Little Richard (1932-) Ray Charles (1930-2004) Chuck Berry (1926-2017) James Brown (1933-2006) Elvis Presley (1935-77) The Beatles The Rolling Stones Ozzy Osbourne (1948-) Elton John (1947-)

TLW's Rock and Roll Historyscope™

By T.L. Winslow (TLW), the Historyscoper™

© Copyright by T.L. Winslow. All Rights Reserved.

Original Pub. Date: Mar. 20, 2011. Last Update: Aug. 14, 2023.


Bruce Springsteen (1949-) The Police Cyndi Lauper (1953-) Madonna (1958-) Prince (1958-2016) U2 Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Nirvana Eminem (1972-)

Alternate urls for this page:

http://tinyurl.com/rockandrollhistory

http://tinyurl.com/rockandrollhistoryscope


Note: All links especially YouTube links are subject to change, and if the video is missing then just stay in YouTube and use the search window to find another one with the same artist and title.


What Is a Historyscope?


Rock and Roll (Rock & Roll) (Rock 'n' Roll) (Rock 'n Roll) (often shortened to just Rock) is the most popular genre of music in the world, passing for pop a lot of the time, indeed, the boundary is wide and fuzzy - sorry, Barbra Streisand and Susan Boyle are too far over the line. Rock and Roll develop during the 1940s and 1950s from Blues, Jazz, Gospel Music, and Country Music, especially Rockabilly, which is influenced by Appalachian Folk Music. It is the great melting pot of the races in the U.S., and ended up taking the entire world by storm, especially after the Baby Boom Generation of 1946-64 came of age. Rock and Roll Genres incl. Acid Rock, Bluebeat, Boogie Rock, Bubblegum Rock, Country Rock, Death Rock, Doo-Wop, Electro-Industrial, Emo(core) Rock, Funk Rock, Glam (Glitter) Rock, Goa Trance Music, Gothic (Goth) Rock, Groove Metal Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal Rock, Hip Hop, Industrial Music, Jazz Rock (Fusion), New Jack Swing, Psychedelic Rock, Black Rock (Psychedelic Soul), Power Pop, Punk Rock, Raga Rock, Rap, Reggae, Reggaeton, Rocksteady, Roots Rock, Ska, Soft Rock, Southern Rock, Stoner Rock, Synthpop, Trip Hop, and many others.

Did you know that the entire history of rock and roll can be scoped in your browser free with the Historyscoper, complete with the music and videos? Giant music libraries are once the privilege of only the rich, but now everybody's gets access to almost everything for free on YouTube, so all you need to finally master rock and roll history is an Internet map or overlay of text and links. Think of this as a mind meld of Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube, created by a Historyscoper with a giant sponge brain that has seen it all and done it all, and wants you to followed in his footsteps, as in I is blind, and now I see, and hear too.

So why spend your time scoping its depths rather than partying or getting stoned or laid, check my profile on Assbook? Easy. You came in with an innate need for knowledge that can trump other needs, even drugs, sex, and rock and roll, but this particular Historyscope lets you cheat :). But why do this now when I'm only 16? You may be young, but you will inherit the world one day, and might suspect that current stars Justin Bieber, Hannah Montana, Owl City, the Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift are lame, and are wise enough to take time out to look out the back of Planet Bus and see what the old farts did so you can redirect the life you have left to a better path. Maybe you're a burned-out old fart like TLW, great, you're probably either retired, underemployed, or unemployed, and time is passing faster and faster. Good news, this is the perfect time to relive the parts you missed at warp speed, with the power of the Internet and the young whippersnappers who provide it giving you instant access to the videos and music so you can feed your entire mind, not just one hemisphere - the best American generation, have it all, still do, maybe the last Social Security checks, you can win them all. Think of a Historyscope as an online college degree program that requires a long concentrated period of study, but rewards you with the coolness of knowledge, and the tools to forever gain more. Unlike expensive colleges with their faculty and campuses, with the Historyscoper the Internet is the ultimate history learning tool, and the price is right, so let's rock and roll!

Red Pill Elvis Presley (1935-77)

Every journey begins with a single step, the blue pill or the red pill, which will it be? The undisputed King of Rock and Roll is Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-77), so if you just want to start at the top and quit, sayonara. Seriously, there's way way more, all neatly laid out for you like a Golden Brick Road by TLW, and I pity the fool who takes the blue pill and goes back to sleep, so let's get started and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Pre-1950

Trixie Smith (1895-1943)

The term rock and roll goes back to the 1916 Gospel phonograph record (Little Wonder Records #339) The Camp Meeting Jubilee. The term "rocking and rolling" is first uses outside the Gospel context in the 1922 record My Man Rocks Me With One Steady Roll, complete with the sexual double entendre, sung by Trixie Smith (1895-1943). The term rock and roll is also uses in the 1933 Hal Roach film Asleep in the Feet, starring ZaSu Pitts and Thelma Todd.

African Drums Chaperons Christopher Columbus (19451-1506) The Barack Obama Family Obama Presidential Ball, Jan. 20, 2009 Beyoncé Knowles (1981-)

Let's start at the beginning. We can count out the Asians, Native Americans, and original Europeans, their folk music lacks the rock and roll backbeat. The original rock music is the fabled African Jungle Music, complete with that funky jungle drum beat, but too bad there is no recording equipment so we have to just try to imagine the music as they're hunting down a tasty white man, or better yet, let pre-PC Hollyweird do it for us, starring Cornel Wilde in The Naked Prey (1966). Rock and roll can also be traced to Haitian Voodoo (Vodou) and Louisiana Voodoo. Too bad, they didn't have the Guitar (Persian "tar" = string), which is in use in Europe by the year 1200, in two forms, the Moorish guitar (Guitarra Moresca) and the Latin guitar (Guitarra Latina) - it is all about Christian vs. Muslim back then, not white vs. black, and look like you give a damn. About the same time Christian knights begins embroidering their family insignia on their surcoats, coining the term "coat of arms". Also about the same time chaperon ("little cape") headgear, consisting of a hood and a short cape is invented in W Europe, and it slowly grew into a complex, versatile and expensive fashion item, with a cornette (liripipe) (tippit) (becchetto) tail tied on top, a patte (cockscomb) (foggia) cape hanging behind, and a round bourrelet (rondel) (mazzocchio) tied around the face or twisted under the neck (beginning of a tie); by 1300 some prefered to wear it upside-down, and some prefered a scarf-like cornette. After getting official approval from the pope in 1452, who issued the bull Dum Diversas, authorizing them to round up and enslave diverse dumb Saracens (Muslims) and pagans (blacks), followed in 1455 by the bull Romanus Pontifex, granting them a superior right over other Christian nations to enslave any non-Christian people captured during the discovery of new lands in specific regions, the Portuguese wasted no time in sailing down the west coast of Africa and filling their ships with African natives, launching the Atlantic slave trade, which one might call the true beginning of rock and roll, if it weren't so tragic. Actually, the Muslim Arab world is busy filling their ships with African natives from the east coast of Africa, who never gets the chance to rock and roll, so maybe God has a sense of humor. On Oct. 12, 1492 mystery man Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) discovered Central America for Roman Catholic Spain, after which Portugal discovered South America, and since they didn't know about North America or how far west of South America it was, the pope split the New World between them on an east-west line that cheated Portugal badly and left room for the Protestants of Northern Europe and Britain (founded in 1517 in Germany by Martin Luther) to stake their claim, starting with Jamestown, Virginia in 1609, which makes it big economically with tobacco, causing them to begin importing African slaves in 1619, and systematically develop the doctrine of white supremacy, reaching 500K imported by 1808, which led the fledgling United States of America (founded July 4, 1776) down the garden path to the all-out U.S. Civil War (1861-5), white against white to free the slaves. Yes, they are free on paper, those out of jail that is, but whites still controlled them economically and dominated them socially, clear up until the big American Civil Rights Movement of 1954-68 makes several breakthroughs, culminating in the election of the first African-American president #44 (2009-) Barack Hussein Obama II (1961-), who on the evening of his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009 hosted the first-ever pres. ball open to the residents of mainly-black Washington, D.C., sweetly dancing with his wife Michelle to music by African-American singer Beyonce (Beyoncé) Giselle Knowles (1981-), who sang the 1960 Etta James hit At Last. So, if you don't get it, African-American music played a big role in healing the black-white racial divide, and the advent of rock and roll is a major factor. Racism has always been misguided and evil, and it must go, it really must go, it don't rock.

English King Henry VIII (1491-1547) Sir Francis Drake (1540-96) Henry Hudson (-1611) Peter Minuit (1580-1638)

Speaking of Protestants and their contributions to rock and roll. English king (1509-47) Henry VIII (1491-1547), known for having six wives and for breaking England off from the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican control so that its descendants could colonize North America and invent rock and roll might be considered the father of pop music with his hit song Green Grows the Holly, which goes on to become the origin of the Mexican word "gringo", not that it's relevant so blow me, I'm Hen-er-ey the Eighth I am, Hen-er-ey the Eighth I Am I Am. On June 17, 1579 English explorer Sir Francis Drake (1540-96) discovered California, too bad Hollywood wasn't there yet or they'd have captured it on film. In 1609 English explorer Henry Hudson (-1611) discovered New York Bay in the name of the Dutch, who in 1625 founds New Amsterdam, after which on May 24, 1626 its dir.-gen. Peter Minuit (1580-1638) bought the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans for a box of trinkets worth 60 Dutch guilders ($24). In 1664 after the British kicked the Dutch out, New Amsterdam became New York City, after which European Jews flocked in, which is why it is later called Jew York :). The second highest concentration of Jews flocked to Los Angeles, and pumped up the sleepy town of Hollywood into the entertainment center of the world starting in 1911, the Jews always look for a home with a sea escape route.

In 1867 after visiting the freedmen in Port Royal, S.C. during the U.S. Civil War, Yankee abolitionists Charles Pickard Ware (1840-1921), William Francis Allen (1830-89), and Lucky McKim Garrison (1842-77) pub. Slave Songs of the United States, the first pub. collection of Negro spirituals, and first pub. collection of African-Am. music of any kind; it incl. Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.

Statue of Liberty, 1886 Thomas Edison (1847-1931) Emile Berliner (1851-1929) Francis Barraud (1856-1924) 'His Master's Voice' by Francis Barraud, 1899 Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937)

In 1877 Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) invented the phonograph, which uses cylinders. On Nov. 8, 1887 German immigrant Emile Berliner (1851-1929) patented the Gramophone in the U.S., which also uses cylinders, but upgraded to discs in 1888, which he begins marketing in Europe in 1889 to toy companies while he worked to improve audio quality. In 1892 Berliner founds the U.S. Gramophone Co. in Washington, D.C., selling 7-in. disc records starting in Nov. 1894. In 1897 the U.K. Gramophone Co. is founded in London by William Barry Owen and Trevor Williams to partner with Emile Berliner's co., followed by a German branch in 1898. In 1899 Francis James Barraud (1856-1924) painted the famous painting His Master's Voice, featuring stray fox-bull terrier mix Nipper (1884-95), owned by his brother Mark Barraud (-1887) then adopted by him; it orginally uses a black cylinder phonograph horn, which was deemed too dark, so Barry Owen of the U.S. Gramophone Co. suggested his co.'s Gramophone with shiny horn, then bought the revised painting for £100, and sell it to the Victor Talking Machine Co., founds in 1901 in Camden, N.J. by Eldridge Reeves Johnson (1867-1945), with Emile Berliner as a probable shadow partner as a strategy to defeat patent-stealer Zonophone. Nipper listening to "His Master's Voice" on a Victrola becomes their trademark, first appearing on a record label on July 1, 1902, then becoming the RCA Victor dog in 1929, going on to become the most famous dog in the world. Meanwhile in 1895 Italian-born inventor Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) built the first working radio system, imagine the musical potential, by 1925 even Afghanistan have a radio station. Meanwhile in 1885 Tin Pan Alley in Manhattan on West 28th St. between 5th and 6th Ave. is created when a number of music publishers set up shop, churning out sheet music; with the rise of the phonograph and radio, it begins a steep decline. Jews are instrumental in Tin Pan Alley's success, along with the entire U.S. entertainment industry, working to help whites accept not only themselves but blacks, it's a long story so I'll skip it. To top it all, on Oct. 28, 1886 the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor is dedicated, inviting the white (incl. Jewish) part of Europe to move on in and start partying, as long as each one passed inspection and have enough money to prove he/she wouldn't be a drain on society. Meanwhile the U.S. erected a sick double-dealing de facto wall of apartheid with their brown-skinned next-door neighbors in Mexico, which welcomed them as migrant laborers but goes nonlinear if they tried to stay permanently. It took until 1965 for the gates to be opened to non-whites from overseas with Ted Kennedy's 1965 U.S. Immigration Act, although Mexicans are still groaning under apartheid, which continues to this day, even Pres. Obama told them to get back in line behind Muslims from North Africa and the Middle East. Speaking of Muslims, too bad, Ted Kennedy's 1965 Immigration Act allowed Muslims from the Muslim world to immigrate, which is a big mistake that threatens to spoil everything, is there something about kill the infidels you don't understand, Islam prohibits music itself, there's no fun in Islam according to Ayatollah Khomeini, ask me about supremacy, intolerance, jihave and Sharia later, a melting pot requires material that can melt not explode like gasoline, it's not about racism, if they would renounce Islam for sex, drugs, and rock and roll they might be okay. Did I mention the Lost Generation of people born in 1883-1900, who have to groan through WWI and WWII to obtain their prize of running a world in which they are outnumbered by the younger generations, the first falling for them as role models, the second tuning them out and turning on to sex, drugs, and rock and roll, your body can't tell the difference, sugar is sugar?

Columbia Records

On Jan. 22, 1889 Columbia Records (Columbia Graphophone Co.) is founded in Washington, D.C. from the American Graphophone Co., successor to the Volta Graphophone Co., becoming the first record company; at first it supplies U.S. govt. depts. with phonographs for use as dictation machines; in 1938 CBS bought it for $750K, signing Frank Sinatra and making big bucks in the 1940s with over 200 of his songs.

Scott Joplin (1867-1917) Jelly Roll Morton (1885-1941)

After the emancipation of the African slaves, some goes into the music business. In 1895 Ragtime was created, and popularized by Scott Joplin (1867-1917), who have an internat. hit in 1899 with Maple Leaf Rag. The Greatest Generation of people born in 1901-24 in the West won a big V in WWII, making the world safe for rock and roll. Jelly Roll Morton (1885-1941) claimed to invent Jazz in 1902, but not the word. In 1912 the word "Jazz" is coined on the U.S. west coast, but doesn't refer to music. In 1915 the term is first uses to refer to music in Chicago, after which it swept the U.S. and replaced Ragtime in popularity, soon reaching Europe. On Mar. 7, 1917 the first jazz record, Livery Stable Blues Original Dixieland Jass (Jazz) Band of New Orleans, La. (founded 1916).

Parlophone

In 1896 Parlophone (Parlophon) is founded in Germany by the Carl Lindstrom Co., becoming a top jazz label in the 1920s; in 1927 it is acquired by Columbia Graphophone Co.

Pope Pius X (1835-1914)

On Nov. 22, 1903 new old Pope (1903-14) Pius X (1835-1914) issued the bull, er, bull Tra le Sollecitudini (Amidst the Cares), banning castratos and requiring boys to sing soprano and contraltro parts in the Church, while banning women from singing with men, and reaffirming the Gregorian chant over Renaissance polyphony, also banning the piano and percussion instruments. I'm sure this has something to do with rock and roll history so I'm not editing it out :)

W.C. Handy (1873-1958)

In Sept. 1912 Florence, Ala.-born William Christopher "W.C." Handy (1873-1958) pub. Memphis Blues, a "Southern rag", becoming the first blues song, pioneering the basic 3-chord 12-Bar Blues harmonic structure, gaining blues (12-measure stanzas of syncopated melody in 2/4 or 4/4 time with strong rhythmic accompaniment) wide acceptance, causing him to become known as "the Father of Blues"; sells the rights for $100; originally "Mr. Crump", composed as a campaign tune for 1909 mayoral candidate Edward Crump; inspires the foxtrot dance step by Vernon and Irene Castle of New York City. In 1914 he pub. St. Louis Blues, which starts out with a tango then breaks into da blues. In 1916 he pub. Beale Street Blues, followed in 1917 by Ole Miss Rag, and in 1919 by Yellow Dog Blues (originally "Yellow Dog Rag"), his most successful hit.

Regal Recordings

In 1914 Regal Recordings is founded as a subsidiary of the British branch of Columbia Gramophone, merging in 1932 with Zonophone of Britain to become Regal Zonophone, later absorbed by EMI.

George White (1899-1968) Josephine Baker (1906-75)

In 1914-18 horrific World War I causes the fit to hit the shan as it showed the entire non-white world that whites weren't such a superior master race after all when they started an industrial interracial extermination fest, shooting and blowing each other up like cockroaches in the name of outdated empires that ended up kaput. After WWI black-white relations begins making inroads fast via entertainment of all types. In 1919 white entertainer George White (1890-1968) began producing George White's Scandals on Broadway (until 1939), with scores by George Gershwin, Richard A. Whiting et al., introducing African-Am. dances such as the Charleston and Black Bottom to white audiences, along with songs such as Lucky Day (1926), and Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (1931) (both written by Ray Henderson, Buddy G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown). In 1924 naughty black American singer-dancer-stripper ("the Bronze Venus") ("the Bronze Pearl") ("the Creole Goddess") Josephine Baker (Freda Josephine McDonald) (1906-75) (born in St. Louis, Mo. of a white father and black washerwoman mother) becomes a star in Paris with such acts as the seminude "Danse Sauvage", and the "Banana Dance", costumed in a girdle of rhinestone-studded bananas. In her career she becomes the first African-American female to star in a major motion picture, to integrate a U.S. concert hall, and to become a world-famous entertainer, appearing in the Ziegfeld Follies with Bob Hope and Fanny Brice, and ending up one of the richest black women in the world and a nat. heroine in France with a Legion of Honor for supporting the WWII resistance, becoming a French citizen in 1937, then contributing to the U.S. civil right movement before being offered and declining the leadership of the U.S. civil rights movement in 1968 by Coretta Scott King after the MLK Jr. assassination, then dying break. In 1974 she makes a 50th anniv. comeback with an entrance on a motorcyle.

MCA Records Jules C. Stein (1896-1981) Lew Wasserman (1913-2002)

In 1924 MCA (Music Corp. of America) is founded by Jules C. Stein (1896-1981) et al. as a music booking agency in Chicago, Ill., going on to book big bands incl. King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton, and becoming the world's largest talent agency by the late 1930s, moving to Beverly Hills in 1939 and gaining the nickname "The Octopus", triggering endless monopoly investigations by the U.S. Dept. of Justice. In 1936 Lewis Robert "Lew" Wasserman (1913-2002) joins it, rising to head in 1948, and becoming famous for taking down the Hollywood studio system, causing him to be known as the Pope of Hollywood.

Electrola EMI

The Silent Generation of people born in 1925-45 goes through Hell in the Great Depression, which messes their minds up permanently, causing them to spoil their Baby Boomer kids, priming the rock and roll explosion of the 1960s, thanks mom and pop, never trust anybody over 30. In 1925 the Electrola record label is founded in Berlin by the Gramophone Co., merging in 1931 with the Columbia Gramophone Co. ("His Master's Voice" label) to form the Electric and Musical Industries Ltd. (EMI) label.

James John 'Jimmy' Walker of the U.S. (1881-1946) Majestic Records

On Jan. 1, 1926 Irish-Am. Dem. Greenwich Village alderman and Tin Pan Alley songwriter James John "Jimmy" "Beau James" Walker (1881-1946) is sworn in as mayor of New York City, becoming known as Beau James as he makes the Big Apple friendly to the Jazz Age by allowing speakeasies to proliferate while he enjoys chorus girls, leaving his wife for Ziegeld Follies showgirl Betty Compton (1907-44). Too bad, the Great Depression gives Cardinal Patrick Hayes an excuse to come down on his case, blaming his immorality for everything, leading to corruption investigations, after which he resigns on Sept. 1, 1932 and skips to Europe for awhile to avoid prosecution and marry his Betty; after the heat dies down, he returns and becomes pres. of jazz label Majestic Records, mismanaging it until it folds in 1948.

Red Rocks Amphitheater

In 1927 the city of Denver, Colo. purchases Red Rocks in the foothills of the Rocky Mts. for $54,133, turning it into one of the top natural amphitheaters on Earth, with seating cap. of 9,525, later hosting the Beatles on Aug. 26, 1964, Jimi Hendrix in 1968, Jethro Tull on June 10, 1971, Bruce Springsteen in 1978, U2 on June 5, 1983 (Bloody Sunday), and Pearl Jam in 1995; in 2015 it becomes a U.S. nat. historic landmark; after the Jethro Tull performance, which involves the police, rock concerts are banned for five years.

Sir Edward Roberts Lewis (1900-80) Decca Records

In 1929 Decca Records is founded in Britain by Sir Edward Roberts Lewis (1900-80), who establishes a U.S. label in 1934, which sign big name black entertainers incl. Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, the Mills Brothers, and the Ink Spots, as well as top white entertainers incl. Judy Garland, the Andrews Sisters, and the Dorsey Brothers; too bad, WWII causes connections between the two organizations to be severed for decades.

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Louis Armstrong (1901-71) Count Basie (1904-84) Cab Calloway (1907-94) Billie Holiday (1915-59) Ella Fitzgerald (1917-96) Glenn Miller (1904-44) Benny Goodman (1909-86) The Dorsey Brothers

In the 1930s the Big Band Era and the Swing Era began. Top jazz entertainers incl. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974), known for the signature tune Take the 'A' Train (by Billy Strayhorn) (1941), Louis Daniel "Satchmo" "Pops" Armstrong (1901-71), known for When the Saints Go Marching In, and Hello, Dolly! (1964), William "Count" Basie (1904-84), known for One O'Clock Jump (1937), Cabell "Cab" Calloway III (1907-94), known for Minnie the Moocher (1931), Billie "Lady Day" Holiday (Eleanora Fagan) (1915-59), known for Strange Fruit (1939) ("NAACP propaganda" - Time mag.), and Ella Jane "Lady Ella" "First Lady of Song" Fitzgerald (1917-96), known for A-Tisket, A-Tasket (1938), and Oh, Lady Be Good (1947). Not all jazz musicians are black, which is no surprise, as white audiences would only listen to white musicians. Top white jazz entertainers incl. Alton Glenn Miller (1904-44), known for In the Mood (1939), Tuxedo Junction (1939), Moonlight Serenade (1939), Little Brown Jug (1939), Pennsylvania 6-5000 (1940), American Patrol (1941), Chattanooga Choo Choo (1941), and A String of Pearls (1942), Benjamin David "Benny" "King of Swing" Goodman (1909-86), known for Sing, Sing, Sing (1935), and The Dorsey Brothers, known for Lullaby of Broadway (1935).

Frying Pan Guitar George Beauchamp (1899-1941) Adolph Rickenbacker (1886-1976)

In 1931 the Electric Guitar was invented for jazz musicians by George Delmetia Beauchamp (1899-1941), who founds the Ro-Pat-In (Electro-Patent-Instrument) Co. in Los Angeles, Calif. along with Swiss-born Adolph Rickenbacker (1886-1976) (cousin of WWI flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker), and Paul Barth. Rickenbacker invented the Frying Pan (Pancake) Guitar, made of cast aluminum, first produced in 1932, and discontinued in 1939 after 2.7K were made. The first solid body Spanish style electric guitar is made by Vivi-Tone in 1934, followed by the Electro Spanish, makes of Bakelite and marketed by Rickenbacker in 1935 after they change the co. name to Rickenbacker Electro Stringed Instrument Co.

Henry Dixon Cowell (1897-1965)

In 1931 Am. composer Henry Dixon Cowell (1897-1965) invented the Rhythmicon (Polyrhythmophone), the first electronic rhythm machine.

Robert Leroy Johnson (1911-38)

In 1936-7 after allegedly making a Faustian bargain with the Devil, Hazlehust, Miss.-born blues singer Robert Leroy Johnson (1911-38) releases his landmark Miss. Delta Blues recordings that later influenced Eric Clapton et al., getting him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an "early influence". His best-known recordings are Sweet Home Chicago, and Malted Milk. On Aug. 16, 1938 he dies a tragic early death after being poisoned by a jealous husband, becoming the first member of the 27 Club.

Big Joe Turner (1911-85)

In Dec. 1938 6'2" 300 lb. Kansas City, Mo.-born blues shouter (black) ("The Boss of the Blues") ("The Grandfather of Rock and Roll") Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (1911-85) releases Roll 'Em Pete, featuring 12-bar blues w/up-tempo boogie woogie by pianist Pete Johnson, becoming the first rock & roll record? He follows with Cherry Red (1939), Chains of Love (by Ahmet Ertegun) (1951) (#1 R&B)) (1M copies), Honey Hush (1953) (#23 in the U.S.) (#1 R&B) (1M copies), Shake, Rattle and Roll (by Jesse Stone AKA Charles E. Calhoun) (Apr. 1954) (#22 in the U.S.) (#1 R&B) ("I've been holdin' it in, way down underneath/ You makes me roll my eyes, baby, makes me grit my teeth"), Flip, Flop and Fly (by Charles Calhoun) (1955), and Corrine, Corrina (1956) (#41 in the U.S.) (1M copies).

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-73) Sammy Price (1908-92)

In 1938 Cotton Plant, Ark.-born gospel singer-songwriter Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-73) releases the singles Rock Me, and This Train, which makes her an instant hit in the secular music market while shocking the gospel music market by combining secular with sacred music, pioneering rock and roll with the 1944 single Strange Things Happening Everyday, recorded with Decca Boogie Woogie pianist Samuel Blythe "Sammy" Price (1908-92).

Les Paul (1915-2009) Leo Fender (1909-91) Fender Stratocaster Gibson Les Paul Epiphone Casino

In 1939 Am. guitarist Les Paul (1915-2009) invents the Log, one of the first solid-body electric guitars, along with Charles Leonidas "Leo" Fender (1909-91), whose electric guitar is the first to be mass-produced. In 1946 the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Co. (later Fender Musical Instruments Corp.) is founded in Fullerton, Calif. by Fender to design and produce electric guitars and amplifiers, helping to launch rock and roll, starting with the Telecaster in fall 1949, followed by the Stratocaster in 1954. In 1952 the Gibson Les Paul solid body electric guitar is first sold by the Gibson Guitar Co. of Kalamazoo, Mich., becoming a worthy competitor. In 1957 the Epiphone Co., founded in 1873 in Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey by Anastasios Stathopoulos (-1915) to makes fiddles and lutes, which moved to the U.S. in 1903 and began making guitars in 1928 is acquired by their main rival Gibson, going on to produce the Epiphone Casino guitar, which is makes famous by the Beatles.

Buddy Jones (1906-56)

In 1939 Asheville, N.C.-born country singer Buddy Jones (1906-56) releases Rockin' Rollin' Mamma, which contains one the first uses of the term "rock and roll" in music, and it's by a white singer?; "Waves on the ocean, waves in the sea/ But that gal of mine rolls just right for me/ Rockin' rollin' mamma, I love the way you rock and roll".

Solomon Linda (1909-62) The Tokens

Speaking of jungle music. In 1939 South African Zulu musician Solomon Popoli Linda (1909-62) and The Evening Birds releases the single Mbube (Zulu "lion"), an a capella song written by Linda that becomes a big hit in South Africa, selling 100K copies, about King Chaka the Lion, who didn't die when whitey took over his country, but goes to sleep, and will one day awaken; the chorus is "uyimbube" (you're a lion). Too bad, when The Weavers covered the song in 1952 they changes the title and chorus to Wimoweh, and didn't pay Linda proper royalties, causing him to lose millions until his family begins suing in 2004. Meanwhile in 1961 the Brooklyn, N.Y. doowop group The Tokens, consisting of Neil Sedaka (1939-) (quit in 1957), Hank Medress (1938-2007), Cynthia Zolotin (quit in 1957), Jay Siegel, Mitch Margo (tenor), Phil Margo (baritone), and Joe Venneri (guitar) releases the #1 U.S. single Wimoweh: The Lion Sleeps Tonight (#11 in the U.K.), and the coverup is complete until the Internet Age?

Woody Guthrie (1912-67)

The Dust Bowl of 1930-40, created by severe dust storms in the U.S. and Canadian prairies displaced many families, especially in Oklahoma, causing "Okies" to be treated like merde by authorities in states they are trying to settle in. In July 1940 Comsymp (Communist sympathizer) Okemah, Okla.-born folk musician ("the Oklahoma Cowboy") Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (1912-67), known for the slogan "This Machine Kills Fascists" displayed on his guitar releases his debut album Dust Bowl Ballads, the first-ever concept album, featuring the tracks Dust Bowl Blues, Dust Bowl Refugee, Dust Can't Kill Me, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Tom Joad. In 1941 the Almanac Singers (him and Pete Seeger) releases the album Songs for John Doe, against U.S. entry into WWII, which features the track The Strange Death of John Doe. After Pearl Harbor, they release Round and Round Hitler's Grave, supporting U.S. entry. In 1945 Woody pub. This Land Is Your Land, his counter-version of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America".

Glenn Miller (1904-44) Harry Belafonte (1927-) Perry Como (1912-2001) Johnnie Taylor (1934-2000) Eagles

In Feb. 1942 RCA awarded the first-ever Gold Record to Glenn Miller (1904-44) for his hit Chattanooga Choo Choo, signifying 1M copies sold. The first gold LP is awarded to the album Calypso by Harry Belafonte (1927-). In 1958 the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA) trademarked the term gold record in the U.S. to signify 500K copies sold, and on Mar. 14, 1958 they certified Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como (1912-2001) as the first RIAA gold single, and Oklahoma! Soundtrack as the first gold album in July 1958. In 1976 they certified the single Disco Lady by Johnnie Taylor (1934-2000), and the album Their Greatest Hits (1975-1975) by the Eagles as the first platinum records (1M sold).

Lionel Hampton (1908-2002) Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004)

In 1942 after leaving Benny Goodman's Orchestra in 1940, Louisville, Ky.-born "King of the Vibraphone" Lionel Leo "Hamp" Hampton (1908-2002 and his orchestra release the big band jump blues song Flying Home, featuring the honking tenor sax of Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004), which becomes Hampton's signature tune and a prototype of the honking sax in jazz and rock & roll.

Capitol Records Johnny Mercer (1909-76) Buddy DeSylva (1895-1950) Glen Wallichs (1910-76)

In 1942 songwriter John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (1909-76), songwriter-film producer George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (1895-1950), and record store owner Glen Wallichs (1910-71) found Capitol Records (originally Liberty Records) in Los Angeles, Calif., becoming the first record co. on the U.S. West Coast.

Louis Jordan (1908-75)

In 1942 Brinkley, Ark.-born jump blues and R&B saxophonist-bandleader Louis Thomas Jordan (1908-75) and His Tympany Five release their first U.S. R&B hit I'm Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town" (#3 R&B), followed by What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again) (#1 R&B) (1942), Ration Blues (#1 R&B) (#1 country) (first crossover hit) (1943), G.I. Jive (#1 R&B) (#1 U.S.) (1944), Mop! Mop! (#1 R&B) (1945), Caldonia (#1 R&B) (#6 U.S.) (1945), Buzz Me (#1 R&B) (#9 U.S.), Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule (#1 R&B) (1946), Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming) (w/Ella Fitzgerald) (#1 R&B) (1946), Choo Choo Ch'Boogie (#1 R&B) (#7 U.S.) (1946), Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time) (#1 R&B) (1946), Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens (#1 R&B) (#6 U.S.) (1946), Texas and Pacific (#1 R&B) (1947), Jack, You're Dead" (#1 R&B) (1947), Boogie Woogie Blue Plate (#1 R&B) (1947), Run Joe (#1 R&B) (1948), Beans and Corn Bread (#1 R&B) (1949), Saturday Night Fish Fry (#1 R&B) (1949), and Blue Light Boogie (#1 R&B) (1950). He goes on to become known as "the Father of Rhythm & Blues" and "the Grandfather of Rock and Roll", making a fan of Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and James Brown, who benefit from his popularity with white audiences in a segregated society.

Syd Nathan (1904-68) King Records Logo

In 1943 Cincinnati, Ohio-born Jewish-Aam. jukebox record store owner Sydney "Syd" Nathan (1904-68) founds King Records in Cincinnati to distribute hillbilly music, expanding to "race records" by African-Ams., going on to promote the Delmore Brothers, the Stanley Brothers, Moon Mullican, Cowboy Copas, Grandpa Jones, and discover R&B king James Brown in 1956; the motto is: "If it's a King it's a hillbilly".

Wynonie Harris (1915-69)

In 1944 Omaha, Neb.-born R&B singer Wynonie Harris (1915-69) with Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra releases his first hit single Hurry Hurry! (#24 in the U.S.), followed by Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well (1945) (#7 in the U.S.), Good Rocking Tonight (by Roy Brown) (1948), All She Wants to Do Is Rock (1949), and Blooshot Eyes (1951), making a fan of young Elvis Presley and turning him on to rock & roll.

