’80s Rock Where a Band Blew Up - Page 2

Here are 9 solid, widely-known examples from ’80s metal and hard rock where a band blew up with a breakthrough album and then stumbled with the follow-up.
(All standard music-history facts: no speculation, no defamation.)

1. Quiet Riot
Breakthrough:  Metal Health (1983) – first metal album to hit #1.
Follow-up:  Condition Critical (1984) – rushed, weaker chart run, didn’t come close to the success of Metal Health.


2. Ratt
Breakthrough:  Out of the Cellar (1984) – MTV staples, multi-platinum.
Follow-up:  Invasion of Your Privacy (1985) – well liked now, but sales dropped and hype cooled.

3. Dokken
Breakthrough:  Under Lock and Key (1985) – big MTV presence, platinum success.
Follow-up:  Back for the Attack (1987) – strong fan base, but didn’t match expectations set by the previous run.


4. Warrant
Breakthrough:  Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989).
Follow-up:  Cherry Pie (1990) – big single, but album sales slid and the glam-wave crash started.

5. Faster Pussycat
Breakthrough:  Faster Pussycat (1987) – cult favorite with strong MTV traction.
Follow-up:  Wake Me When It’s Over (1989) – didn’t expand their audience and underperformed compared to peers.

6. Great White
Breakthrough:  Once Bitten… (1987/88).
Follow-up:  …Twice Shy (1989) – despite the hit single, the album didn’t match or build on the prior momentum.

7. L.A. Guns
Breakthrough:  L.A. Guns (1988) – strong debut in the L.A. metal wave.
Follow-up:  Cocked & Loaded (1989) – had hits, but didn’t explode the way the label hoped; sales flattened quickly.


8. Britny Fox
Breakthrough:  Britny Fox (1988) – gold-certified hair-metal surge.
Follow-up:  Boys in Heat (1989) – fell fast as the scene became overcrowded; momentum evaporated.

9. Bang Tango
Breakthrough:  Psycho Café (1989) – MTV & Headbanger’s Ball favorite.
Follow-up:  Dancin’ on Coals (1991) – came out as the ’80s metal wave crashed; sales collapsed.