Van Halen Monsters of Rock 1988

Tweet

As summer is ending here in 2010, it's a great time to remember the Monsters of Rock Tour from the summer of 1988. Monsters of Rock tours were very popular in the USA and worldwide back in the 1980s. Some of the best rock and metal bands played together on tour. In the summer of 1988, you could see 20,000 fans in Akron, Ohio withstanding the 100 degree plus heat just to see Van Halen headline the Monsters Tour at the "Rubber Bowl". Check out the cities and tour dates listed below. Van Halen had just released their "OUO812" album, which is a good album in the post David Lee Roth - Van Halen era. The Monsters Tour was a great warm up to Van Halen's "OU812" tour that followed. There were also other great bands like Dokken, The Scorpions, and Metallica on the Monsters Tour '88. Dokken was hitting the road even before Monsters of Rock that same year like with concerts in Buffalo, New York playing their newest and biggest hit "Dream Warriors".

I was at the Orange Bowl with friends in Miami, Florida that summer in June, 1988 going to the Monsters Tour where I saw Van Halen for the second time. It was loud, packed, and one giant party while the bands jammed and got the crowd off their seats screaming! It was difficult to find any professional videos of the 1988 Monsters of Rock Tour. I did find on YouTube a couple of cool commercials, and one amateur poor quality audio/video of Van Halen in San Francisco performing "Summer Nights" as their first song opening the Monsters of Rock concert. Please share your memories of Monster Tours you have attended. When I went tt wasn't a big expensive event like you may see today, however it was a memorable experience listening to big named bands with great raw metal music and lots of fun sharing with friends. - Kenny Leibow

1988 (year with most Monsters of Rock events - including a touring one in the USA)
Bands included Kingdom Come, Dokken, Metallica, Scorpions and Van Halen
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Spain
• USA (toured - played several dates in several states)


Monsters of Rock Cities and Dates in the USA 1988
Pre-tour warmup gigs
• 23 May 1988: Los Angeles, California - The Troubadour (Metallica only)
• 24 May 1988: Los Angeles, California - The Troubadour (Metallica only)

Tour
• 27 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 28 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 29 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 4 June 1988: Miami, FL - Orange Bowl
• 5 June 1988: Tampa, FL - Tampa Stadium
• 10 June 1988: Washington DC - RFK Stadium
• 11 June 1988: Philadelphia, PA - JFK Stadium
• 12 June 1988: Foxboro, MA - Sullivan Stadium
• 15 June 1988: Pittsburgh, PA - Three Rivers Stadium
• 17 June 1988: Pontiac, MI - Pontiac Silverdome
• 18 June 1988: Pontiac, MI - Pontiac Silverdome
• 19 June 1988: Orchard Park, NY - Rich Stadium
• 22 June 1988: Akron, OH - Rubber Bowl
• 23 June 1988: Akron, OH - Rubber Bowl
• 24 June 1988: Oxford, ME - Oxford Plains Speedway CANCELLED
• 25 June 1988: Oxford, ME - Oxford Plains Speedway
• 26 June 1988: East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium
• 27 June 1988: East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium CANCELLED
• 2 July 1988: Houston, TX - Rice Stadium
• 3 July 1988: Dallas, TX - Cotton Bowl
• 6 July 1988: Indianapolis, IN - Hoosier Dome
• 8 July 1988: Memphis, TN - Liberty Bowl CANCELLED
• 9 July 1988: Memphis, TN - Liberty Bowl
• 10 July 1988: Kansas City, MO - Arrowhead Stadium
• 13 July 1988: Minneapolis, MN - The Metrodome
• 16 July 1988: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park
• 17 July 1988: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park CANCELLED
• 20 July 1988: Spokane, WA - Joe Albi Stadium
• 23 July 1988: Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum CANCELLED
• 24 July 1988: Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• 27 July 1988: Seattle, WA - Seattle Kingdome
• 30 July 1988: Denver, CO - Mile High Stadium



Original Monsters Of Rock Commercial – 1988





Van Halen - Summer Nights (live 1988) San Francisco
(Monsters of Rock Tour)





1988 Monsters Of Rock

100 Greatest Glam Metal Songs

Tweet

There are many lists that name the best Rock songs, Hard Rock and Metal songs of all time; but here is a fun list of the top "100 Glam Rock Songs". Like most lists, many of you will disagree with the song order, or discover some great song that is missing. My personal song list also differs from the one below, however what I like about this list is that they got most of the artists and bands right. My top 3 songs are: 1. Livin On A Prayer - Bon Jovi, 2. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses, 3. Rock and Roll All Nite - Kiss. Please comment on your top 3 Glam Rock Songs. - Kenny Leibow











