Recommended Free Tools
Dancing with the Stars’ Hair Metal Night aired on October 8, 2024—not this week in 2026. Gene Simmons joined the judges, the couples danced to rock classics, and Eric Roberts and Reginald VelJohnson were eliminated. The episode also drew attention for Simmons’ comments about dancers’ bodies and for the timing of “Rock You Like a Hurricane” during devastating storms in the Southeast.
What happened on DWTS Hair Metal Night?
The October 8, 2024 episode paired ballroom routines with hair-metal and hard-rock songs, backed by conspicuous rock styling that included big hair, guitars and cars. KISS frontman Gene Simmons joined the judging panel as a guest judge.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Dancing with the Stars: Cardio Dance | $3.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Dancing With the Stars - Cardio Dance | $9.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Dancing With the Stars - Cardio Dance for Weight Loss | $10.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Dancing With The Stars: Dance Body Tone [DVD] | $4.39 | Buy on Amazon |
TheWrap reported that Simmons held up a 10 paddle after Brooks Nader’s dance, but the score entered was a 9. Co-host Julianne Hough said Simmons had keyed in a 9. TheWrap also reported a double elimination: Eric Roberts and Reginald VelJohnson went home.
What songs did the couples dance to?
TheWrap highlighted Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach’s paso doble to Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” and Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten’s jive to Quiet Riot’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.” The following fuller lineup was posted in a fan discussion thread, rather than in an official ABC record:
#1 Best Overall
| Couple | Dance | Song and artist |
|---|---|---|
| Danny Amendola and Witney Carson | Paso doble | “Livin’ on a Prayer” — Bon Jovi |
| Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson | Tango | “Rock You Like a Hurricane” — Scorpions |
| Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach | Paso doble | “Walk This Way” — Aerosmith |
| Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong | Jive | “We’re Not Gonna Take It” — Twisted Sister |
| Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten | Jive | “Cum On Feel the Noize” — Quiet Riot |
| Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko | Cha-cha | “Nothin’ but a Good Time” — Poison |
| Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold | Foxtrot | “Here I Go Again” — Whitesnake |
| Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy | Paso doble | “You Give Love a Bad Name” — Bon Jovi |
| Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart | Paso doble | “Cherry Pie” — Warrant |
| Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber | Paso doble | “The Final Countdown” — Europe |
Why did “Rock You Like a Hurricane” prompt an apology?
The Scorpions song was used as Hurricane Milton approached landfall, days after Hurricane Helene had devastated parts of the Southeast. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro apologized for the timing and said the song choices had been made weeks earlier. In TheWrap’s October 8, 2024 report, Ribeiro said: “We want you to know that these songs were chosen weeks in advance of the devastating weather events. Of course, our hearts are with those who have suffered and whose lives continue to be affected by the ongoing storms in the southeast.”
His explanation addressed the timing; it did not suggest the song had been selected as a reference to the storms.
Rank #2
- Ballroom Instruction
- Excercise
- Self Improvement
- DVD
What controversy involved Gene Simmons?
TheWrap reported that Simmons made comments about female dancers’ bodies, including remarks to Nader and Chandler Kinney, that drew criticism and attention. The outlet also reported an exchange after Simmons told the audience to settle down because it was a family show: Ribeiro retorted, “It is a family show.” These details describe the incident and the reported reaction, rather than establishing a broader consensus about viewers’ opinions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was Hair Metal Night the current week’s DWTS episode?
No. Hair Metal Night was the October 8, 2024 episode. A Just Jared report dated October 6, 2026 identified that week’s theme as Mariah Carey Night, so the 2024 episode should not be described as happening “this week” in October 2026.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: Region 1 U.S. and Canada only
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Run Time: 51 minutes
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.




