When even the whims of chance are against you, it’s difficult not to believe that fate wants you to fail.

Loverboy formed in Canada in 1979, but initially it wasn’t chance holding them back, it was American record companies, every one of whom rejected their demo tape. The band ended up signing with Columbia’s Canadian division, released their debut album in the spring of 1980, and proceeded to sell over a million copies over the course of the summer in their home country alone.

Record companies are resistant, but they’re also quick to turn a full 180 when they think they’re missing out on piles of cash, so Columbia in the US changed their tune and released the album in the fall. The first single chosen for the American market was “Turn Me Loose,” already a Top 10 hit in Canada. Everything seemed on track for success.

But the fickle finger of fate cares not for tracks.

A little record industry background: in early 1981, Columbia Records decided they no longer wanted to work with independent record promoters, the people who contracted with the label to promote their artists’ records with radio stations and the press. Independent promoters had been a staple of the music business for decades (although some questioned how ethical and above board their methods actually were). But Columbia figured they could handle publicity in-house, which, of course, angered some very powerful people.

One of these promoters walked into a Columbia executive’s office and spied a dartboard on the wall. Nearby hung a list of the current chart placements for Columbia singles. The promoter picked up a dart and said, “Whichever song I hit, I’m going to kill that record.” He flung his dart of destiny and speared the single currently sitting at #40 on the US chart — Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose.”

“Turn Me Loose,” which had been steadily climbing upwards since its release two months earlier — a song which would eventually go on to become a classic rock radio staple in the decades that followed — stalled at #35.

Columbia, once again, rethought their position. They brought the promoters back.

Loverboy would recover. Later that year they released their best-known song, “Working For The Weekend,” and their first four albums each went at least double platinum and helped shape the sound of 80s rock. Destiny simply chose to throw a little adversity their way first. In dart form.

So do it your way, or no way at all… with Loverboy.