In 1945 World War II (begun 1939) ended, leaving the U.S. in military control of the world, with half its wealth, and after the 90%-white GIs returned home they begin having babies like rabbits, creating the Baby Boomers (born in 1946-64), history's most privileged generation, incl. TLW - they didn't start rock and roll, but they finished it, I hope not.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

In 1945 Trellech, Monmouthshire-born British philosopher Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell (1872-1970) pub. A History of Western Philosophy and Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from Earliest Times to the Present Day, which becomes a big hit, fixing him financially for life and helping him win the 1950 Nobel Lit. Prize despite being dissed by several historians, who accuse of him of rushing it to press to makes money; "A precious book... a work that is in the highest degree pedagogical which stands above the conflicts of parties and opinions" (Albert Einstein); "[It] confers on philosophers who are dead and gone a kind of false contemporaneity which may makes them seem important to the uninitiate. But nevertheless it is a misreading of history" (George Boas); "I regarded the early part of my History of Western Philosophy as a history of culture, but in the later parts, where science becomes important, it is more difficult to fit into this framework. I did my best, but I am not at all sure that I succeeded. I is sometimes accused by reviewers of writing not a true history but a biased account of the events that I arbitrarily chose to write of. But to my mind, a man without bias cannot write interesting history - if, indeed, such a man exists." (Russell) One day Beatle Paul McCartney visits him at his flat in London, and is lectured on anti-war activism, the news causing fellow Beatle John Lennon to get into it? On Feb. 2, 1972 pipe-smoking Russell (b. 1872) dies in Plas Penrhyn, Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales of influenza after pub. 50+ books and winning the 1950 Nobel Lit. Prize; "It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true"; "Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are makes stupid by education"; "Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate"; "A process which led from the amoeba to man appear to the philosophers to be obviously a progress though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known"; "War doesn't determine who's right, only who's left"; "If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing"; "Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: The longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind"; "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"; "On the one hand, philosophy is to keep us thinking about things that we may come to know, and on the other hand to keep us modestly aware of how much that seems like knowledge isn't knowledge"; "Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence. It will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines"; "I resolved from the beginning of my quest that I would not be misled by sentiment and desire into beliefs for which there is no good evidence"; "Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless"; "Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so"; "If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instinct, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way"; "Liberty is the right to do what I like; license, the right to do what you like"; "The secret to happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible"; "To understand the actual world as it is, not as we should wish it to be, is the beginning of wisdom"; "There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths"; "A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live"; "To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead"; "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves and wiser people so full of doubts"; "It is not what the man of science believes that distinguishes him, but how and why he believes it. His beliefs are tentative, not dogmatic; they are based on evidence, not on authority or intuition."

Ahmet Ertegun (1923-2006) Atlantic Records

In Sept. 1947 Ahmet Ertegun (1923-2006), son of a Turkish ambassador founds Atlantic Records in New York City, going on to sign and popularize Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and The Rolling Stones.

Roy Brown (1925-81)

In 1947 New Orleans, La.-born blues singer Roy James Brown (1925-81) releases Good Rocking Tonight, which popularizes the term "rocking"; it is recorded at J&M Records in New Orleans, La., owned by Cosimo Matassa (1926-2014).

In 1947 the Tulagi nightclub at 1129 13th St. in Boulder, Colo. is founded by Ray Imel and Rex Bailey, named after a South Pacific island involved in the WWII Battle of Guadalcanal, becoming a hip scene for local U. of Colo. students to drink 3.2 beer while watching rock bands incl. The Eagles, ZZ Top, Flying Burrito Brothers, Lina Ronstadt, John Lee Hooker, and Doobie Brothers; in 200 it becomes the Which Wich sandwich shop.

Peter Carl Goldmark (1906-77)

On June 18, 1948 after German-Hungarian engineer Peter Carl Goldmark (1906-77) invents the 10"/12" diam. 33-1/3 rpm LP (long-playing) vinyl record (35/45 min./side), Columbia Records announces it at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, causing RCA next year to introduce the 45 pm record as a competitor, allowing the masses to buy more and more and more music by the album or track, helping to launch the pop/rock era; in 1951 Columbia Records begins releasing 45 rpm records, allowing games to be played by record companies with packaging and promotion; in 1952 Columbia introduces extended-play LPs (26 min./side).

Ed Sullivan (1901-74)

On June 20, 1948 (Sun.) (8-9 p.m. ET) the New York City-based variety show Toast of the Town debuts on CBS-TV (until June 6, 1971), hosted by former boxer and newspaper sportswriter Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan (1901-74), featuring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Monica Lewis, and Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II previewing "South Pacific", becoming the longest-running show in TV history; "a really big shoe"; on Sept. 25, 1955 it becomes "The Ed Sullivan Show"; in 1965 it switches to color; in June 1968 CBS-TV Studio 50 is renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Muddy Waters (1913-83)

Meanwhile African-Americans are busy turning R&B into rock and roll, share what you love with who you love. In 1948 Issaquena County, Miss.-born blues musician ("Father of Chicago Blues") Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) (1913-83) adopts the electric guitar and releases his first hit I Can't Be Satisfied, pioneering Chicago Blues, which is incubated in the open-air market on Maxwell Street; in 1954 he releases the singles Hoochie Coochie Man (by Willie Dixon), I'm Ready, and I Just Want to Make Love to You (by Willie Dixon), "the most macho songs in his repertoire" (Robert Palmer), which turns the Rolling Stones onto him, causing them to name their group after his 1950 single Rollin' Stone.

John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) John Lee Hooker (1917-2001)

In Sept. 1948 Miss.-born talking blues musician John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) releases the singles Boogie Chillen', Hobo Blues, and Crawling King Snake, laying the foundations for rock and roll. In 1962 he releases Boom Boom (#60 in the U.S.).

Burl Ives (1909-95) Stan Jones (1914-) Vaughn Monroe (1911-73) 'Ghost Rider', 2007

In 1949 Hunt City, Ill.-born folk singer Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (1909-95) releases the single (Ghost Riders) in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend (#21 in the U.S.), written by Stanley Davis "Stan" Jones (1914-63) (who worked for the Nat. Park Service in Death Valley, Calif., where he met film dir. John Ford and becomes good friends, going on to write many Western songs for him), which ended up getting covered umpteen zillion times, blurring the line between country and rock, incl. by Vaughn Monroe (1911-73) in 1949 (#1 in the U.S.), Bing Crosby in 1949 (#14 in the U.S.), Peggy Lee in 1949, Spike Jones in 1949, The Ramrods in 1961 (#30 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Dick Dale in 1963, Elvis Presley in 1970, Johnny Cash in 1979, The Outlaws in 1980, The Shadows in 1980, Deborah Harry in 1998, and Spiderbait for the 2007 Nicolas Cage film Ghost Rider. Even The Lawrence Welk Champagne Orchestra.

Fats Domino (1928-2017)

In 1949 the first rock and roll record to sell a million copies is released by Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino Jr. (1928-2017): Detroit City Blues, and its flip side The Fat Man. He goes on to release the hits Ain't That A Shame (#10 in the U.S.) in 1955, Blueberry Hill (#2 in the U.S.) in 1956, I'm Walkin' (#4 in the U.S.) in 1957, and Whole Lotta Loving (#6 in the U.S.) in 1958.

1950s

Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan (1895-1951)

In May 1950 Pakistani PM (1947-51) Liaquat Ali Khan (1895-1951) visits the U.S., and utters the immortal soundbyte: "As I let myself ponder over this, I suddenly see the United States of America as an island, a fabulously prosperous island. And all around this island I see the unhealthy sea of misery, povery, and squalor in which millions of human beings are trying to keep their heads above water. At such moments I fear for this great nation as one fears for a dear friend." Show me the Carfax, comrade?

The Weavers Pete Seeger (1919-2014) Marlene Dietrich (1901-92) Malvina Reynolds (1900-78) Zilphia Horton (1910-56)

Speaking of Communism, in 1950 the Greenwich Village folk music quartet The Weavers, incl. Peter "Pete" Seeger (1919-2014), Ruth Alice "Ronnie" Gilbert (1926-2015), Lee Hays (1914-81), and Fred Hellerman (1927-) (who later produces Arlo Guthrie's album "Alice Restaurant") have a #1 U.S. hit with Goodnight, Irene by Leadbelly. Seeger's banjo carries the legend "This Machine Surrounds Hate and Forces It to Surrender". Too bad in 1950 the right-wing journal Counterattack pub. Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television, listing 151 intellectuals, entertainers and journalists incl. Leonard Bernstein, Lee J. Cobb, Aaron Copland, Jose Ferrer, John Garfield, Ruth Gordon, Ben Grauer, Dashiell Hammett, E.Y. Harburg, Lillian Hellman, Judy Holliday, Lena Horne, Langston Hughes, Burl Ives, Sam Jaffe, Gypsy Rose Lee, Burgess Meredith, Zero Mostel, Dorothy Parker, Edward G. Robinson, Pete Seeger, William L. Shirer, Louis Untermeyer, and Orson Welles, creating a de facto industry blacklist, using the for-profit corp. AWARE Inc. as a clearance service to check for Commie sympathies, and forcing The Weavers to disband in 1951 after releasing Wimoweh/ The Lion Sleeps Tonight, a cover of the 1939 song "Mbube" by Zulu musician Solomon Linda (1909-62) and the Evening Birds; too bad, they don't pay him proper royalties, causing him to lose millions until his family begins suing in 2004. On Aug. 18, 1955 Seeger refuses to take the Fifth Amendment in front of the House Un-Am. Activities Committtee (HUAC), and stood on the First Amendment, saying "I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this." On July 26, 1957 the U.S. House of Reps votes 373-9 to cite Seeger, Arthur Miller, and five others with contempt of Congress for failing to cooperate with HUAC. In 1955 the experience causes Seeger to begin writing Where Have All the Flowers Gone? after reading Mikhail Sholokhov's 1928 novel "And Quiet Flows the Don", with verses added in May 1960 by Joe Hickerson, who is given 20% of the royalties; in 1961 the Kingston Trio release their big hit Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, thinking it's an anon. folk song; in 1962 Marlene Dietrich (1901-92) releases Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, a cover of the 1961 Kingston Trio hit, which becomes a big hit in Germany in English and German as "Sag Mir, Wo die Blumen Sind"; she goes on perform it in Israel, breaking the taboo of using German publicly there; Seeger finally releases his own version in 1964. In Mar. 1961 they finally convict him and sentence him to 10 years, but he gets his conviction overtured in May 1962, going on to write or co-write (with Lee Hays) hit songs "If I have a Hammer", and "Turn, Turn, Turn!" Meanwhile in 1960 he is barred by the school board of San Diego, Calif. from performing at a high school unless he signs an oath that he won't promote a Communist agenda or attempt to overthrow the govt., and after he refuses, the ACLU obtains an injunction forcing the concert to be held; they finally apologize in Feb. 2009 after he finally officially quits the CPUSA, with the soundbyte: "I should have asked to see the gulags when I is in the U.S.S.R. [in 1965]", and writes Big Joe Blues condemning Stalin, also uttering the soundbyte: "I certainly should apologize for saying that Stalin is a hard driver rather than a very cruel leader." Meanwhile he utters the soundbytes "Some may find [my songs] merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is wrong? Not I", and "I like to say I'm more conservative than Goldwater. He just wanted to turn the clock back to when there is no income tax. I want to turn the clock back to when people lived in small villages and took care of each other", and "I still call myself a Communist, because Communism is no more what Russia makes of it than Christianity is what the churches makes of it." When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn? Go figure, in 1962 German film star Marlene Dietrich (1901-92) records Seger's song Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, which becomes a big hit in Germany in English and German as "Sag Mir, Wo die Blumen Sind"; she goes on to perform it in Israel, breaking the taboo of using German publicly there - quit stealing my style, bitch? In 1963 Seeger et al. organize a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City featuring the Freedom Singers to benefit the Highlander Folk School in New Market, Tenn., bringing the anthem We Shall Overcome, written in 1947 by white Spadra, Ark.-born Highlander student Zilphia Horton (Zilphia Mae Johnson) (1910-56) to public attention. In 1963 he also releases the hit single Little Boxes, written by Malvina Reynolds (1900-78). On Mar. 8, 1965 the U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. v. Seeger (named for Daniel Andrew Seeger, not singer Peter Seeger, although it should be?) unanimously expands the definition of conscientious objector to people who are not members of any religious denomination, such as agnostics and atheists, the test being a "sincere and meaningful belief which occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to that filled by the God of those who have been granted the exemption from the military draft." In 1966 Seeger founds Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to fight pollution in the Hudson River, and in 1969 launches the sloop Clearwater, with crew incl. singer Don McLean; the Hudson River Shad catch fell to 50 tons in 1966, most of it tainted, causing the Dept. of Interior Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to stop keeping records of it; meanwhile the U.S. becomes the last major nation to abandon the 3-mi. limit for fishing, extending it to 12 mi.; in 1976 they upped it to 200 mi. Also in 1966 Seeger releases the album Dangerous Songs!?, which features the track Beans in My Ears (by Len Chandler), containing the lyric "Mrs. Jay's son Alby has beans in his ears", which the anti-war crowd took to mean LBJ. In 1967 Seeger and Hector Angulo (1932-) releases the single Guantanamera, with lyrics taken from an 1895 poem by Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti (1853-95). In 1967 Seeger releases the single Waist Deep in the Big Muddy, with the lyrics: "Every time I read the paper, those old feelings come on/ We are waist deep in the Big Muddy/ and the big fool says to push on." Too bad, the song is cut from the Sept. 1967 "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", then reinstated in Jan. 1968, probably helping the network decide to cancel the show.

Leonard Chess (1917-69) and Phil Chess (1921-) Chess Records Checker Records Cadet Records Elektra Records Epic Records Vee-Jay Records Norman Granz (1918-2001) Verve Records Stax Records Island Records Chris Blackwell (1937-)

In 1950 Chess Records is founded in Chicago, Ill. by Polish-born Jewish brothers Leonard Chess (Lejzor Czyz) (1917-69) and Phil Chess (Fiszel Czyz) (1921-), going on to sign R&B artists Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Etta James, Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry et al.; in 1952 they found Checker Records for radio play; in Dec. 1955 they found Argo Records, which changes its name in 1965 to Cadet Records. In 1950 Elektra Records is founded by nobodies Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt for a joint investment of $600, going on to concentrate on folk music and protest singers, not selling very much until they decided to go into psychedelic rock in 1966, signing The Doors, Love, The Stooges, and MC5, how elektrifying. In 1950 the first 45 rpm jukeboxes (replacing 78 rpm models) are introduced by Seeburg Corp. (known as the Trashcan) and Ristaucrat Inc. of Appleton, Wisc.; in 1951 Victor and Columbia agreed to split the record market, with Victor selling LPs and Columbia selling 45 rpm records. In 1953 Epic Records is founded by CBS for jazz and pop, expanding to all genres by 1960, later signing the Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Donovan, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck et al., followed in the 1970s by Boston, ABBA, Cheap Trick, The Clash, REO Speedwagon et al. In 1953 Vee-Jay Records is founded in Gary, Ind. by Vivian Carter (1921-89) and James C. Bracken (1909-72) to concentrate on black music, signing John Lee Hooker, The Pips, The Dells et al., and later signing their first white act The Four Seasons, and acquiring the rights to some early Beatles records, can I ask you something, where did you get those shoes. In 1956 Verve Records is founded by Norman Granz (1918-2001) as a merger of Clef Records (founded 1946) and Norgram Records (founded 1953) to distribute jazz records; MGM purchased it in 1961 for $3M, and created Verve Folkways for folk music in 1964, and later sign some rock acts incl. The Righteous Brothers, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, The Velvet Underground, and The Blues Project. In 1957 Stax Records (originally Satellite Records) is founded in Memphis, Tenn. by white businesspeople Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Axton, launching the Memphis soul sound, incl. Booker T and the M.G.'s, The Veltones, and Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, and Wilson Pickett. In 1959 Island Records is founded in Jamaica by Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell (1937-), and named after the 1955 Alec Waugh novel; it moves to the U.K. in May 1962, and sell out to PolyGram in 1989, becoming the largest indie record label, turning the world on to reggae music. In 1959 the FBI learned that MCA represented 75% of the top entertainment talent (TV, movies, radio), most of whom are obtained through "predatory practices"; during his 60 years ruling MCA, its head Lew Wasserman is investigated by the feds 10x. In 1962 MCA forms MCA Records and purchased Decca Records, Coral Records, and Brunswick Records, followed in 1967 by Kapp Records; Universal Pictures came along with the Decca deal, and in 1966 MCA forms Uni (Universal City) Records.

Jackie Brenston (1930-79) Ike Turner (1931-2007) Sam Phillips (1923-2003)

In Mar. 1951 Jackie Brenston (1930-79) and his Delta Cats recorded Rocket 88, which is produced by Ike Wister Turner (1931-2007) and later billed as the first rock & roll record. On Mar. 27, 1952 the financial success helped studio owner Samuel Cornelius "Sam" Phillips (1923-2003) of 706 Union St. in Memphis, Tenn. to found Sun Records, with the soundbyte "If I could find a white man who sings with the Negro feel, I'll makes a million dollars", going on to discover Howlin' Wolf, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash et al.

Chester Arthur 'Howlin Wolf' Burnett (1910-76)

In 1951 6'6" 300 lb. Chicago electric blues musician Chester Arthur "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett (1910-76) releases the singles How Many More Years (#4 in the U.S.), and Moanin' at Midnight (#10), followed in 1956 by Smokestack Lightning (#8), and I Asked for Water (She give Me Gasoline) (#8), followed in 1960 by Back Door Man (by Willie Dixon), Spoonful, and Wang Dang Doodle (by Willie Dixon). His Jan. 11, 1962 album Howlin' Wolf (Rocking Chair Album) (#58 in the U.S.) becomes a classic of blues.

Johnnie Ray (1927-90)

In 1951 deaf bi (closet gay) alcoholic singer-songwriter-pianist John Alvin "Johnnie" Ray (1924-90) releases the single Whiskey and Gin, followed by the double hit single Cry and The Little White Cloud That Cried, which sells 2M copies and makes him a teen idol; his perf. features beating up his piano, writhing on the floor, and crying, causing him to become known as "Mr. Emotion", "the Nabob of Sob", and "the Prince of Wails". Too bad, he has to cover up by marrying Marilyn Morrison in 1952-4 while hooking up with his mgr. Bill Franklin. In 1952 he releases the duet Candy Lips with Doris Day (1924-). In 1956 he releases Just Walkin' in the Rain (#1 in the U.K.), followed in 1957 by You Don't Owe Me A Thing (#10 in the U.S.). During the 1960-70s his career goes kaput, but he survives via a mention in the 1982 Dexys Midnight Runners hit "Come On Eileen" ("Poor old Johnnie Ray sounded sad upon the radio/ He moves a million hearts in mono"), followed in 1989 by the Billy Joel single "We Didn't Start the Fire", where he is mentioned between Red China and South Pacific. He dies of cirrhosis of the liver.

In Mar. 1952 the New Musical Express (NME) popular music mag. debuts in the U.K., becoming the first to incl. a singles chart on Nov. 14, becoming the bestselling British music mag. during the 1970s.

Lloyd Price (1933-)

In Apr. 1952 Lloyd "Mr. Personality" Price (1933-) releases his million-selling debut single Lawdy Miss Clawdy, which becomes the #4 record of the year, and the first rock and roll hit from New Orleans, crossing over to the white market. Unfortunately, the U.S. is still segregated, and black performers could usually only sell to black audiences, giving white performers who weren't afraid of the stigma of being called "nigger lover" the golden opportunity to cover their songs and reap giant financial rewards.

Big Mama Thornton (1926-84) Jerry Leiber (1933-2011) ande Mike Stoller (1933-) Alan Freed (1921-65) Bob Horn's Bandstand, 1952 Dick Clark (1929-2012)

Case in point. In 1952 R&B singer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (1926-84) releases Hound Dog, which sold 2M copies. It is written by songwriting team Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (1933-2011) and Michael "Mike" Stoller (1933-), who goes on to write hits for Elvis Presley incl. "Jailhouse Rock", then turned around and cranked out hits for black rockers using white teen vernacular, incl. "Young Blood", "There Goes My Baby", and "Yakety Yak". On Mar. 21, 1952 the rock and roll frenzy begins when a riot break out at the Moondog Coronation Ball, the first-ever rock and roll concert, promoted by former Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan "Moondog" Freed (1921-65) of New York radio station WINS 1010. On Jan. 14-15, 1954 the Rock 'n' Roll Jubilee at the St. Nicholas Arena in New York City is promoted by Freed, who tried unsuccessfully to copyright the term rock and roll, if he is Bill Gates he might have done it and been a zillionaire. On Oct. 7, 1952 Bob Horn's Bandstand debut on WFIL-TV in Philadelphia, Penn., with host Bob (Donald Loyd) Horn (1916-); after he is fired for drunk driving on July 9, 1956, on Aug. 5, 1957 (Mon.) American Bandstand, hosted by ever-youthful Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (1929-2012) debut on ABC-TV (until 1989), becoming famous for the soundbyte: "It's gets a good beat and you can dance to it."

Rosco Gordon (1928-2002)

Also in 1952 Memphis, Tenn.-born Rosco Gordon (1928-2002) releases the hit R&B singles Booted, and No More Doggin', which invented the "ska" beat.

Also in 1952 the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA) is founded to administer technical standards for recordings and manage collective rights and protect copyrights. Too bad, as the digital age makes piracy too easy, they sometimes stunk themselves up by stomping little guys.

Ray Charles (1930-2004)

Another case in point. In 1953 Albany, Ga.-born Ray Charles (Robinson) (1930-2004) (blind at age 7) releases his first R&B hit single Mess Around on Atlantic Records, followed by It Should've Been Me (1954), I gets a Woman (1955), Come Back Baby (1955), This Little Girl of Mine (1955), A Fool for You (1955), Drown in My Own Tears (1956), and What'd I Say (1959) (#6 in the U.S.). The Nov. 1959 album The Genius of Ray Charles announced his breakout from R&B to the pop-rock stage, landing him a deal with ABC-Paramount, where he becomes the first to own his own masters. He then score with the hits Georgia on My Mind (1960) (#1 in the U.S.), Hit the Road Jack (1960) (#1 in the U.S.), I Can't Stop Loving You (1962) (#1 in the U.S.), and Crying Time (1966) (#6 in the U.S.). The 2004 biographical film Ray starred Jamie Foxx.

Clyde McPhatter (1932-72)

In 1953 the New York City-based R&B/doo-wop group The Drifters, fronted by Durham, N.C.-born Clyde Lensley McPhatter (1932-72), known for pioneering the injection of a gospel singing style into R&B release their first hit Money Honey (written by Jesse Stone AKA Charles E. Calhoun, who later wrote "Shake, Rattle & Roll"), followed by Honey Love (You'll Want Me to Want You) (1953) (#21 in the U.S.), There Goes My Baby (by Ben E. King) (1959) (#2 in the U.S.), Save the Last Dance for Me (1960) (#1 in the U.S.), Up On the Roof (1963) (#5 in the U.S.), On Broadway (by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller) (1963) (#9 in the U.S.), and Under the Boardwalk (1964) (#4 in the U.S.). Meanwhile in 1955 McPhatter goes solo, releasing Love Has joins Us Together (w/Ruth Brown), followed by Treasure of Love (1956) (#16 in the U.S.), A Lover's Question (1958) (#6 in the U.S.), and Lover Please (1962) (#7 in the U.S.). His singing style is emulated by Ben E. King, Smokey Robinson et al.

Greasers Teddy Boys, 1953

Around 1953 the Greaser subculture began in the NE and S U.S., with the hoods loving the greased-back hairstyle, leather jackets, motorcycle boots, blue jeans, etc., and going for hot rods, motorcycles, and rockabilly; about the same time the Teddy Boy subculture begins in London, spreading across the U.K., becoming known for their love of U.S. rock & roll, their quiff haircuts, and their Edwardian-style clothes from Savile Row (tapered trousers, long jackets, fancy waistcoats); too bad, they turned into teen gangs with a white racist streak, culminating with the 1958 Notting Hill Race Riots against West Indian immigrants.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-) Jack Kerouac (1922-69) Allen Ginsberg (1926-97) William S. Burroughs (1914-97) Herbert Huncke (1915-96)

In 1953 City Lights Bookshop (named after the 1931 Charlie Chaplin film City Lights) at 261 Columbus Ave. in San Francisco, Calif. is founded by unwholesome-but-not-exiled bearded New York-born poet Lawrence Monsanto Ferlinghetti (1919-) and Peter D. Martin as the first all-paperback bookstore in the U.S., and it becomes home to the growing anti-materialist nonviolent anti-establishment Beatnik Movement (AKA the Beat Generation) (they have grappled with affluence and lost, and are consequently beat?), which begins in Los Angeles' Venice West; males liked beards, khaki trousers, and sandals; females liked tousled hair, black leotards, and thick "raccoon" makeup around their eyes; Jean-Louis "Jack" Kerouac (1922-69), (Irwin) Allen Ginsberg (1926-97), and William Seward Burroughs II (1914-97) becomes the Beat Trinity, producing benzedrine-fueled speed-rap "bop kaballa"; Times Square bi con artist and junkie Herbert Huncke (1915-96), AKA "the Mayor of 42nd St." give the Beats their name. Speaking of Beatniks, in 1950 the Hungry I (hungry i) nightclub at 546 Broadway in North Beach, San Francisco, Calif. opened, becoming the launching pad for many acts incl. Bill Cosby, Ronnie Schell, The Kingston Trio, Glenn Yarbrough, Prof. Irwin Corey, Godfrey Cambridge, Mort Sahl, We Five, The Mamas and the Papas, Laura Nyro, and Barbra Streisand.

Big Joe Turner (1911-85) Bill Haley (1925-81) 'Blackboard Jungle', 1955

In Feb. 1954 the first commercial stereophonic recordings are made by RCA of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Charles Munch, which performs "The Damnation of Faust" by Hector Berlioz. In Apr. 1954 Kansas City, Mo.-born "Boss of the Blues" Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (1911-85) releases Shake, Rattle and Roll, written by Jesse Stone under the alias Charles E. Calhoun; since he wasn't white, it peaked at #22 on the Billboard chart. It features the lyrics "Get outa that bed, wash yo' face an' hands", and "Wearin' those dresses, the Sun comes shinin' through! I can't believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you." Later in 1954 white rockers William John Clifton "Bill" Haley (1925-81) and the Comets release their cover of Shake, Rattle and Roll, with toned-down lyrics, their first gold record, which goes #1 in the U.S. and becomes the first major internat. rock and roll hit (first to chart in Britain in Dec. 1954), selling 1M copies. Their previously unsuccessful record Rock Around the Clock (released on Apr. 14, 1954 by Decca) then took off after appearing in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle starring square Glenn Ford, selling 25M copies and becoming a watershed event that earned Haley the title of Father of Rock and Roll after it becomes the first million-selling record in both Britain and Germany, and he becomes the first major American rock singer to tour Europe. Haley (with that lone curl on his forehead) gets bigger in Europe than in the U.S. The term "teenybopper" is coined to refer to teenies who go for the rock and roll culture, and by the 1960s is extended to pop music. On Feb. 1, 1956 Haley releases the hit See You Later, Alligator before getting eclipsed by Elvis the Pelvis.

Oliver Brown and Linda Brown (1943-) Lucinda Todd (1903-96) and Nancy Todd (1941-) Thurgood Marshall of the U.S. (1908-93) Tom Campbell Clark of the U.S. (1899-1977) John William Davis of the U.S. (1873-1955)

Let's skip the genealogies and go straight to the war? The greatest moment in Supreme Court history since the Dredd Scott decision of 1857, and the beginning of the Second Reconstruction of the Am. South (first in 1867)? On May 17, 1954 the U.S. Supreme (Warren) Court rules unanimously in Bolling v. Sharpe to desegregate the public schools of Washington, D.C.; meanwhile on May 17 after hearing arguments by NAACP counsel Thurgood Marshall (1908-93), and pressure by Justice Harold Hitz Burton to bring unanimity, the U.S. Supreme (Earl Warren) Court (which incl. three Southerners) rules unanimously 9-0 in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that "separate but equal" public schools are inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional, citing the 14th Amendment to reverse the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, and ending "the long habit of deception and evasion" (Ralph Ellison); assoc. justice Robert Jackson leaves the hospital (heart attack) to be present; chief justice Earl Warren (in office for 6 mo.) begins at 12:52 p.m. and meanders until 1:20 without indicating the decision made (no advance copies given to the press), then says: "To separate [black kids] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way never to be done... We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal"; the term "integration" is never used; the Court then says it will withhold compliance instructions until its fall term, when all sides are to prepare arguments on whether the federal district courts or a special master (sorry, crackers?) should be in charge; 17 states and the District of Columbia require school segregation by law, and four other states permit it, affecting 12M school children; Ga. and S.C. go especially bonkers; 1924 Dem. vice-pres. candidate John William Davis (1873-1955), known for arguing the most (140) cases before the U.S. Supreme Court loses his last one trying to defend S.C.'s public school segregation laws; a Gallup poll following the decision finds that over half the country approves; Pres. Eisenhower repents his decision to appoint Warren to the court, saying it's "the biggest damnfool mistake I ever made", and adds "The fellow who tries to tell me that you can do these things by force is just plain nuts", but obeys the court and immediately desegregates all District of Columbia schools, and goes further, ending segregation on all Navy bases; in Jan. 1953 he had already appointed Bostonian Lois H. Lippman (-1999) as the first black member of the White House secretarial staff, along with E. Frederic Morrow (1906-94) as his admin. asst., becoming the first black to hold an executive position at the White House; the whole thing was started in 1950 by black Topeka, Kan. schoolteacher Lucinda Wilson "Cindy" Todd (1903-96), who was angry because her daughter Nancy Jane Todd (b. 1941) couldn't play in a school concert, and by Oliver L. Brown, who wanted his 9-y.-o. daughter Linda Brown (b. 1943) to attend white Sumner Elementary School in Topeka; the nine justices are Warren, Douglas, Black, Frankfurter, Jackson, Clark, Minton, Burton, and Reed; by 1964 less than 10% of Southern black students attend white schools; Cleveland, Miss. starts a court battle that lasts until May 16, 2016.

Elvis Presley (1935-77) Dewey Phillips (1926-68)

Speaking of Elvis. Whenever there is a titanic struggle between good and evil, a hero will arise, Sir William Wallace, erin go bragh. On July 5, 1954 Tupelo, Miss.-born white former truck driver Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-77), who walked into the Memphis Recording Service at Sun Records on July 18, 1953 and paid $4 to cut his first record, consisting of My Happiness and That's When Your Heartaches Begin for his mother's birthday (although they didn't own a record player) held his first commercial recording session with Sun Records, then on July 7, 1954 makes his radio debut on station WHBQ in Memphis with his debut single That's All Right (Mama) (first recorded in 1946 by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup) after rogue DJ Dewey "Daddy-O" Phillips (1926-68) took the risk of playing a single that could be taken as black music or white music, causing a sensation, playing it 14 straight times while Elvis watched a movie to calm his nerves, then interviewing him to establish that he is white, becoming "the first salvos in an undeclared war on segregated radio stations." (Rolling Stone mag.) "What he actually did is take 'black' and 'white' music and transform them into this third thing." (Greg Drew) Knoxville, Tenn. record merchant Sam Morrison of Bell Sales Co. then played the record on loudspeakers to the public, selling hundreds of copies, incl. two to an RCA talent scout, which resulted in RCA buying Elvis' contract from Sun Records. "None of us would have makes it without Elvis." (Buddy Holly) "Before Elvis there is nothing." (John Lennon) The B-side is Blue Moon of Kentucky (by Bill Monroe), using a 4/4 arrangement. "I guess the first thing people want to know is why I can't stand still when I'm singing. Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people just sway back and forth. I sort of do 'em all together, I guess. Singing rhythm and blues really knocks it out." (Elvis) In 1956 Elvis sells 10M singles and 800K LPs, question, if you are president would you be submissive to your husband. Between 1954-7 Sun Records also sign Johnny Cash, "The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, and Conway Twitty (under his real name Harold Jenkins).

Regency TR-1, 1954

In Oct. 1954 Regency introduces the first consumer transistor radio, the TR-1, with 4 transistors and a 22.5 volt battery that lasts 20 hours, all for $49.95; the Japanese soon take over the market with far cheaper models.

In 1954 Sylvia Wright coins the word "mondegreen" in a Harper's Mag. article for the process of hearing song lyrics wrong, citing the folk ballad "The Bonny Earl of Murray": "They hae slain the Earl of Murray/ And laid him on the green" (And Lady Mondegreen).

In Jan. 1955 Variety mag. pub. the immortal soundbyte about the newfangled rock & roll craze: "It will be gone by June."

Between 1955 and 1959 the U.S. music record market increases from $213M to $603M (600M records), and rock and roll's share increases from 15.7% to 42.7%; the market share of the four majors drops from 78% to 44%, while the share of independent record cos. increases from 22% to 56%.

The Cadillacs

In 1955 the Harlem, N.Y. black rock and roll and doo-wop group The Cadillacs (formerly The Carnations) have a hit with Speedo, helping to attract white audiences.

The Platters

Also in 1955 the LA group The Platters, fronted by Tony Williams (1928-92) and Zola Taylor (1938-2007) release their first hit single Only You (And You Alone) (#8 in the U.S.), followed on Nov. 3, 1955 by The Great Pretender (#1 in the U.S.).

Little Richard (1932-2020)

Also in 1955 Macon, Georgia-born bi musicianLittle Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman) (19322020-), who begins performing on the road in 1945 makes his first recordings, and begins charting 17 original hits in less than three years, incl. Tutti-Frutti (1955) (#17 in the U.S.), Long Tall Sally (1956) (#6 in the U.S.), Slippin' and Slidin' (1956) (#33 in the U.S.), Lucille (1956) (#21 in the U.S.), Keep A-Knockin' (1957) (#8 in the U.S.), and Good Golly, Miss Molly (1958) (#10 in the U.S.). "The blues have an illegitimate baby and we named it rock 'n' roll." Too bad, he suddenly quits rock and roll on Oct. 12, 1957 after becoming a born-again Christian.

Bo Diddley (1928-2008)

In 1955 McComb, Miss.-born Chicago blues musician Bo Diddley (Elias Otha Bates) (Elias McDaniel) (1928-2008) (named after the homemade Diddley Bow string instrument, and known for his rectangular Gretsch guitar called the Twang Machine) releases his debut single Bo Diddley (#1 R&B), followed by Diddley Daddy (1955) (#11 R&B), Pretty Thing (1955) (#4 R&B), and Hey! Bo Diddley (1957), going on to become known as "The Originator" for facilitating the transition from blues to rock & roll. Too bad, on Nov. 20, 1955 he appears on The Ed Sullivan Show, and pisses-off Sullivan by switching from Tennessee Ernie Ford's hit "Sixteen Tons" (1955) to his own R&B #1 song "Bo Diddley (1955), getting him banned from the show; this doesn't stop him from releasing a string of good stuff, which never charts very high again, incl. You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover (1962) (#48 in the U.S.) (#21 R&B), although Pres. Barack Obama later names his Portuguese Water Dog Bo after him.

