On this day today:
1946 - '60s psychedelic rocker Donovan is born Donovan Philips Leitch in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland.
1957 - Sid Vicious (bassist for The Sex Pistols) is born John Simon Ritchie in Lewisham, London, England.
1960 - Paul Hewson is born in Dublin. He adopts the stage name Bono, derived from his childhood nickname "Bono Vox," which is Latin for "good voice." Bono goes on to become the charismatic frontman of the legendary rock band U2.
1963 - The Rolling Stones kick off their legendary journey with their first recording session in London. They lay down their debut single, a cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On," marking the beginning of their iconic career.
1974 - Eric Clapton records a rendition of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff," initially hesitant about the choice. However, the song defies expectations, becoming the sole #1 hit of Clapton's career on the Hot 100 chart.
1974 - Led Zeppelin makes a bold move by launching their record label, Swan Song, with extravagant celebrations in both London and Los Angeles. The label attracts notable artists like Bad Company and Dave Edmunds, but unfortunately shuts down in 1983.
1975 - Apple Records officially dissolves.
1975 - Despite the noble intentions of the event, Stevie Wonder headlines the fourth annual "Human Kindness Day" festival in Washington, DC, aiming to promote goodwill and unity. However, the day takes a dark turn as the atmosphere deteriorates, with a significant portion of the estimated crowd of 125,000 individuals engaging in violent behavior.
1981 - Kraftwerk release their eighth studio album, Computer World.
1985 - After releasing three albums, The Go-Go's make the difficult decision to announce their breakup. Frontwoman Belinda Carlisle decides to embark on a solo career, with guitarist Charlotte Caffey providing support and collaboration.
1986 - "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys, a synth-pop anthem capturing the nightlife of London's West End, achieves the remarkable feat of reaching #1 on the Hot 100 chart, five months after topping the charts in their native UK.
1988 - Prince releases his 10th album, Lovesexy, which becomes his first chart-topper in the UK.
1991 - Madonna's candid and revealing documentary film "Truth or Dare" (known as "In Bed with Madonna" outside of North America) makes its premiere in Los Angeles. Chronicling Madonna's life during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour, the film offers audiences an intimate and unfiltered glimpse into the iconic pop star's world.
1994 - Weezer release their self-titled debut.
2003 - Madonna's album "American Life" makes a splash by debuting at #1 on the charts. However, it fails to meet the high expectations set by her previous releases, with some fans struggling to connect with it, particularly citing the rap segment in the title track as a low point. Nevertheless, Madonna rebounds triumphantly with her next album, "Confessions On A Dance Floor," reaffirming her status as the Queen of Pop.
2011 - The Cars, disbanded since 1988, release their album Move Like This.
2016 - Justin Timberlake performs his new single "Can't Stop the Feeling" in the interval of the Eurovision Song Contest as the show is broadcast in America for the first time.
2018 - Responding to the #MuteRKelly campaign, Spotify removes R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from playlists as part of a new policy against "hate content" and "hateful conduct."
2023 - In a dazzling spectacle, Beyoncé launches her Renaissance tour in Stockholm, marking her highly anticipated return to the stage after her Formation tour in 2016. As part of her extravagant ensemble, Beyoncé accessorizes with Tiffany in-ear monitors adorned with stunning 4.5-carat diamonds, adding a touch of luxury to her already mesmerizing performances.
