Great White-...Twice Shy (1989)

Great White are one of the great American hard rock bands of the 1980s, remembered as much for a series of superb albums that enjoyed immense success as for one of the most tragic events in rock history. Formed in California in the late 1970s, they were initially associated with the hair metal movement so popular in the 1980s. However, their first album didn't arrive until 1984, their self-titled debut, which leaned towards classic heavy metal. A change of record label and lineup led to their second album, "Shot in the Dark" (1986), which showcased their blues roots and clear Led Zeppelin influences. Their next and highly successful album, "Once Bitten" (1987), confirmed their irresistible style of hard blues rock, resulting in a memorable record that sold over a million copies in the United States. But it was with their fourth release, "...Twice Shy" (1989), that they truly exploded onto the scene, crafting a masterful exercise in superb hard rock with Southern and blues influences. With a repertoire as brilliant as it is breathtaking, it features songs like the vigorous "Move It", the Southern-tinged "Heart the Hunter", the fast-paced heavy rock "Baby's on Fire", the bluesy "House of Broken Love", the catchy cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", and the beautiful ballad "The Angel Song". A number nine spot on the Billboard charts and over two million copies sold confirmed this masterpiece. Some years later, specifically in 2003, during one of their concerts in Rhode Island, an unfortunate incident led to a terrible fire that claimed the lives of one hundred people, including the band's guitarist Try Longley, as well as many other serious injuries, making this regrettable event one of the darkest chapters in contemporary music.