Hair Band History (September 27th)

September 1984: The music video for RATT's next single "Back For More", with cameos from Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, was getting played on MTV in the US. The UK was excited too... "It's done the Yanks a power of good." -Kerrang! In the Year of the RATT, the band's debut album "Out Of The Cellar" had just gone platinum.

Late September 1988: After some time off to recover from the "Monsters Of Rock" stadium tour, Van Halen were gearing up to hit the road again. "Finish What Ya Started" was just released as the third single from the album "OU812". Eddie Van Halen came up with the riff at 2AM and the song about unfulfilled sex went on to be a Top 15 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. Release information source: [US] HITS radio trade publication ad - September 19, 1988.

September 27, 1985: KISS' Gene Simmons guest starred on "Miami Vice" playing a drug dealer. A year earlier, he was the villan in the Tom Selleck movie "Runaway" and in 1987, a terrorist in "Wanted: Dead or Alive". Seems "The Demon" was typecast 🤔

September 27, 1984: Autograph released their debut album "Sign In Please" in North America featuring US Top 30 hit "Turn Up The Radio", which was almost not included on the LP because the record label "didn't find it suitable enough for inclusion." 😮 Release date source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - September 21, 1984.

September 27, 1988: Stryper launched the "In God We Trust" Tour at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee with special guest White Lion.

September 27, 2007: Van Halen kicked off their reunion tour with David Lee Roth and new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was their first tour with Roth in 23 years and it grossed over $93 million over 74 dates.

September 27, 2011: Sebastian Bach released his second solo studio album since leaving Skid Row "Kicking & Screaming" in North America (September 21st in Japan, 23rd in Europe). Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - August 22, 2011.

September 1989: Bon Jovi's fourth studio album "New Jersey" became the first LP from a US rock band to have an album released on the official government label in the Soviet Union. The band received a flat fee regardless of how many albums were sold.

September 1990: Metalshop "The Only Magazine With Teeth" had Steve Vai on the cover asking "The Man Who Saved Whitesnake?", Metallica "The Last From Lars?" plus Warrant was having "Trouble With Success". We needed to know.