of their "Monsters Of Rock" appearance at Castle Donington on the 18th, a still relatively unknown Mötley Crüe released "Looks That Kill" as a 12" single in the UK that included a free iron on transfer. Release information source: Kerrang! ad - August 9, 1984.

Early August 1984: Ahead of their new album "The Blitz", Krokus released "Midnite Maniac" in North America as the lead single, and it went on to be a US Top 10 rock hit, plus the band became the first Swiss act to hit the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Release information source: R&R radio trade publication 'Most Added' - August 10, 1984.

August 1985: In the heart of summer, the latest single from Y&T, "Summertime Girls", was issued in the UK. Release information source: Sounds Magazine ad - August 3, 1985.

Remembering original Y&T guitarist Joey Alves, who would have celebrated a birthday today (August 3, 1955). Joey died in 2017. R.I.P.

August 3, 1985: With opener Bon Jovi in tow, RATT returned home to Southern California as the "World Infestation Tour" dropped in Irvine.

August 1986: A few months after the release of their debut album "Look What The Cat Dragged In", Poison were touring with Loudness as the opening act.

August 3, 1991: Guns N' Roses brought the "Use Your Illusion" tour to the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Skid Row opened and during GnR's encore, Sebastian Bach guested on "You're Crazy"... "I tell ya, being a part of a band this big was awesome, traveling with Skid Row was so much fun. That was my kind of tour... In a nutshell: Total Outrage." -Slash