Etta James (1938-2012) Minnesota Fats (1913-96)

In 1955 African-American singer ("Miss Peaches") ("the Matriarch of R&B") Etta James (Jamesetta Hawkins) (1938-2012), who was born in Los Angeles, Calif. to unmarried 14-y.-o. Dorothy Hawkins, and claims her father is famous white pool shark Rudolf Walter "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone (Wanderon) Jr. (1913-96) releases her debut album Etta James, which features the tracks The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry), and Good Rockin' Daddy. Album #3 At Last! (1960) features the tracks At Last (#47 in the U.S.) (#2 R&B), Trust in Me (#30), All I Could Do is Cry (#33), My Dearest Darling (#34), If I Can't Have You (w/Harvey Fuqua) (#52), and Spoonful (w/Harvey Fuqua) (#78).

James Dean (1931-55)

In 1955 American film star James Byron Dean (1931-55) bursts onto the scene with the film Rebel Without a Cause, which defines the angst-ridden teen rebel that loves rock and roll, they covered up that he was bi. On Sept. 30, 1955 young Dean dies in a car crash, making him into a Messianic figure.

Chuck Berry (1926-2017)

In 1955 St. Louis, Missouri-born Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (1926-2017) releases Maybellene, first of a string of pioneering rock and roll hits, followed by Roll Over Beethoven (1956), Rock and Roll Music (1957), and Johnny B. Goode (1958); "Way down in Louisiana down in New Orleans"; chosen as one of the top achievements of humanity for the Voyager I payload. His guitar showmanship (invention of the duckwalk et al.) and melding of R&B into rock becomes a seminal influence, as portrayed by Michael J. Fox in the 1985 film "Back to the Future".

Pat Boone (1934-)

Heroes will arise, along with blatant profit-takers, it's Godly Capitalism. In 1955 pure white Christian old-fashioned-everything square singer Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone (1934-) (an alleged direct descendant of Daniel Boone) has a #1 hit with a cover of Fats Domino's Ain't That A Shame, launching his career of covering black R&B hits for white audiences, incl. I'll Be Home (1956) (#6), Long Tall Sally (1956) (#8), I Almost Lost My Mind (1956) (#1), Friendly Persuasion (1956) (#5), Don't Forbid Me (1957) (#1), Love Letters in the Sand (1957) (#1), April Love (1957) (#1), A Wonderful Time Up There (1958) (#4), and Sugar Moon (1958) (#5). During this time he sets a record of 220 consecutive weeks on the charts with more than one song, becoming the #2 best-selling artist of the 1950s behind Elvis Presley. He then begins a slide, scraping bottom in 1959 with The Wang Dang Taffy-Apple Tango (#62 in the U.S.), but hit #1 again in May 1961 with Moody River ("Moody River your bloody water took my baby's life"), and #6 in 1962 with Speedy Gonzales, after which he drops off the charts in the wake of the Beatles Invasion, selling a total of 45M square albums, incl. 38 square top-40 hits, and a square 12-movie Hollywood career, be sure and drink your milk.

The Flamingos

Did I mention I'll Be Home? Also in 1955 the Chicago, Ill. black doowop group The Flamingos (formed in 1953), originally The Swallows, El Flamingos, and The Five Flamingos, incl. Jacob "Jake" Carey, Ezekial "Zeke" Carey, Paul Wilson, John E. "Johnny" Carter, Sollie McElroy, Tommy Hunt, and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson release their first hit I'll Be Home, which went #5 on Billboard's R&B chart, only to see Pat Boone's 1956 version I'll Be Home reach #6 on the Billboard-200 chart and #1 in the U.K. In 1956 The Flamingos appear in Will Price's B&W film Rock, Rock, Rock, which stars 13-y.-o. Tuesday Weld as Dori Graham (singing dubbed by Connie Francis), who has to get the money to buy a strapless gown for the prom, and showcases rock acts incl. them, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Teddy Randazzo, The Moonglows, and Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers; DJ Alan Freed appears as himself. In 1959 The Flamingos release their big hit I Only Have Eyes for You (#1 in the U.S.), a cover of a 1934 movie song. They follow it with R&B hits Mio Amore (1959) (#74 in the U.S.), I is Such A Fool (1959), Your Other Love (by Doc Pomus) (1960) (#54 in the U.S.), and Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (by Sam Cooke) (1960) (#30 in the U.S.). In 1998 PepsiCo. uses "I Only Have Eyes for You" in an ad without paying them, and they sue successfully for $250K.

Johnny Cash (1932-2003) Elvis Presley (1935-77) Elvis the Pelvis Presley (1935-77) Colonel Tom Parker (1909-97) and Elvis Presley (1935-77) Carl Perkins (1932-98) Stephen H. Sholes (1911-68)

In 1955 after walking into Sun Records a year earlier and being told that his gospel songs were unmarketable, white baritone singer John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) (later known as "the Man in Black") releases his first Sun recordings Hey Porter, and Cry! Cry! Cry! Cash is known for the immortal soundbyte: "I love songs about horses, railroads, land, judgment day, family, hard times, whiskey, courtship, marriage, adultery, separation, murder, war, prison, rambling, damnation, home, salvation, death, pride, humor, piety, rebellion, patriotism, larceny, determination, tragedy, rowdiness, heartbreak and love. And mother. And God." In Jan. 1956 Rockabilly (hillbilly rock) (a term clung to by whites to differentiate themselves from blacks) is launched with the release of three new versions of old songs by white rockers Elvis Presley ("Heartbreak Hotel"), Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues"), and Carl Perkins ("Blue Suede Shoes"), starting on Dec. 15, 1955 with Folsom Prison Blues (#32 in the U.S.), by Johnny Cash, followed on Jan. 1, 1956 by Blue Suede Shoes (#2 in the U.S.) by Carl Lee Perkins (1932-98), followed on Jan. 27, 1956 by Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-77) on RCA Victor, becoming his first #1 and first milliion-seller, the best-selling single of 1958. On Mar. 23, 1956 after his records begins to sell, and his new agent (since Aug. 18, 1955), super-smart Cuban cigar-chomping Dutch-born (pretends to be U.S.-born) impresario Col. Tom Parker (Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk) (1909-97) bought his contract from Sun Records for $35K, and sign him with Stephen H. Sholes (1911-68) of RCA Records, Elvis released his debut studio album Elvis Presley, which contained his cover of Blue Suede Shoes, which he recorded as a favor to his friend Carl Perkins, who gets into an automobile accident on Mar. 22, causing sales of his version to rise again, while Elvis' stalled at #20 on the US. charts (the Billboard Hot 100 chart wasn't started until Aug. 4, 1958, the first #1 being Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool"). On May 12, 1956 Elvis released I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, which makes it to #3. On July 13, 1956 Elvis released his version of Big Mama Thornton's Hound Dog, which he performs on June 5 on The Milton Berle Show (his 2nd appearance), doing his N-word-like sexual hip gyrations, which are seen by 40M, pissing off the conservatives, who begins a campaign to ban him before he corrupted and dragged their white women down to the level of the N-word men with "nigger music", imagine them white mens' nightmares about black men with giant penii seducing them with hot jungle music, thump thump. He then sang it again on July 1 on The Steve Allen Show in a tuxedo while serenading a Basset Hound wearing a top hat, after which Allen (who hated rock and roll) presented him with a large roll of toilet paper with "signatures of eight thousand fans". He performs it again on Sept. 9 on The Ed Sullivan Show, hosted by Charles Laughton and seen by 60M viewers, then did it again on Oct. 28. The song sell 4M copies, spending 11 weeks at #1. It is the B-side of the single Don't Be Cruel, and both sides topped the charts independently, with Hound Dog topping not only the pop charts, but the country and R&B charts, becoming the first record in history to do it. On Oct. 6, 1956 Elvis released Love Me Tender, based on the 1861 U.S. Civil War song "Aura Lee", which goes to #1. On Mar. 22, 1957 he releases All Shook Up, which goes to #1 in the U.S., and becomes his first #1 hit in the U.K., after which he goes on to rack up 20 #1 hits on the British charts, compared to 17 by the Beatles. On Sept. 24, 1957 he releases another #1 hit, Jailhouse Rock. Elvis "the Pelvis" Presley then tours the American South and West, wearing drape suits, mascara, and tight pants, dying his blonde hair jet black and slicking it down with pomade, and bucking his hips against his guitar, wowing girl teens in pedal pushers who carve his name on their forearms with pen knives, as well as older women (who are more direct). When asked in Amarillo, Tex. if he wanted to get marries, he replied, "Why buy a cow when you can get the milk through the fence?" Col. Tom Parker squeezed huge percentages out of Elvis' earnings, reaching 50% by the end of Elvis' life (even though without him he might never have reaches superstar status, so don't knock it?) By the time he croaked in his bathroom on Aug. 16, 1977, a bloated drug-addicted sexual athlete, his career score 18 U.S. #1 hits, compared to 20 for the Beatles. End of story - the King Is Dead, Long Live the King, what's the latest Elvis sighting?

Liberty Records

In 1955 Simon B. "Si" Waronker (1915-2005), Alvin S. "Al" Bennett (1926-89), and Theodore "Ted" Keep founds Liberty Records; its first single is "The Girl Upstairs" by Lionel Newman, followed by "Cry Me a River" by Julie London, which climbs to #9 in the U.S.; in 1956 they sign unknown Henry Mancini, who bolts in 1959 after becoming popular; their first hit rock & roll artist is Eddie Cochran; in 1957 it acquired Pacific Jazz Records, which becomes World Pacific Records, signing Indian musicians incl. Ravi Shankar; in 1958-9 it forms the sublabel Freedom Records; in 1958 it releases the hit song "Witch Doctor" (#1 in the U.S.) (4.5M copies) by David Seville, followed by the Chipmunks recordings (with chipmunks Alvin and Theodore named after Bennett and Keep), saving it from bankruptcy, allowing them to move to the prestige address 6920 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, Calif.; in 1960 they sign Bobby Vee, Jan and Dean, Del Shannon, Gene McDaniels, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Vikki Carr, and Willie Nelson; in 1963-5 it is acquired by Avnet; in 1966 the reissue label Sunset Records is founded, signing jazz artists Eddie Harris, Jimmy Reed, Les mcCann, Teddy Buckner, Wild Bill Davis, Lester Young, and Chet Banker; in 1966 the sublabel Soul City Records is founded by Johnny Rivers; in 1967 they sign Canned Heat; in 1968 they are acquired by United Artists Records, signing Sugarloaf.

Tommy Steele (1936-)

On Mar. 21, 1956 Fred F. Sears' Rock Around the Clock, starring Bill Haley and His Comets, a raucous celebration of rock and roll is released, bringing rock and roll to the attention of white America with white musicians, causing a riot in London in Sept. after a young audience of over 3K Teddy Boys viewed it and goes on a rampage. That didn't stop greed machine Hollywood from releasing five more rock and roll movies this year, incl. Fred F. Sears' Don't Knock the Rock (featuring Bill Haley and the Comets singing "Calling All Comets" and "Rip It Up", and black sax player Grady Gaines), and Robert D. Webb's Love Me Tender (Nov. 15) (movie debut of Elvis Presley). Meanwhile Tommy Steele (1936-) tried to become the English Elvis, but the British rock and roll invasion wasn't for this decade, sorry.

Johnny Cash (1932-2003) and June Carter (1929-2003) Shel Silverstein (1930-99)

On May 1, 1956 Johnny Cash and his Tennessee Two release their first #1 U.S. hit I Walk the Line, which sells 2M copies. On Dec. 4, 1956 (Tue.) the Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins have a jam session at Sun Records, incl. half gospel songs, becoming the first supergroup, a group composed of members of other groups. On Apr. 19, 1963 Johnny Cash releases another #1 U.S. hit (for 7 weeks) Ring of Fire, written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore; "I fell into a burning ring of fire./ I goes down down down, and the flames goes higher./ And it burns burns burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire." On Jan. 13, 1968 Johnny Cash give his famous Folsom Prison Concert, and in May 1968 releases the album At Folsom Prison (#13 in the U.S.), which features him performing his 1955 hit Folsom Prison Blues. On Feb. 22, 1968 after a spiritual epiphany in Nickajack Cave N of Chattanooga, Tenn. causes him to give up his amphetamine-barbituate addictions, he proposed onstage at London Gardens in London, Ont. to twice-marries fellow country singer June Valerie Carter (1929-2003), and marries her on Mar. 1, 1968 in Franklin, Ky., after which he becomes a regular at the Christian Evangel Temple in Nashville, while she becomes the love of his life. In Aug. 1967 they release the album Carryin' On, which features Jackson ("We gets marries in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout"). On June 4, 1969 he releases the album At San Quentin, which features A Boy Named Sue (#2 in the U.S.), written by Playboy cartoonist Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein (1930-99). On June 7, 1969 The Johnny Cash Show debut on ABC-TV for 58 episodes (until Mar. 31, 1971), going on to feed his outlaw image by refusing to cut the word "stoned" from Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", hosting Vietnam protester Peter Seeger, and flaunting his Christian faith; meanwhile on June 8 the last Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour aired after CBS-TV cancelled it, as we'll cover later.

Gene Vincent (1935-71)

On June 4, 1956 Gene Vincent (Vincent Eugene Craddock) (1935-71) and His Blue Caps releases the rockabilly hit Be-Bop-A-Lula (#7 in the U.S.), which sells 2M copies. The same year they also releases minor hits Race with the Devil (Sept. 10), and Blue Jean Bop (Oct.). ; they release a string of other minor hits through 1960.

'The Girl Cant Help It' starring Jayne Mansfield (1933-67), 1956

On Dec. 1, 1956 Frank Tashlin's The Girl Can't Help It (20th Cent. Fox) debut, based on the 1955 novel "Do Re Mi" by Garson Kanin, a musical comedy with score by Bobby Troup starring Jayne Mansfield (1933-67) in her first starring role as a no-talent mobster moll, along with Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London, mixing-in a subplot about teenagers and their rock & roll music, featuring the title song performs by Little Richard, with Ray Anthony performing "Big Band Boogie", Eddie Cochran performing "Twenty Flight Rock", also Gene Vincent and His Bluecaps, and the Platters, turning on young Brits incl. John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, who gets an invite to join the Quarrymen after performing "Twenty Flight Rock" for him; Julie London sings Cry Me a River (originally written in 1953 by Arthur Hamilton for Ella Fitzgerald for the 1955 film "Pete Kelly's Blues", but cut after she refuses to drop the word "plebeian" for fear that white audiences would be offended), making her a star, and selling millions of copies; the dir. debut of Frank Tashlin (1913-72).

James Brown (1933-2006)

In 1956 Little Richard's Barnwell, S.C.-born friend James Joseph Brown (1933-2006), AKA "the Godfather of Soul" and "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business" releases his first million-selling hit single Please, Please, Please with his group The Flames. When Little Richard left the music biz in Oct. 1957 to become a preacher, Brown filled out his tour dates, and several of Richard's band members joins his group, which changes its name to The Famous Flames (Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, Lloyd Stallworth), after which in Feb. 1959 they release the hit Try Me, becoming the first of 17 #1 R&B singles over the next two decades, incl. Think (1960), Night Train (1962), and Lost Someone. On Oct. 24, 1962 James Brown and the Famous Flames recorded a live album Live at the Apollo (released in May 1963) (#2 in the U.S.), finally giving him national popularity. In 1963 he releases Prisoner of Love, his first top-20 U.S. hit. In June 1965 he releases Papa's gets a Brand New Bag (#8 in the U.S.), followed in Oct. 1965 by I Gets You (I Feel Good (#3 in the U.S.). In July 1967 he releases the 7-min. track Cold Sweat (#7 in the U.S.), the first true funk song, followed in Apr. 1968 by I Gets the Feelin' (#6 in the U.K.), followed in June 1969 by Mother Popcorn (You Gets to Have a Mother for Me) (#11 in the U.S.). After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-68) on Apr. 4, 1968, Brown makes public statements in Boston that helped calm blacks, who are rioting nationwide, and releases Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud, which changes America's racial vocabulary. He goes on to release 99 top-100 U.S. hits, #2 after Elvis Presley.

The Dells

In 1956 the R&B crossover group The Dells, from Harvey, Ill., incl. Johnny Carter (-2009) (lead falsetto), Johnny Funches (baritone), Mickey McGill, Verne Allison, and Chuck Barksdale release their 1-hit wonder debut single Oh What A Night, which sells1M copies; in 1969 they remake it with baritone Marvin Junior as lead vocalist, selling 1M copies again.

Charlie Gracie (1936-)

In 1956 Philly-born Charlie Gracie (Charles Anthony Graci) (1936-) (born on the same day as Bobby Darin) releases his 1-hit wonder Butterfly (#5 in the U.S.), which sells 2M copies, becoming the first rock hit from Philly. He follows it with Fabulous (1956) (#16), and Wandering Eyes (#71). This bankrolls the new Cameo Records label (the first one was based in Manhattan, N.Y. in 1922-30 and produced low-cost jazz dance records), which later scores hits with Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, and ? and the Mysterians before folding in 1967. In 1957-8 Gracie tours the U.K., gaining new fans incl. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Graham Nash, Van Morrison, and Joe Cocker.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1929-2000)

In 1956 Cleveland, Ohio-born African-Am. singer Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins (1929-2000) releases his single I Put a Spell on You, pioneering shock rock, playing the African voodoo witch doctor image up, complete with a big bone in his nose and a smoking skull; he allegedly leaves 75 illegitimate children.

Wanda Jackson (1937-)

In 1956 Okla.-born "Queen of Rockabilly" Wanda Lavonne Jackson (1937-) releases album #2 Rockin' with Wanda, which features the tracks I Gotta Know, Hot Dog! That makes Him Mad, Fujiyama Mama, Honey Bop, Rock Your Baby, and Mean, Mean Man (#40 in the U.K.), all making her the first woman in rock and roll. Too bad, in 1965 she switched to country.

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022) Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-)

In 1956 despite being Bible-thumping religious and being troubled by the devilish tendency of his work, Ferriday, La.-born singer-songwriter and flamboyant pianist ("the Killer") Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022) (cousin of Mickey Gilley) releases his debut single Crazy Arms (by Ralph Mooney and Charles Seals) (Sun Records), followed by Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On (1957) (#1 country) (#3 in the U.S.) (#8 in the U.K.), Great Balls of Fire (1957) (#1 country) (#2 in the U.S.), Breathless (1958) (#4 country) (#7 in the U.S.), and High School Confidential (1958) (#9 country) (#21 in the U.S.). Too bad, in May 1958 he is exposed by reporter Ray Berry at Heathrow Airport in London for marrying his 13-y.-o. 1st cousin once removed Myra Gale Brown in Dec. 1957 at age 22, causing the sexually repressed Victorian-era Brits to go nonlinear and chase him back to the U.S., where he is blacklisted to the relief of Christian conservatives like Johnny Cash, who think that his sexual innuendoes and onstage machinations are leading his fans straight to Hell, it's on the left, on the left, no, on the right; the fact that he first gets married at age 17 to a 14-y.-o. doesn't help; he ends up getting married 7x. In 1963 he signs with Smash Records, trying in vain to revive his career with rock records then switching to country and toning down his act, finding success, releasing Pen and Paper (1964) (#36 country), Another Place, Another Time (1968) (#4 country), What's makes Milwaukee Famous (Has makes a Loser Out of Me) (1968) (#2 country), She Still Comes Around (To Love What's Left of Me) (1968) (#2 country), To makes Love Sweeter for You (1968) (#1 country), One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) (1969) (#3 country), Invitation to Your Party (1969) (#6 country), She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye (1969) (#2 country), One Minute Past Eternity (1969) (#2 country), Don't Let Me Cross Over (w/Linda Gail Lewis) (#9 country), Once More with Feeling (1970) (#2 country), I Can't Seem to Say Goodbye (1970) (#7 country), There Must Be More to Love Than This (1970) (#1 country), Touching Home (1971) (#3 country), When He Walks on You (Like You Have Walked on Me) (1971) (#11 country), Would You Take Another Chance on Me (1971) (#1 country), Chantilly Lace (by J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson et al.) (1971) (#1 country), Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough (1973) (#6 country), Let's Put It Back Together Again (1976) (#6 country), Middle Age Crazy (1977) (#4 country), When Two Worlds Collide (1980) (#11 country), Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1980) (#10 country), Thirty Nine and Holding (1981) (#4 country), and Never Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll (w/Ronnie McDowell) (1989) (#50 country). In 1986 he is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On May 26, 1986 the album Class of '55 is released, starring Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Ray Orbison. In 1988 his cousin Jimmy Lee Swaggart (1935-), an Assemblies of God minister is caught with a ho, causing him to be defrocked. He goes on to release 40 studio albums and 77 singles incl. 10 #1s.

Frankie Lymon (1942-68) The Diamonds

In 1956 African-American singer-songwriter Franklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon (1946-28) and The Teenagers releases the #1 R&B hit Why Do Fools Fall in Love (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.)., after which the white Canadian group The Diamonds, incl. "Diamond" Dave Somerville (1933-) (lead), Ted Kowalski (tenor), Phil Levitt (baritone), and Bill Reed (bass) releases a cover Why Do Fools Fall in Love (their debut single) that reaches #12 in the U.S., which they follow with a cover of "The Church Bells May Ring" by The Willows, which reaches #14 in the U.S., causing them to makes a career out of covering black groups for white audiences, incl. The Clovers, The Heartbeats, who in 1960 releases A Thousand Miles Away, and The Gladiolas, who in 1956 releases the #11 R&B hit Little Darlin', which the Diamonds makes a white mint on with their Feb. 8, 1957 cover Little Darlin' (#2 in the U.S.). In 1958 The Diamonds release their non-cover hit single The Stroll (by Clyde Otis and Nancy Lee) (#4 in the U.S.), which started a dance craze.

Jimmy Reed (1925-76)

In 1956 Dunleith, Miss.-born blues musician (electric blues pioneer) Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (1925-76) releases his first hit Ain't That Lovin' You Baby (#3 R&B), followed by Honest I Do (1957) (#32 in the U.S.) (#4 R&B), Little Rain (1957) (#7 R&B), Baby What You Want Me to Do (1960) (#37 in the U.S.) (#10 R&B), Big Boss Man (#78 in the U.S.) (#13 R&B), and Bright Lights, Big City (#58 in the U.S.) (#3 R&B); his songs go on to influence rock & roll artists incl. Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, Billy Gibbons, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Hank Williams Jr.

In 1956 blacks in Jamaica develop Ska music. The same year Elektra pioneers the compilation record, containing multiple artists.

Cecil Taylor (1929-) Tom Wilson (1931-78)

In 1956 New York City-born jazz pianist Cecil Percival Taylor (1929-), whose percussion-like style is described as "eighty-eight tuned drums", and "Art Tatum with contemporary-classical leanings" releases his debut album Jazz Advance on the new short-lived label Transition Records in Cambridge, Mass., founded in 1955 for $900 by Harvard U. grad Thomas Burchard "Tom" Wilson Jr. (1931-78), featuring Bemsha Swing (by Denzil Best and Thelonious Monk), and Azure (by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills), receiving scathing criticism that later turns into praise, pioneering free jazz; too bad, after releasing only a dozen albums by Taylor, Sun Ra, Doug Watkins, Donald Byrd, and Herb Pomeroy, Transition Records go bankrupt in 1957 and sells out to Blue Note Records and Delmark Records, after which Wilson joins Columbia Records, becoming one of the "midwives of folk-rock", producing albums by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mothers of Invention, The Animals, Velvet Underrground, The Blue Project et al.

Eddie Cochran (1938-60)

In Feb. 1957 Albert Lea, Minn.-born rockabilly musician Edward Raymond "Eddie" Cochran (1938-60) (one of the first rock & roll artists to write his own songs and overdub tracks, and unwind his 3rd string to bend notes up to a whole tone) releases Sittin' in the Balcony (#18 in the U.S), followed by Drive in Show / I Am Blue (July 1957) (#82 in the U.S.), Twenty Flight Rock (Nov. 1957), Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie (Jan. 1958) (#94 in the U.S.), Pretty Girl (May 1958), Summertime Blues / Love Again (July 1958) (#8 in the U.S.), C'mon Everybody (Oct. 1958) (#35 in the U.S.), Teenage Heaven (Feb. 1959) (#99 in the U.S.), Somethin' Else / Boll Weevil Song (July 1959) (#58 in the U.S.), Hallelujah I Love Her So (Nov. 1959), Cut Across Shorty / Three Steps to Heaven (Mar. 1960), Lonely (Aug. 1960), and Weekend (Dec. 1960). Too bad, on Apr. 17, 1960 he dies in Bath, Somerset, England in a traffic accident in a taxicab; songwriter Sharon Sheeley and singer Gene Vincent survive the crash; taxi driver George Martin is convicted of dangerous driving and sentenced to 6 mo. in jail.

Buddy Holly (1936-59)

On Aug. 16-22, 1957 Lubbock, Tex.-based Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (1936-59) and his group The Crickets performs at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., breaking the color line in music, launching the Lubbock Sound, which influenced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed et al.; his hits incl. That'll Be the Day (1M copies), whose title is based on a line by John Wayne in the 1956 film "The Searchers", and Peggy Sue (#3 in the U.S.).

Orval Faubus (1910-94) Central High School, Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 25, 1957

On Sept. 25, 1957 after a great fight with Ark. gov. (1955-67) Orval Eugene Faubus (1910-94), while 300 U.S. Army troops ordered in by Pres. Eisenhower stood guard, nine black children called the Little Rock Nine were escorted to Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. amid white racist crowds, breaking the back of the white supremacist establishment.

Joe Poovey (1941-98)

In 1957 after seeing Elvis Presley perform, Dallas, Tex.-based country singer Arnold Joseph "Groovey Joe" Poovey (1941-98) releases his first rockabilly single Move Around, followed in 1958 by Ten Long Fingers, before switching back to country music under the name Johnny Dallas.

Aristotle (-382 to -322)

By the way, from day one conservative religious thinkers have warned that rock music is definitely Satanic, never mind, put your hands up. Here's a soundbyte from an ancient deep thinker who could be adduced by either side, a student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great, world class all the way: "Some [music] makes men sad and grave, like the so-called Mixolydian, others enfeeble the mind, like the relaxed modes, another, again, produces a moderate and settled temper, which appears to be the peculiar effect of the Dorian; the Phrygian inspires enthusiasm... The same principles apply to rhythms; some have a character of rest, others of motion, and of these latter again, some have a more vulgar, others a nobler movement... Music has a power of forming the character, and should therefore be introduced into the education of the young." - Aristotle (-384 to -322), Politics, Book 8.

The Four Coins

Duh, message received. In 1957 the wholesome The Four Coins, from Cannonsburg, Penn., formerly The Four Keys, incl. George Mahramas (lead singer), George Mentalis (tenor), Jack Mahramas (baritone), and Jim Gregorakis (bass) release their wholesome big hit Shangri-La (#11 in the U.S.), which becomes the most-played record of 1957.

The Everly Brothers Don Everly (1937-) and Phil Everly (1939-2014)

Also in 1957 the wholesome Everly Brothers (Don, born 1937, and Phil, born 1939) releases Wake Up Little Suzie (#1 in the U.S.), written by husband-wife team Boudleaux Bryant (1920-87) and Felice Bryant (1925-2003), who also wrote their hits Bye Bye Love (1957) (#2 in the U.S.) and All I Have to Do is Dream (1958) (#1 in the U.S.) before going country with "Rocky Top". In 1958 they release Bird "Dog (#3 in the U.S.), followed in 1959 by Cathy's Clown (#1 in the U.S.) before fading from the charts.

Ricky Nelson (1940-85) 'Superman: The Movie', 1978 Ricky Nelson (1940-85) Gene Pitney (1940-2006)

In 1957 another wholesome white star appears, Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (1940-85), one of the stars of the ABC-TV sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Oct. 3, 1952 to Sept. 3, 1966), who bore a striking resemblance to Clark Kent AKA Superman. In 1957 he releases the #1 album Ricky, followed in 1958 by the #1 single Poor Little Fool. In 1961 he releases the hits Travelin' Man, and Hello Mary Lou, the latter written by Conn.-born Gene Francis Alan Pitney (1940-2006), who goes on to compose the 1960s hits "Rubber Ball" by Bobby Vee, "He's A Rebel" by the Crystals, and sing "I Shot Liberty Valance" for the 1962 John Wayne flick. In 1972 after falling off the charts and getting pissed-off at a Madison Square Garden audience for booing him even though he is doing new material, Ricky returns for one last hit with Garden Party. He dies in an airplane crash on Dec. 31, 1985 after growing into a mutiple drug addict and superman sexual athlete who admitted to doing it with thousands of women. Back to Pitney. After releasing (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance (#3 in the U.S.) in Apr. 1962, he follows it in Aug. 1962 with Only Love Can Break a Heart (#4 in the U.S.). In July 1964 he releases the hit It Hurts to Be In Love (#6 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.), followed in Oct. 1964 with I'm Gonna Be Strong (#5 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), finally succombing to the Beatles Invasion.

Graceland Graceland Elvis and Priscilla Presley, May 1, 1967 Mildred Loving (1939-2008) and Richard Loving (1933-75) Lisa Marie Presley (1968-) and Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

Talk about good timing. On Mar. 17, 1957 a year after his #1 hit Heartbreak Hotel, after his East Memphis, Tenn. house at 1034 Audubon Dr. is haunted by fans, Elvis Presley bought a 23-room 14-acre estate in South Memphis (3734 Elvis Presley Blvd.) (4 mi. from the Miss. border) (built 1940) for $100K, called Graceland after Grace Toof, daughter of Canadian-born Memphis Daily Appeal publisher S.C. Toof (1834-1910). On Dec. 20, 1957 he received a draft notice, and on Mar. 24, 1958 he is inducted into the U.S. Army in Memphis, Tenn., and is sent too the U.S. Army base in Bad Nauheim-Friedberg, Hesse, West Germany, spending 17 mo. (until 1960); in Dec. 2011 the Elvis Museum in Dusseldorf opened, becoming the biggest outside the U.S. On Jan. 14, 1960 Pvt. Elvis Presley is promoted to sgt., meeting 14-y.-o. Priscilla Beaulieu (pr. boy-YOO) (born Priscilla Ann Wagner) (1945-), going on to avoid looking like another Jerry Lee Lewis and waiting until May 1, 1967 to marry her in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel; they divorces in 1973. Coincidentally or not, on June 12, 1967 ("Loving Day") in the case of Loving v. Virginia; the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down the 1924 Va. Racial Integrity Act, along with all 16 state laws against "miscegenation" (interracial marriage), legalizing the 1958 marriage of Mildred Delores "Bean" Loving (nee Jeter) (1939-2008) (black) and Richard Perry Loving (1933-75) (white). Speaking of interracial marriage, on May 26, 1994 20 days after divorcing fellow Scientologist, white musician hubby (since Oct. 3, 1988) Daniel "Danny" Keough (1964-), Elvis's and Priscilla's daughter Lisa Marie Presley (1968-) marries black superstar singer Michael Jackson. In Jan. 1994 Jackson's lawyers settle a civil case for $20M involving alleged sexual molestation of 13-y.-o. white Jordan "Jordy" Chandler (1980-) at his Calif. Neverland estate, causing his Beverly Hills plastic surgeon dad Evan Chandler (1944-2009) to have his life ruined by rabid Jacko fans, committing suicide on Nov. 5, 2009. After standing by him during more accusations of male child molestations, she files for divorce in Jan. 1996.

'Island In the Sun', 1957

Speaking about interracial romance, on Aug. 27, 1957 Robert Rossen's Island in the Sun based on the 1955 Alec Waugh novel debut, starring Harry Belafonte and Joan Fontaine as mixed-race lovers on a Caribbean island during British rule, who are rumored to be engaging in off-screen hanky-panky, you gotta work on that tan, bro. It features an interracial screen kiss, causing a ruckus in the U.S., and launched reggae music into the U.S. with Island Records.

Brenda Lee (1944-)

In 1957 13-y.-0. 4'9" Atlanta, Ga.-born singer Brenda Lee (Brenda Mae Tarpley) (1944-) releases single #4 Dynamite (#72 in the U.S.) (which give her the title "Little Miss Dynamite"), followed by One Step at A Time (1957) (#43 in the U.S.), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Nov. 1958) (#14 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) (written by Johnny Marks - sell only 5K the first year, but eventually sells 5M copies), Sweet Nothin's (1959) (#4 in the U.S. and U.K.) (first top-10 hit), Let's Jump the Broomstick (1959) (#12 in the U.K.), I'm Sorry (1960) (#1 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) (the new "Nashville Sound", adopted by Ray Charles for "Georgia On My Mind"), I Want to Be Wanted (1960) (#1 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.), All the Way (1961), Dum Dum (1961), Fool #1 (1961) (#3 in the U.S., #38 in the U.K.), Break It To Me Gently (1962) (#4 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.), All Alone Am I (1962) (#3 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), Losing You (1963) (#6 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), The Grass is Greener (1963) (#17 in the U.S.), As Usual (1963) (#12 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), Jingle Bell Rock (1964), Too Many Rivers (1965) (#13 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.), and Coming on Strong (1966) (#11 in the U.S.), becoming the top-charting female vocalist of the 1960s. Too bad, her voice changes, and her career tanked, maybe it is the British Invasion, maybe not.