100 Greatest Hair/Glam Metal Songs
Source: http://digitaldoor.nutsie.com

1. Photograph - Def Leppard
2. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
3. Jump - Van Halen
4. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
5. Cum on Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot
6. Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
7. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
8. Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe
9. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
10. You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
11. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
12. Rock of Ages - Def Leppard
13. No One Like You - Scorpions
14. Why Can't This Be Love - Van Halen
15. Detroit Rock City - KISS
16. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) - Cinderella
17. Round And Round - RATT
18. Heaven - Warrant
19. November Rain - Guns N' Roses
20. Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
21. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
22. Panama - Van Halen
23. Is This Love - Whitesnake
24. Unskinny Bop - Poison
25. Love Bites - Def Leppard
26. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses
27. 18 and Life - Skid Row
28. Cherry Pie - Warrant
29. High Enough - Damn Yankees
30. Without You - Mötley Crüe
31. Heaven Sent - Dokken
32. Girls, Girls, Girls - Mötley Crüe
33. Turn Up the Radio - Autograph
34. Headed For A Heartbreak - Winger
35. Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi
36. I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
37. Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse
38. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
39. Bringing On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard
40. The Final Countdown - Europe
41. Sister Christian - Night Ranger
42. When The Children Cry - White Lion
43. Love Song - Tesla
44. Once Bitten Twice Shy - Great White
45. Kiss Me Deadly - Lita Ford
46. Shout It Out Loud - KISS
47. Something To Believe In - Poison
48. To Hell With The Devil - Stryper
49. Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
50. Fly To The Angels - Slaughter
51. Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Quiet Riot
52. When I Look Into Your Eyes - Firehouse
53. Patience - Guns N' Roses
54. Burning Like A Flame - Dokken
55. I'll Wait - Van Halen
56. Close My Eyes Forever - Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne
57. To Be With You - Mr. Big
58. Fly High Michelle - Enuff Z'nuff
59. Nobody's Fool - Cinderella
60. L.O.V.E. Machine - W.A.S.P.
61. House of Pain - Faster Pussycat
62. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark - Y&T
63. I Was Made For Lovin' You - KISS
64. Get The Funk Out - Extreme
65. I Remember You - Skid Row
66. Alone Again - Dokken
67. Lay It Down - RATT
68. Where You Goin' Now - Damn Yankees
69. Sentimental Street - Night Ranger
70. Metal Health - Quiet Riot
71. Edge Of A Broken Heart - Vixen
72. Just Like Paradise - David Lee Roth
73. New Thing - Enuff Z'nuff
74. Heartbreak Blvd - Shotgun Messiah
75. Cold Day In Hell - Steeler
76. Kickstart My Heart - Mötley Crüe
77. (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection - Nelson
78. Never Let Go - Kick Axe
79. Someone Like You - Bang Tango
80. Rock the Night - Europe
81. Miles Away - Winger
82. Give It To Me Good - Trixter
83. Don't You Ever Leave Me - Hanoi Rocks
84. Naughty Naughty - Danger Danger
85. Wait - White Lion
86. Boyz Are Gonna Rock - Vinnie Vincent Invasion
87. Smooth Up In Ya - Bullet Boys
88. Feel The Shake - Jetboy
89. Rock Bottom - House of Lords
90. Up All Night - Slaughter
91. Bang Bang - Danger Danger
92. Teas'n, Pleas'n - Dangerous Toys
93. 10,000 Lovers (In One) - TNT
94. Set The Night On Fire - Pretty Boy Floyd
95. Soldiers Under Command - Stryper
96. Cryin' - Vixen
97. Sister of Pain - Vince Neil
98. Prime Mover - Zodiac Mindwarp
99. Long Way to Love - Britny Fox
100. Sleeping (In the Fire) - W.A.S.P.

Vixen - Rocks in '89

Tweet

Vixen in the late 1980's is one of the bands that lit up the stage with other heavy metal and hard rock bands. Sometimes referred to as the female Bon Jovi; Vixen created great music and fun live concerts. This is my first blog entry regarding female rock artists. Below is a brief history of Vixen. I have included 3 rock videos. The first video is on Vixen's big hit "Edge of a Broken Heart". The second video is a live concert in the late 1980's of Vixen performing "I Want You To Rock Me"; then the last video is the rock ballad "Cryin". Kenny Leibow

History

Vixen was formed in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1980 by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund while still at high school. In 1984, an early version of the band with Kuehnemund and singer Janet Gardner appeared in the movie Hardbodies as the on-screen band "Diaper Rash." In 1985 the band moved to Los Angeles to be part of the LA rock scene. Line-up changes happened during the following years until the 'classic' line-up of Jan Kuehnemund (guitar), Janet Gardner (vocals & rhythm guitar), Share Pedersen (bass guitar) and Roxy Petrucci (drums) was formed. This line-up of Vixen was interviewed in 1987 along with many other rock artists of the day by Penelope Spheeris for her film The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years.

In 1988 the band were signed to EMI and they began recording their debut album Vixen which was released in September 1988. Singer and Songwriter Richard Marx actually wrote and arranged their signature hit, "Edge of a Broken Heart," on the album. He also produced the song. Rumor was he was asked to assist the all-female band by EMI to produce their first major hit to compete with the all-female band The Bangles. Marx had nothing to do with their follow-up CD since he was becoming a more of a mainline singer than songwriter. The next year Vixen spent touring the world supporting acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions and Bon Jovi as well as headlining their own shows. The band returned to the studio in late 1989/early 1990 to record their follow up album Rev it Up which was released in July 1990. A year of touring followed including headlining their own shows and supporting acts such as KISS and Deep Purple. In mid 1991 the band split due to musical differences.

Source - http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Vixen_(band)

Band Members (1987–1991)
• Janet Gardner – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Jan Kuehnemund – lead guitar
• Share Pedersen – bass
• Roxy Petrucci – drums


Vixen - Edge of a Broken Heart



Vixen - (Live) I Want You To Rock Me


Vixen - Cryin