Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Journey, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Poison & Styx - VH1 Behind The Music

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Born out of small-town, blue-collar New Jersey, Bon Jovi emerged as a revolutionary force in '80s rock and roll. They sold over 80 million albums, and scored eight top 10 hits between 1986 and 1989. However, the group's grueling schedule nearly tore them apart: in 1990, after four consecutive albums and two major world tours, Bon Jovi split up. After several members pursued solos efforts, Bon Jovi regrouped in '92 with a another multiplatinum album, but the band's problems didn't disappear and "Behind the Music" covers it all. In '94, they fired their close friend and original bass player, Alec John Such. Today, the members of Bon Jovi continue to live fruitful lives: Tico Torres has turned a passion for art into a second career as a painter and sculptor; Dave Bryan has been trying his hand at scoring Broadway plays; Richie Sambora released his second solo album in 1998; and Jon Bon Jovi has turned to acting, landing memorable roles in movies like, "Moonlight and Valentino" and "U-571." Bon Jovi's new album, "Crush" will be officially released in U.S. stores in June 2000.

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British rock band Def Leppard, sold millions of albums along with concerts. Def Leppard, had big tastes of success in the 1980's until, alcohol and drugs had taken their toll. Those vices drove a member out of the band in 1982 and, another to an early grave in 1991. The surviving members discuss frankly about their beginnings and success. In addition, drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car accident while taking a break from recording their fourth album fourth LP "Hysteria".

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Guns N' Roses emerged from thicket of the hair metal jungle on Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the mid-80s and single-handedly reinvented rock and roll with righteous riffs and a real and present element of danger. Songs like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City" were not merely rebellious anthems; they were autobiographical snapshots of a band that lived and worked on the edge. The band's exploits became as notorious as its music as members dabbled with drugs, booze and other forms of debauchery.Guns' 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, struck a raw nerve - enrapturing teens and enraging parents. Thanks to arena-ready tunes like "Jungle" and "Sweet Child O Mine," the album would become one of the most successful debuts ever, selling more than 14 million copies worldwide.Led by vocalist Axl Rose, Guns were a magnet for controversy - be it album covers, song lyrics, or bad behavior. And even as the band was quickly rising up the pop music food chain, internal struggles always threatened to tear the band apart. Original drummer Steven Adler was fired for his losing battle with heroin in 1990. Founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin would leave soon thereafter.In spite of the turmoil, after the 1991 release of Use Your Illusion I and II Guns N' Roses were the biggest, baddest band in the world, with expensive videos and elaborate stage show to match. Guns stayed on the road to support Illusion for two and a half years, tours that were marred by tragedy - riots in St. Louis and Montreal - Axl showing up hours late or not at all. Founding members Slash and Duff McKagen dealt with Axl's unpredictable behavior by drinking the frustration away. Soon after they got off the road in 1993, Guns N' Roses disappeared into the world of rock myth. Band members came and went, with the only constant being the mercurial Axl Rose. A decade later, the world still awaits the follow-up to Illusion.Behind the Music: Guns N' Roses tells the true story of this band of rock and roll outlaws.

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Traveling in this documentary about a California band, Journey. Formed in 1973 and, released LP's from 1975-1977 were commercial failures. To release a fifth LP, CBS Records issued the band an ultimatum "if you don't come up with hits, or we'll drop you." Manager Herbie Herbert, listened to a demo of a band called "Alien Project" and, hears a voice that would take the band to a brand new direction. The singer was Steve Perry and, he was hired to be Journey's lead singer. Journey released "Infinity" in 1978 and, the album was a hit. The album spawned hits; "Wheels in the Sky", "Lights", "Feeling That Way" and, "Anytime". Journey, became a household name. In 1981, Journey's career boosted when they released their best selling album to date "Escape" with singles, "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms". More hit albums and singles followed, personal matters were affecting Steve Perry while on the road. His mother was dying from a rare disease and, the split with his girlfriend Sherry Swafford. In 1985, problems within the band begun to fester. Steve Smith and Ross Vallory were dismissed and, the band was streamlined as a trio. One year later, Journey released "Raised on Radio" and, the album unleashed hits; "Girl Can't Help It", "I'll Be All Right Without You", "Be Good To Yourself" and, "Suzanne". In 1987, Journey had disappeared from view. In 1996, the classic lineup recorded "Trial By Fire" and, the band wanted to tour to support the album. Unfortunately, it became impossible to tour because, Steve Perry suffered a degenerative bone disease while hiking in Hawaii. Neil Schon and Johnathan Cain, re-formed the band and hired Steve Augieri as their frontman in 1998.

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Chronicles the colorful history of the quintessential hard rock band of the 80s. Four guys from working-class rural England, rose from the smoke of their heavy industry town in the late 70's to become pioneers of 'The New Wave of British Heavy Metal". Judas Priest washed ashore in the United States in 1977 and catapulted to popularity to become one of the biggest bands in the world. The history of Judas Priest spans 30 years and includes a well-publicized 1990 court case centered around subliminal messages; the '92 departure of the lead singer Rob Halford after twenty years with the band and his surprising 'coming out' in '98 as a homosexual man; the rebirth of Judas Priest with a new singer Ripper Owens; and the return to metal by Rob Halford with his current band, 'Halford'. In spite of everything, the band continues to rock on with the 2001 release of their latest album "Demolition." Includes interviews with: Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing, Ian Hill, Scott Travis, the new singer Ripper Owens, management, family and friends flesh out this hour-long documentary on Judas Priest.

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An all new episode of Behind The Music Remastered. From his start as an English working-class man with big dreams, Kilmister made his way to the top to become one of the most feared and respected man in rock n' roll.

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Poison is an American heavy metal/glam metal band which achieved commercial success in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s and has sold 15 million records in the United States. The band has charted ten singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and the Hot 100 number-one, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". The band's breakthrough debut album, the multi-platinum Look What the Cat Dragged In, was released in 1986, followed by Open Up and Say... Ahh!, which was certified 5× platinum in the US. Their third consecutive multi-platinum selling album was Flesh & Blood.

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Rock band Styx, rocked the 70's with a string of hit singles such as "Come Sail Away", "Renegade", "(Long Nights) Blue Collar Man", "Babe", "Too Much Time On My Hands" and, "The Best of Times". From 1977-1981, they sold platinum LPs while selling out concerts one arena after another. In 1983, the band released "Kilroy Was Here". The early part of the tour was a financial disaster due to the fact that Styx had booked small, theater-sized venues for a more intimate experience, while later tour dates saw the group performing in large arenas to sold-out crowds. The album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 in its first week and sold over 1 million copies (although some sources say 2.5 million copies) and peaked at #3 on the US charts; however, it snapped the streak of multi-platinum albums for Styx, and ushered in a more keyboard-oriented, theatrical direction. After the Kilroy tour ended, the band went their separate ways to pursue other interests. A reunion in 1996 became impossible for Styx, drummer John Panazzo passed away from cirrhosis of the liver from years of alcoholism. He was 47 years old. Todd Sucherman, filled the void on the drums. In 1999, Dennis De Young was out of the band and being replaced by Canadian native Lawrence Gowan.