On this day in 1980: R.E.M. played their first gig as R.E.M. at the 11:11 Koffee Club, Athens, Georgia to 150 people. The show ended at 2am when police closed it down due to the venue being unlicensed. Here’s a concert clip from R.E.M. from early 1981: Also on this day in 1980: For the […]
Category: Charlie’s 80s Blog
This Day In 80s Music, April 18th
On this day in 1984: Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage done after his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. On this day in 1985: Wham! Became the first-ever Western pop act to have an album released in China. On this day in 1987: Aretha […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 17th
On this day in 1982: Vangelis was at #1 on the U.S. album chart with Chariots Of Fire, he later also won an Academy Award for the album for Best Original Score. Also on this day back in 1982: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were starting their FIFTH consecutive week at #1 on the U.S. […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 16th
On this day in 1983: Michael Jackson began his SEVENTH and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with Billie Jean. It would be ranked the #2 song of the entire year of 1983 behind ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police. After ‘Billie Jean’ gave up the top spot to ‘Come On […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 15th
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, […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 14th
On this day in 1983: The Pretenders bass player Pete Farndon died from a drug overdose. He was fired from the group on June 14th 1982, (two days before Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott was found dead of heart failure). Farndon was in the midst of forming a new band with former Clash drummer Topper Headon […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 13th
On this day in 1985: USA for Africa started a four week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘We Are The World.’ It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album ‘We Are The World.’ Following Band Aid’s 1984 “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” project […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 12th
On this day back in 1980: Pink Floyd started their 4th and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Another Brick In the Wall (Part II).’ It would be ranked the #2 song for the entire year of 1980 behind Blondie’s ‘Call Me.’ It would also be ranked the #28 song for […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 11th
On this day in 1981: Eddie Van Halen married actress Valerie Bertinelli, co-star of the 1980s television hit, One Day at a Time. The two had met eight months earlier when Bertinelli’s brother took her to a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, Louisiana. Also on this day back in 1981: Hall & Oates started a […]
This Day In 80s Music, April 10th
On this day in 1982: Iron Maiden scored their first UK #1 album with The Number Of The Beast. The band’s third studio album saw the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson and the final appearance of the late drummer Clive Burr. This was their first album to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart, and […]