Doug Weston (1926-99)

In 1957 The Troubadour nightclub at 9081 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, Calif. near Beverly Hills, owned by 6'6" Alexander Douglas "Doug" Weston (1926-99) opens, becoming a major venue for folk music acts, and later for rock acts, hosting comedian Lenny Bruce (who is arrested in 1962 for obscenity for using the word "schmuck"), Joni Mitchell, The New Christy Minstrels, The Everly Brothers, Hoyt Axton, Leonard Cohen, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Arlo Guthrie, Buffalo Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Carole King, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison et al.; on Aug. 25, 1970 Neil Diamond introduces Elton John in his first U.S. show; in 1974 pals John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are ejected for drunkenly heckling the Smothers Brothers; launches the careers of Randy Newman, Steve Martin, Cheech & Chong, Guns N' Roses et al.; in the late 1970s it switches to heavy metal and glam bands incl. Motley Crue, Poison, and Warrant, later helping launch the careers of Radiohead, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Papa Roach et al.

Link Wray (1929-2005) The Coasters Sheb Wooley (1921-2003) The Teddy Bears Sandy Nelson (1938-) Little Anthony and the Imperials The Champs The Crests The Monotones Dion DiMucci (1939-) The Chordettes The Poni-Tails

In Apr. 1958 Dunn, N.C.-born rocker Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray (1929-2005) releases his debut single Rumble (#16 in the U.S.), which displayed his invention of the power chord, making heavy rock possible. In Apr. 1958 the white-sounding LA R&B/rock and roll vocal group (first to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) The Coasters, incl. Carl Gardner (1928-2011), Billy Guy (1936-2002), Will J. "Dub" Jones (1928-2000), and Cornelius E. "Cornell" Gunter (1936-90) releases Yakety Yak (#1 in the U.S.), followed in 1959 by Charlie Brown (#2 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Along Came Jones (#9 in the U.S.), and Poison Ivy (#7 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), forcing racist thinkers who wanted to turn "Negro" R&B into (separate) "Caucasian" rock and roll to get more and more befuddled, yakety yak, don't talk back. In June 1958 white cowboy actor (Pete Nolan in "Rawhide", Frank Miller in "High Noon") Shelby F. "Sheb" Wooley (1921-2003) releases the #1 U.S. hit The Purple People Eater. In Aug. 1958 The Teddy Bears, consisting of Harvey Philip "Phil" Spector (1939-2021) (who wrote it for his late father), Marshall Leib, Harvey Goldstein, Annette Kleinbard (Carol Connors) (1940-), and Sander L. "Sandy" Nelson (1938-) (drums) releases To Know Him is To Love Him (#1 in the U.S.). In 1959 Sandy Nelson releases hit instrumentals Teen Beat (#4 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies, followed by Let There Be Drums (1961) (#7), and Drums Are My Beat (1962) (#29). In Mar. 1960 after hearing "To Know Him Is To Love Him" in Germany and contacting her, Elvis Presley met Annette Kleibard when he returned to the U.S., and they hooked up for several years. In 1958 the New York City doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials, fronted by falsetto-singing Jerome Anthony Gourdine release their first million-selling hit Tears on My Pillow (#4 in the U.S.), along with Two People in the World; in Aug. 1964 they release I'm On the Outside (Looking In) (#15 in the U.S.), followed in Oct. by Goin' Out of My Head (#6 in the U.S.); in Jan. 1965 they release Hurt So Bad (#10 in the U.S.). In 1958 The Champs from Santa Paula, Calif., fronted by Daniel "Danny" Flores (1929-2006) AKA Chuck Rio (vocals, sax) ("Godfather of Latino Rock") releases the #1 U.S. hit Tequila, launching the rock and roll instrumental craze; it is produced by Challenge Records, owned by rich cowboy star Gene Autry. Also in 1958 the New York R&B doo-wop group The Crests, fronted by Italian-American Johnny Maestro (Mastrangelo) (1940-2010), along with two male blacks (J.T. Carter, Talmoudge Gough), one female black (Patricia Van Dross, elder sister of Luther Vandross), and a Puerto Rican (Harold Torres) releases 16 Candles, which goes #2 in the U.S. and sells 1M copies. Also in 1958 the 6-member Newark, N.J.-based African-American doo-wop group The Monotones releases their 1-hit wonder The Book of Love (#5 in the U.S.). Also in 1958 Dion Francis DiMucci (1939-) and The Belmonts (Fred Milano, Carlo Mastroangelo) releases I Wonder Why (#22 in the U.S.), followed by No One Knows (1958) (#19 in the U.S.), A Teenager in Love (1959) (#5 in the U.S.), Where or When (1960) (#3 in the U.S.), Runaround Sue (Sept. 12, 1961) (#1 in the U.S.), The Wanderer (Nov. 1961) (#2 in the U.S.), Lovers Who Wander (1962) (#3 in the U.S.), Little Diane (1962) (#8 in the U.S.), Love Came to Me (1962) (#10 in the U.S.), Ruby Baby (1962) (#2 in the U.S.), Donna the Prima Donna (1963) (#6 in the U.S.), and Drip Drop (1963) (#6 in the U.S.). Too bad, the Beatles Invasion kills his popularity, but he more than makes up for it with his 1968 #4 hit Abraham, Martin and John, about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and JFK ("Can you tell me where he's gone/ He freed a lot of people, but it seems the good die young,/ I just looked around and he's gone") (talking about himself? :). Also in 1958 the white female singing quartet The Chordettes, from Sheboygan, Wisc., incl. Janet Ertel (1913-88), Carol Buschmann, Lynn Evans, and Jinny Osborn (Lockard) (nee Virginia Cole) (1928-2003), known for their big 1954 hit Mister Sandman (by Pat Ballard) (#1 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) release their hit quasi-rock single Lollipop (written by Julius Dixson and Beverly Ross) (#2 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.). Also in 1958 The Poni-Tails, from Cleveland, Ohio, incl. Toni Cistone, Karen Topinka, and Patti McCabe release their 1-hit wonder Born Too Late (#7 in the U.S.).

The Kingston Trio

On June 2, 1958 the folk singing trio The Kingston Trio, based in Palo Alto, Calif., incl. Donald David "Dave" Guard (1934-91), Robert Castle "Bob" Shane (1934-), and Nicholas Wells "Nick" Reynolds (1933-2008), who is later replaced by John Stewart (1939-2008) release their debut album The Kingston Trio (#1 in the U.S.), which features the smash hit Tom Dooley (#1 in the U.S.) (3M copies), based on Confederate soldier Thomas C. "Tom" Dula (1845-68). In 1959, you guessed it, they release the single Wimoweh/ The Lion Sleeps Tonight. They go on to make both folk music and LPs popular.

Frankie Avalon (1939-) Annette Funicello (1942-) and Frankie Avalon (1939-)

In 1958 Philly-born teen idol Frankie Avalon (Francis Thomas Avallone) (1939-) releases his debut single De De Dinah (#7 in the U.S.), holding his nose while recording it. He goes on to chart 31 U.S. Billboard-200 singles, by late 1962, incl. Bobby Sox to Stockings (1959) (#8 in the U.S.), A Boy Without A Girl (1959) (#10 in the U.S.), Just Ask Your Heart (1959) (#7 in the U.S.), and his big hits Venus (1959) (#1 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), and Why (1959) (#1 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.), call him a 1-year wonder. In 1960 as his singing career faded fast, he branched out into acting, starting with John Wayne's The Alamo (Oct. 24, 1960), about the 1836 white-is-right battle, starring Wayne as Col. Davy Crockett, Laurence Harvey as Col. William Travis, Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie, and Frankie Avalon as Smitty, who sings Ballad of the Alamo; the Mexican army has 7K extras; John Ford helped Wayne direct the finale; "The mission that become a fortress. The fortress that becomes a shrine." Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (July 12, 1961) stars Walter Pidgeon as Adm. Harriman Nelson, designer of the U.S. submarine Seaview, Robert Sterling as Capt. Lee Crane, and Joan Fontaine as pshrink Dr. Susan Hiller; Frankie Avalon appears and sings the theme song Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. William Asher's Beach Party (Aug. 7, 1962) (American-Internat.) stars teen pop idols Frankie Avalon (1939-) and Annette Funicello (1942-) as corny moral Catholic Italian-Am. (but you're not supposed to notice) heteros playing with fire on the beaches of S Calif., while square Robert Cummings, er, Cummings plays a scientist studying teenage mating habits; Beach Boy Brian Wilson appears as an extra; although the other girls wear bikinis, Funicello wears a modest 1-piece swimsuit, but later loosens up to a bikini reaching to her navel. The sequel William Asher's Muscle Beach Party (Mar. 25, 1964), starring Frankie, Annette, and foot-long muscleman "Rock Stevens" (Peter Lupus) features Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, and the last screen appearance of Peter Lorre, as well as the screen debut of "Little" Stevie Wonder. There are a total of seven Am. Internat. beach party movies, incl. "Bikini Beach" (1964), "Pajama Party" (1964), "Bikini Blanket Bingo" (1965), "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965), and "The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966), finally becoming irrelevant when the real beachgoers gets into heavy sex, drugs and rock & roll, along with VD, ODs and radicalism, while counting themselves lucky for not having been wasted in Vietnam.

Jerry Butler (1939-)

In 1958 Sunflower, Miss.-born soul singer-songwriter Jerry Butler Jr. (1939-) releases his debut single For Your Precious Love (#11 in the U.S.) with his backup group The Impressions. He follows with He Will Break Your Heart (1960) (#7 in the U.S.), Moon River (1961) (#11) (bigger hit than Andy Williams' version, which only charted as an LP track), Let It Be Me (w/Betty Everett) (1964) (#5 in the U.S.), and Only the Strong Survive (1969) (#4 in the U.S.).

Bobby Darin (1936-73) Dream Lovers Bobby Darin (1936-73) and Sandra Dee (1942-2005) Don Kirshner (1934-2011)

In 1958 after hooking up with Brill Bldg. songwriter (former classmate at Bronx H.S. of Science) Don Kirshner (1934-2011), Bronx, N.Y.-born teen idol Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Perciville Cassotto) (1936-73) (who is educated at Bronx High School of Science and Hunter College, and allegedly changes him name after seeing a Chinese restaurant sign saying "[MAN]DARIN DUCK") releases his first hit single Splish Splash (#3 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), which features the sound of him taking a bath, and becomes the first 8-track recording on vinyl. He follows it with Dream Lover (1959) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Mack the Knife (1959) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), Beyond the Sea (1960) (#6 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Lazy River (1961) (#14 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (1961) (#5 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), Things (1962) (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and If I are a Carpenter (1966) (#8 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.). Meanwhile in 1960 after romancing Connie Francis, whom her strict Italian daddy ran out of the house with a gun, breaking her heart, he marries "Gidget" actress Sandra Dee (Alexandra Zuck) (1942-2005) after meeting her on the sets of his first film, Robert Mulligan's Come September (releases Aug. 9, 1961) starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida, in which he sings Multiplication ("Multiplication, that's the game, and each generation plays the same") to closet gay Rock sucking Hudson?); after multiplying with son Dodd in 1961, they divorces in 1967. Kirshner goes on to manage The Monkees and The Archies, and launch the careers of Neil Diamond, Carole King, and Kansas, becoming known as "the Man With the Golden Ear", hosting the hit syndicated TV show Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (Sept. 27, 1973-1981), starting with a live performance by The Rolling Stones; the show eschewed lip-synching and let them all perform live, and is cancelled as the MTV Era began.

Duane Eddy (1938-)

In 1958 Corning, N.Y.-born Duane Eddy (1938-) and The Rebels incl. Steve Douglas, Jim Horn, and Larry Knechtel (keyboards) release their debut single Movin' N' Groovin' (#27 in the U.S.) (Jamie Records), co-written by producer Lee Hazlewood, recorded in Phoenix, Ariz. with a 2K gal. water storage tanks as an echo chamber; opening riff is lifted from Chuck Berry's "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", which is later copied by the Beach Boys in "Surfin' U.S.A." They follow with Rebel Rouser (1958) (#6 in the U.S.) (#19 in the U.K.) (1M copies); saxophone by Gil Bernal; yells and hand claps by the Rivingtons; Ramrod (1958) (#27 in the U.S.), Cannonball (1958) (#15 in the U.S.) (#22 in the U.K.). Their debut album Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel (Jan. 9, 1959) (#5 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) features The Lonely One (#23 in the U.S.). Album #2 Especially for You (1959) (#24 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) features Yep! (#30 in the U.S.) (#17 in the U.K.), and Peter Gunn (by Henry Mancini) (#27 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.). Album #3 $1,000,000 Worth of Twang (1959) (#10 in the U.S.) (#5 in the U.K.) features Forty Miles of Bad Road (#9 in the U.S.) (#11 in the U.K.), Bonnie Came Back (#26 in the U.S.) (#12 in the U.K.), Some Kind-A Earthquake (#37 in the U.S.) (#12 in the U.S.), Because They're Young Theme (#4 in the U.S.) (#2 in the U.K.) (1M copies), and Kommotion (#78 in the U.S.) (#13 in the U.K.). Album #4 Duane Eddy's 16 Greatest Hits (1960) features Shazam! (#45 in the U.S.) (#4 in the U.K.). Album #5 $1,000,000 Worth of Twang, Vol. II (1961) (#18 in the U.K.) features Pepe (#18 in the U.S.) (#2 in the U.K.), Theme from Dixie (#39 in the U.S.) (#7 in the U.K.), Drivin' Home (#87 in the U.S.) (#30 in the U.K.), and Gidget Goes Hawaiian (#101 in the U.S.). In 1961 they release the single Ring of Fire (#84 in the U.S.) (#17 in the U.K.), followed by The Ballad of Paladin (1962) (#33 in the U.S.) (#10 in the U.K.), (Dance with the) Guitar Man (1962) (#12 in the U.S.) (#4 in the U.K.) (1M copies) (co-written by Lee Hazlewood), and Boss Guitar (1963) (#28 in the U.S.) (#27 in the U.K.). Eddy sells 12M records by 1963.

Cliff Richard (1940-) and The Shadows

Rock and roll started in the U.S., but it didn't take long to travel over The Pond. In 1958 Lucknow, India-born English singer Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb) (1940-) and The Shadows releases Move It (Aug. 29) (#2 in the U.K.), written by Ian Samwell, the first genuine British rock and roll record, causing John Lennon to later issue the soundbyte "Before Cliff and the Shadows, there have been nothing worth listening to in British music"; pioneering the 4-member rock group format, members incl. Ken Pavey, Harry Webb, Ian "Sammy" Samwell (1937-2003), Terry Smart (drums), John Farrar (1946-), Norman Mitham, Jet Harris (1939-)/Brian Locking (1940-)/John Rostill (1942-73), and Alan Hawkshaw, some of whom later hooked up with Olivia Newton-John. They follow with High Class Baby (1958) (#7 in the U.K.), Livin' Lovin' Doll (1959), Mean Streak (1959), Living Doll (1959) (written by Lionel Bart), A Voice in the Wilderness (1959), The Shrine on the Second Floor (1959), Travellin' Light (1959), I Love You (1959), Theme for a Dream (1959), Early in the Morning (1959) (with Marty Wilde), Move On Down the Line (1960), Rooster (1962), Bachelor Boy (1962), Do You Wanna Dance (1962). Move On Down the Line (1962), Summer Holiday (1963), It's All in the Game (1963), Bachelor Boy (1963), Lucky Lips (1963), Don't Talk to Him (1963), The Next Time (1963), On the Beach (1964), Constantly (1964), The Twelfth of Never (1964), I'm the Lonely One (1964), I Could Easily (Fall in Love with You) (1964), Don't Talk to Him (1964), Lucky Lips (1965), The Minute You're Gone (1965), Wind Me Up (1965), Visions (1966), Time Drags By (1966), Wind Me Up (1966), The Day I Met Marie (1967), and I'll Come Running (1967), and Ghost Riders in the Sky (1980). Knighted in 1995, Sir Cliff Richard goes on to have 14 #1 hits in the U.K. and 3 #1 U.S. hits, and sell 260M records worldwide. In 1996 he attended the Wimbledon tennis tournament, and when it rained he entertained the crowd at the officials' request unaware that it is being televised by the BBC, causing the announcer to joke "We'll probably get one hell of a bill."

Johnny Otis (1921-2002)

In 1958 Vallejo, Calif.-born "Godfather of R&B" Johnny Otis (Ioannis Aleandres Veliotes) (1921-2012) (a dark Greek who preferred to live as a black), known for Double Crossing Blues (1948) releases Hand Jive (#9 in the U.S.).

Phil Ramone (1934-2013)

Also in 1958 Philip "Phil" Ramone (1934-2013) et al. founds A&R Recording in New York City, going on to produce Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and mary, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, The Guess Who, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" et al.

Scopitone, 1958

Also in 1958 the first Scopitone jukeboxes equipped with color 16mm film clips and magnetic soundtrack begins to be installed in Europe, spreading to the U.S., with 500 machines installed by 1964, becoming the first music videos, often with campy sets. The last film for a Scopitone is makes in 1978.

Fabian (1943-)

In 1959 after being discovered in 1957 by Chancellor Records owners Bob Marcucci and Peter DeAngelis sitting on his South Philly porch crying over his father's heart attack, Philly-born talentless hunk singer Fabian (Fabiano Anthony Forte) (1943-) releases his first hit Turn Me Loose (#9 in the U.S.), followed by Hound Dog Man (#9 in the U.S.) (#46 in the U.K.), and Tiger (#3 in the U.S.) (1M copies) (his biggest hit), going on to move to Hollyweird and act in films incl. "The Longest Day" and TV shows and chart 11 top-100 records before his career drops like a rock, ending up living with his wife Andrea in 20 acres in SW Penn. in a house she designed.

Clark Kerr (1911-2003) Peter Ferdinand Drucker (1909-2005)

In 1959 new U. of Calif. pres. (1958-67) Clark Kerr (1911-2003) utters the immortal soundbyte: "The employers will love this generation [of college students]... They are going to be easy to handle. There aren't going to be any riots." Also in 1959 the word "bit" came into vogue in U.S.: "the protest bit", "the love bit", etc.; nothing about 1s and 0s yet, although the same year Austrian-born Am. business expert Peter Ferdinand Drucker (1909-2005) coined the term "knowledge worker", who's the ultimate, guess, starts with TLW.

Buddy Holly (1936-59) Ritchie Valens (1941-59) The Big Bopper (1930-59)

On Feb. 3, 1959 the Day the Music Died sees Lubbock, Tex.-born "Peggy Sue" star Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holley) (b. 1936), Pacoima, Calif.-born "La Bamba" star Ritchie Valens (Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela Reyes) (b. 1941), and Sabine Pass, Tex.-born "Chantilly Lace" star The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry "J.P." "Jape" Richardson Jr.) (b. 1930) killed shortly after takeoff in an airplane crash near Clear Lake (outside Mason City), Iowa in a chartered Beech Bonanza N3749N headed for their next engagement in Moorhead, Minn. (sister city of Fargo, N.D.); after leaving the Crickets, Holly hired a new band consisting of bassist Waylon Arnold Jennings (1937-2002), guitarist Tommy Allsup (1931-) (who leaves his wallet onboard, which is later recovered), and drummer Carl Bunch (1939-2011) to play the Winter Dance Party Tour; Jennings and Allsup relinquished their seats at the last minute as Jennings give up his seat to the Big Bopper and Valens won a coin toss with Allsup; on Feb. 4 the audience in Fargo expecting to see them saw Bobby Vee and the Shadows for the first time instead; Holly leaves Puerto Rico-born widow Maria Elena Holly (nee Santiago) (1935-), and Valens' girlfriend Donna Ludwig already kicked off. Buddy Holly's hits incl. Peggy Sue (1957) (#3 in the U.S.) (about Peggy Sue Gerron (1940-2018), girlfriend of paradiddle-playing Crickets drummer Jerry Allison), and Oh Boy! (1957) (#10 in the U.S.). Ritchie Valens' big 1958 hits are La Bamba (#22 in the U.S.), and Donna (#2 in the U.S.). The Big Bopper's big 1958 hit is Chantilly Lace (#6 in the U.S.). While much has been makes of their sudden deaths, the truth is that they are all square 1950s throwbacks and wouldn't have done well in the 1960s, although we'll never know for sure.

'Gidget', 1959 The Four Preps James Darren (1936-)

On Apr. 10, 1959 Paul Wendkos' film Gidget ("girl midget") debuts, starring Sandra Dee as 17-y.-o. Francis Lawrence AKA Gidget, who chases surfer Moondoggie (James Darren), mainstreaming the white Calif. surfing culture. The Gidget Theme was performs by The Four Preps, from Hollywood High School in Calif., incl. Bruce Belland (1936-), Ed Cobb (1938-99), Glen Larson (1937-), and Marv Ingram (Marvin Inabnett), who have a #2 U.S. hit in 1958 with 26 Miles (Santa Catalina), and a #13 U.S. hit in 1960 with Down By the Station. Philadelphia, Penn.-born James Darren (James William Ercolani) (1936-) goes on to score with hit singles Goodbye, Cruel World (#3 in the U.S.), composed by Noel Regney (1922-2002) and Gloria Shayne Baker (1923-2008), which sells 1M copies, followed by Her Royal Majesty (1962) (#6 in the U.S.).

Joan Baez (1941-) Bob Gibson (1931-96)

On July 11-12, 1959 the first Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. is held, featuring new performer Joan Chandos Baez (1941-) introduced by folk singer Samuel Robert "Bob" Gibson (1931-96); at the 1963 festival Joan Baez introduced Bob Dylan.

Eddie Floyd (1937-) Sir Mack Rice (1932-) The Isley Brothers 'Brother, Brother, Brother' by the Isley Brothers, 1972

Rock came out of R&B and soul, and as time goes on they intertwined. In 1959 the Detroit, Mich. R&B vocal group The Falcons, incl. Eddie Lee Floyd (1937-) and Bonnie "Sir Mack" Rice (1933-) release their million-selling single You're So Fine (first true soul song?), after which in 1966 Floyd goes on to release Knock on Wood, while Rice wrote "Respect Yourself" and other songs. On Sept. 21, 1959 the Cincinnati, Ohio soul group The Isley Brothers, O'Kelly Isley Jr. (1937-86), Rudolph Bernard "Rudy" Isley (1939-), Ronald Isley (1941-), and Vernon Isley release their first hit Shout (#47 in the U.S.), followed by This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) (1966) (#6 in the U.S.), and It's Your Thing (1969) (#2 in the U.S.) ("It's your thing/ Do what you wanna do/ I can't tell you/ Who to sock it to"). Their 1972 album Brother, Brother, Brother features the tracks Brother, Brother, Brother, and Pop That Thang. Their Aug. 1973 album 3+3 (#8 in the U.S.) was their first to go platinum; it features the tracks Who's That Lady (#6 in the U.S.), What It Comes Down To (#55 in the U.S.), and Summer Breeze (#60 in the U.S.). In 1984 (as Isley-Jasper-Isley) they score with Caravan of Love.

Johnny Preston (1939-2011)

In 1959 Port Arthur, Tex.-born Johnny Preston (John Preston Courville) (1939-2011) releases his debut album Running Bear, featuring his 1-hit wonder Running Bear (#1 in the U.S.).

Adam Faith (1940-2003) Gillian Hills (1944-) George Henry Martin (1926-2016) Jimmy Gilmer (1940-) and The Fireballs

The 1950s ended with rock and roll struggling to come out of its shell and become a force instead of a farce. On Nov. 30, 1959 Edmond T. Greville's Beat Girl (Wild for Kicks), a late-arriving 1950s youth rebellion flick from Britain debut, starring blonde-blue English singer (wannabe James Dean?) Adam Faith (Terence "Terry" Nelhams-Wright) (1940-2003), and co-starring Gillian Hills (1944-) ("the English Brigitte Bardot") (Barbie Doll lookalike?), plus Christopher Lee and Oliver Reed, showing the London underground and its Elvis imitators, strippers and potheads; topless stripping scenes got it banned for awhile in the U.K., making it more popular? The lame music by John Barry confused rock and roll with a jazz workout by a brass orchestra; "If it's beat - jazz, that is." In 1960 Adam Faith releases the John Barry single Made You (#5 in the U.K.) from "Beat Girl", which is banned by the BBC, making it more popular? Also in 1959 after George Henry Martin (1926-) becomes mgr. of Parlophone in 1955, and decided to branch out by signing them, Adam Faith and The Roulettes release their debut single What Do You Want? (#1 in the U.K.), the first #1 hit for Parlophone Records. They go on to become the first act in the U.K. to have their first seven singles go top-5, following it with Poor Me (1960) (#1 in the U.K.); Someone Else's Baby (1960) (#2 in the U.K.), When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1960) (#5 in the U.K.), How About That! (1960) (#4 in the U.K.), Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) (1960) (#4 in the U.K.), Who Am I! (1961) (#5 in the U.K.), Easy Going Me (1961) (#12 in the U.K.), Don't You Know It (1961) (#12 in the U.K.), The Time Has Come (1961) (#4 in the U.K.), Lonesome (1962) (#12 in the U.K.), As You Like It (1962) (#5 in the U.K.), Don't That Beat All (1962) (#8 in the U.K.), Baby Take a Bow (1962) (#22 in the U.K.). The First Time (1963) (#5 in the U.K.), Walkin' Tall (1963) (#23 in the U.K.), We Are in Love (1963) (#11 in the U.K.), If He Tells You (1964) (#25 in the U.K.), I Love Being in Love With You (1964) (#33 in the U.K.), A Message to Martha (Kentucky Bluebird) (1964) (#12 in the U.K.), Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself (1965) (#23 in the U.K.), Someone's Taken Maria Away (1965) (#34 in the U.K.), and Cheryl's Goin' Home (1966) (#46 in the U.K.) (last single to chart) - he stayed square and is phased-out. Speaking of a farce turning into a force, in 1959 the Raton, N.M. rock group Jimmy Gilmer (1940-) and The Fireballs, originally Chuck Tharp (-2006) (vocals), George Tomsco (guitar), Dan Trammell (guitar), Stan Lark (bass), and Eric Budd (drums), who recorded at Norman Petty's Studio in Clovis, N.M. where Buddy Holly gets his start, and mainly cranked out instrumentals release their first hit single Torquay, followed by Bulldog (1960), Vaquero (1960), Quite A Party (1961) (#29 in the U.K.), and Carioca (1962). After changing their lineup to Jimmy Gilmer (1940-) (vocals), and Doug Roberts (-1981) (drums) they release the far cooler Sugar Shack (1963) (#1 in the U.S., #45 in the U.K.), Long Long Ponytail (1963), Daisy Petal Pickin' (1964) (#15 in the U.S.), and Bottle of Wine (1968) (#9 in the U.S.).

1960s

Burt Bacharach (1928-) and Hal David (1921-2012) Carole King (1942-) and Gerry Goffin (1939-) Barry Mann (1939-) and Cynthia Weil (1940-) Jerry Leiber (1933-2011) and Mike Stoller (1933-) Doc Pomus (1925-91) and Mort Shuman (1936-91) Neil Sedaka (1939-) Howard Greenfield (1936-86) Jeff Barry (1938-) and Ellie Greenwich (1940-)

In the early 1960s the Brill Bldg. Era of (mainly Jewish) pop music composers working out of the Brill Bldg. (built 1930) at 1619 Broadway in the former Tin Pan Alley section of Manhattan, N.Y. spawns songwriting teams incl. Burt Bacharach (1928-) and Hal David (1921-2012) ("Walk On By", "Anyone Who Had a Heart"), Carole King (1942-) and Gerry Goffin (1939-) ("Up On the Roof", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"), Barry Mann (1939-) and Cynthia Weil (1940-) ("On Broadway"), Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (1933-2011) and Michael "Mike" Stoller (1933-) ("West Side Story"), Doc Pomus (1925-91) and Mort Shuman (1936-91) ("Save the Last Dance for Me", "This Magic Moment"), Neil Sedaka (1939-) and Howard Greenfield (1936-86) (Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "Rainy Jane", "Workin' on a Groovy Thing", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"), and Jeff Barry (1938-) and Ellie Greenwich (1940-) ("Chapel of Love", "Leader of the Pack"), producing a string of hits that emphasize the writers, producers and arrangers more than the singers, until do-it-all groups like the Beatles change the rules by the middle of the decade; meanwhile Motown Records (AKA Tamla Motown) (founded 1959) is incorporated in Detroit ("Motor Town"), Mich. by former feathwerweight boxer and failed record store owner Berry Gordy Jr. (1929-), going on to crank out R&B and soul records known as "the Motown Sound", injecting a steady stream of color into mainstream U.S. music; the studio is called Hitsville. /p> Reprise Records

In 1960 singer Frank Sinatra left Capital Records and forms his own record co., Reprise Records (pr. rih-PREEZE) with Dean Martin, causing him to be called "the chairman of the board"; too bad, after mismanagement and poor sales, it is sold to Warner Bros. Records in 1963, going on to sign The Kinks, Arlo Guthrie, Neil Young, Norman Greenbaum, Tiny Tim, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa and the Mothers, Gram Parsons, The Fugs, Jethro Tull, T.Rex, Gordon Lightfoot et al.

Del Shannon (1934-90)

In Mar. 1960 Grand Rapids, Mich.-born Del Shannon (Charles Weedon Westover) (1934-90) releases his #1 U.S.-U.K. hit Runaway, which introduces the Musitron electric synthesizer. He follows it in June 1960 with Hats Off to Larry (#5 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), followed in Nov. 1964 by Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun) (#9 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), after which he has a string of ever-sinking singles ending with Comin' Back to Me in June 1969 (#127 in the U.S.). In Dec. 1981 he makes a mini-comeback with Sea of Love (#33 in the U.S.). In 1960 Detroit, Mich.-born Bob Seger begins recording in Shannon's studio.

Carl Djerassi (1923-) Ian Dury (1942-2000) Brian Hyland (1943-)

On May 9, 1960 the U.S. Food and Drug Admin. (FDA) approved the contraceptive Enovid (Enavid), AKA the birth control pill, develop by Austrian-born American chemist Carl Djerassi (1923-) of G.D. Searle & Co. of Chicago. The cost is only $10-$11 per mo. for 20 pills, and for the first time in history women are liberated to have sex without fear of pregnancy, causing a run on pharmacies by non-Catholics and Catholics alike, despite the prohibition of birth control pills for Roman Catholics by Vatican II in 1962-5. By 1961 500K women are using it, and 10M by 1973. The stage is sets for Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, a term allegedly coined in the single Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll releases on Aug. 26, 1977 by the English punk rock group Ian Robins Dury (1942-2000) and The Blockheads, who later have a minor hit in 1978 with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ("In the deserts of Sudan/ And the gardens of Japan/ From Milan to Yucatan/ Every woman, every man/ Hit me with your rhythm stick"), and another in 1981 with Spasticus Autisticus (a satire of the Internat. Year of Disabled Persons). On cue, in June 1960 teen idol Brian Hyland (1943-) releases his #1 U.S. hit Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, about a girl who wanted to wear it but kept having second thoughts, selling 2M copies. In 1962 Hyland follow it with Sealed With a Kiss (#3 in the U.S.). Hyland is touring with Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, and saw JFK's motorcade passing by but forgot to remove the lens cap from his camera - I don't want to say goodbye for the summer, knowing your love we'll miss, oh let us make a pledge to meet in September, and seal it with a kiss? In 1970 Hyland releases the million-selling hit Gypsy Woman (#3 in the U.S.) by Curtis Mayfield.

Roy Orbison (1936-88)

On May 5, 1960 Vernon, Tex.-born 4-octave-range singer-songwriter Roy Kelton Orbison (1936-88), known for wearing black clothes and black sunglasses to cover for his childhood jaundice and congenital poor eyesight, with black dye in his prematurely white hair, making him look like Elvis' sick brother releases his first of 22 1960s hit singles Only the Lonely (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), followed by Running Scared (Mar. 1961) (#1 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), Crying (July 1961) (#2 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream?) (Jan. 1962) (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), In Dreams (Feb. 1963) (#7 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Falling (May 1963) (#22 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), Blue Bayou (Aug. 1, 1963) (#29 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), Pretty Paper (Nov. 1963) (#15 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), It's Over (Apr. 1964) (#1 country) (#9 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.), and Oh, Pretty Woman (Aug. 1964) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). That's right, the Beatles Invasion even kills him. On May 26, 1986 he releases the album Class of '55 (#15 country), recorded with Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins, which features Class of '55, and Big Train (from Memphis) (by John Fogerty). The Oct. 18, 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (#3 in the U.S.) (#16 in the U.K.) (6M copies), recorded with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Leff Lynne features Handle with Care, Tweeter and the Monkey Man, and End of the Line. The Feb. 7, 1989 posth. album (his last) Mystery Girl (#17 country) (#5 in the U.S.) (#2 in the U.K.) (3M copies) features She's a Mystery to Me, and You Gets It (#1 country) (#9 in the U.S.) (#3 in the U.K.). He goes on to release 23 studio albums and 92 singles incl. 22 top-40s, six top-5s, and two #1s.

Chubby Checker (1941-) Joey Dee and the Starliters Gary U.S. Bonds (1939-)

On Aug. 6, 1960 the appearance of Chubby Checker (Ernest Evans) (1941-) on the Dick Clark Saturday Night Show to perform Let's Do the Twist (a cover of "The Twist" by Hank Ballard) launches the U.S. Twist Craze, giving rock and roll its first signature dance, with just the right amount of wild animal sexuality to upset the square grownups. The first Twist record is "The Twist", the B-side of "Teardrops On Your Letter" (1959) by Hank Ballard. The fad actually started at the Peppermint Lounge, a New York nightclub located in the Knickerbocker Hotel at 128 West 45th St., where the multiracial group Joey Dee and the Starliters recorded the million-selling Peppermint Twist (releases 1961) and other Twist records, incl. a 1962 cover of the Isley Brothers' Shout (#6 in the U.S.). On Feb. 20, 2007 he releases the album Knock Down the Walls, which features the hit Knock Down the Walls (#1 on the U.S. dance charts). Meanwhile in 1960 black singer Gary U.S. Bonds (Gary Levone Anderson) (1939-) releases his first hit New Orleans (#6 in the U.S.). In June 1961 he releases Quarter to Three (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies, followed by School Is Out (#5 in the U.S.), School Is In (#28 in the U.S.), and Dear Lady Twist (Dec. 11) (#9 in the U.S.). In 1962 he releases Twist Twist Senora (#10 in the U.S.), Seven Day Weekend (#27 in the U.S.), and Copy Cat (#92 in the U.S.). On Jan. 27, 1962 the San Francisco Bay Area hosted the Chubby Checker Twist Party at the Cow Palace (attendance 17K), and 1962 becomes the Year of the Twist, with Let's Do the Twist by Chubby Checker becoming the #1 Billboard pop song of the year, followed by Peppermint Twist by Joey Dee and the Starliters at #5, Slow Twistin' by Dee Dee Sharp (1945-) at #36, Dear Lady Twist by Gary U.S. Bonds at #47, Twistin' the Night Away by Sam Cooke at #61, Twist and Shout by the Isley Brothers at #89, and Twist, Twist Senora by Gary U.S. Bonds at #98. By 1964 Western countries go ape for the Twist, with the Frug, Funky Chicken, Monkey, and Watusi varieties coming and going, along with discotheques with go-go girls.

