On this day today:
1946 - English multi-instrumentalist Andy Mackay, best known for his work with Roxy Music, was born in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. As a key member of the band, Mackay's talents on the saxophone and oboe significantly contributed to the distinctive sound that helped Roxy Music achieve critical and commercial success.
1961 - Martin Gore, a founding member and primary songwriter of Depeche Mode, was born in Essex, England. His contributions as a musician and lyricist have been pivotal in shaping the band's innovative electronic sound, making Depeche Mode one of the most influential acts in modern music.
1965 - Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash was born Saul Hudson in Hampstead, London, England. In 1976, he moved to Los Angeles, where he would later become an iconic figure in rock music, known for his distinctive guitar riffs and solos that contributed to the band's legendary status.
1966 - Frank Sinatra's album Strangers in the Night reached #1 in America. The title track, known for its smooth, romantic melody, became one of Sinatra's most enduring hits and helped solidify the album's success.
1968 - The Jackson 5 auditioned for Motown Records, with 9-year-old Michael Jackson impressively singing lead and showcasing his dance moves on James Brown's "I Got The Feelin'." The audition was so compelling that the label signed them just three days later, marking the beginning of their rise to fame and Michael's journey to becoming a legendary entertainer.
1971 - Bluegrass-country performer Alison Krauss was born in Decatur, Illinois. She met Dan Tyminski, who would later become a key member of her band Union Station, at a 1984 festival organized by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America. This meeting marked the beginning of a successful musical collaboration that would define much of Krauss’s career.
1979 - Iran's new leader, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, imposed a ban on rock and roll, deeming it a corruptive influence on society. This decision had a significant cultural impact, eventually inspiring both Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis and The Clash's song "Rock the Casbah," which both reflect the tensions and cultural conflicts of the time.
1983 - The Police's final studio album, Synchronicity, reached #1 on the American charts. This landmark album, known for its blend of rock, reggae, and new wave influences, featured hit singles like "Every Breath You Take" and "King of Pain," marking a significant peak in the band's illustrious career before their initial breakup.
1984 - The Cars released "Drive" from their Heartbeat City album as a single, and it quickly became their highest-charting hit, peaking at No. 3 on the US charts. The song gained further prominence through its association with the 1985 Live Aid event. Benjamin Orr performed "Drive" during the Philadelphia concert, and the track was previously used as background music for a poignant montage of clips depicting the Ethiopian famine during the London portion of the event, which was introduced by David Bowie.
1988 - Paula Abdul made her first appearance on the US Albums chart when Forever Your Girl entered at #184. Remarkably, after sixty-four weeks, the album ascended to #1, setting a record for the most weeks spent on the chart before reaching the top spot. This achievement underscored Abdul's growing popularity and the enduring appeal of her debut album.
1993 - Poetic Justice, featuring Janet Jackson with her iconic braids and Tupac Shakur, opens in theaters. While Jackson had been acting on television from a young age, with notable roles on shows like Good Times and Diff’rent Strokes, this film marks her debut on the big screen, showcasing her transition from television star to leading lady in cinema.
1996 - At just 18 years old, Fiona Apple released her debut album, Tidal, which featured standout tracks like "Shadowboxer" and "Criminal." The album received widespread acclaim and went on to sell over 3 million copies in America, establishing Apple as a powerful new voice in the music industry.
2002 - New Jersey-based alt rockers My Chemical Romance released their vampire-themed debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. Released through the independent punk label Eyeball Records, the album was produced by Geoff Rickly, the frontman of Thursday.
2005 - For the first time, Lollapalooza settled in one location, holding the first of two shows at Grant Park in Chicago. The festival featured performances by notable acts such as Pixies, Billy Idol, and Weezer, marking a new chapter for the iconic event as it became a staple in Chicago’s music scene.
2005 - Queen's legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985 was voted the best rock concert ever by over 7,000 UK Sony Ericsson music fans. Radiohead's 1997 Glastonbury set was honored as the best festival act, and Bob Dylan's 1966 gig at the Manchester Free Trade Hall was acclaimed as the best solo performance ever.
2011 - Amy Winehouse passed away in London at the age of 27 due to alcohol poisoning. Her untimely death was a tragic loss for the music world, cutting short the life of an exceptionally talented artist whose powerful voice and emotionally raw lyrics had garnered her widespread acclaim.
2013 - During a concert in Montreal, Canada, Beyoncé continued to perform despite a dramatic mishap where her hair became tangled in the blades of a fan. The incident occurred while she was singing "Halo" from an audience pit. Unfazed, Beyoncé carried on with her encore as security guards worked to free her from the fan, which was positioned on the edge of the stage.
