Hair Band History (December 8th)

Happy Birthday to Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen (December 8, 1957).

December 8, 1986: When recording began, they were known as City Kidd, but changed their name to Tesla and released their debut album "Mechanical Resonance" featuring singles "Little Suzi", "Gettin' Better" and "Modern Day Cowboy".

Tesla "Mechanical Resonance" release information source: [US] R&R radio trade publication AOR debut appearance - December 12, 1986; Billboard Magazine - December 20, 1986; [UK] Kerrang! - December 25, 1986.

December 8, 1990: Poison's "Something To Believe In", the second single from the album "Flesh & Blood", peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

December 8, 1990: Cinderella's third studio album "Heartbreak Station" debuted on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart at No. 69. Featuring hit singles "Shelter Me", "The More Things Change" and the title track, the LP would rise to No. 19 two weeks later.

December 8, 1984: With Bruce Kulick officially signing a contract a day earlier to become their fourth lead guitar player, KISS brought the "Animalize" World Tour to Detroit, that was taped for an MTV special and later released as "Animalize Live Uncensored" on VHS home video.

December 8, 1982: After filming the "Photograph" music video at the Battersea Power Station building in central London a week earlier, Def Leppard returned to that location to shoot the "Rock Of Ages" video. Years later, new Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell commented "Look at the size of Joe's sword." 🤭

Triumph released "Follow Your Heart" as a single from the album "Thunder Seven" in late 1984.

Remembering Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, who died December 8, 1984 at age 24. R.I.P.

After the marathon "Love At First Sting" Tour in 1984, Scorpions only played a handful of dates in 1985 to promote the "World Wide Live" album, with one of those shows in August in Tacoma, Washington, which I attended 😎 and even though they had been off the road since September, the band was still getting press. Hit Parader - December 1985