The Ventures

On Dec. 5, 1960 The Ventures, formed in 1959 in Tacoma, Wash., incl. Don Wilson (guitar), Bob Bogle (guitar), Nokie Edwards (guitar), and Mel Tyler (1934-96) (drums) release their debut Walk Don't Run (#11 in the U.S.), which features the single Walk Don't Run (#2 in the U.S.), and Perfidia. After no record co. would sign them, they found Horizon Records to distribute it, and They go on to become the #1 instrumental band of all time, with 100M+ records sold, inspiring rockers incl. the Beatles, Stephen Stills, Carl Wilson, Keith Moon, Alan White, Roger Glover et al. They are pioneers of the concept album, such as "Surfing" (1963), and "The Ventures in Space" (1964). On May 10, 1969 they releases the album Hawaii Five-O (#11 in the U.S.), which features the hit TV theme Hawaii Five-O (#4 in the U.S.).

The Hollywood Argyles

In 1960 the Hollywood Argyles releases the #1 U.S. hit single Alley Oop, written by Dallas Frazier (1939-), and produced by Kim Fowley (1939-) (a student at Univ. H.S. in West Los Angeles) along with Sandy Nelson, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, who lived at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Argyle St., and paid musicians $25 per session to record for him, incl. Norm Davis (lead vocals), Gary Paxton (1938-), Sander L. "Sandy" Nelson (1938-) (drums), and Ted Winters (jug?). It is the first song played on May 2, 1960 by WLS-AM in Chicago after they changes from farm programming to rock and roll.

Johnny Burnette (1934-64)

In 1960 rockabilly singer John Joseph "Johnny" Burnette (1934-64) releases his 1-hit wonder You're Sixteen (#8 in the U.S.), by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, which is covered in 1974 by Ringo Starr, who hit #1. In 1980 his son Rocky Burnette equalled his charting performance.

The Shirelles Shelley Fabares (1944-) The Angels

In 1960 The Shirelles, incl. Shirley Owens (Shirley Alston Reeves)/Doris Coley, Doris Jackson, Beverly Lee, and Addie Harris "Micki" McPherson releases the Carole King song Will You Love Me Tomorrow, which reaches #1 in the U.S., launching the Girl Group Era. In Feb. 1962 Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (1944-), niece of Nannete Fabray, who played oldest child Mary Stone in "The Donna Reed Show" from 1958-63 have a #1 U.S. hit with Johnny Angel. In July 1963 The Angels, consisting of Linda Jansen (Jankowski) (lead vocals), and sisters Barbara Allbut and Phyllis Albut release their #1 U.S. hit My Boyfriend's Back.

Johnny Tillotson (1939-)

In 1960 Jacksonville, Fla.-born Johnny Tillotson (1939-) releases hs first hit Poetry in Motion (#2 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.). He followed in 1962 with It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' (#3 in the U.S.) (#31 in the U.K.).

Lesley Gore (1946-2015)

In June 1963 New York City-born Lesley Gore (Lesley Sue Goldstein) (1946-) releases her debut album I'll Cry if I Want To (#24 in the U.S.), which features the tracks It's My Party (Apr. 1963) (#1 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), and Judy's Turn to Cry (#5). Album #2 Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts (Nov. 1963) features She's a Fool (#5), and You Don't Own Me (#2). Album #3 Boys, Boys, Boys (Apr. 1964) features That's the Way Boys Are, and I Don't Wanna Be a Loser. Album #4 Girl Talk (Oct. 1964) features Maybe I Know, Hey Now, Sometimes I Wish I are a Boy, and Look of Love, after which her albums tanked deeper and deeper until the 1967 album "Magic Colors" is cancelled. She waited until 2005 to announce that she's a lesbian.

The Chiffons Shirley Ellis (1941-)

Also in 1963 the Bronx, N.Y. girl group The Chiffons, incl. Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, and Sylvia Peterson release their first #1 U.S. million-selling single He's So Fine (by Lonnie Mack) (#1 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) (later unintentionally plagarized by Beatle George Harrison in My Sweet Lord), followed by One Fine Day (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) (1963) (#5 in the U.S., #29 in the U.K.), I Have A Boyfriend (1963) (#36 in the U.S.) (which is playing on Dallas radio station KLIF on Nov. 22, 1963, and was interrupted by the first bulletin of the JFK assassination), and Sweet Talkin' Guy (1966) (#10 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.).

Jackie DeShannon (1944-)

In 1963 am. R&B singer Shirley Ellis (Shirley Marie Elliston) (1941-) releases the #8 U.S. hit The Nitty Gritty, followed by The Name Game (1964) (#3) and The Clapping Song (1965) (#8); "Chuck Chuck mo chuck, bananafanafo fuck, mee mi mo muck, Chuck".

Dusty Springfield (1939-99) The Dixie Cups Red Bird Records

Also in 1963 English singer Dusty Springfield (Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien) (1939-99) goes solo after her group "The Springfields" break up, becoming "the White Lady of Soul", starting with the single I Only Want to Be With You (#12 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), making her the 2nd artist of the British Invasion after the Beatles to makes the Billboard 200, starting at #77 in Jan. 1964, while the Beatles have "She Loves You" at #69, and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at #3. She follow with Wishin' and Hopin' (May 1964) (#6 in the U.S.), I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself (1964), I Only Want to Be With You (1964), Losing You (1964), Stay Awhile (1964), You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (Mar. 28, 1966) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), and Son of a Preacher Man (Nov. 8, 1968) (#10 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), which is written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, and originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who changes her mind too late after it becomes a hit. Her keeper album Dusty in Memphis (Jan. 13, 1969) features Preacher Man, plus The Windmills of Your Mind (#31 in the U.S.) from the 1968 film "The Thomas Crown Affair, and Breakfast in Bed. In 1964 Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller founds Red Bird Records mainly for girl groups, their first release being Chapel of Love (#1 in the U.S.) by The Dixie Cups, a black high school-sounding New Orleans group, originally called Little Miss and the Muffets, incl. Barbara Ann Hawkins (1943-), Rosa Lee Hawkins (1944-), and Joan Marie Johnson (1945-).

Jackie DeShannon (1944-)

In 1963 Hazel, Ky.-born singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon (Sharon Lee Myers) (1944-) releases her first hit Needles and Pins (#84 in the U.S.), written by Sonny Bono (1935-98) and Jack Nitzsche (1937-2000), followed by What the World Needs Now Is Love (Apr. 15, 1965) (#7 in the U.S.) ("What the world needs now is love, sweet love/ It's the only thing that there's just too little of"), written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, and Put a Little Love in Your Heart (1969) (#4 in the U.S.). What the World Needs Now Is Love is first offered to Dionne Warwick, who turns it down, then changes her mind and releases her own version What the World Needs Now Is Love in 1965.

The Shangri-Las

On July 20, 1964 The Shangri-Las, a white girl group from New York City named after a restaurant in Queens, N.Y., incl. sisters Mary Weiss (1948-) and Elizabeth "Betty" Weiss (1946-), and identical twins Marguerite "Marge" Ganser (1948-96) and Mary Ann Ganser (1948-70) release their debut single (by Red Bird Records) Remember (Walking in the Sand) (#5 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.) by George "Shadow" Morton. They follow it with Leader of the Pack (1964) (#1 in the U.S.) (banned in the U.K., then hit #3 in 1972 after ban is lifted), by George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich. "I met him at the candy store/ He turned around and smiled at me/ You get the picture?/ That's when I fell for the Leader of the Pack"; a classic 1960s "death disk", complete with a motorcycle crash at the end; piano accompaniment is by Billy Joel; Betty sings on the records but doesn't tour with the group until late 1965, which performs with the Beatles, James Brown (who is surprised to discover they are white), and other top acts.

The Beatles, 1961 John Lennon (1940-80) Paul McCartney (1942-) George Harrison (1943-2001) Pete Best (1941-) Stuart Sutcliffe (1940-62) Ringo Starr (1940-) The Cavern Club Tony Sheridan (1940-) Sir George Henry Martin (1926-) Jackie Lomax (1944-2013) Brian Epstein (1934-67) Billy Fury (1940-83)

With all these lame Yankee girl acts stinking rock up, did I mention rock and roll's British White Knight saviors the Beatles? In the early 1960s over the Pond in Liverpool, England beside the Mersey River, the Merseybeat, AKA British Beat or just plain Beat Music, a fusion of rock and roll with R&B, soul, doo wop, skiffle etc. is develop, spawning the big British Musical Invasion of the U.S. in 1964, led by guess who the Beatles. In Jan. 1960 the teenie Merseybeat Quarrymen band, formed in Mar. 1957 by John Winston Lennon (1940-80), adding James Paul McCartney (1942-) in July 1957 and George Harrison (1943-2001) in Mar. 1958 sign bassist Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe (1940-62), followed on Aug. 12 by lousy drummer Randolph Peter "Pete" Best (1941-) ("the forgotten Beatle") (son of the owner of the Casbah Club in Liverpool), leaving on Aug. 16 for Hamburg, Germany, and playing at the Indra Club of porno shop owner Bruno Koschmider on Aug. 17 for 48 nights, followed by the Kaiserkeller in Oct., then the rival Top Ten Club, pissing Koschmider off, who gets Harrison deported on Nov. 21 for lying to authorities about his age and having no work permit, followed by McCartney and Best a week later for setting fire to a condom in their filthy living quarters, causing damage to it, leaving Sutcliffe behind with his babe Astrid Kirchherr (1938-); they begin wearing cowboy boots, jeans, and leather jackets before Hamburg?; on Dec. 17 they play at the Casbah Club in Liverpool; meanwhile they changes their name to Johnny and the Moondogs, Long John and the Beetles (after Buddy Holly and the Crickets), the Silver Beetles, and finally the Beatles. In 1960 English (Liverpool) Elvis clone (sans black hair dye) singer Billy Fury (1940-83), whose 1959 debut single Maybe Tomorrow hit #18 in the U.K., releases Colette (#9), followed by That's Love (#19), Wondrous Place (#25), and A Thousand Stars (#14), going on to release 24 U.K. hits in the 1960s without a #1. In 1960 he dumped his backup band The Blue Flames (incl. keyboardist Georgie Fame, who took them over) and held auditions, offering the job to the Silver Beetles (later the Beatles) for £20 a week on the condition that they dump bass player Stuart Sutcliffe, which John Lennon refused after securing his autograph, after which the Beatles tours Scotland with Johnny Gentle and Duffy Power. On Feb. 21, 1961 (Tue.) (lunchtime) the Beatles debut at the Cavern Club (10 Mathew St.) in Liverpool, making 292 appearances until Aug. 3, 1963, where rival Merseybeat band The Undertakers, fronted by John Richard "Jackie" Lomax (1944-2013) were more popular. Meanwhile in Apr. 1961 they returned to Hamburg and performs at the Top Ten Club, then are signed by George Henry Martin (1926-2016) of Polydor on June 22, 1961, releasing My Bonnie (Mein Herz ist Bei Dir Nur) as the Beat Brothers, backing Tony Sheridan (1940-) on Oct. 31 in Germany (releases on Jan. 5, 1962 by Polydor); meanwhile on Nov. 9, 1961 Brian Epstein (1934-67) ses the Beatles play for the first time at the Cavern Club, and they sign a 5-year contract with him on Jan. 24, 1962. On Jan. 1, 1962 British Decca exec Richard Paul "Dick" Rowe (1921-86) watches a 1-hour Beatles audition paid for by Epstein, where they cover Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care of My Baby", and turns them down in favor of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, with the soundbyte "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out"; Rowe later makes up for his mistake by taking George Harrison's advice and signing the Rolling Stones - talk to the hand? Too bad, on Apr. 10, 1962 Beatles founding member, bassist and Ray Ban-wearing artist Stuart Sutcliffe (b. 1940) dies in Hamburg, Germany of a brain hemorrhage from a fractured skull suffered in a fight in Jan. 1961 in Lathom Hall, England, for which he refused medical attention; the Beatles return to Hamburg from Apr. 13-May 31, playing at the opening of the Star Club, then sign with Parlophone Records (founded in Germany in 1896) on Sept. 15, 1962, which releases the Beatles' first eight albums. On Aug. 16, 1962 Brian Epstein drops Madras-born drummer Pete Best (the best-looking one who has the most girl fans, but whose curly hair doesn't adapt to the new mop-top Beatles haircut), then on Sept. 11 the Beatles record their first tracks for EMI Studios with new drummer (who brings them to a whole new level) Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) (1940-) (formerly of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes) taking his place; he played his first gig with them on Aug. 18; girl fans shout "Pete forever, Ringo never!" until the Beatles get more popular; meanwhile Best's solo career flops and his looks wither, and he ends up as a forklift driver in a London warehouse, and a baker working for £8 a week - Best Bakers? Too bad, in 1994 a court ruling allows the Hard Rock chain to sell merchandise with the Cavern Club label - talk to the hand? On Oct. 5, 1962 the Beatles release their first single, Love Me Do, which peaks at #17 in the U.K., followed by #1 in the U.S. in 1964.

Joan Baez (1941-)

One folk singer who definitely doesn't belong in the Girl Band category is Staten Island, N.Y.-born folk singer and activist Joan Chandos Baez (1941-), daughter of Mexican-born physicist Albert Baez (1912-2007) (co-inventor of the X-ray microscope), whose debut album Joan Baez is released in Oct. 1960. In 1962 she releases the single Kumbaya, followed in 1965 by the single There But for Fortune, written by Phil Ochs, becoming her first hit in the U.K. Album #5 Farewell, Angelina (1965) features Farewell, Angelina, With God on Our Side, and Oh, Freedom. In 1971 she releases her hit The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (#3 in the U.S.), written by Robbie Robertson, and first released in 1969 by The Band.

In Apr. 1961 the FCC approves FM radio, giving hi-fi lovers incl. hi-fi rock lovers their outlet for free music.

Phil Spector (1939-2021) Lester Sill (1918-94) The Crystals The Ronettes Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans Ike (1931-2007) and Tina Turner (1939-)

In 1961 Jewish-Am. entrepreneurs Phillip Harvey (Harvey Phillip) "Phil" Spector (1939-2021) and Lester Sill (1918-94) found Phillies Records (combo of Phil and Les) in Philly, soon moving to Los Angeles, Calif. and setting up Gold Star Studios at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Vine St., going on to issue He's a Rebel by the Crystals, followed by 38 more singles and 12 albums by The Crystals, The Ronettes, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Ike Turner (1931-2007) and Tina Turner (1939-), and The Righteous Brothers (originally Hatfield & Medley until a black Marine at the El Toro USMC Base in El Toro, Calif. yelled "That was righteous, brothers!"), all characterized by innocence, until the arrival of the Beatles kills it by 1966; Spector develops his Wall of Sound musical production technique there with Jewish-American audio engineer Larry Levine (1928-2008), which sounds well on AM radio and jukeboxes, using large numbers of electric and acoustic guitars in parallel, plus a resonant echo chamber in the bathroom; they use the Wrecking Crew, a group of session musicians that goes on to work with The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Monkees (getting them into trouble with fans), Simon and Garfunkel, The Carpenters, The 5th Dimension, The Partridge Family, John Denver et al. The 1963 album A Christmas Gift to You from Phil Spector features Bobby Sheen and Darlene Love, and becomes the greatest rock & roll Xmas album of all time; it features the tracks The Bells of St. Mary's, and Here Comes Santa Claus, by Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-88) 'Stranger in a Strange Land', by Robert A. Heinlein (1907-88), 1961

On June 1, 1961 Butler, Mo.-born Robert Anson Heinlein (1907-88) pub. the seminal science-fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land, which revels in organized religion-free counterculture free love, and coins the word "grok", becoming the Bible of the 1960s hippie movement.

Berry Gordy Jr. (1929-) Tamla Motown Records Holland-Dozier-Holland Invictus Records The Supremes Diana Ross (1944-) Martha Reeves (1941-) and the Vandellas Mary Wells (1943-92) Smokey Robinson (1940-) The Contours Jackson 5 Barrett Strong (1941-) and Norman Whitfield (1940-2008) Junior Walker (1931-) Gladys Knight (1944-) and the Pips

Meanwhile in 1961 after founding Tamla Motown Records in Detroit ("Motor Town"), Mich. in 1959 to crank out R&B and soul records known as "the Motown Sound" and inject a steady stream of color into mainstream U.S. music, and releasing the first Motown hit by Barrett Strong (1941-), Money (That's What I Want) (#23) in 1959, former featherweight boxer and failed record store owner Berry Gordy Jr. (1929-), sign The Supremes, featuring lead singer Diana Ross (1944-). In 1962 the Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown songwriting team is forms, consisting of Lamont Herbert Dozier (1941-), and brothers Brian Holland (1941-) and Edward "Eddie" Holland Jr. (1939-), who goes on to score 25 Billboard #1 hits incl. "Baby Love", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Keep Me Hanging On", "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"; in 1967 they break with Berry Gordy and forms Invictus Records, going on to sign Freda Payne and Chairmen of the Board. In 1963 The Supremes, after releasing eight singles from 1961-3 which never charted in the top-40, causing them to become known as the "no-hit Supremes", incl. Diane Ernestine "Diana" Ross (1944-), Florence Glenda "Flo" "Blondie" Ballard (1943-76), Mary Wilson (1944-), Betty McGlown (1943-), and Barbara Diane Martin (1944), all from the Brewster-Douglass housing project in Detroit, Mich. releases When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes (#23 in the U.S.), their first top-20 single, followed by Where Did Our Love Go in Aug. 1964, their first #1 hit, after which they charted nine more #1 singles by May 1967, incl. Baby Love (1964), Come See About Me (1964), Stop! In the Name of Love (1964), Back In My Arms Again (1964), I Hear a Symphony (1965), You Can't Hurry Love (1966), You Keep Me Hangin' On (1966), Love Is Here and Now You're Gone (1967), and The Happening (1967). They follow that with #1 singles Love Child (1968), and Someday We'll Be Together (1969). Another Motown star is the girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (named after Van Dyke St. in Detroit and Della Reese, not after the Ethiopian succubus), whose first hit single Come and Get These Memories (#29) is released in Feb. 1963, followed by (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave (July 9, 1963) (#4), Quicksand (Oct. 1963) (#8), Dancing in the Streets (July 21, 1964) (#2), Nowhere to Run (Feb. 10, 1965) (#8), and Jimmy Mack (Feb. 3, 1967) (#10). In 1970 Diana Ross goes solo, with her debut album Diana Ross (May), which features Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand). Another Motown star is William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (1940-) best known as the lead vocalist of the Miracles, who earned the title "King of Motown", and served as Motown Records' vice-pres. from 1961-88. Hits include: Shop Around (1960), You've Really gets a Hold on Me (1962), The Tracks of My Tears (1965), and The Tears of a Clown (1970) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). Another early Motown star is Mary Esther Wells (1943-92), who in 1962 releases her first hit Two Lovers, followed on Mar. 13, 1964 by her million-selling #1 U.S. hit My Guy, earning her the title "Queen of Motown". Another 1-hit Motown wonder are The Contours, incl. Joe Billingslea (1937-), Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Leroy Fair, and Hubert Johnson, who score in 1962 with Do You Love Me (#3 in the U.S.), which recharted at #11 after the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing". Yet another product of Motown are the Jackson 5 (Five), born in a Jehovah's Witness family in Gary, Ind., incl. Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (1951-), Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (1953-), Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (1954-) (who goes Muslim), Marlon David Jackson (1957-), and baby Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009), who are formed in 1964 and joins Motown in 1968, then with Diana Ross introducing them to the public on Aug. 11, 1969 goes on to score #1 hits with I Want You Back (1969), ABC (1970), The Love You Save (1970), and I'll Be There (1970). Back to Barrett Strong. After giving up singing, he teamed up with songwriter Norman Whitfield (1940-2008), going on to crank out Motown hits incl. "Papa is a Rollin' Stone", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Psychedelic Shack", and "War". In 1965 another top Motown act Junior (Jr.) Walker (Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr.) (1931-95) (singer and saxophonist) and the All Stars, incl. Tony Washington (drums), Willie Woods (guitar), and Vic Thomas (keyboards) release their debut single Shotgun (#4 in the U.S.), followed by Do the Boomerang (July 3, 1965), Shake and Fingerpop (1965), Cleo's Back (1965), (I'm a) Road Runner (1966), Cleo's Mood (1966), Pucker Up Buttercup (1967), Come See About Me (1967), What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) (1969), These Eyes (1969), Gotta Hold On To This Feeling (1970), Do You See My Love (For You Growing) (1970), and Take Me Girl I'm Ready (1971) (#16 in the U.K.). After releasing their first hit single Every Beat of My Heart (#6 in the U.S.) in 1961, Gladys Maria Knight (1944-) and The Pips sign with Motown Records, then in 1967 release their first big hit I Heard It Through the Grapevine (#2 in the U.S., #47 in the U.K.), followed by If I are Your Woman (1970) (#9 in the U.S.), and Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) (1972) (#2 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.). In 1973 after switching to Buddah Records, they release Midnight Train to Georgia (#1 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), and I've gets to Use My Imagination (#4 in the U.S.), followed in 1974 by (You Are the) Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me (#3 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), and On and On (#5 in the U.S.).

Marvin Gaye (1939-84) Anna Gordy Gaye (1922-) Marvin Gaye (1939-84) and Tammi Terrell (1945-70)

Speaking of I Heard It Through the Grapevine. On June 8, 1961 4-octave range singer and Motown session drummer Marvin Pentz Gaye (Gay) Jr. (1939-84) (formerly of the Moonglows), who is courting 1st wife (Jan. 8, 1964-Mar. 1977) Anna Gordy (1922-), eldest sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. releases his debut album The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (2nd Motown LP after "Hi... We're the Miracles"), which features the tracks Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide, Never Let You Go, and You Don't Know What Love Is, none of which are hits. Album #2 That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (Dec. 1962) features background singing by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and produced his first hit singles Stubborn Kind of Fellow, Hitch Hike, and Pride and Joy, launching his career as "Prince of Soul" and best-selling Motown solo artist of the 1960s. On Apr. 15, 1964 he releases his only duet album with Mary Wells, Together (#42 in the U.S.), becoming his first charting album, after which Wells left Motown. Tracks incl. Once Upon a Time, and What's the Matter With You Baby. Album #6 How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You (Jan. 1965) features the hit track How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). Album #8 Moods of Marvin Gaye (May 23, 1966) features the #1 R&B hits I'll Be Doggone, and Ain't That Peculiar, both co-written by Smokey Robinson. On Aug. 25, 1966 he releases his 2nd duet album, this time with Kim Weston, Take Two, which features It Takes Two, and What Good Am I Without You? Funny but Weston hiked out of Motown quick after doing it, er, with him too. On Aug. 29, 1967 he releases his 3rd duet album with new partner Tammi Terrell (Thomasina Winifred Montgomery) (1945-70), United, which features the hit tracks Ain't No Mountain High Enough (#69 in the U.S.), Your Precious Love, Somethin' Stupid, and If I Could Build My Whole World Around You. Their 2nd duet album You're All I Need (Aug. 1968) features Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing, and You're All I Need to Get By. He did one last album with her, Easy (Sept. 6, 1969), which features Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By before she dies tragically of a brain tumor on Mar. 16, 1970. Album #9 In the Groove/I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Aug. 26, 1968), is his big breakthrough, featuring the hit track I Heard It Through the Grapevine (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.); it has an eerie suicidal quality that makes it #1?; he originally thought it "sucked" and turned it down. Too bad, on Apr. 1, 1984 his father Marvin Gay Sr. shot him to death after an argument, and gets five years of probation.

Bobby Vee (1943-)

In June 1961 Fargo, N.D.-born Bobby Vee (Robert Thomas Velline) (1943-) releases his first hit single Take Good Care of My Baby #1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), followed by Devil or Angel (1961) (#6 in the U.S.), Rubber Ball (1961) (#6 in the U.S.), More Than I Can Say (1961) (#4 in the U.S.), Run to Him (1961) (#2 in the U.S.), The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1963) (#3 in the U.S.), and Come Back When You Grow Up (1967) (#3 in the U.S.).

Berlin Wall Berlin Wall, Nov. 9, 1989

On Aug. 13, 1961 the mean nasty rock music-hating Soviet Union begins erecting the Berlin Wall, which becomes a symbol of why the West is the Best. It's a long story, but on Nov. 9, 1989 the wall came down after the barrage of rock music from MTV proved too much too resist, three hankies please.

Gibson SG, 1961)

In 1961 Gibson redesigns the Les Paul guitar to create the Gibson SG (solid guitar), later becoming the favorite of AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young (1955-).

Bob Dylan (1941-) 'The Times They Are A-Changing', by Bob Dylan, 1964 Barry Feinstein (1931-2011)

On Mar. 19, 1962 folk singer Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) (1941-) (who once goes by the name Elston Gunn) releases his debut album Bob Dylan on Columbia Records. The cover features him wearing a Huck Finn cap and a coat borrowed from James Dean. After Bob Dylan's first major concert, Billboard Mag. called him "the stuff of which legends are made". He told people he's part Sioux and has travelled with carnivals, when he's really a middle-class Jewish kid from Hibbing, Minn. Tracks incl. Talkin' New York, and Song to Woody. On May 27, 1963 Dylan releases his 2nd album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which incl. the tracks Blowin' in the Wind, and Don't Think Twice, It's Alright ("You just kinda wasted my... precious time"). On Jan. 13, 1964 Dylan releases album #3 The Times They Are a-Changin', with classic cover photo by rock photographer Barry Feinstein (1931-2011), which incl. the track The Times They Are A-Changin'. In summer 1963 the 1963 Newport Folk Festival features Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, and new El Paso, Tex.-born folk-protest singer Philip David "Phil" Ochs (1940-76). On Aug. 8, 1964 Dylan releases album #4 Another Side of Bob Dylan, causing Irwin Silber to claim that he "somehow lost touch with people" and gets caught in "the paraphernalia of fame". Tracks include: All I Really Want to Do, and Motorpsycho Nitemare. On July 24-25, 1965 (Sat.-Sun.) the 1965 Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. sees folk music finally reach commercial status, with July 25 becoming Folk Judgment Day when Bob Dylan goes electric, outraging his fans, who shout "Get rid of that electric guitar", after which the festival (founded 1959) closes; Phil Ochs (who was invited to the 1963 festival but not this one) praises Dylan's courage in defying the folk music authorities; Dick Farina (Fariña) (1937-66) and Mimi Baez Farina (1945-2001) (sister of Joan Baez) sing while the audience is drenched in the rain and loving it, setting the stage for the bohemian hippie lifestyle of the 60s? On Apr. 9, 1969 Dylan releases album #9 Nashville Skyline (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which incl. his big hit Lay Lady Lay (#7 in the U.K.) (#5 in the U.K.). In 1973 his hit song Knockin' on Heaven's Door (from the 1973 film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid") reaches #12 in the U.S. In Dec. 2020 Dylan sells his entire song catalog to Universal Music Pub. Group for an estimated $300M.

Peter, Paul and Mary

In May 1962 the New York City folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, composed of Peter Yarrow (1938-), Noel Paul Stookey (1937-) (the non-Jew of the trio), and Ky.-born Mary Allin Travers (1936-2009) (who grew up in Greenwich Village) release their debut album Peter, Paul and Mary, which reaches #1 in the U.S., and features hit tracks If I have a Hammer, and Lemon Tree. They are put together and managed by Albert Grossman (1926-86), who later sign Bob Dylan, and Janis Joplin and the Holding Co. Album #2 Moving (Jan. 1963) features the #2 U.S. hit Puff the Magic Dragon. Album #3 In the Wind (Oct. 1963) reaches #1 in the U.S. right months the Beatles Invasion and a few weeks before JFK is assassinated. It contained the tracks Blowin' in the Wind (by Bob Dylan) (#2 in the U.S.), and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (#9 in the U.S.). Album #7 Album 1700 (Mar. 18, 1967) contained their final hit Leaving on a Jet Plane (written by John Denver, launching his career) (#15 in the U.S.). Telstar I, 1962 The Tornados

On July 10, 1962 (night) Bell Labs' Telstar I, the world's first privately-funded commercial communication satellite is launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying 12 voice circuits with a combined throughput of 768K bps; on July 23 the first transatlantic broadcast of a TV signal occurred between Earth stations in Andover, Maine, Goonhilly, Cornwall, and Pleumeur-Boudou, France; although the first images were supposed to be of JFK in a trans-Atlantic press conference, he wasn't ready on time so a ML ballgame between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field actually showed Ernie Banks first, with BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby uttering the soundbyte "There is a face - it's a man's face!", and yes, it is black; meanwhile this year the U.K. transmitted the first color TV pictures via satellite. On Aug. 17, 1962 the Tornados wasted no time in releasing the #1 instrumental hit (in the U.S. and U.K.) Telstar.

The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger (1943-) Don Knotts (1924-2006)

The Beatles are the Good Side of the Force, leaving an opening for the Bad Side of the Force to launch its Death Telstar. On July 12, 1962 the English Chelsea blues band The Rolling Stones played their first gig at the Marquee Club at 165 Oxford St., London; their first single is a cover of the Chuck Berry song "Come On". Members eventually incl. Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger (1943-) (vocals) (who bears a striking resemblance to actor Don Knotts?), Keith Richards (1943-) (guitar), Brian (Lewis Brian Hopkins) Jones (1942-69) (guitar), Ian Andrew Robert Stewart (1938-85) (piano), Bill Wyman (William George Perks) (1936-) (bass), and Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts (1941-) (drums). The group is named for the Muddy Waters song "Rollin' Stone". Stewart is dismissed from the band in May 1963 but continued on as road mgr. and session pianist. On Jan. 6, 1964 the Rolling Stones begin their first tour as a headline act, along with The Ronettes.

Bobby Pickett (1938-2007)

On Aug. 25 1962 Robert George "Bobby" "Boris" Pickett (1938-2007) releases his hit Monster Mash, which forever gets trotted out every Halloween.

The Beach Boys

On Oct. 29, 1962 The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson (1942-), Carl Wilson (1946-98), Dennis Wilson (1944-83), Mike Love (1941-), Al Jardine (1942-), David Marks (1948-), and Bruce Johnson (1942-) (four of whom are related) introduced their new cool skin-cancer-friendly mainly white Southern Calif. musical style with their hit Surfin' Safari. Album #11 Pet Sounds (May 16, 1966) becomes of the top albums of all time, featuring the hits Wouldn't It Be Nice, and Sloop John B, and God Only Knows. Their hit single Good Vibrations, releases on Oct. 10, 1966, title based on mommy telling them that dogs could sense things, was described as "a pocket symphony" by Derek Taylor; it uses the electro-Theremin AKA Tannerin. In 1968 they release the single Blue Birds Over the Mountain; ithe B-side is "Never Learn Not to Love", which they stole from the song "Cease to Exist" by guitar-playing Charlie Manson (whom Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson befriended and helped to makes a studio album, which is released in 1974), pissing him off and causing him to threaten to kill Dennis and come to his house only to get beaten-up by him. On Apr. 1, 1969 the Beach Boys sue Capitol Records for $2M in unpaid royalties, causing them to retaliate by deleting most of their titles from their catalog.

The Cascades

In 1962 the San Diego, Calif.-based vocal group The Cascades (formerly the Silver Strands and the Thundernotes), incl. John Claude Gummoe (1938-) (vocals), Eddie Snyder (guitar), Von Lynch (keyboards), Ronald Lynch (keyboards, sax), Dave Stevens (bass), and Dave Szabo (drums) release their 1-hit wonder Rhythm of the Rain (#3 in the U.S.).

Jay and the Americans

Also in 1962 Jay and the Americans, from Belle Harbor, Queens, N.Y., fronted by John "Jay" Traynor (1943-), and incl. Howard Kane (Kirschenbaum), Kenny Vance (Rosenberg), Sandy Deanne (Yaguda), and Martin Sanders (Kupersmith) release their first hit She Cried (#5), followed by Only in America (1963) (#28) ("Only in America can a guy from anywhere go to sleep a pauper and wake up a millionaire"). Traynor is then replaced by Jay Black (David Blatt) (1938-), after which they have more success, starting with Come a Little Bit Closer (1964) (#2), then Cara Mia (1965) (#4), This Magic Moment (1968) (#9) (1M copies), and Walkin' in the Rain (#19).

Dick Dale (1937-) Ennio Morricone (1928-) 'A Fistful of Dollars', 1964

Also in 1962 Boston, Mass.-born lefty rocker Dick Dale (Richard Anthony Monsour) (1937-) ("King of the Surf Guitar"), who played his right-handed Fender Stratocaster upside-down and backwards releases his debut album Surfers' Choice, containing his 1-hit wonder Misirlou (Greek for "Egyptian Girl"), a rebetika (Greek refugee from Turkey) song first performs by Michalis Patrinos in Athens in 1927; he did it on a bet that he couldn't play a song on only one string of his guitar. It is features in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction. The album also contained the track Let's Go Trippin', the first surf rock song. Album #3 King of the Surf Guitar (1963) features King of the Surf Guitar, Ghost Riders in the Sky, and Hava Nagila. Album #4 Mr. Eliminator (1964) features Mr. Eliminator, and the Misirlou-like The Victor. Dale's guitar style influenced Italian composer Ennio Morricone (1928-) in such Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns as A Fistful of Dollars (1964), featuring the Fistful of Dollars Theme, along with For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

The Orlons

In 1962 The Orlons, formerly Audrey and the Teenettes, from Philly, incl. Rosetta Hightower (1944-2014), Shirley Brickley (1944-77), Marlena Davis (1944-93), and Stephen Caldwell (1942-) release their debut album The Wah-Watusi (#80 in the U.S.), which features The Wah-Watusi (#2 in the U.S.) (1M copies); they follow with the album All the Hits by The Orlons (1962) (#2 in the U.S.), which features Don't Hang Up (#4 in the U.S., #39 in the U.S.) (1M copies). In 1963 they release the album South Street (#3 in the U.S.), which features South Street (#3 in the U.S.) (1M copies).

