On this day in 1980: AC/DC scored their first U.K. #1 album with ‘Back In Black’. It was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott (who died on February 19, 1980 at the age of 33), and was dedicated to him. The album has sold an estimated 49 million copies worldwide to date, making it the second highest selling album of all time, and the best selling hard rock or heavy metal album, as well as the best selling album ever released by a band.
On this day in 1986: Queen ended their Magic European tour at Knebworth Park, Stevenage, England, with over 120,000 fans witnessing what would be Queen’s last ever live performance. On this, their final tour, Queen played to legions of established fans, plus many new ones gained as a result of their show-stealing performance at Live Aid the previous year. The opening acts were Belouis Some, Big Country and Status Quo.
Here’s what was happening on the U.S. singles chart on this day back in 1986:
1 1 GLORY OF LOVE –•– Peter Cetera (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-10 (2 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 4 PAPA DON’T PREACH –•– Madonna (Sire)-7 (2)
3 6 MAD ABOUT YOU –•– Belinda Carlisle (I.R.S.)-13 (3)
4 2 SLEDGEHAMMER –•– Peter Gabriel (Geffen)-14 (1)
5 9 WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF –•– Jermaine Stewart (Arista)-13 (5)
6 7 LOVE TOUCH –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-11 (6)
7 3 DANGER ZONE –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-14 (2)
8 12 HIGHER LOVE –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-9 (8)
9 15 VENUS –•– Bananarama (London)-7 (9)
10 13 RUMORS –•– Timex Social Club (Jay)-9 (10)
11 5 INVISIBLE TOUCH –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-11 (1)
12 16 THE EDGE OF HEAVEN –•– Wham! (Columbia)-6 (12)
13 19 DANCING ON THE CEILING –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-4 (13)
14 8 NASTY –•– Janet Jackson (A&M)-13 (3)
15 18 SWEET FREEDOM –•– Michael McDonald (MCA)-9 (15)
16 17 YOU SHOULD BE MINE (The Woo Woo Song) –•– Jeffrey Osborne (A&M)-12 (16)
17 11 MODERN WOMAN –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-10 (10)
18 23 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY –•– Berlin (Columbia)-8 (18)
19 10 OPPORTUNITIES (Let’s Make Lots Of Money) –•– Pet Shop Boys (EMI-America)-11 (10)
20 21 SUZANNE –•– Journey (Columbia)-8 (20)
