Hair Band History (October 23rd)

October 23, 1995: Def Leppard released their first greatest hits album "Vault" in the UK (October 31st in North America), promoting it with concerts on three different continents (Africa, Europe, North America) on the same day and making the Guinness Book Of World Records.

Def Leppard "Vault" release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - October 7, 1995 (originally scheduled for Oct. 16th, but delayed one week); Kerrang! ad - October 21, 1995 [US] HITS radio trade publication ad - October 30, 1995.

October 1988: "High School was never like this!", the music video for "Girlschool" from Britny Fox became a Top 3 request after just one play on MTV.

October 1990: After leaving Dokken a year earlier, guitarist George Lynch formed "Lynch Mob", that included Dokken bandmate Mick Brown on drums along with singer Oni Logan, and they released their debut album "Wicked Sensation".

Lynch Mob "Wicked Sensation" release information source: There are two dates in October 1990 commonly listed as the release date for "Wicked Sensation" in the US (Tuesday, October 9th and Tuesday, October 23rd), but no confirmation of either date. The album was reviewed in the October 12th issue of radio trade publication 'The Gavin Report' and the October 13th issue of Kerrang! with the latter showing an October 15th release date in the UK. Guitarist George Lynch posted on social media in 2022 the release date was October 23rd. A front page ad appeared in the October 27th issue of Billboard Magazine and Kerrang! also had a full page ad in their October 27th issue. Finally, a full page ad appeared in radio trade publication 'Hits' Magazine on November 6th. In this same issue, a weekly feature called "Music Stores Top Tens" included "Wicked Sensation" ranked for the first time. The album debuted on the US Billboard 200 on November 10, 1990. 🤔

After singer/bassist Jack Blades left to join super-group Damn Yankees, Night Ranger went on a brief hiatus in 1990, so it was a good time to release their first live album "Live In Japan", recorded two years earlier.

October 23, 1989: British rockers Shy released their fourth studio album "Misspent Youth" in the UK (March 1990 in North America) featuring single "Give It All You Got". The band toured with Bon Jovi and Twisted Sister. Release date source: Kerrang! - October 7, 1989.

October 1990: King's X released their third studio album "Faith Hope Love" in North America, their first to crack the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart with the help of successful single "It's Love". Release information source: Debuted US and UK album charts on November 10, 1990.

All-female rockers Precious Metal released their second studio album in North America in late October 1990. The band made a video for single "Mr. Big Stuff" with a certain real estate mogul, whose fee jumped from $10K to $250K after it was complete, so it was re-shot with a double. Release information source: HITS radio trade publication ad - November 12, 1990.

Happy Anniversary Dee and Suzette Snider, married in October 1981. Dee has said they nearly broke up in '84, "Twisted Sister was at the top of the charts and it went to my head."

October 23, 1993: Def Leppard power ballad "Two Steps Behind", from the album "Retro Active" and movie soundtrack "The Last Action Hero", peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (it also reached No. 5 in Canada).

October 23, 1986: In support of his latest album "Constrictor", Alice Cooper launched the "Nightmare Returns" Tour at Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California. Alice said the tour would center around the concept of "Splatter Rock", noting the first few rows of his audiences had better wear raincoats because the show "involves a lot of blood." 😱  

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