Tommy Roe (1942-) Chris Montez (1943-)

In 1962 Atlanta, Ga.-born singer Tommy Roe (1942-) releases his debut single Sheila (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), pioneering bubblegum rock, followed by Susie Darlin' (1962), Piddle De Pat (1962), Everybody (1963), The Folk Singer (1963), Carol (1964), Come On (1964), Party Girl (1964), Sweet Pea (1966), Hooray for Hazel (1966), It's Now Winters Day (1967), Little Miss Sunshine (1967), Sing Along With Me (1967), Dizzy (1969), Heather Honey (1969), Jack and Jill (1969), Stir It Up and Serve It (1970), We Can makes Music (1970), and Working Class Hero (by John Lennon) (1973). In 1962 LA-born singer Chris Montez (Ezekiel Christopher Montanez) (1943-) releases his debut single Let's Dance (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), followed by Some Kinda Fun (1962), Call Me (Nov. 1965) (#22 in the U.S.) (his voice is so high he's mistaken for a woman), and Time After Time (1966) (#36 in the U.S.). On Mar. 9, 1963 the Beatles started a British tour with him and Tommy Roe, after which one night John Lennon fought with him at a London bar and poured a beer over his head, before or after which Montez utters the soundbyte "Who are these guys, the Beatles? I try to keep up with the British scene, but I don't know their work."

Frankie Valli (1934-) and the Four Seasons

Also in 1962 falsetto singer Frankie Valli (Francis Stephen Castelluccio) (1934-) and his N.J.-based group The Four Seasons began releasing a string of hits, incl. Sherry (1962) (#1 in the U.S.), Big Girls Don't Cry (1962) (#1 in the U.S.), Walk Like a Man (1963) (#1 in the U.S.); Candy Girl (1963) (#3 in the U.S.), Dawn (Go Away) (1964) (#3 in the U.S.), Rag Doll (1964) (#1 in the U.S.), Let's Hang On! (1965) (#3 in the U.S.), Working My Way Back to You (1966) (#9 in the U.S.), Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me) (1966) (#13 in the U.S.), I've gets You Under My Skin (1966) (#9 in the U.S.), and Tell It to the Rain (1966) (#10 in the U.S.), lasting surprisingly long under the onslaught of the British Musical Invasion. In Nov. 1975 they release the album Who Loves You (#38 in the U.S.), which features Who Loves You (#3 in the U.S.), December, 1963 (Oh What a Night) (#1 in the U.S.), and Silver Star (#38 in the U.S.).

Bobby Vinton (1935-)

In 1962 Polish-American singer Bobby Vinton (Stanley Robert Vintula Jr.) (1935-) (born in Canonsburg, Penn., along with Perry Como) releases his debut single Roses are Red (My Love) (#1 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), followed by Rain Rain Go Away (1962) (#12 in the U.S.), I Love You the Way You Are (1962) (#38 in the U.S.), Trouble is My Middle Name (1963) (#33 in the U.S.), Over the Mountain (Across the Sea) (1963) (#21 in the U.S.), Blue on Blue (1963) (#3 in the U.S.), Blue Velvet (1963) #1 in the U.S.), There! I've Said It Again (1964) (#1 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.), My Heart Belongs to Only You (1964) (#9 in the U.S.), Tell Me Why (1964) (#13 in the U.S.), Clinging Vine (1964) (#17 in the U.S.), Mr. Lonely (1964) (#1 in the U.S.), The Bell That Couldn't Jingle (1964), (#23 in the U.S.), Dearest Santa 1965) (#8 in the U.S.), What Color (Is a Man) (1965) (written by Marge Barton; "If you color him blue, son, he may not be a happy man. If you color him red, son, someone may steal his land. If you color him green or yellow, he may be jealous and cowardly. If you color him black, son, he may never be free. Then he told his son, put your crayons away. Try your best to understand. Man is never makes of any color, and color never makes any man."), I Love How You Love Me (1968) (#9 in the U.S.), Halfway to Paradise (1968) (#23 in the U.S.), To Know You Is to Love You (#34 in the U.S.), The Days of Sand and Shovels (#34 in the U.S.), Sealed With a Kiss (1972) (#19 in the U.S.), and My Melody of Love (1974) (#3 in the U.S.). According to Billboard Mag., he is "the all-time most successful love singer of the Rock Era", with more #1 Billboard hits from 1962-72 than any male vocalist.

Dionne Warwick (1940-)

Speaking of Brill Bldg. songwriters Hal David and Burt Bacharach, in 1962 East Orange, N.J.-born singer Marie Dionne Warwick (1940-) began partnering with them to produce 56 Billboard 100 singles by 1998, starting with Don't makes Me Over (#21 in the U.S.), followed by Anyone Who have a Heart (1963) (#8 in the U.S., #42 in the U.K.), Walk On By (1964) (#6 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Message to Michael (1966) (#8 in the U.S.), I Say a Little Prayer (1967) (#4 in the U.S.), Valley of the Dolls Theme (1967) (by Andre Previn and Dory Previn) (#2 in the U.S., #28 in the U.K.) (originally written for Judy Garland before she is fired from the film), Do You Know the Way to San Jose? (1968) (#10 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Promises, Promises (1968) (#19 in the U.S.), This Girl's in Love With You (1969) (#7 in the U.S.), I'll Never Fall in Love Again (1969) (#6 in the U.S.), Then Came You (w/the Spinners) (1974) (#1 in the U.S., #29 in the U.K.), Deja Vu (1979) (#15 in the U.S.), Heartbreaker (w/the Bee Gees) (1982), Friends in Love (w/Johnny Mathis) (1982), That's What Friends Are For (w/Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder) (#1 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), and What the World Needs Now Is Love (w/TheHipHopNationUnited) (#87 in the U.S.).

The Rivingtons

Also in 1962 the 1-hit wonder The Rivingtons, a black doowop group from Calif., incl. Carl White (1933-80) (lead vocals), Al Frazier (-2005) (tenor), John "Sonny" Harris (baritone), and Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr. (bass) release their novelty hit Papa Oom Mow Mow (#48 in the U.S.), followed by The Bird's the Word, produced by Kim Fowley (1939-).

Booker T. and the M.G.'s

In 1962 the racially integrated Memphis soul band Booker T. and the M.G.'s, consisting of Booker T. Jones (1944-) (keyboards), Steven Lee "Steve" "the Colonel" Cropper (1954-) (guitar), Lewie Steinberg (1933-) (bass), and Al Jackson Jr. (1935-75) (drums) releases their debut hit single Green Onions (#3 in the U.S.). In 1965 Steinberg is replaced by Donald "Duck" Dunn (1941-). In 1975 Jackson is murdered, leaving a trio. Dunn and Cropper later played with The Blues Brothers.

Arthur Alexander (1940-93)

Also in 1962 Alabama-born Arthur Alexander (1940-93) releases the album You Better Move On, which incl. the song Anna (Go to Him) (Sept. 17); the lyric is actually "Go with him"; the Beatles recorded it for their 1963 British album "Please Please Me", and later it is parodied on the Fox TV Network show marries: With Children.

A&M Records Herb Alpert (1935-)

Also in 1962 A&M Records is founded in Los Angeles by Tijuana Brass musician Herbert "Herb" "Dore" Alpert (1935-) and Jerome S. "Jerry" Moss (1935-), going on to become the world's largest independent record company. In 1966 they moves their HQ to 1416 N La Brea Ave. (near Sunset Blvd.) in Hollywood, on the grounds of the old Charlie Chaplin Studios. They go on to sign a variety of pop and folk groups incl. the Carpenters, Quincy Jones, the Captain and Tennille, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Gene Clark, and Billy Preston, and in the late 1960s added rock groups incl. Procol Harum, Humble Pie, Free, The Move, Spooky Tooth, Fairport Convention, Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens, Carole King, Hummingbird, Cheech & Chong, Nazareth, Y&T, The Tubes, Styx, Supertramp, and Peter Frampton; in 1977 they sign The Sex Pistols but drops them within a week.

The Spotnicks

Also in 1962 the instrumental rock group The Spotnicks, formerly The Rebels, Rock-Teddy and The Blue Caps, and The Frazers, incl. Bo Winberg (1939-), Bo Starander (1942-) (guitar), Bjorn Thelin (1942-) (bass), and Ove Johansson (drums), known for wearing spacesuits on stage becomes the first Swedish group to have internat. success, starting with Orange Blossom Special (#30 in the U.K., #1 in Australia), Hava Nagila (1962) (#13 in the U.K.), Rocket Man (1962), Johnny Guitar (1962), Amapola (1963), and Karelia (1964). They go on to sell 18M records.

The Kingsmen

Also around 1962 U.S. mainly white teenies begins forming Garage Rock Bands, incl. The Barbarians (Cape Cod, Mass.), The Birdwatchers (Miami, Fla.), The Count Five (San Jose, Calif.), The D-Men (New York City), The Fifth Estate (Stamford, Conn.), The Kingsmen (Portland, Ore.), The Music Explosion (Mansfield, Ohio), The Music Machine (Los Angeles, Calif.), The Rationals (Ann Arbor, Mich.), The Remains (Boston, Mass.), Paul Revere and The Raiders (Boise, Idaho), The Rivieras (South Bend, Ind.), The Seeds (Los Angeles, Calif.), The Shadows of Knight (Chicago, Ill.), Tommy James (1947-) and The Shondells (Niles, Mich.), The Sonics (Tacoma, Wash.), The Standells (Los Angeles, Calif.), The Swingin' Medallions (Greenwood, S.C.), The Trashmen (Minneapolis, Minn.), and The Unrelated Segments (Detroit, Mich.). The 1963 The Kingsmen hit Louie Louie (by Richard Berry) becomes the #1 garage band cover because it's so easy anybody can play its three chords, and everybody knows it has dirty lyrics although they're not sure just where. After most gets lucky to even become 1-hit wonders, they peaked in 1966, fell out of the charts by 1968, and becomes kaput by 1970.

The Beatles, 1963 Paul McCartney and Dot Rhone

On Feb. 2, 1963 the Beatles started their first U.K. tour, getting the Beatles Screaming Mob Treatment everywhere. On Mar. 22, 1963 they release their debut album Please Please Me; 8 of the 14 songs are written by Lennon and McCartney. Tracks incl. I Saw Her Standing There, Misery, Anna (Go to Him) (by Arthur Alexander), Chains (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King), Boys (by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell), Ask Me Why, Please Please Me (Jan. 11) (first hit in the U.K.), Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, Baby It's You (by Mack David, Barney Williams and Burt Bacharach), Do You Want to Know a Secret?, A Taste of Honey (by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow), There's a Place, Twist and Shout (by Phil Medley and Bert Russell), From Me to You (Apr. 11) (first to chart in the U.S., at #116), She Loves You (Aug. 23) (first to be labeled "Lennon/McCartney" rather than "McCartney/Lennon"), and I Want to (Wanna) Hold Your Hand (Nov. 29) (first made on 4-track equipment, and first Billboard #1 hit). On Sept. 1, 1963 (Sun.) the Beatles makes their first U.S. TV appearance on ABC-TV's Big Night Out. On Oct. 13, 1963 after the Beatles make it big with She Loves You (written by Paul and John on June 26 and recorded on July 1) and before recording I Want to Hold Your Hand (Oct. 17), they play at the London Palladium on Argyll St. off Oxford St. in Westminster, London (founded 1910), and the next morning the British press coins the term "Beatlemania". On Nov. 4 they play at the Prince Wales Theatre in London before the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret at the Royal Command Peformance, and John makes the quip "Would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands, and the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewelry"; the Beatles go on to score 49 top-40 U.S. hits; just prior to making it big, cutest Beatle Paul McCartney has his first affair with blonde clerk Dorothy "Dot" Rhone (1942-), who miscarries his baby in July 1962 before he dumps her after making her adopt a Brigitte Bardot hairstyle and give up smoking.

Lou Christie (1943-)

In Mar. 1963 Glenwillard, Penn.-born Lou Christie (Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco) (1943-) (great falsetto) releases his first hit Two Faces Have I (Mar.) (#6 in the U.S.); written by Christie and Twyla Herbert. He follows with Lightnin' Strikes (Dec. 1965) (#1 in the U.S.); "Listen to me babe, you gotta understand. You're old enough to know the makings of a man... Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end... When I see lips begging to be kissed (Stop!) I can't stop (Stop!), I can't stop myself. Lightnin's striking again." He threepeats with Rhapsody in the Rain. (Mar. 1966) (#16 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.).

Gerry and the Pacemakers

In Mar. 1963 the English (Liverpool) group Gerry and the Pacemakers, originally Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars, managed by Brian Epstein, and fronted by Gerard "Gerry" Marsden (1942-) release their debut single How Do You Do It? (by Mitch Murray) (#1 in the U.K.), followed by I Like It (by Mitch Murray) (May 1963) (#1 in the U.K.), and You'll Never Walk Alone (by Rodgers and Hammerstein) (Oct. 1963) (#1 in the U.K.), becoming the first group to have #1 U.K. singles with their first three releases (next Frankie Goes to Hollywood). In 1964 they release I'm the One (Jan.) (#2 in the U.K.), Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying (Apr.) (#4 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), It's Gonna Be Alright (Sept.) (#24 in the U.K.), and Ferry Cross the Mersey (Dec.) (#8 in the U.K.), which they performed in the 1965 film (A Hard Day's Night wannabe) Ferry Cross the Mersey, which flopped. They disbands in Oct. 1966.

The Hollies

In May 1963 the English (Lancashire) rock band The Hollies (named after Christmas holly), incl. Harold Allan Clarke (1942-) (vocals), Graham William Nash (1942-) (guitar), Eric Haydock (1943-) (bass), Tony Hicks (1943-) (guitar), and Robert Hartley "Bobby" Elliott (1942-) (drums) release their debut single Ain't That Just Like Me (#25 in the U.K.), followed by a cover of The Coasters' Searchin' (#12), and Stay (#8). They took the Beatles' slot at the Cavern Club in 1963, and ended up #3 in the British Invasion after the Beatles and Rolling Stones. In Feb. 1964 they release Just One Look (#2 in the U.K.), followed by Here I Go Again (#4), and We're Through (#7). In 1965 they release I'm Alive (#1), Yes I Will (#9), and Look Through My Window (#4). In 1966 they release I Can't Let It Go (#2 in the U.K., #42 in the U.S.), Bus Stop (#5 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and Stop Stop Stop (#7 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). In 1967 they release Carrie Anne (#9 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.). In 1969 they release the album He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, which features the track He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), written by Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell (1914-70). On Feb. 1, 1972 they release Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress (#2 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.).

Timothy Leary (1920-96) Ram Dass (Richard Albert) (1931-)

In May 1963 genius-IQ Harvard psychology prof. Timothy Leary (1920-96), who tried LSD for the first time a year earlier, predicted that 1M people will try it within 10 years, and is kicked out of his position at Harvard U., along with Jewish psychology prof. Richard Alpert (1931-), who later goes to India and returned as guru Baba Ram Dass. The LSD and marijuana drug culture goes bigtime by the mid-1960s, finding its way into rock music of course.

Swinging Blue Jeans Mickie Most (1938-2003) RAK Records

In Dec. 1963 the English Merseybeat band The Swinging Blue Jeans, incl. Ray Ennis (1942-), Les Braid (1937-2005), Ralph Ellis (1942-), Norman Kuhlke (1942-), and Terry Sylvester (1946-) release their 1-hit wonder Hippy Hippy Shake (#21 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), written by Chan Romero in 1959. The Beatles recorded their cover of it already in July 1963. Since one bandmember almost looks like John Lennon, one almost looks like Paul McCartney, and they almost sound like the Beatles, and are from Liverpool too, this forever mixes people up about what hippies are or where they came from? Also in 1963 English singer Mickie Most (Michael Peter Hayes) (1938-2003) releases the forgettable mickey mouse U.K. hit Mister Porter. After this he gets a job putting records on racks, and in 1976 founds RAK Records (get it?) after discovering the Animals, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Lulu, Suzi Quatro, and the Jeff Beck Group - did he makes the most of it?

Jan and Dean The Rip Chords Bruce Arthur Johnston (1942-) Terry Melcher (1942-2004) The Surfaris

In 1963 The Beach Boys' nearest competitors Jan and Dean, consisting of William Jan Berry (1941-2004) and Dean Ormsby Torrence (1940-) releases the #1 hit Surf City, followed by Drag City (1963) (#10), The Little Old Lady from Pasadena (1964) (#3), and Dead Man's Curve (1964) (#8). In 1964 the Rip Chords releases Hey Little Cobra (#4 in the U.S.) (an uncanny imitation of Jan and Dean), written by Carol Connors (Annette Kleinbard) (1940-) of the Teddy Bears after she purchased her first Cobra (she later co-wrote the "Rocky" theme "Gonna Fly Now" with Ayn Robbins); sung by Bruce Arthur Johnston (Benjamin Baldwin) (1942-) (who joins the Beach Boys on Apr. 9, 1965 after Glen Campbell quit, recording "California Girls" with them) and Terry Melcher (1942-2004) (son of Doris Day, who becomes a producer for the Byrds and Paul Revere and The Raiders, and whose Bel Air, Los Angeles home is later the scene of the murder of Sharon Tate by the Manson family). Too bad, Jan and Dean lived their own song when on Apr. 12, 1966 (same day that the U.S. used B-52 bombers for the first time against the North Vietnamese, targeting military and industrial installations) Jan almost dies in a car accident near Dead Man's Curve on Whittier Blvd. in Beverly Hills after crashing his Corvette into a parked truck and sustaining head injuries incl. brain damage and partial paralysis, causing their music career to rip and become a dead man and old lady and stop until 1978. Let's not forget the Surfaris, from Glendora, Calif., incl. Ron Wilson (1945-89) (drums), Jim Fuller (1947-) (guitar), Bob Berryhill (1947-) (guitar), Pat Connolly (1947-) (bass), and Jim Pash (1948-) (sax), who in early 1963 release their million-selling instrumental Wipe Out (#2 in the U.S) (original title "Switchblade"), which becomes the #1 Calif. surfer anthem; it starts out with the sound of a breaking surf board; they also releases Surfer Joe, and Point Panic (surfing spot in Hawaii).

Trini Lopez (1937-2020)

In 1963 Dallas, Tex.-born Mexican-Am. singer Trini Lopez (1937-) releases his debut album Trini Lopez Live at PJ's (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 1M copies, and features the tracks If I have a Hammer (#3 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), Kansas City (#23 in the U.S., #35 in the U.K.), and La Bamba. In 1964 he design the Trini Lopez Standard and Trini Lopez Deluxe guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corp. In 1965 he releases Lemon Tree (#20 in the U.S.).

Bob Marley (1945-81)

In 1963 Catholic-turned-Rastafarian half-white half-black Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley (1945-81) and the Wailers begins recording at the new Studio One record studio on Brentford Rd. in Kingston, Jamaica (first black-owned studio in Jamaica), run by Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd (1932-2004). Their first released are covers, and their album photos showed them in suits and ties, and it took until the late 60s before they gets real, wore dreadlocks and sang political songs. On Apr. 13, 1973 he releases Catch a Fire, his Island Records debut, making him an internat. star, which features the tracks Stir It Up, Slave Driver, and 400 Years. His next album Burnin' (Oct. 18, 1973) (last with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) features I Shot the Sheriff, and Get Up, Stand Up. The album Rastaman Vibration (Apr. 30, 1976) is his only one to go #1 in the U.S., and features War, and Roots, Rock, Reggae. The album Exodus (June 3, 1977) is voted most important album of the 20th cent. in 1999 by Time mag., and features the tracks Natural Mystic, Exodus, Jamming, and Waiting in Vain. Survival (Oct. 2, 1979) goes militant and proclaimed African solidarity, causing the govt. of South Africa to ban it; it features the tracks Africa Unite, Zimbabwe, and So Much Trouble in the World. Uprising (album) (last during his lifetime) (June 10, 1980) is devoted to his Rastafarian beliefs, and features the tracks Redemption Song ("Emancipate yourself from mental slavery/ None but ourselves can free our minds"), Zion Train, Could You Be Loved, and Forever Loving Jah. Marley dies on May 11, 1981 in Miami, Fla. from malignant melanoma in his right big toe and/or brain cancer - he loved them foot-long bongs. His posthumous album Confrontation (album) (May 23, 1983) features the hit track Buffalo Soldier. The May 8, 1984 posthumous compilation album Legend was the best-selling reggae album of all time, selling 25M copies worldwide.

The Ronettes

In 1963 the New York City Phil Spector girl group The Ronettes, fronted by Phil Spector's babe ("the Original Bad Girl of Rock & Roll") Ronnie Spector (Veronica Yvette Bennett) (1943-2022), along with her elder sister Estelle Bennett (1941-2009) and their cousin Nedra Talley (1946-) release their first hit single Be My Baby (#1 in the U.S.), followed by Baby, I Love You (1963) (#24), (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up (1964) (#48), and Walking in the Rain (1964) (#20). Too bad, Phil gets jealous of their popularity and begins backstabbing them to allow The Supremes to eclipse them, giving their song "Chapel of Love" to The Dixie Cups, then refusing to permit Ronnie to tour with the group as it accompanied the Beatles in a 14-city tour of the U.S. in Aug. 1966, substituting their cousin Elaine, causing them to break up in 1967, after which he finished her off by marrying her and keeping her barefoot and pregnant in their Calif. mansion until they divorces in 1972, by which time a comeback is a guaranteed non-starter.

Stevie Wonder (1950-)

In 1963 Saginaw, Mich.-born blind singer Stevie Wonder (Stevland Hardaway Judkins) (Morris) (1950-) releases his debut album Recorded Live: The 12-Year-Old Genius, which features Fingertips, and Fingertips - Part 2, the first live single to reach #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart. In 1965 he releases the hit single Uptight (Everything's Alright). On Nov. 16, 1966 after his voice changes he releases album #6 Down to Earth, which features the hit A Place in the Sun. Album #7 I is makes to Love Her (Aug. 27, 1967) features the hit I is makes to Love Her. Album #9 Eivets Rednow (Nov. 20, 1968) is an instrumental album releases under his name spelled backwards, and features The Alfie Theme (by Burt Bacharach and Hal David). Album #10 For Once in My Life (Dec. 10, 1968) features the hits For Once in My Life, and Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day. Album #11 My Cherie Amour (Aug. 29, 1969) features the hits My Cherie Amour, Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday, and Light My Fire (by the Doors).

The Fourmost

Also in 1963 the English (Liverpool) Merseybeat band The Fourmost (a clone of the Beatles with utterly silly and simplistic music?) incl. Brian O'Hara (1941-), Mike Millward (1942-66), Billy Hatton (1941-62), and Dave Lovelady (1942-) release their first hit Hello Little Girl (#9 in the U.K.), following with I'm in Love (1963) (#17 in the U.K.), A Little Loving (1964) (#6 in the U.K.), and Baby I Need Your Loving (1964) (#24 in the U.K.).

Freddie and the Dreamers

Also in 1963 the English (Manchester) band Freddie and the Dreamers, fronted by 5'3" lenseless horn-rimmed glasses-wearing Freddie Garrity (1936-2006) (who invented the Freddie, a silly dance where you throw your arms up while standing on one leg), and incl. Roy Crewdson (1941-) (vocals), Derek Quinn (1942-) (guitar), Pete Birrell (1941-) (bass), and Bernie Dwyer (1940-2002) (drums) releases If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (by James Ray) (#3 in the U.K.), followed by I'm Telling You Now (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and You are makes for Me (#3 in the U.K.). In 1964 they release I Understand (#5 in the U.K.). In 1965 they release Do the Freddie (#18 in the U.S.), creating a minor dance craze, causing Chubby Checker to kick in with Let's Do the Freddie.

The Rockin' Berries

Also in 1963 the English (Birmingham) rock band The Rockin' Berries, incl. Clive Lea (1942-) (vocals), Chuck Botfield (1943-) (guitar), Geoffrey "Geoff" Turton (1944-) (guitar), Roy Austin (1943-)/Bobby Thompson (1942-) (bass), and Terence "Terry" Bond (1943) (drums), a non-Liverpool group who look like the Beatles and sing like the Beach Boys release their debut single Wah Wah Woo, followed by Itty Bitty Pieces (1963) He's in Town (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) (1964) (#3 in the U.K.), What In the World's Come Over You (1964) (#23 in the U.K.), I Didn't Mean to Hurt You (1964) (#43 in the U.K.), Poor Man's Son (1965) (#5 in the U.K.), You're My Girl (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) (1965) (#40 in the U.S.), and The Water Is Over My Head (co-written by Al Kooper) (1965) (#43 in the U.S.). Too bad, no Southern Calif. beaches in rainy England.

The Searchers

Also in 1963 the English (Liverpool) Merseyside band The Searchers, founds in 1959 by Mike Pender (1942-) (guitar, vocals) and John McNally (1941-) (guitar, vocals), and incl. Anthony Paul "Tony" Jackson (1938-2003)/Frank Allen (1943-) (bass), and Chris Curtis (Crummy) (1941-2005) (drums), and named after the 1956 John Wayne Western "The Searchers" release their debut single Sweets for My Sweet (#1 in the U.K.), followed by Sugar and Spice (1963) (#2 in the U.K.), Needles and Pins (1964) (#13 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (2nd Liverpool group to have a top-20 U.S. hit), Don't Throw Your Love Away (1964) (#16 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), When You Walk in the Room (1964) (#35 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), Someday We're Gonna Love Again (1964) (#34 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.), Love Potion No. 9 (1964) (#3 in the U.S.), What Have They Done to the Rain (1964) (#29 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), Bumble Bee (1965), Goodbye Mr. Love (1965) (#52 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), He's gets No Love (1965) (#79 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), When I Get Home (1965) (#35 in the U.K.), and Take Me for What I'm Worth (1965) (#76 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.).

The Trashmen

Also in 1963 The Trashmen from Minneapolis, Minn., incl. Tony Andreason (vocals), Dal Winslow (guitar), Steve Wahrer (1941-89) (drums, vocals), Bob Reed (bass) release their 1-hit wonder Surfin' Bird (#4 in the U.S.) (composed by The Rivingtons), Bird Dance Beat (#30 in the U.S.).

U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy (1917-63) Singing Nun Soeur Sourire (Jeanine Deckers) (1933-85) Kyu Sakamoto (1941-85) The Beatles, 1964 'Introducing the Beatles', Jan. 10, 1964 'Meet the Beatles', Jan. 20, 1964 The Beatles at Washington, D.C. Coliseum, Feb. 11, 1964 The Beatles and Cassius Clay, Feb. 18, 1964 Clay-Liston Title Fight, Feb. 25, 1964

On Nov. 22, 1963 the year 1963 ended in a big bummer when U.S. pres. (since 1961) John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (1917-63) was assassinated as we watched on TV in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, becoming the watershed moment of the 20th century and a source of endless conspiracy theories reaching to the very top. During the mourning period Belgian closeted lesbian Dominican nun Soeur Sourir ("Sister Smile") (Sister Luc Gabriel) (Jeanine Deckers) (1933-85), from the Fichermont Convent near Waterloo, Belgium break the ice and cheered people up when she releases her debut album The Singing Nun, which features the tracks Tous les Chemins, and Dominique (#1 in the U.S.), written by Noel Regney (1922-2002), about the 13th cent. Roman Catholic anti-Cathar Crusade, named after his 2nd wife Dominique Gillain. "Dominique" is the second-ever foreign language Billboard #1 hit after Sukiyaki (original title "Ue o Muite Aruko" = "I Look Up When I Walk") (hit #1 in June) by Kyu ("nine") Sakamoto (Hisashi Oshima) (1941-85), composed by Hachidai Nakamura (1931-92), lyrics by Rokusuke Ei (1933-), about a man who looks up and whistles while walking so his tears won't fall; the next foreign language #1 is "Eres Tu" in 1973, ask the conspiracy theorists what they think. Almost the day the mourning period for JFK ended, the U.S. pop-rock music scene is all about them ever-smiling mop-topped English Beatles, who dominated the industry for the rest of the decade, starting on Jan. 3, 1964, when they makes their North American TV debut on the Jack Paar Show. On Jan. 10, 1964 Vee-Jay Records of Chicago releases Introducing... the Beatles, beating Capitol Records, which releases Meet the Beatles! on Jan. 20, after which the two companies goes to court, and Vee-Jay is allowed to continue distributing its album after replacing "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" with "Ask Me Why" and "Please Please Me" on Feb. 10, rising to #2 on the Billboard album charts after "Meet the Beatles!"; on Oct. 15 their license expired after selling 1.3M mono and 41K stereo copies; "I Saw Her Standing There" ended up on both rival albums. On Jan. 18, 1964 the Beatles debut on the U.S. Billboard Top 40 chart at #35 with "I Want to Hold Your Hand", rocketing to #1 on Jan. 25; on Mar. 21 "She Loves You" was #1 for 2 weeks; on Apr. 4 they held the top 5 positions ("Can't Buy Me Love", "Twist and Shout", "She Loves You", "Please Please Me"); Dolly Parton later utters the soundbyte "Like all young teenage girls back then, I fell in love with the Beatles. Back there in the Smoky Mountains, it is like something have been drops from outer space." On Feb. 6, 1964 Paris and London agreed to build a rail tunnel (Chunnel) under the English Channel; the same day the Wall Street Journal reports that a group at Wayne State U. have begun a movement to "stamp out the Beatles"; the group is actually from the U. of Detroit. On Feb. 6 the Wall Street Journal reports that a group at Wayne State U. has launched a movement to "stamp out the Beatles"; the group is actually from the U. of Detroit. On Feb. 7 KKK man Byron de La Beckwith gets off for the murder of Medgar Evers when the white jury in Jackson, Miss. becomes hung - they aren't the rest of the time? On Feb. 7 (Fri.) after Capitol Records exec Alan Wendell Livingston (1917-) (the same guy who created Bozo the Clown) signs them, the British Rock and Roll Invasion of the U.S. along with Beatlemania are kicked into high gear by The Beatles as they land at John F. Kennedy Airport on Pan Am Flight 101 (Boeing 707, #N704PA), and then on Feb. 9 (Sun.) (8:00 p.m.) ("the Night That changes America") mesmerize 73.7M viewers in 23M homes on The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS-TV, performing "All My Loving", "Till There is You" (from the musical "The Music Man"), "She Loves You", "I Saw Her Standing There", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; at 4:30 p.m. they tape "Twist and Shout", "Please Please Me", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (aired Feb. 23); other performers incl. the Oliver Kids (from the musical "Oliver!") (w/Davy Jones, later of the Monkees) (singing "I'll Do Anything"), Frank Gorshin (later the Riddler in Batman), Myron Cohen, Mitzi Gaynor, and Gordon and Sheila McRae; the Beatles are paid $3K for the 4:30 p.m. taping and $3.5K for the 8:00 live perf. in Studio 50 (728 seats, up to $50K per ticket); stage producer Vince Calandra (1935-) is asked to sub in rehearsals for George Harrison, who is in the Plaza Hotel with strep throat, where Harrison's sister Louise couldn't get past security into his hotel to help him; Beatles wigs are banned in the lobby, and the large mob scene causes the Beatles to almost be booted out; no major crime is reported in New York City between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., causing John Lennon to utter the soundbyte "Even the criminals stayed home", and Washington Post ed. B.F. Henry to utter the sarcastic soundbyte "During the hour they are on Ed Sullivan's show, there wasn't a hubcap stolen in America"; the Beatles begin filming "A Hard Day's Night" in Mar.; the U.S. TV networks present four young virtually dickless white men who look and sing like dykes (a cross between Alvin and the Chipmunks and Pee-Wee Herman?) and croon electronically-enhanced female masturbatory love songs in 4-part harmony as the new messiahs for the U.S. Baby Boomer "still living with parents" market, taking their minds off the JFK tragedy and giving Britain its payoff for their part in the conspiracy, naw?; Walter Cronkite, whose Dec. 10, 1963 interview launched their success in the U.S. greets them backstage and has his gaga-eyed daughters pose with them; more Beatles appearances on Ed Sullivan followed on Feb. 16 from the Deauville Hotel in Miami, Fla., Feb. 23, and May 24 (interview about their new movie "A Hard Day's Night). On Feb. 7, 1964 Baskin-Robbins introduced Beatle Nut ice cream. On Feb. 11, 1964 the Beatles makes their first live appearance in North Am. in the Washington, D.C. Coliseum; tickets ran $2-$4; the concert is shown on closed-circuit TV on Mar. 14-15; on Feb. 12 the Beatles played two shows at Carnegie Hall in New York City. On Feb. 15, 1964 the Meet the Beatles! album (releases Jan. 20) goes #1 in the U.S., and stayed there for 11 weeks. On Feb. 18, 1964 after Sonny Liston said that he didn't want to meet the "bums", the Beatles visits with Cassius Clay in Fla. while in training for his match with Liston; too bad, the cocky Beatles gets out-cocked by cock of the walk Clay, after which John Lennon utters the soundbyte, "That man makes a fool of us." On May 4, 1964 back in the U.K., the Beatles performs a vetty silly British Pyramus and Thisbe from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on BBC-TV, with Paul playing Pyramus, John playing Lady Thisbe, George playing Moonshine, and Ringo playing the Lion, that's it, they're establishment now. Meanwhile on June 1, 1964 (4 mo. after the Beatles) the still non-establishment Rolling Stones arrived in the U.S. for the first time to do TV and eight concerts (the first on June 2 in a high school stadium in Lynn, Mass.), and nobody cared? On Aug. 28, 1964 Bob Dylan and the Beatles met for the first time in New York City, and he introduced them to the joys of marijuana, with Paul being particularly thrilled, uttering the soundbyte "I'm thinking for the first time, really thinking" - did mother Mary come to him speaking words of wisdom? On Feb. 24, 1964 Newsweek pub. a Review of the Beatles, with the soundbyte: "Visually they are a nightmare, tight, dandified Edwardian-Beatnik suits and great pudding bowls of hair. Musically they are a near disaster, guitars and drums slamming out a merciless beat that does away with secondary rhythms, harmony and melody. Their lyrics (punctuated by nutty shouts of "yeah, yeah, yeah") are a catastrophe, a preposterous farrago of Valentine-card romantic sentiments... The big question in the music business at the moment is, will the Beatles last? The odds are that, in the words of another era, they're too hot not to cool down, and a cooled-down Beatle is hard to picture. It is also hard to imagine any other field in which they could apply their talents, and so the odds are that they will fade away, as most adults confidently predict. But the odds in show business have a way of being breakn, and the Beatles have more showmanship than any group in years; they might just think up a new field for themselves. After all, they have done it already."

