Hair Band History (October 4th)

October 1984: Eight months after its release in America, Bon Jovi's first single "Runaway" was issued in the UK. A US Billboard Hot 100 hit, the song did not chart across the pond, but the album did and the band would rise to worldwide fame. "Despite their pretty boy looks, Kiss' European tour support act Bon Jovi are most definitely not the Duran Duran of Heavy Metal." -Kerrang!

Bon Jovi "Runaway" single release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - October 4, 1984.

October 4, 1993: Def Leppard released compilation album "Retro-Active" in the UK (one day later in North America) featuring remixed, revamped and reinvented B-sides and previously unreleased songs recorded between 1984 and 1993, including an acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind".

Def Leppard "Retro-Active" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! review - October 2, 1993; Debuted Official album chart on October 16, 1993; [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - September 24, 1993.

October 1991: US hair bands invaded the UK as part of 'Live At The Astoria - An American Dream' with a run of shows that began on the 4th with Tuff, followed by XYZ, Bang Tango, Cry Wolf, and Badlands. Images: Kerrang!

October 4, 1988: After 129 shows in North America, Japan and Europe, KISS concluded the "Crazy Nights" Tour in Belfast. Gene Simmons was to next audition as a villain for the 1989 James Bond film "Licence To Kill", but dropped out.

October 4, 1987: As "Welcome To The Jungle" was hitting the UK singles chart, Guns N' Roses launched a short tour in Newcastle with Faster Pussycat. Four days later they were playing London's Hammersmith Odeon.

October 4, 1996: Van Halen announced that former Extreme singer Gary Cherone would replace Sammy Hagar as the band’s new frontman. The only album recorded with this lineup was issued in March 1998.

October 4, 1993: Bon Jovi launched the Australian leg of the "Keep The Faith" Tour in Perth with nine shows total, including three in Melbourne and three in Sydney... All sold out!

Happy Birthday to Triumph drummer/co-vocalist Gil Moore (October 4, 1953).

October 4, 1989: A press release notified American media that the "much-anticipated" eighth studio album from Whitesnake titled "Slip Of The Tongue" was scheduled for release on November 7th, with lead single "Fool For Your Loving" to be issued on October 17th. "The lyrics explore the themes of love on different levels--mostly horizontal and perpendicular knee-trembling levels," notes David Coverdale slyly about the songs on the album.

October 4, 2015: After 39 shows, Van Halen completed their "2015 North American Tour" at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Sadly, this ended up being the final Van Halen concert ever.