5
Featured Events
2017Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" lands at #1 on the Country chart for the 25th week, breaking the record previously held by Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise."
2016There are spectacular fireworks, awe-inspiring acrobats, and sensational dancers at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Rio, but supermodel Gisele Bundchen gets the biggest reaction when she takes a long walk across the stage to "The Girl From Ipanema," performed by the composer's grandson, Daniel Jobim.
1978The Rolling Stones' disco-flavored "Miss You" hits #1 in America, where it stays for one week, knocking Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing" from a seven-week run at the top.
1976At a show in Birmingham, England, an inebriated Eric Clapton speaks out in favor of the right-wing National Front, repeating their slogan, "Keep Britain white," and adding, "I used to be into dope, now I'm into racism." Clarifying his statements years later, Clapton says, "I made some fairly racial comments, but they weren't directed at any particular minority. It was a feeling of loss of identity and losing my Englishness."
1975Stevie Wonder signs the largest contract for a single artist in history: $13 million over seven years for seven albums with Tamla/Motown.
1962Marilyn Monroe dies of a barbiturate overdose at age 36 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. Musically, she's known for an iconic performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
5
In Music History
2021Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga play the second of two sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. It's Bennett's last performance; a week later the 95-year-old singer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016, announces he's retiring from performing.
2013Singer/keyboardist George Duke (Frank Zappa collaborator and half of The Clarke/Duke Project with Stanley Clarke) dies from chronic lymphocytic leukemia at age 67 in Los Angeles, California.
2009Steven Tyler of Aerosmith falls off the stage at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, suffering injuries to his head and neck, which force the rest of the band's tour to be canceled. Tyler falls when he is entertaining the crowd with a dance while a technical problem is being sorted.
2007Proctor and Gamble, maker of Luvs brand diapers, upsets Beatles fans around the world with their licensing of the song "All You Need Is Love" for a new television ad.
2007DNA tests prove that at least two of the twelve claimants to the estate and fortune of recently deceased soul legend James Brown are found to be legitimate. His will had already named six known children.
2001Part-time C&W DJ and quadruple murderer Robert Spangler dies from terminal cancer in prison.
1998Lars Ulrich of Metallica has his first child, a son named Myles.
1996Soul singer Wilson Pickett checks into a court-ordered rehab for cocaine addiction.
1993Bassist Randy Hobbs (of The McCoys, Edgar Winter Group, and Montrose) dies of heart failure at age 45 in Dayton, Ohio.
1992Jeff Porcaro (drummer for Toto) dies of a heart attack from cocaine-induced atherosclerosis at age 38 in Los Angeles, California.
1981Olivia Newton-John is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
1980The Osmonds officially disband.
1980Pat Benatar releases her second album, Crimes Of Passion. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" is the big hit, but her Young Rascals cover "You Better Run" gets a music video that becomes the second one aired on MTV (after "Video Killed The Radio Star") when the network launches a year later.
1979Phonogram Records signs Def Leppard.
1978"Substitute," a cover of a Righteous Brothers song recorded by an all-girl South African group called Clout, becomes a surprise hit, reaching #2 in the UK. Just one problem: they didn't play on the song, a male group called Circus did.
The Runaways Form, Becoming The First All-Girl Hard Rock Band
1975The first all-female hard-rock band is formed when producer Kim Fowley puts together The Runaways, featuring Joan Jett, future Bangle Michael Steele, and Lita Ford.
The Runaways are initially a trio, put together after eccentric record producer and songwriter Kim Fowley discovers teenage drummer Sandy West in the glam clubs of LA and introduces her to guitarist Joan Jett and bass player Mickie Steele. The trio are later joined by vocalist Cherie Curry - subject of their song "Cherry Bomb" - and lead guitarist Lita Ford. Steele is fired and replaced by Jackie Fox. In 1976 the band signs to Mercury Records, release their self-titled debut album and embark on a worldwide tour that sees them at the heart of the punk scene alongside acts like the Ramones, Generation X and The Sex Pistols. By the Fall of 1977, tensions have reached a breaking point between the egos of Ford and Currie, and the singer acrimoniously leaves to forge a solo career with her twin sister Marie - Jett takes over vocal duties. Currie's solo career is short-lived, as she falls prey to the demons of drug addiction that have haunted much of her adult life. Fowley finds himself sacked shortly afterwards, to be replaced by Toby Mamis, whose resumé includes work with Suzi Quatro and Blondie. By 1979 the band have burned out and the members go their separate ways. Joan Jett and Lita Ford forge successful solo careers, and Jackie Fox returns to education, eventually becoming an entertainment lawyer. Sandy West's career does not take off, and she is forced to take a series of jobs outside the music business, including working in construction, before succumbing to lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 47. Fowley retains the rights to The Runaways' name and in 1984, in the shadow of significant success by the band's former members, he attempts another - unsuccessful - iteration of the band based around teenage New Zealand singer Gayle Welch.
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