'A Hard Days Night', July 6, 1964 Richard Lester (1932-)

Did I mention Richard Lester's A Hard Day's Night? It is released on July 6, 1964 in the U.K., and Aug. 11 in the U.S. The title was thought up by Ringo, and becomes the Beatles' first film and the first-ever music video, causing Philly-born film dir. Richard Lester (1932-) to become known as "Father of the Music Video"; the title song begins with a G7 plus a ninth minus a fourth. John replies "Turn left at Greenland" to the question "How do you find America?"; Ringo replies "I'm a mocker" to the question "Are you a mod or a rocker?"; G eorge replies "Arthur" to the question "What do you call that hairdo?"; "Steptoe and Son" star Wilfrid Brambell plays Paul McCartney's grandather, always being called "a very clean old man" in deference to the TV show, where his son Harold always calls him "you dirty old man".

S.E. Hinton (1950-)

The white masses in the U.S. are slow to respond to the British Invasion, since it involved a paradigm change and lifestyle decision of putting away their Brylcreem and switching from Elvis-style greaser to Beatles-style sosh, along with the faggot jokes, complete with gang wars, all this leaving the field to the black R&B guys. In 1967 16-y.-o. white American female novelist S.E. (Susan Elloise) Hinton (1950-) pub. her first novel The Outsiders, which becomes a junior-senior high school literary hit, revolutionizing young adult fiction with realistic portrayals. Narrated by Poboy Curtis, it's about the war between the Greasers (incl. Ponyboy Curtis, Soda, and Darry) and the wealthy privileged Socs (Soshes) in Tulsa, Okla. "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I have only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home..." (first and last sentence).

Otis Redding (1941-67)

On Jan. 1, 1964 Dawson, Ga.-born soul singer ("King of Soul") Otis Ray Redding Jr. (1941-67) releases his debut album Pain in My Heart (#103 in the U.S., #28 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Pain in My Heart (#61 in the U.S.). These Arms of Mine (#85 in the U.S.), That's What My Heart Needs, Security (#97 in the U.S.). Album #2 The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (album #2) (Mar.) (#75 in the U.S., #30 in the U.K.) features For Your Precious Love (by Jerry Butler). Album #3 Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Sept. 15, 1965) (#75 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) Ole Man Trouble, My Girl (by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White), I've Been Loving You Too Long, and Respect. Album #4 The Soul Album (Apr. 1) (#54 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.) features Cigarettes and Coffee. Album #5 Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (Oct. 15, 1967) features Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song), Try a Little Tenderness, and My Lover's Prayer. On Mar. 16 he and Carla Thomas (1942-) releases a duet album King and Queen, which features Tramp (#26 in the U.S.), Knock on Wood (#30 in the U.S.) (by Eddie Floyd), and Lovey Dovey (#60 in the U.S.). On July 10, 1967 he releases his first and last live album Live in Europe. On Dec. 10 he dies in a crash of his private plane in Madison, Wisc. three days after recording his #1 hit song (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay, which is released six weeks later on Jan. 8, 1968; "Nothing to live for, and looks like nothing's gonna come my way." The posth. album The Immortal Otis Redding (June 1968) features The Happy Song (Dum-Dum), I've gets Dreams to Remember, and Hard to Handle. The posthumous album Love Man (June 20, 1969) features Love Man, and Free Me.

'The Beatles Second Album', Apr. 10, 1964

On Jan. 10, 1964 the Beatles releases the album Introducing... The Beatles on Vee-Jay Records; it incl. "I Saw Her Standing There", "Love Me Do", "P.S. I Love You"/"Please Please Me", Misery, Anna (Go to Him) (by Arthur Alexander), Chains (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King), Boys (by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell), Baby It's You (by Mack David, Burt Bacharach (1928-) and Barney Williams), A Taste of Honey (by Ric Marlow and Bobby Scott), There's a Place, Twist and Shout (by Phil Medley and Bert Russell). On Jan. 20 they release the album Meet the Beatles! on Capitol Records; the album cover falsely claims it's the first U.S. Beatles album (I'll see you guys in court?); incl. I Want to Hold Your Hand, I Saw Her Standing There, This Boy, It Won't Be Long, All I've gets to Do, All My Loving, Don't Bother Me, Little Child, Till There is You, Hold Me Tight, I Wanna Be Your Man, Not a Second Time. On Apr. 10, 1964 they release the album The Beatles' Second Album, which knocked "Meets the Beatles!" off the #1 position, a first for a group?; incl. Roll Over Beethoven, Thank You Girl, You Really gets a Hold on Me, Devil in Her Heart, Money (That's What I Want), You Can't Do That, Long Tall Sally, I Call Your Name, Please Mr. Postman, I'll Get You, She Loves You;

Manfred Mann

On Jan. 10, 1964 the south England group Manfred Mann, composed of Manfred Mann (Manfred Sepse Lubowitz) (1940-) (from South Africa) (keyboards), Michael "Mike" Hugg (1942-) (drums), Michael "Mike" Vickers (1940-) (guitar/sax), Dave Richmond (bass), and Paul Jones (Pond) (1942-) (lead vocals) releases the single 5-4-3-2-1 (#5 in the U.K.), followed by Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble) on Apr. 10, the #1 U.K.-U.K. hit Do Wah Diddy Diddy on July 10, and Sha La La (#12 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) on Oct. 9, then If You Gotta Go, Go Now (#2 in the U.K.) on Sept. 10, 1965. In 1966 Paul Jones goes solo and release their single High Time, and in July 1966 was replaced by Michael David "Mike" d'Abo (1944-), cousin of English actress Maryam D'Abo (1960-). In 1966 Manfred Mann releases the singles Pretty Flamingo (Apr. 15) (#1 in the U.K.) (bass played by Jack Bruce of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers), You give Me Somebody to Love (July 1), Poison Ivy (July 1), Just Like a Woman (July 29), and Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James (Oct. 21). In 1967 they release Ha Ha Said the Clown (Mar. 23), Sweet Pea (May 5), and So Long, Dad (Aug. 25). In 1968 they release The Mighty Quinn (Jan. 12) (#1 in the U.K.) (by Bob Dylan, about an Eskimo), Theme from "Up the Junction" (Feb. 23), My Name is Jack (June 7), and Fox on the Run (Nov. 29) (#5 in the U.K.). On Apr. 18, 1969 they release their last single Ragamuffin Man.

Peter and Gordon

On Feb. 6, 1964 the Wall Street Journal reported that a group at Wayne State U. has launched a movement to "stamp out the Beatles"; the group is actually from the U. of Detroit. On Feb. 28, 1964 the English duo Peter and Gordon, consisting of Peter Asher (1944-) (short redhead with glasses), and Gordon Trueman Riviere Waller (1945-2009) (looks like John Lennon?) release their first single A World Without Love (Feb. 28) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), written by Paul McCartney, who thought it wasn't good enough for the Beatles. Since Peter's redheaded sister Jane Asher (1946-) was dating him, they gets to cover his songs (the ones written without John Lennon), some pub. under the alias Bernard Webb - the beginning of the Beatles breakup over McCartney's ego? In 1966 they release album #6 Woman, incl. the hits Woman (Jan. 10), and Lady Godiva (Sept. 9).

Frank Ifield (1937-)

On Feb. 26, 1964 the Beatles and Frank Ifield (1937-) releases the album Jolly What! England's Greatest Recording Stars: The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Vee-Jay Records; the liner says "It is with a good deal of pride and pleasure that this copulation has been presented"; less than 100 copies are produced, making it a hot collectors' item.

Johnny Rivers (1942-)

In Feb. 1964 New York City-born singer Johnny Rivers (John Henry Ramistella) (1942-) releases his debut album Johnny Rivers at the Whisky a Go Go (#12 in the U.S.), which features the Chuck Berry cover Memphis (#2 in the U.S.). Album #2 Here We a Go Go Again! (1964) (#38 in the U.S.) features the hits Maybelline (by Chuck Berry), and Midnight Special. Album #3 In Action! (1964) (#42 in the U.S.) features the hit Mountain of Love. Album #4 Meanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go (1965) (#21 in the U.S.) features Seventh Son (#7 in the U.S.). In 1966 he releases his million-selling hit Secret Agent Man (#3 in the U.S.). Not bad for carving out a niche in the Beatles era without having to grow long hair, just covering up your Italian descent.

The Animals

In Mar. 1964 while Beatlemania captured the masses, the alternative non-insectoid (more bluesy and dark) group The Animals from Newcastle upon Tyne, England release their debut track Baby Let Me Take You Home (#21 in the U.S.). Their lineup features Eric Victor "Eggs" Burdon (1941-) on vocals (likes to break eggs over naked girls, causing him to be rumored to be the Eggman in the Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus"), Alan Price (1942-) on keyboards, Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine (1943-) on guitar, Bryan James "Chas" Chandler (1938-96) on bass, and John Steel (1941-) on drums. Their name is a play on the Beatles, get it? More releases followed in 1964, incl. Around and Around, Blue Feeling, Gonna Send You Back to Walker, Talkin' 'Bout You, their breakthrough megahit House of the Rising Sun (June 19) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) (first British Invasion #1 not connected with the Beatles) (first folk rock hit?), Bring It On Home to Me, Boom Boom, I Believe to My Soul, and I'm Crying (Sept.) (#19 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.). In Jan. 1965 they release Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (#15 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), followed by We Gotta Get Out of This Place, and It's My Life, with Dave Rowberry (1940-2003) replacing Alan Price on keyboards. In Oct. 1966 they release Don't Bring Me Down. Too bad, their mgr. Michael Jeffrey ripped them off, and they changes their name to Eric Burdon and the New Animals and go psychedelic, with John Weider (violin/bass), Vic Briggs (piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass). On Apr. 8, 1967 they release When I is Young (#15 in the U.S.), followed by San Franciscan Nights (#9 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), and Monterey (Nov.) (#15 in the U.S.), about the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, with prophetic lyrics, such as "Young gods smiled upon the crowd/ Their music being born of love/ Children danced night and day/ Religion is being born/ Down in Monterey"; "The Byrds and the Airplane did fly/ Oh, Ravi Shankar's music makes me cry", "Her Majesty's Prince Jones smiled as he moves among the crowd/ Ten thousand electric guitars are groovin' real loud", "If you wanna find the truth in life/ Don't pass music by". In Jan. 1968 they release Sky Pilot (#14 in the U.S.) (British for a military chaplain). They break up in 1968, and in 1969 Eric Burdon joins the group War in Long Beach, Calif.

Dolly Parton (1946-) Dolly Parton Topless (1946-) 'Here You Come Again' by Dolly Parton (1946-) Pretty Miss Norma Jean (1938-)

On June 1, 1964 super-prolific singer-songwriter Dolly Rebecca Parton (1946-), having left the day after high school graduation spent her first day in Nashville in search of a record deal; the second day is spent on her back, and the third at the plastic surgeon's office? In 1966 she marries nobody Carl Dean, who enjoyed her big boobs and scrawny behind for the next 4+ decades while remaining out of sight in the background. In 1967 she have a country hit with Dumb Blonde, followed in 1968 by Just Because I'm a Woman, resulting in becoming a country star and replacing "Pretty Miss" Norma Jean Beasler (1938-) on The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967. Of course that wasn't enough for her, and she plotted to become a crossover star too. On Oct. 31, 1971 she releases her debut album Coat of Many Colors, which features the track Coat of Many Colors. In 1974 she releases the single Jolene. Her 1977 album Here You Come Again features Here You Come Again (#3 in the U.S.), composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, her first crossover hit, and Two Doors Down. She follow it with the album Heartbreaker (Aug. 12, 1978), which features Baby I'm Burnin', and I Really gets the Feeling. On Dec. 19, 1980 the Colin Higgins film 9 to 5 (Nine to Five) debut, starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda as secys. whose sexist boss Dabney Coleman let them humorously enact the women's libbers' dream of ganging up and 'getting' him; it features Dolly's hit song 9 to 5 (#1 in the U.S.), which she allegedly wrote on the sets by typing on her fingernails. In 1986 the Dollywood theme park owned by Parton opened in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. in the Smokies.

Jimmie Nicol (1939-)

On June 3, 1964 Ringo Star is hospitalized with tonsilitis, causing Beatles mgr. Brian Epstein to substitute British Shubdubs drummer James George "Jimmie" "Jimmy" Nicol (1939-) in their Australian tour, starting on June 4 in Copenhagen, Denmark, spending a night at a brothel with John Lennon with police escort; after he plays eight shows Ringo takes over again on June 14 in Melbourne, Australia, and as he boards the airplane Epstein presents him with £500 and an inscribed gold Eterna-matic wristwatch, after which his career tanks and he declares bankruptcy in 1965 then leaves the music biz in 1967, not wanting to talk about it.

'A Hard Days Night Album' by the Beatles, June 26, 1964 'A Hard Days Night' Film, July 6, 1964 'Something New' by the Beatles, July 20, 1964 'The Beatles Story', Nov. 23, 1964 'Beatles 65', Dec. 15, 1964

On June 26, 1964 the Beatles releases the single And I Love Her, which Paul McCarthy calls "the first ballad I impressed myself with"; John Lennon later calls it McCartney's "first Yesterday". On June 26 they release the album A Hard Day's Night, their first with all-original material; incl. A Hard Day's Night, Tell Me Why, I'll Cry Instead, I Should Have Known Better, I'm Happy Just to Dance with You, And I Love Her, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell (in Love with You), And I Love Her, Ringo's Theme (This Boy), Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Day's Night (instrumental). On July 20 they release the album Something New; it incl. I'll Cry Instead, Things We Said Today, Any Time at All, When I Get Home, Slow Down, Matchbox, Tell Me Why, And I Love Her, I'm Happy Just to Dance with You, If I Fell, Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand. On Sept. 13 William Fu, er, F. Buckley writes an Review of the Beatles for the Boston Globe, with the soundbyte: "An estimable critic writing for National Review, after seeing Presley writhe his way through one of Ed Sullivan's shows... suggested that future entertainers would have to wrestle with live octopuses in order to entertain a mass American audience. The Beatles don't in fact do this, but how one wishes they did! And how this one wishes the octopus would win... The Beatles are not merely awful; I would consider it sacrilegious to say anything less than that they are god awful. They are so unbelievably horribly, so appallingly unmusical, so dogmatically insensitive to the magic of the art that they qualify as crowned heads of anti-music, even as the imposter popes goes down in history as 'anti-popes'." On Nov. 23 they release the double album The Beatles' Story. On Dec. 15 they release the album Beatles '65, which incl. No Reply, I'm a Loser, Baby's in Black, Rock and Roll Music, I'll Follow the Sun, Mr. Moonlight, Honey Don't, I'll Be Back, She's a Woman, I Feel Fine (features the first guitar feedback), Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby.

The Downliners Sect

In June 1964 the English (Twickenham, London) white R&B band The Downliners Sect, (an English version of Sam the Sam and the Pharaohs), incl. Don Craine (1945-), Keith Grant (1946-), Terry Gibson (1947-), Ray Sone, and Johnny Sutton (1945-) (drums) release their debut single Baby, What's Wrong, follow in Sept. by Little Egypt, and in Nov. by Find Out What's Happening. Their 1964 debut album is The Sect. In early 1965 they release the single Wreck of the Old '97, followed in June by I gets Mine, and in Oct. by Bad Storm Coming. In Jan. 1966 they release the single All Night Worker, followed in June by Glendora, followed in Sept. by The Cost of Living (Sept.).

The Zombies

On July 24, 1964 the English rock band The Zombies, formed in 1961 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire England, incl. Rodney Terence "Rod" Argent (1945-), Paul Ashley Warren Atkinson (1946-2004), Colin Edward Michael Bluntstone (1945-), Christopher Taylor "Chris" White (1943-) (bass), and Hugh Grundy release their first hit single She's Not There (#2 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.). In 1965 they release the hit single Tell Her No (#6 in the U.S.). On Apr. 19, 1968 they release the album Odessey and Oracle ("odyssey" wass misspeled, er, is misspelled by cover designers), which features the tracks Time of the Season (#3 in the U.S.), Care of Cell 44, and This Will Be Our Year. They disbands before the album is released, and it flopped, although it is now considered one of the top 100 rock albums of all time.

The Kinks

On Aug. 4, 1964 the English (London) rock band The Kinks, consisting of Dave Davies (1947-), Ray Davies (1944-), Pete Quaife (1943-) (bass), and Michael Charles "Mick" Avory (1944-) (drums) release their first hit single You Really Got Me (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which is features on their debut album Kinks (Oct. 2, 1964). After releasing their 2nd hit single All Day and All of the Night (Oct. 23, 1964) (#7 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and covering Louie Louie, album #2 Kinda Kinks (Mar. 5, 1965), features Tired of Waiting for You (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), and Dancing in the Street. They then releases the singles + Everybody's Gonna Be Happy (Mar. 19, 1965) (#17 in the U.K.), Set Me Free (May 21, 1965) (#23 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), See My Friends (July 30, 1965) (#10 in the U.K.), and A Well Respected Man, containing er, social commentary. Album #3 The Kink Kontroversy Nov. 26, 1965) features Till the End of the Day, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, and Where Have All the Good Times Gone. Album #4 Face to Face (Oct. 28, 1966) features Sunny Afternoon (#1 in the U.K.), and Dandy. Album #5 Something Else by the Kinks (Sept. 15, 1967) features Death of a Clown, Autumn Almanac, and Waterloo Sunset; mentions "Terry and Julie", Terence Stamp and Julie Christie, famous couple in Mod London; he later hooks up with Jean Shrimpton, then moves to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's ashram in Pune, India for several years. Album #6 The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (Nov. 22, 1968), last with Pete Quaife features The Village Green Preservation Society, Wicked Annabella, and Susannah's Still Alive. Album #7 Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (Oct. 10, 1969) is big with the critics, and features the tracks Victoria, Shangri-La, and Mr. Churchill Says. Album #8 Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (Nov. 27, 1970) (#35 in the U.S.) features Lola (#9 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and Apeman (#5 in the U.K.). They disbands in 1996 after 23 studio albums.

'Shindig!', 1964-6

On Sept. 16, 1964 prime-time London-based Shindig! debut on ABC-TV (until Jan. 8, 1966), showcasing top musical acts, hosted by Los Angeles disc jockey Jimmy O'Neill; the first episode features the Beatles. On Jan. 12, 1965 NBC-TV countered with Hullabaloo! (until Aug. 29, 1966), which features a different host each week, and records from both England and Calif.; it is later replaced by "The Monkees".

Lenny Bruce (1925-66)

On Nov. 4, 1964 angry Jewish-Am. comedian Lenny Bruce (1925-66), who is arrested twice in Apr. at the new (since Feb.) Cafe au Go Go in Greenwich Village, N.Y. in the basement of 152 Bleecker St. is convicted of obscenity after a 3-judge panel doesn't buy his defense of calling noted artists to testify that they are full of sh, er, it's his right; on Dec. 22 he is sentenced to 4 mo. in priz, and forever has the threat of rearrest over his head while he appeals, dying before it can be decided; club owner Howard Solomon (1929-2004) is also convicted, and gets his conviction overturned in 1968, and upheld in 1970 by the N.Y. Court of Appeals; in 2003 gov. George Pataki grants Bruce a posth. pardon, the first in N.Y. history; in Oct. 1969 Cafe au Go Go closes after hosting folk and rock acts incl. Big Joe Williams, Tim Buckley, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Judy Collins, Odetta, Cream, The Grateful Dead, The Stone Poneys, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, The Chambers Brothers, Canned Heat, The Fugs, Country Joe and the Fish, The Yardbirds et al.

Petula Clark (1932-)

On Nov. 6, 1964 Epsom, Surrey-born English singer Petula Sally Olwen Clark (1932-) releases the #1 U.S. and internat. hit Downtown, followed by I Know A Place (Mar. 1965) (#3 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.), My Love (Is Warmer Than the Sunshine) (Dec. 1965) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.S.), A Sign Of the Times (1966) (#11 in the U.S., #49 in the U.K.), I Couldn't Live Without Your Love (1966) (#9 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Who Am I (1966) (#21 in the U.S., #52 in the U.K.), Colour My World (#16 in the U.S., #52 in the U.K.), This Is My Song (Feb. 1967) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), and Don't Sleep in the Subway (Apr. 1967) (#5 in the U.S.). She goes on to sell 68M records.

Sam Cooke (1931-64) Lou Adler (1933-) Dunhill Records

On Dec. 11, 1964 black Clarksdale, Miss.-born Chicago soul singer Samuel Dale "Sam" Cooke (1931-64, known for 29 top-40 hits since 1957 incl. You Send Me (1957) (#1), Chain Gang (1960) (#2), Wonderful World (1960) (#12), Cupid (1961) (#17), Twistin' the Night Away (1962) (#9), Bring It On Home to Me (1962) (#13), and Another Saturday Night (1963) (#10) was kills in South Los Angeles, Calif. by Bertha Franklin, mgr. of the $3 per night no-tell Hacienda Motel while wearing a sport coat over his nude body after a young woman named Evelyn Carr ran from his room with his clothes and money and he goes to her office demanding to know her whereabouts; she later claimed to have been kidnapped from a nightclub and brought there, but later is arrested for prostitution - the reverse O.J. case? He left the posthumous hit single A Change is Gonna Come (1964) (#31 in the U.S.), which Rosa Parks listened to after the assassination of MLK Jr. Also in 1964 Lou Adler (1933-), husband (1964-80) of Shelley Fabares co-founds Dunhill Records, with clients incl. Jan & Dean, Sam Cooke, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Rivers, Barry McGuire, and The Grass Roots. In 1967 it sells out to ABC Records for $3M, and Adler goes on to produce the 1967 Monterey Internat. Pop Festival, later becoming known for sitting alongside Jack Nicholson at L.A. Lakers NBA games.

Herman's Hermits

In late 1964 Herman's Hermits, from Manchester, England, incl. Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone (1947-) (lead vocals), Keith Hopwood (1946-) (guitar, vocals), Alan Wrigley (bass, vocals), Steve Titterington (drums), Derek "Lek" Leckenby (1943-94) (guitar, vocals), and Jan Barry "Bean" Whitwam (1946-) (drums), had their first hit with I'm Into Something Good (#13 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Their Feb. 1965 debut album Introducing Herman's Hermits produced by Mickie Most features the tracks Mrs. Brown You've gets a Lovely Daughter (#1 in the U.S.), I'm Henry VIII, I Am, and Wonderful World (#4 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) ("Don't know much about history/ Don't know much about biology/ Don't know much about the French I took./ But I do know that I love you/ And I know that if you loved me too/ What a wonderful world this would be.") In Feb. 1967 they release the hit track There's A Kind of Hush (#4 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.).

The Applejacks

In 1964 the English (West Midlands) Beatles clone group The Applejacks, incl. Al Jackson, Martin Baggott, Phil Cash, Don Gould (keyboards), Megan Davies (bass), and Gerry Freeman (drums) release their first hit single Tell Me When (written by Geoff Stephens and Les Reed) (#7 in the U.K.), followed by Like Dreamers Do (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) (#20 in the U.K.), followed by Three Little Words (I Love You) (#23 in the U.K.), their last hit. Later in the year members Megan Davies and Gerry Freeman gets marries in the British rock & roll romance of the year.

Chave and Jeremy

In 1964 English string-backed folk singing duo Chad and Jeremy, consisting of horn-rimmed glasses-wearing Chad Stuart (David Stuart Chadwick) (1941-) and Jeremy Clyde (Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde) (1941-) release their debut single Yesterday's Gone, followed by A Summer Song (1964) (#7 in the U.S.), Willow Weep for Me (1965), and Before and After (1965). In the U.S. they begin appearing on TV shows incl. "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Patty Duke Show", "Batman", even "The Dating Game (Clyde appear as a bachelor contestant and won the date).

Wayne Fontana (1945-)

In 1964 Manchester, England-based Wayne Fontana (Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) (1945-) and The Mindbenders score their first hit with Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (#5 in the U.K.), followed by Game of Love (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). In 1966 Fontana scores the solo hit Pamela Pamela (#11 in the U.K.).

Lulu (1948-) 'To Sir, With Love', 1967 E.R. Braithwaite (1920-)

In 1964 Scottish singer Lulu (Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie) (1948-) releases her debut single Shout (by the Isley Brothers) (#7 in the U.K.), followed in 1967 with To Sir, With Love (#1 in the U.S.), the theme song from James Clavell's To Sir, With Love (June 14, 1967), based on the 1959 autobio. novel by Guyanese writer E. R. Braithwaite, starring Sidney Poitier as black schoolteacher Mark Thackeray, who has an advanced degree but can't get a job in his field because of discrimination and ends up teaching white English students Barbara "Bags" Pegg (Lulu), Grace Evans (Faith Brook), Theo Weston (Geoffrey Bayldon) et al. In 1974 she sung the The Man With the Golden Gun Theme.

Georgie Fame (1943-)

In 1964 English R&B group Georgie Fame (1943-) and the Blue Flames release their debut album Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo, which features the tracks Green Onions, and Bend a Little. Album #2 Fame At Last (Oct. 1964) (#15 in the U.K.) is their first to chart. Album #3 Yeh Yeh (1965) features Yeh Yeh (#1 in the U.K.), and Like We uses to Be. Album #4 Sweet Things (1966) features Get Away (#1 in the U.K.), Sunny (#13 in the U.K.), and Sitting in the Park (#12 in the U.K.). On Dec. 26, 1966 the Fame in '67 Show opened for three weeks at London's Saville Theatre, featuring them along with Cat Stevens, who have just releases his first hit song "I Love My Dog". They become the only U.K. act to be invited to perform with the first Motown Review in the U.K., which incl. The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Album #5 The Two Faces of Fame (1967) features Because I Love You, and Try My World. ' Album #6 The Third Face of Fame (1968) features the movie theme The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Album #7 Seventh Son (1969) features Seventh Son.

Crispian St. Peters (1939-2010) We Five

In 1964 English (Swanley, Kent) singer Crispian St. Peters (1939-2010) releases You are On My Mind (#2 in the U.K.) (written in 1964 by Sylvia Tyson), followed in summer 1996 by The Pied Piper (#4 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.). In 1965 the San Francisco, Calif. group We Five, consisting of Beverly Bivens, Michael Stewart, Jerry Burgan, Peter Fullerton, and Bob Jones release their cover of You are On My Mind, which goes #3 in the U.S.

The Barron Knights

Also in 1964 the English (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire) humorous pop-rock group The Barron Knights, original name Knights of the Round Table, known for parodying top pop groups incl. the Dave Clark Five, Beatles, and Rolling Stones, incl. Duke D'Mond (1943-) (vocals), Barron Anthony (Anthony John Osmond) (1934-) (vocals), Leslie John "Butch" Baker (1941-), Peter Langford (1943-) (bass), Dave Alan Ballinger (1939-) (drums) release their first hit single Call Up the Groups (#3 in the U.K.), followed by Pop Go the Workers (1965) (#5 in the U.K.), and Merry Gentle Pops (1965) (#9 in the U.K.). In 1978 they release their biggest hit A Taste of Aggro (1M copies).

The Pretty Things

In 1964 the English (London) rock band ("the uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones") The Pretty Things, (who started out wearing black suits and ties and shades - the model for the Blues Brothers?), named after the 1955 Bo Diddley song "Pretty Thing", incl. former Rolling Stones member Richard Clifford "Dick" Taylor (1943-), Phil May (Phillip Arthur Dennis Wadey) (1944-), Brian Pendleton (1944-2001), John Stax (John Edward Lee Fullegar) (1944-) (bass), and Vivian St. John "Viv" Prince (1941-) (drums) release their debut single Rosalyn (#41 in the U.K.), follow the same year by Don't Bring Me Down (by Johnny Dee) (#10 in the U.K.), and Honey I Need (#13 in the U.K.). Their Mar. 1965 debut album The Pretty Things features the tracks Pretty Thing (by Willie Dixon), Road Runner, She's Fine, She's Mine, and Rosalyn. Album #2 Get the Picture (Dec. 1965) features Buzz the Jerk, and Get the Picture. In 1966 they release the singles Midnight to Six Man, Come See Me, A House in the Country, and Progress (Dec.). Album #3 Emotions (Apr. 18, 1967) features Growing In My Mind. Album #4 S.F. Sorrow (Dec., 1968), one of the first rock concept slash rock opera albums, about Sebastian F. Sorrow features S.F. Sorrow Is Born, Bracelets of Fingers, Balloon Burning, and Baron Saturday. Album #5 Parachute (June 1970) features She is Tall, She is High, In the Square, and Sickle Clowns. Album #6 Freeway Madness (Dec. 1972) features Rip Off Train, and Love is Good. Album #7 Silk Torpedo (1974) features Singapore Silk Torpedo, and Atlanta.

Phil Ochs (1940-76)

Back to protest singer Philip David "Phil" Ochs (1940-76) (pronounced like Oaks). In 1964 he releases his debut album All the News That's Fit to Sing, which causes him to become known as the "singing journalist", which coincidentally jives with the fact that the New York Times is founded by no-relation Adolph Ochs; it incl. Power and the Glory, The Bells (words by Edgar Allan Poe). Album #2 I Ain't Marching Anymore (1965) features I Ain't Marching Anymore ("It's always the old who lead us to the war/ It's always the young who fall/ But look at all we've won with a saber and a gun/ Tell me is it worth it all?/ I ain't marching any more, no I ain't marching anymore"), Draft Dodger Rag ("Oh I'm just a typical American boy from a typical American town/ I believe in God and Senator Dodd and akeepin' old Castro down,/ And when it came my time to serve I knew, better red than dead,/ But when I gets to my old draft board, buddy, this is what I said,/ Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I gets a ruptured spleen,/ And I always carry a purse/ I gets eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting worse"), That is the President (tribute to JFK) ("The bullets of the false revenge have struck us once again/ As the angry seas have struck upon the sand,/ And it seemed as though a friendless world have lost itself a friend/ That is the president and that is the man"), Talking Birmingham Jam ("You see, Alabama is a sovereign state/ With sovereign dogs and sovereign hate/ They stand for the Bible, for the Constitution/ They stand against the Communist revolution/ They say, It's pinkos like you that freed the slaves"), Links on the Chain ("Come you ranks of labor, come you union core/ And see if you remember the struggles of before,/ When you are standing helpless on the outside of the door/ And you started building links on the chain/ On the chain, you started building links on the chain"). Album #3 Phil Ochs in Concert (1966) features There But For Fortune, Bracero, Canons of Christianity, Cops of the World, Ringing of Revolution, and I'm Gonna Say It Now. Album #4 Pleasures of the Harbor (Oct. 31, 1967) features Pleasures of the Harbor (based on the 1940 John Wayne flick "The Long Voyage Home"), Outside of a Small Circle of Friends (the Kitty Genovese murder) (gets banned from radio for suggesting that smoking marijuana is more fun than drinking beer), The Party, The Crucifixion (his masterpiece?) (compares JFK to Christ, bringing RK to tears in an 1968 performance). Album #5 Tape from California (July 1968) features Tape from California, The War Is Over (if people just declare it's over, it will be?), The Harder They Fall, White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land, When In Rome (13 min. on depression). Album #6 Rehearsals for Retirement (May 16, 1969) has a cover showing Ochs' tombstone, with the words "Died: Chicago, Illinois, 1968", and features the tracks Pretty Smart On My Part (about a right-winger who plans to assassinate the U.S. pres., causing a special note to be put in his lengthy FBI file), William Butler Years Visits Lincoln Park and Escapes Unscathed (the 1968 Dem. Convention), The World begins in Eden and Ended in Los Angeles, and Doesn't Lenny Live Here Anymore. Too bad, on Mar. 27, 1970 Ochs held a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, shocking fans by deciding that the Yippies and other leftist protesters were going in the wrong direction, and showing up in a gold lame Elvis Presley lookalike Nudie Cohn suit and singing covers of songs by Presley, Conway Twitty, Buddy Holly, and Merle Haggard; after a telephone bomb threat cut it short, he told pissed-off fans he will get them into a 2nd show for free, and breaks the glass to the box office, cutting his hand, then breaks into the lockbox, getting him banned for life after the 2nd show; after telling fans that Buddy Holly songs are "just as much Phil Ochs as anything else" and getting booed, he told them to "not be like Spiro Agnew... You can be a bigot from all sides. You can be a bigot against blacks. You can be a bigot against music." His last album (#7) Gunfight at Carnegie Hall (1975) is his famous gold-suited Mar. 27, 1970 Carnegie Hall concert. On Apr. 9, 1976 he committed suicide by hanging in Far Rockaway, N.Y. after changing his name to John Butler Train and telling people that he has murdered Ochs.

