Hair Band History (December 17th)

December 17, 1988: "Half Wendy O half Tammy Wynette," read the Kerrang! review of Lita Ford's headline show ten days earlier at London's Marquee Club. Jon Bon Jovi and the band joined Lita for the encores.

December 1987: Philadelphia's Britny Fox signed a multi-album record deal and in all their excitement, informed the press their debut album would be released March 28, 1988. Turned out to be June '88, but who's keeping track? 😊 -Kerrang!

December 1999: Recorded in Japan where they are an even bigger deal than their home turf in America, Firehouse released their first live album "Bring 'Em Out Live".

December 17, 1988: Guns N' Roses' second album "G N' R Lies" debuted at No. 66 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. The success of single "Patience", released in April 1989, pushed the LP to No. 2.

December 17, 1987: Guns N' Roses first North American tour saw the band open for bands The Cult, Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden and Aerosmith, plus a handful of dates for Alice Cooper. On this day four years later, GnR headlined the second of two shows at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.

December 1989: "Coming through loud and clear", Los Angeles rockers Salty Dog released "Come Along" as the lead single from their forthcoming debut album "Every Dog Has Its Day". Release information source: FMQB radio trade publication ad - December 15, 1989.

December 17, 1994: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and actress Heather Locklear were married in Paris. They divorced in 2007.

December 17, 1988: Their debut album "Vivid" well-received in the UK, Living Colour were featured in Britain's Kerrang! Magazine... "The thing is, we weren't signed as a band to sell records, we were signed as a band that was different and as one that was doing something new. Our record label Epic have got Michael Jackson, so they're not exactly hurting for cash! It's working out okay." -Vernon Reid. The band would breakout several months later in America with single "Cult Of Personality".

December 17/18, 1983: One of the largest hard rock heavy metal lineups of all time played the Dortmund Rock Pop Festival in Germany... Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, Krokus, Michael Schenker Group and Iron Maiden... Wow! Images: Kerrang!