On this day today:
1967 - Jefferson Airplane's album Surrealistic Pillow was certified gold, marking a significant achievement for the band. This landmark album, featuring iconic tracks like "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit," played a crucial role in the psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s and solidified Jefferson Airplane's place in rock history.
1969 - Jennifer Lopez, also known as J.Lo, was born in The Bronx, New York City, to Puerto Rican parents. Growing up in this dynamic and culturally rich neighborhood, she was immersed in a blend of Latin and urban influences that played a significant role in shaping her career.
1976 - Elton John's duet with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," reached #1 in the UK. This catchy and upbeat song became a major hit, showcasing the chemistry between the two artists and earning a lasting place in pop music history.
1977 - Led Zeppelin played their final concert in America at the "Day On The Green" event at Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The band planned to continue their tour into August, but tragically, it was canceled when Robert Plant's son, Karac, passed away two days later.
1978 - The film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band opened in America and was met with severe criticism, ultimately becoming a legendary Hollywood flop. Despite featuring appearances by Peter Frampton, Billy Preston, Aerosmith, and The Bee Gees, the film was widely panned by critics and failed to resonate with audiences, marking a significant low point for movie adaptations of iconic albums.
1982 - Thanks to its prominent feature in the movie Rocky III, Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" reached #1 on the charts, marking the beginning of a six-week run at the top. The song's powerful, motivational anthem perfectly complemented the film's intense training montages, solidifying its place as an iconic rock track and an enduring symbol of determination and resilience.
1993 - U2 began a two-week stint at #1 on the US album chart with Zooropa, marking the band's fourth album to achieve this top position in the US. Released in 1993, Zooropa was acclaimed for its experimental sound and thematic depth, earning a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1994. The album's success further solidified U2's reputation as one of the leading bands of the era.
1999 - On the third day of the Woodstock '99 festival at Griffiss Air Force Base, conditions took a turn for the worse. Overpriced water, overflowing toilets, and a chaotic Limp Bizkit performance of "Break Stuff" contributed to escalating unrest. The situation led to riots, incidents of groping, and numerous injuries. As the festival's dire conditions continued to deteriorate, MTV began covering the event with the tagline "Apocalypse Woodstock," reflecting the severe and tumultuous atmosphere that had overtaken the festival.
2001 - Jimmy Eat World released their fourth album, Bleed American, featuring popular tracks such as "The Middle" and "Sweetness." Following the events of September 11, the album was re-titled Jimmy Eat World to avoid potential controversy and sensitivity surrounding its original title.
2003 - Johnny Cash received six MTV Video Music Award nominations for his poignant remake of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt," featured on his album American IV: The Man Comes Around. The music video, directed by Mark Romanek, poignantly intertwined images from Cash's life with the song's introspective lyrics. It earned widespread acclaim, being named the best video of the year by both the Grammy Awards and the CMA Awards, and was even honored as the best video of all time by NME.
2011 - At the Mod Club in Toronto, Abel Tesfaye performed as The Weeknd for the first time. During this debut performance, he was visibly nervous and kept a firm grip on the microphone, marking the beginning of what would become a highly successful and influential career in music.
2019 - Queen's iconic music video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" reached one billion views on YouTube, setting a new record for one of the band's videos.
2020 - Taylor Swift released her eighth album, Folklore, with a surprise announcement just a day before its launch. Unlike the extensive publicity campaigns that typically precede major album releases, Swift opted for a spontaneous approach. Despite this unconventional release strategy, Folklore debuted at #1 in America, continuing the streak of her previous six albums.
