On this day in 1980: R.E.M. played their first ever gig when they appeared at St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia. Here’s a live recording of R.E.M. a few days later on April 10th, 1980:

Here’s what was happening on the U.S. singles chart on this day back in 1980:

1 1 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Part 2) –•– Pink Floyd (Columbia)-12 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL (Medley) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-17 (2)
3 5 CALL ME –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-8 (3)
4 3 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE –•– Queen (Elektra)-16 (1)
5 7 TOO HOT –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-12 (5)
6 6 HIM –•– Rupert Holmes (MCA)-12 (6)
7 9 RIDE LIKE THE WIND –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-8 (7)
8 11 SPECIAL LADY –•– Ray, Goodman and Brown (Polydor)-11 (8)
9 4 DESIRE –•– Andy Gibb (RSO)-11 (4)
10 10 HOW DO I MAKE YOU –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-10 (10)

11 13 I CAN’T TELL YOU WHY –•– Eagles (Asylum)-7 (11)
12 14 OFF THE WALL –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-8 (12)
13 15 FIRE LAKE –•– Bob Seger (Capitol)-7 (13)
14 8 THE SECOND TIME AROUND –•– Shalamar (Solar)-18 (8)
15 17 WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN –•– Billy Preston and Syreeta (Motown)-18 (15)
16 20 LOST IN LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-9 (16)
17 23 YOU MAY BE RIGHT –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-4 (17)
18 22 SEXY EYES –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-8 (18)
19 19 THREE TIMES IN LOVE –•– Tommy James (Millennium)-11 (19)
20 25 HOLD ON TO MY LOVE –•– Jimmy Ruffin (RSO)-6 (20)

On this day in 1985: At 3:50pm GMT, over 5,000 radio stations worldwide aired the charity single by USA for Africa ‘We Are The World’. The single went on to be a #1 in the US & UK, and most Western territories.