It was another crazy week in rock history:
Some major releases and chart toppers:
The Beatles’ “Yesterday” is the #1 single in the U.S. in 1965.
In 1966, The Supremes become the first female group with a #1 album in the US when The Supremes A’ Go-Go bumps The Beatles’ Revolver from the top spot.
Chuck Berry’s controversial My Ding-a-ling hits #1 in 1971.
In 1976, Bob Seger releases Night Moves, considered by some to be his best work.
Meat Loaf would release the landmark album Bat Out Of Hell in 1977, of the most popular albums of the ’70s, eventually selling over 14 million copies in America
Michael Jackson’s follow up album to Thriller, Bad hits #1 in 1987
For the first time in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, the top three spots were held by female solo acts. Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” held down the #1 position, followed by Tina Turner’s “Typical Male” at #2 and Janet Jackson’s “When I Think Of You” at #3 in 1986.
In 2000, Linkin Park release their debut album Hybrid Theory, one of my personal favorite albums of all time.
Photo Credit: Lisa Tanner
There were some memorable performances as well:
Chubby Checker performs a medley of “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again” on TV’s Ed Sullivan Show in 1961.
In 1964, when the teenagers in the audience kept screaming after The Rolling Stones finished their first song, Ed Sullivan was forced to shout “Quiet!” multiple times before he could introduce the next act. When the band closed the show with “Time Is On My Side”, Sullivan exclaimed “Come on, let them hear it!”, which caused another uproar.
The Pointer Sisters, Anita, Bonnie and Ruth, became the first group of African American women to sing at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974. They performed the Country-flavored tune, “Fairytale”, which would climb to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
Some happy news and accolades for some:
In 1971, Mick Jagger and his girlfriend Bianca have a daughter they name Jade. It’s Mick’s first child.
The Guinness Book of World Records presents Paul McCartney with a special rhodium album for being the best-selling songwriter in the history of recorded music, having written 43 platinum songs and sold over 100 million records in 1979.
Controversy for others:
in 1992, Madonna’s explicit book Sex is released
Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing during an infamous appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2004.
Kid Rock and five members of his entourage were arrested after an argument with a man escalated into a fight in a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. Kid Rock’s tour bus was pulled over by police after it left the scene; Rock was released after posting $1,000 bail.
Photo Credit: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank
And we also had some tragedy:
Ronnie Van Zant is laid to rest at Jacksonville’s Memory Garden five days after he died in a plane crash that killed two of his bandmates, their assistant road manager, and the plane’s crew in 1977. Keyboard player Billy Powell, confined to crutches, his face covered with stitches, was the only band member able to attend the service.
In 2016, Dead Or Alive lead singer Pete Burns dies of a heart attack at age 57. Known for the 1985 hit “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record),” Burns estimated that he had 300 plastic surgeries in his lifetime.
Rhythm & Blues legend Fats Domino died of natural causes in 2017.
