On this day in 1982: Ozzy Osbourne guitarist and former Quiet Riot member Randy Rhoads was killed when the plane he was riding in crashed. After driving much of the night, the band had stopped near a small airstrip. The tour bus driver, Andrew Aycock, talked the band’s keyboardist, Don Airey, into taking a test flight in a ’55 Beechcraft Bonanza, the joyride ended, and the plane landed safely. Then Aycock took Rhoads and Rachel Youngblood on another flight and attempts were made to ‘buzz’ the tour bus. The left wing clipped the bus, which sent the plane spiraling into a nearby house and bursting into flames. All three bodies were burned beyond recognition, and were identified by dental records.
On this day in 1988: Rick Astley started his second and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Never Gonna Give You Up.” It would be ranked the #4 song for the entire year of 1988 by Billboard Magazine.
It was the debut single for Rick Astley, released off his debut album ‘Whenever You Need Somebody.” It is his best-selling album and, according to his own official website, has sold 15.2 million copies worldwide.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:
1 1 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley – 14 (1)
2 4 I GET WEAK –•– Belinda Carlisle – 10 (2)
3 2 FATHER FIGURE –•– George Michael – 10 (1)
4 7 MAN IN THE MIRROR –•– Michael Jackson – 7 (4)
5 5 ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 9 (5)
6 3 SHE’S LIKE THE WIND – Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Fraser – 14 (3)
7 8 OUT OF THE BLUE –•– Debbie Gibson – 8 (7)
8 6 JUST LIKE PARADISE –•– David Lee Roth – 10 (6)
9 9 I WANT HER –•– Keith Sweat – 10 (9)
10 12 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR –•– Billy Ocean – 6 (10)
11 14 HYSTERIA –•– Def Leppard – 9 (11)
12 16 ROCKET 2 YOU –•– The Jets – 9 (12)
13 17 (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY –•– Michael Bolton – 9 (13)
14 19 GIRLFRIEND –•– Pebbles – 8 (14)
15 15 BE STILL MY BEATING HEART –•– Sting – 10 (15)
16 22 DEVIL INSIDE –•– INXS – 6 (16)
17 11 I FOUND SOMEONE –•– Cher – 18 (10)
18 23 SOME KIND OF LOVER –•– Jody Watley – 8 (18)
19 28 WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO –•– Whitney Houston – 4 (19)
20 27 WISHING WELL –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 10 (20)
