On this day in 1982: Billy Joel was reported to be in ”quite good” condition after major surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. The singer broke his left wrist when his 1978 Harley Davidson hit a car on Long Island, New York. The hospital switchboard was jammed with calls from his fans, and Joel issued a plea through a spokesman that the calls ceased because they were ”tying up lines for those people who are really sick.”

On this day in 1989: American all girl group The Bangles started a four week run at #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Eternal Flame.’ Also a #1 in Australia (biggest selling single of 1989) and the United States.