On this day in 1981: R.E.M. appeared at The Scorpio, Charlotte, North Carolina. This show was billed as “Charlotte’s First Gay New Wave Disco and Costume Party”, with the $3 tickets benefitting various gay-lesbian charities. On this day in 1984: Ray Parker Jr. was enjoying his third and final week at #1 on the U.S. […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 24th
On this day in 1981: Mark Chapman was given a 20 year jail sentence for the murder of John Lennon. The 25 year old had shot Lennon five times at close range on December 8th, 1980 in front of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Over the next few months, Chapman would claim […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 23rd
On this day in 1980: David Bowie was at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with ‘Ashes To Ashes’ his second U.K. #1. Taken from the Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) album, the song continued the story of Major Tom from Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’. The video for ‘Ashes to Ashes’ was one of the most […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 22nd
On this day in 1987: Madonna went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Who’s That Girl’, her sixth U.S. #1 and also a #1 in the U.K. The track was from the soundtrack album of the motion picture of same name. It would spend one week in the top spot. Featuring instrumentation from […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 21st
On this day in 1982: Survivor was beginning its 5th week at #1 on the U.S. Singles Chart with “Eye Of The Tiger.” It was released as a single from their third album of the same name and was also the theme song for the film Rocky III, which was released a day before the single. […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 20th
On this day in 1983: Madness, Joan Jett, The Police and R.E.M. all appeared in concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. On this day in 1988: Steve Winwood went to #1 on the U.S. album chart with his fifth solo album ‘Roll With It’. The title cut also topped the U.S. singles charts. The success of […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 19th
On this day in 1983: The Police were enjoying their 6th consecutive week at #1 on the U.S. Singles Chart with ‘Every Breath You Take.’ Written by Sting, the single was the biggest U.S. and U.K. hit of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks (the band’s only #1 hit on that chart), and […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 18th
On this day in 1983: The Police, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and R.E.M. (their biggest gig to date) all appeared in concert at Shea Stadium, New York City. On this day in 1984: George Michael was at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with his first solo single ‘Careless Whisper.’ It made George the first […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 17th
On this day back in 1980: Olivia Newton John was enjoying her 3rd consecutive week at #1 on the U.S. singles charts with ‘Magic’. ‘Magic’ was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1980 film Xanadu. Written and produced by John Farrar, it was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on May 23, 1980. The […]
This Day In 80s Music, August 16th
On this day in 1983: After dating for six years, Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the first Star Wars trilogy. The marriage would last less than two years, but the two continued to date off and on after they split. On this day in 1986: Rick Allen, drummer with Def […]