The Righteous Brothers

In 1964 The Righteous Brothers, consisting of Robert Lee "Bobby" Hatfield (1940-2003) and William Thomas "Bill" Medley (1940-) release their #1 U.S.-U.K. hit You've gets That Lovin' Feeling (song with the most airplay in the 20th cent.), followed in 1965 by their #4 U.S. hit Unchained Melody, and in 1966 by their #1 U.S. hit (You're My) Soul and Inspiration. In Jan. 1969 Ike and Tina Turner release their big hit Proud Mary (#2 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.).

Buffy Sainte-Marie (1941-)

Speaking of protest singers. In 1964 Canadian Cree activist folk singer Beverly "Buffy" Sainte-Marie (1941-) releases her debut album It's My Way!, which features Now That the Buffalo's Gone (mistreatment of Native Ams.), Codeine, and Universal Soldier, proclaiming her as the Vietnam era's Pocahontas with a guitar; too bad, she sells it for $1 to a man at the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village, N.Y., then buys it back 10 years later for $25K. In 1968 she releases the album I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again, which features I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again, and Take My Hand for Awhile. In 1970 she releases the hit single The Circle Game from the 1970 film The Strawberry Statement, dir. by Stuart Hagmann.

Terry Stafford (1941-96)

In 1964 Hollis, Okla.-born Elvis soundalike singer-songwriter Terry LaVerne Stafford (1941-96) fom Amarillo, Tex. releases his debut album Suspicion!, which features his 1-hit wonder Suspicion (#3 in the U.S.) (#31 in the U.K.) (1M copies); it features a synthesizer worked by Bob Summers, brother-in-law of Les Paul; on Apr. 4, 1964 the Beatles hold the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100, and this song is #6; a week later it peaks at #3, with the Beatles holding 3 of the top 5 spots. He follows with Amarillo by Morning (1973) (#31 country).

On Jan. 15, 1965 the The Rolling Stones releases album #3 The Rolling Stones No. 2, which features Susie Q, and Time is On My Side. Album #4 The Rolling Stones, Now! (Feb. 12) features Little Red Rooster, and Mona (I Need You Baby); Bye Bye Johnnie; Money; You Better Move On; Poison Ivy; I Wanna Be Your Man; Tell Me (You're Coming Back); The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man (June) (dedicated to George Sherlock). Album #5 Out of Our Heads (Sept. 24) (first #1 U.S. album) features (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (June) (first U.S. #1 hit), Heart of Stone, and I'm Free; The Last Time; Play with Fire.

The Yardbirds

In Feb. 1965 the English (London) group The Yardbirds, consisting of future superstar guitarists Eric Patrick Clapton (1945-), Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (1944-), and James Patrick "Jimmy" Page (1944-), along with Paul Samwell-Smith (1943-) (bass), Keith William Relf (1943-76) (harmonica), Chris Dreja (1945-) (guitar), and James Stanley "Jim" McCarty (1943-) release their first hit single For Your Love (#6 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), followed by Heart Full of Soul (June 1965), Shapes of Things (Mar. 1966) (#11 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), and Over Under Sideways Down (May 1966) (#13 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.). They break up in 1968, and lead guitarist Jimmy Page forms Led Zeppelin.

The Mamas and the Papas

In Mar. 1965 the New York City-based folk rock vocal group The Mamas and the Papas, one of the first unisex bands, named after the women of the Hell's Angels, originally The Magic Circle, from New York City, incl. "Papa" John Edmund Andrew Phillips (1935-2001) and Michelle Phillips (nee Gilliam) (1944-) (both of The New Journeymen),and Dennis Gerrard Stephen "Denny" Doherty (1940-2007) and "Mama" Cass Elliot (Ellen Naomi Cohen) (1941-74) (both of The Mugwumps) release their debut single Go Where You Wanna Go, which fails to chart; in Dec. they release their first hit California Dreamin' (#4 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.). In Mar. 1966 they release their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (only #1 album in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.); the cover features a toilet, which is considered obscene, causing a scroll reading "California Dreamin'" to be inserted over it; way better in the vocals dept. than the Beatles?; incl. California Dreamin' (#4 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.), Monday, Monday, I Call Your Name. Album #2 The Mamas and the Papas (Sept. 1966) (#4 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features And I Saw Her Again, Words of Love, Dancing in the Street, and Dancing Bear. Album #3 The Mamas and the Papas Deliver (Feb. 1967) (#2 in the U.S.), referring to unmarries Mama Cass' baby Owen features Dedicated to the One I Love (by Ralph Bass and Lowman Pauling) (#2 in the U.S.), Creeque Alley (#5 in the U.S.), Look Through My Window (#24 in the U.S.), My Girl (by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White), Sing for Your Supper, Twist and Shout; Glad to Be Unhappy. Album #4 (last) The Papas & the Mamas (May 1968) (#15 in the U.S.) features Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon), Safe in My Garden, Dream a Little Dream of Me, For the Love of Ivy, and Gemini Childe. They break up after a trip to London where John Phillips insults Cass Elliott in front of Mick Jagger and she quits; they first return to finish the album, and appear on the Ed Sullivan Show in summer 1968, after which they officially split in July 1968 after releasing five studio albums and 17 singles incl. six top-10 singles, selling a total of 40M records worldwide; John and Michelle divorce in 1970, after which she marries Dennis Hopper on Oct. 31-Nov. 8, 1970 (8 days).

The Beau Brummels

In Apr. 1965 The Beau Brummels, from San Francisco, Calif., incl. Sal Valentino (1942-) (vocals), Ron Elliott (1943-) (guitar), Ron Meagher (1946-) (bass), John Declan Mulligan (1938-) (guitar), and John Petersen (1942-2007) (drums) release their debut album Introducing the Beau Brummels (#24 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Laugh Laugh (#15 in the U.S.), (Cry) Just a Little (#8 in the U.S.), and Oh Lonesome Me (by Don Gibson). They are the first U.S. band that sounded like the Beatles, pioneering the San Francisco Sound. Album #2 The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 (Aug. 1965) features You Tell Me Why (#38 in the U.S.), and Don't Talk to Strangers (#52 in the U.S.). Album #4 Triangle (July 1967) (#197 in the U.S.) features Magic Hollow, and Only Dreamin' Now. Album #5 Bradley's Barn (Oct. 1968) is named after a recording studio in Nashville uses by Buddy Holly in 1956, and pioneers country rock, featuring the tracks Long Walking Down to Misery, and Cherokee Girl.

On May 4, 1965 Sonny and Cher, release their first #1 U.S. hit I gets You Babe, followed by Baby Don't Go.

The Byrds

On June 21, 1965 The Byrds, from Los Angeles, Calif., incl. James Roger "Jim" McGuinn (1942-) (12-string Rickenbacker guitar), Gene Clark (1944-91), David Crosby (1941-), Chris Hillman (1944-), and Michael Clarke (Michael James Dick) (1946-93) (drums), pioneers along with Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles of the Laurel Canyon Sound release their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man (#6 in the U.S.) (#7 in the U.K.), incl. Mr. Tambourine Man (by Bob Dylan) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), and I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better; album #2 Turn! Turn! Turn! (Dec. 6, 1965) (#17 in the U.S.) (#11 in the U.K.) incl. Turn! Turn! Turn! (by Pete Seeger) (#1 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.), and He is a Friend of Mine; album #3 Fifth Dimension (July 18, 1966) (#24 in the U.S.) (#27 in the U.K.) incl. 5D (Fifth Dimension), Eight Miles High (based on "India" by John Coltrane), and Mr. Spaceman.

Paul Revere and The Raiders

On June 27, 1965 ABC-TV debut Where the Action Is, a Dick Clark bandstand show on a Calif. beach featuring "house band" Paul Revere and The Raiders, who releases Louie Louie in 1963 and portrayed themselves as the Yankee answer to the redcoat British invasion, fronted by former bakery employee Mark Lindsay (1942-), who sell hamburger buns to restaurant owner Paul Revere Dick (1938-2014) in Caldwell, Idaho, the rest is history. In 1966 they release their first hit single Hungry (#6 in the U.S.), followed by Kicks (1966) (#4 in the U.S.), Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be? (1967), and Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) (1971) (#1 in the U.S.).

'Help', 1965 Ken Thorne (1924-2014) Ed Sullivan and the Beatles, 1965 'The Beatles' cartoon series, 1965-9 Paul Frees (1920-86) The Dave Clark Five Sir George Henry Martin (1926-)

On July 10, 1965 the Rolling Stones single Satisfaction (releases June 6) (a song about commercialism, based on a cool guitar riff created by Keith Richards in his sleep) goes #1 on the U.S. pop charts for four weeks, shocking the older generation with the casual sexual connotations in its lyrics, incl. "can't get no girl reaction" and "I'm trying to makes some girl, who tells me baby better come back later next week 'cause you see I'm on a losing streak" (her period), becoming the perfect theme song of the year leading into the big 1966; Richards uses the new Gibson Maestro Fuzz Box. On July 29, 1965 Elizabeth II attended the debut of Richard Lester's Help! (original title "Eight Arms to Hold You"), the Beatles' 2nd film, about an Arab cult chasing the Fab Four in order to acquire Ringo's ruby ring; the Beatles ride skibobs to the song "Ticket to Ride"; the closing credits thank the inventor of the sewing machine; the film score was composed by the Beatles along with English film composer Kenneth "Ken" Thorne (1924-2014); debuts in New York City on Aug. 11. On Aug. 6, 1965 the Beatles album Help is released, featuring the title song Help! and Ticket to Ride. On Aug. 15, 1965 the Beatles on their 2nd U.S. tour performs at New York's Shea Stadium before 55K, then appear on Sept. 12 on the Ed Sullivan Show. On Sept. 25, 1965 the animated series The Beatles debut on ABC-TV for 39 episodes (until Sept. 7, 1969), with each episode named after a Beatles song, the story based on the lyrics, and the tune played sometime during the episode; the voices of John and George are provided by Paul Frees (1920-86). On Oct. 9, 1965 Yesterday went #1 in the U.S. for four weeks. On Oct. 17, 1965 a time capsule, a twin to the one buried during the 1939 New York World's Fair is buried 10 ft. away at the close of the 1964 World's Fair; this one incl. a bikini and a Beatles record - which has more hair on it? On Oct. 26, 1965 after being nominated by former Merseyside MP Harold Wilson, Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Beatles the Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Buckingham Palace; only Paul is pleased; John utters the soundbyte "I thought you have to drive tanks and win wars to get the MBE." They give an interview about it on June 12 after the initial announcement - just bring in big tax bucks? On Dec. 3, 1965 the Beatles begins their final U.K. concert tour in Glasgow. On Dec. 25, 1965 (Christmas) after knocking "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the British charts with Glad All Over (causing them to become the 2nd British Invasion group after the Beatles to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show), The Dave Clark Five (AKA DC5) single Over and Over (written by Bobby Day) goes #1 in the U.S., passing the Beatles, becoming their only #1 hit, with fan mags. touting them as the U.S. answer to the Beatles even as they tanked and disbands in late 1970. Meanwhile in 1965 after leaving EMI, Beatles producer ("the Fifth Beatle") George Henry Martin (1926-) opened the Associated Independent Recording Co. in London, going on to sets up a recording studio on the Ireland-like Caribbean island of Montserrat in the 1970s, becoming a vacation-work spot for Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Duran Duran, The Police, Supertramp et al.

Spencer Davis Group

In July 1965 the English (Birmingham) beat group The Spencer Davis Group, forms by Welsh musician Spencer David Nelson Davis (1936-), along with Steve Winwood (1948-) (vocals, guitar) and Muff Winwood (1943-) (bass) release their debut album First Album. Album #2 Second Album (Jan. 1966) features the track Keep On Running, which is played on black U.S. radio stations only until they aws their photo, causing them to drop it, although it becomes a hit in Britain. Album #3 Gimme Some Lovin' (1966) features Gimme Some Lovin', Let Me Down Easy, Somebody Help Me; and When I Come Home. Album #5 I'm a Man (July 1967) features I'm a Man, Time Seller, Don't Want You No More, and Mr. Second-Class, after which Steve Winwood left to form Traffic, and Muff Winwood goes to Island Records.

The Lovin' Spoonful

In Aug. 1965 The Lovin' Spoonful, fronted by John Benson Sebastian Jr. (1944-), godson of "I Love Lucy" actress Vivian Vance, score with Do You Believe in Magic (#9 in the U.S.), followed in 1966 by Summer in the City (#1 in the U.S.), and Daydream (#2 in the U.S. and U.K.).

Simon and Garfunkel

On Sept. 13, 1965 American pop rock folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, incl. Paul Frederic Simon (1941-) and Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel (1941-) (formed in 1957 as Tom & Jerry) release their #1 U.S. hit The Sound of Silence, which is featured in their album #2 Sounds of Silence (Jan. 17, 1966), and in the 1967 film The Graduate. It is first released as a folksy acoustic version in their debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (Oct. 19, 1964), which flopped after the Beatles drowned them out, but which is hopped-up by their producer without their knowledge and releases as a single, making them into reluctant stars, I is going to go through my whole life being fat before I lost the weight. The album also incl. the hits I Am a Rock, Richard Cory, and Kathy's Song. Album #3 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (Oct. 10, 1966) (#4 in the U.S.) includes the hit tracks Scarborough Fair/Canticle, 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night, The Dangling Conversation, A Poem on the Underground Wall, and Homeward Bound. The Graduate Soundtrack album (Jan. 21, 1968) includes their hit Mrs. Robinson, along with "The Sounds of Silence" and "Scarborough Fair". Album #4 Bookends (Apr. 3, 1968) features the hit tracks Bookends, America, A Hazy Shade of Winter, At the Zoo, and Fakin' It. Album #5 (last) Bridge Over Troubled Water (Jan. 26, 1970) (#1 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.) is named after their frequent fights; sells 25M copies; album has 11 tracks because they can't agree on a final cut; having cashed in bigtime, they part ways next year; incl. Bridge Over Troubled Water (#1 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.), El Condor Pasa (If I Could) (#6 in the U.S.), Cecilia (#4 in the U.S.), The Boxer, Bye Bye Love, Baby Driver (featured in the 2017 film "Baby Driver"), and Keep the Customer Satisfied. Their breakup is almost as big as the Beatles', punctuating the folk side of the 1960s.

Jefferson Airplane Hot Tuna Hot Tuna Logo

Speaking of Paul Kantner. In Sept. 1965 the new San Francisco psychedelic hippie group Jefferson Airplane performs at the first acid rock dance at Longshoreman's Hall, launching their recording career. On Sept. 1, 1966 they release their debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. Vocalist Signe Toly Anderson (1941-) and drummer Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence (1946-99) were then replaced by vocalist Grace Slick (Grace Barnett Wing) (1939-) and drummer Spencer Dryden (1938-2005), and Skip Spence goes to Moby Grape. Other members are Paul Lorin Kantner (1941-), Marty Balin (Martyn Jerel Buchwald) (1942-), Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. (1940-), and John William "Jack" Casady (1944-). In Feb. 1967 they release their 2nd album Surrealistic Pillow, containing the hit tracks White Rabbit and Somebody to Love, which stoked the fucking-like-rabbits love-somebody-anybody 1967 Summer of Love, that actually begins on Jan. 14, 1967 with the Great Human Be-In, which drew 20K-30K, and introduced the U.S. masses to the LSD-soaked flower power Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Fran along with the word psychedelic, and the hippie lifestyle that felt it okay to openly do group sex, drugs, and rock and roll, along with leftist politics, especially anti-Vietnam protests, along with general disapproval of their parents and their world, with it being their mission to start over, albeit their parents give them the greatest world ever known, materially and militarily, and all they could do is give it away and ruin their kids' world, which they did? The Summer of Love drew up to 100K from around the U.S., coming in VW buses and hitchhiking, after which Haight-Ashbury clones begins sprouting up across the U.S. This might also be considered to be the Summer of Rock, when it inseminated the minds of the entire Baby Boomer Generation for better or worse. The downside is venereal diseases, hard drugs and drug ODs, forced prostitution, etc., but never mind. At least the U.S. develop its own counter-British center for rock and roll, right after the Beatles made their last stand there, wouldn't you love somebody to love, you better find somebody to love, yikes, here comes the hate and ashes. In 1969 when Grace Slick is recovering from throat node surgery, Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen forms the blues rock band Hot Tuna along with drummer Sammy Piazza. Their debut album Hot Tuna (May 1970) (#30 in the U.S.) features Hesitation Blues, How Long Blues, I Know You Rider, and Come Back Baby. Album #5 America's Choice (May 1975) (#75 in the U.S.) features Funky #7, and Walkin' Blues.

Arlo Guthrie (1947-)

On Nov. 25, 1965 (Thur.) (Thanksgiving) folk singer Arlo Davy Guthrie (1947-) (son of folk singer Woody Guthrie) and his friend Richard J. "Rick" Robbins (1946-) are arrested in Stockbridge, Mass. for dumping some trash on a holiday by officer William J. "Obie" Obanhein (1924-94) after a Thanksgiving feast at a restaurant run by Alice M. Brock, after which on Nov. 27 they plead guilty before blind judge James E. Hannon after seeing the "27 8-by-10 color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one is to be uses as evidence against us", and are fined $50 and told to pick up the garbage; later turned into the hit 1967 song "Alice's Restaurant (Massacree)".

The Knickerbockers

1965 is the last year to see a rash of mixed greaser-sosh groups hit the top of the charts, incl. The Knickerbockers from Bergenfield, N.J., incl. Buddy Randell (William Crandall) (vocals), Beau Charles (guitar), John Charles (bass), and Jimmy Walker (drums), who release their 1-hit wonder, the first U.S. Beatles clone hit Lies (#20 in the U.S.).

Donovan (1946-) Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914-2008)

In 1965 Glasgow-born Scottish singer Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch) (1946-), hit the charts with Catch the Wind and Colours, followed in 1966 with Sunshine Superman. On May 5, 1965 Am. folk singer Bob Dylan and Scottish folk singer Donovan (billed as "the British Dylan") meet at the Savoy Hotel in London, during which Donovan's mgrs. won't let journalists be present to stage a "stunt on the lines of the disciple meeting the Messiah", after which Donovan switches to producer Mickie Most, who makes him a superstar. In mid-1966 after being explosed on the TV documentary "A Boy Called Donovan", he becomes the first high-profile British pop star to get arrested for marijuana possession, which didn't stop his career, as in Mar. 1967 he releases Mellow Yellow, in July 1967 he releases There Is a Mountain, and in May 1968 he releases Hurdy Gurdy Man. In early 1968 he goes with the Beatles, Mike Love, Mia and Prudence Farrow et al. to India to visit Transcendental Meditation (TM) guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914-2008), turning them all onto Eastern mysticism, powered by LSD, hashish, etc., life is great for the rich and famous back before the War on Drugs. In Nov. 1968 Donovan releases his #7 U.S. hit Atlantis.

Barry McGuire (1935-)

In 1965 Oklahoma City, Okla.-born Barry McGuire (1935-) releases his 1-hit wonder Eve of Destruction (#1 in the U.S.) (#3 in the U.K.), written by P.F. Sloan, which is uses as a rallying cry for supporters of the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (18 year voting age); "You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'/ You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'/ And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'.../ Think of all the hate there is in Red China/ Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama/ You may leave here for four days in space/ But when you return, it's the same old place.../ Hate your next-door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace."

Wilson Pickett (1941-2006)

In 1965 Wilson Pickett (1941-2006), releases his first million-selling hit In the Midnight Hour (#21 in the U.S.); it is composed by Pickett and Steve Cropper in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Martin Luther King Jr. is murdered in Apr. 1968. In 1966 Pickett releases the million-seller Mustang Sally (#23 in the U.S.), along with the #1 R&B hit Land of One Thousand Dances (by Chris Kenner) (#6 in the U.S.), followed in 1967 by yet another, Funky Broadway (#8 in the U.S.).

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

In 1965 Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, fronted by Domingo "Sam" Samudio (1937-) release their first hit Wooly Bully (#2 in the U.S.), followed in 1966 by Li'l Red Riding Hood (#2 in the U.S.).

The Young Rascals

In 1965 The Young Rascals (later The Rascals) from Garfield, N.J., incl. Edward "Eddie" Brigati Jr. 1945-) (vocals), Felix Cavaliere (1944-) (keyboard), Gene Cornish (1944-) (guitar) (all three formerly of Joey Dee and the Starliters), and Dino Danelli (1944-) (drums) release their debut single I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore, followed on Mar. 28, 1966 by their debut album The Young Rascals (#15 in the U.S.), which features the #1 U.S. hit Good Lovin'. After releasing singles You Better Run (1966), and Come On Up (1966), album #2 Collections (Jan. 9, 1967) (#15 in the U.S.) features the tracks (I've Been) Lonely Too Long (#16 in the U.S.), and Love Is a Beautiful Thing (#20 in the U.S.). Album #3 Groovin' (July 31, 1967) (#5 in the U.S.) features the tracks Groovin', A Girl Like You, and How Can I Be Sure. Album #4 Once Upon A Dream (Feb. 19, 1968) (#9 in the U.S.) features the tracks It's Wonderful, and Once Upon A Dream. In 1968 they also releases the single Beautiful Morning. Album #5 (double album) Freedom Suite (Mar. 17, 1969) features People gets to Be Free.

Gary Lewis (1946-) and the Playboys

In 1965 Gary Lewis and the Playboys, fronted by Gary Lewis (Gary Harold Lee Levitch) (1946-), son of comedian Jerry Lewis release their #1 U.S. debut single This Diamond Ring, followed by Everybody Loves a Clown. In Jan. 1967 after becoming the only 1960s artist to have his first seven releases reach the Billboard top-10, Lewis is drafted into the U.S. Army, ending his music career after 8 gold singles, 17 top 40 hits, 4 gold albums, and 45M records sold.

The Five Americans

In 1965 The Five Americans, (formerly the Mutineers) from Durant, Okla., incl. Mike Rabon, John Durrill, Norm Ezell, Jim Grant, and Jimmy Wright release their debut single Show Me. Album #2 Western Union (1967) features the hit track Western Union (#5 in the U.S.). Album #3 Progressions (1967) features Sound of Love, and Zip Code.

The Strangeloves

In 1965 The Strangeloves (a New York group that pretended to be from Australia) release their 1-hit wonder I Want Candy (#11 in the US.), followed by Cara-Lin (#30), and Night Time (#30).

Billy Joe Royal (1942-)

In 1965 Valdosta, Ga.-born singer Billy Joe Royal (1942-) releases his 1-hit wonder album #2 Down in the Boondocks (#96 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Down in the Boondocks (#9 in the U.S.), I Knew You When (#14 in the U.S.) (both written by Joe South), and I've gets to Be Somebody (#38 in the U.S.).

The Vogues

In 1965 the vocal group The Vogues, originally the Val-Airs, from Turtle Creek, Penn., incl. Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor), and Chuck Blasko (tenor) release their debut album Meet the Vogues, which features the track You're the One (#4 in the U.S.). Album #2 Five O'Clock World (1966) features Five O'Clock World (#4 in the U.S.). Album #3 Turn Around, Look at Me (1968) features their last hits Turn Around, Look at Me (by Glen Campbell) (#7 in the U.S.), and My Special Angel (by Bobby Helms) (#7 in the U.S.).

Glenn Yarbrough (1930-)

In 1965 Milwaukee, Wisc.-born former lead singer for The Limeliters (1959-63) Glenn Robertson Yarbrough (1930-) releases his 1-hit wonder Baby, the Rain Must Fall (#12 in the U.S.), from the film of the same name.

Cannibal and the Headhunters

In 1965 the 1-hit wonder Mexican-American band Cannibal and the Headhunters, from East Los Angeles, incl. Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia (-1996), Joe "Yo Yo" Jaramillo (-2000), Robert "Bobby" "Rabbit" Jaramillo, and Richard "Scar" Lopez (-2010) releases Land of One Thousand Dances (by Chris Kenner) (#30 in the U.S.).

Dino, Desi, and Billy

In 1965 Dino, Desi and Billy, incl. Dean Paul "Dino "Martin (1951-87) (son of Dean Martin), Desiderio Alberto "Desi" Arnaz Jr. (1953-) (son of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball), William "Billy" Hinsche (1951-) (brother of Carl Wilson's wife Annie Hinsche) releases the singles I'm a Fool (#17 in the U.S.), and Not the Lovin' Kind (by Lee Hazelwood) (#25 in the U.S.). sign to Reprised Records, they gets special treatment despite lack of talent, incl. session musicians, all to produce two lame charters.

The Grateful Dead

In 1965 the improvisational San Francisco band The Grateful Dead (originally the Warlocks) (named picked out of the Funk & Wagnalls Folklore Dictionary at random), fronted by Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (1942-95), and incl. Phillip Chapman "Phil" Lesh (1940-) (bass), Robert Hall "Bob" Weir (1947-) (rhythm guitar), Ronald C. "Ron" "Pigpen" McKernan (1945-73) (keyboards), Bill Kreutzmann (1946-) (drums), Mickey Hart (1943-) (drums), Tom "TC" Constanten (1944-) (keyboards) begins playing gigs to LSD-drenched Deadheads in a street party form that becomes all their own. On June 14, 1970 they release album #4 Workingman's Dead, which features Uncle John's Band. On Nov. 1, 1970 they release album #5 American Beauty, which features Truckin', Box of Rain, Friend of the Devil, and Sugar Magnolia. Their biggest commercial hit is album #12 In the Dark (July 6, 1987) (their only album to reach the Billboard 200 top-10), which features their biggest hit single Touch of Grey, known for the refrain "I will get by/ I will survive." On Dec. 21 the Grateful Dead Farewell Dead Tour at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. caps 50 years and $55M in tour receipts.

The Blues Project

Also in 1965 Greenwich Village, N.Y.-based The Blues Project, consisting of Danny Kalb (1942-) (guitar, vocals), Al Kooper (Alan Petr Kuperschmidt) (1944-) (keyboards, vocals), Steve Katz (1945-) (guitar, vocals), Andy Kulburg (1944-2002) (bass), and Roy Blumenfeld (drums) is forms as another improvisational band that is meant to be New York City's answer to the Grateful Dead. After releasing two albums in 1966, Live at the Cafe Au Go Go, which features Catch the Wind, and Back Door Man, followed by Projections, which features Two Trains Running, they split up in 1967, after which Kooper and Katz forms Blood, Sweat & Tears.

The Castaways

Also in 1965 Minneapolis, Minn.-based rock band The Castaways, led by James Donna (keyboards), incl. Dick Roby (guitar), Robert Folschow (guitar), Roy Hensley (-2005) (bass), and Dennis Craswell (drums) release their 1-hit wonder Liar Liar (#12 in the U.S.), featuring the falsetto of Folschow.

The Velvet Underground Lou Reed (1942-) John Cale (1942-) Andy Warhol (1928-87) Nico (1938-88)

Another rock band formed in 1965 in New York City is The Velvet Underground, whose members incl. Lewis Allen "Lou" Reed (Lewis Allen Rabinowitz) (1942-) and Welsh-born John Davies Cale (1942-), and who never makes it big commercially because they explored the dark side, although they becomes one of the most influential groups of the 1960s under the management of "15 Minutes of Fame" publicity genius and pop artist Andy Warhol (Andrew Warhola) (1928-87). Their Mar. 12, 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico (#171 in the U.S.) (most influential album that nobody bought?) launches the Golden Age of Rock Album Covers (ends Aug. 1, 1981); it features German singer Nico (Christa Paffgen) (Päffgen) (1938-88), who hooked up with Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, Jackson Browne, Brian Jones, Tim Buckley, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, and Philippe Garrel. Other members are Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. (1942-95), and Angus MacLise (1938-79)/ Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker (1944-) (drums). Actually it might have been the most influential album of the 20th cent., founding glam rock, punk rock, post punk rock, Goth rock, shoegazing et al. It is named after the 1963 Michael Leigh orgy-wife-swapping-S&M book The Velvet Underground, and features a cover by Andy Warhol showing a bright yellow banana with "Peel slowly and see" on a tab, under which is a pink peeled banana. Tracks incl. All Tomorrow's Parties, I'm Waiting for the Man (who sells heroin), Sunday Morning, European Son (dedicated to Lou Reed's friend Delmore Schwartz), Venus in Furs (BDSM) ("Whiplash girl child in the dark/ Clubs and bells, your servant, don't forsake him/ Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart"), and Heroin ("I have made the big decision/ I'm gonna try to nullify my life"). After the 1960s ended they break up, and bi Lou Reed goes on to score the 1971 gay hit Walk on the Wild Side.

Tom Jones (1940-)

In 1965 Welsh singer Tom Jones (Thomas John Woodward) (1940-), born in the same Welsh village of Pontyprydd as actor Richard Burton (originally Tommy Scott the Twisting Vocalist, then renamed after the 1963 film Tom Jones starring Albert Finney) releases his debut album Along Came Jones (#11 in the U.K.), which features the track It's Not Unusual (#54 in the U.S.), written by Les Reed, which becomes his theme song. Album #3 What's New Pussycat (1965) features his hit What's New Pussycat?, from the Woody Allen movie (his first as actor and screenwriter). Album #6 Green, Green Grass of Home (1966) (#65 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features Green Green Grass of Home.

Anne Murray (1945-)

In 1965 Springhill, N.S., Canada-born pop-country singer Morna Anne Murray (1945-) releases her debut album What About Me, which features the tracks What About Me, and The Last Thing on My Mind. Album #2 This Way Is My Way (Oct. 1969) features the hit track Snowbird (#10 country) (#8 in the U.S.) (first Canadian female singer to earn a gold record in the U.S.). She follows with Sing High, Sing Low (1971) (#53 country) (#83 in the U.S.), A Stranger in My Place (1971) (#27 country) (#122 in the U.S.), Cotton Jenny (1972) (#11 country) (#71 in the U.S.), Danny's Song (1972) (#10 country) (#7 in the U.S.), A Love Song (1973) (#5 country) (#12 in the U.S.), You Won't See Me (by the Beatles) (1974) (#8 in the U.S.), You Needed Me (1978) (#4 country) (#1 in the U.S.) (first Canadian female singer), I Just Fall in Love Again (1978) (#1 country) (#12 in the U.S.), Shadows in the Moonlight (1979) (#1 country) (#25 in the U.S.), Broken Hearted Me (1979) (#1 country) (#12 in the U.S.), Daydream Believer (by the Monkees) (1980) (#3 country) (#12 in the U.S.), Could I Have This Dance (1980) (#1 country) (#33 in the U.S.), Blessed Are the Believers (1981) (#1 country) (#34 in the U.S.), Another Sleepless Night (1982) (#4 country) (#44 in the U.S.), A Little Good News (1983) (#1 country) (#74 in the U.S.), Just Another Woman in Love (1984) (#1 country), Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (w/Dale Loggins) (1984) (#1 country) (#103 in the U.S.), Time Don't Run Out on Me,/a> (1985) (#2 country), Now and Forever (You and Me) (1986) (#1 country) (#92 in the U.S.), and Feed This Fire (1990) (#5 country). She goes on to release 32 studio albums and 76 singles incl. 33 #1s, and sells 54M albums.

Hartley Peavey (1941-)

In 1965 Peavey Electronics is founded in his hometown of Meridian, Miss. by Hartley Peavey (1941-) in his garage to produce amplifiers for rock guitarists, becoming a hit with Eddie Van Halen, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains et al.

666 Sign Time Mag., Apr. 8, 1966 Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-97) 'Rosemary's Baby' starring Mia Farrow, 1968 Chet Helms (1942-2005) Bill Graham (1931-91) 'Aftermath' by the Rolling Stones, 1966

1966 is the big Millennial Fever year, with associations to St. John's Revelation and the Number of the Beast 666, causing Hollywood to exploit it with the flick Rosemary's Baby (which is released on June 12, 1968 - 6+6+6), and good actor Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-97) to come out of the woodwork with the Church of Satan. The year in the U.S. in which pop becomes rock? The Apr. 8, 1966 issue of Time mag. has the cover title Is God Dead? In Apr. 1966 rock promoter Chester Leo "Chet" Helms (1942-2005) of the Family Dog begins holding concerts at the Avalon Ballroom at 1268 Sutter St. in San Francisco, Calif., competing with Bill Graham (Wolodia Grajonca) (1931-91), who staged concerts at the Fillmore Auditorium at Fillmore St. and Geary Blvd., then in 1968 moves to Fillmore West at Market St. and South Van Ness Ave. On May 13, 1966 the Rolling Stones release album #4 (#6 in the U.S.) Aftermath, containing the 666-ish hit singles Paint It Black ("No colors anymore, I want them to turn black... I wanna see the Sun blotted out from the sky"), Under My Thumb ("Under my thumb, the girl who once have me down"), Mother's Little Helper ("What a drag it is getting old"), Out Time, and Lady Jane.

Burning Beatles Records, 1966 Maureen Cleave (1941-) 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' by the Beatles, 1967

Speaking of gods dying in Year 666, on Mar. 4, 1966 comments by Beatle John Lennon in an interview with his friend-lover journalist Maureen Cleave (1941-) (inspiration for the Beatles song "Norwegian Wood") are pub. in the London Evening Standard, in which he utters the soundbyte: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity. Jesus is all right but his disciples are thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me." After it is ignored in Britain, U.S. teen mag Datebook reprints the quote out of context on July 29 on its front cover, pissing-off Christian extremists in the U.S, who soon get into mass record burning and burning in effigy, causing the Beatles to have to fend off endless reporters' questions with lame semi-apologies; on Aug. 11, 1966 the beleaguered Beatles hold a press conference in Chicago, Ill., and John Lennon backtracked on his "more popular than Jesus" remarks, saying "I didn't mean it as a lousy anti-religious thing"; Beatlesmania develop a dark anti-Christian side, and by the end of the decade the Beatles have dumped Christanity forever? On Aug. 16, 1966 the Beatles perform at Shea Stadium in N.Y., the first show on their U.S. summer tour, taking in $304K from 55.6K fans, the largest show business gross to date, earning $160K for 30 min. On Aug. 29, 1966 (Mon.) the Beatles conclude their Fourth U.S. Tour (which opened on Aug. 12 in Chicago, Ill.) with their last public concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., too bad, the stands are half empty, causing concerns that their popularity is fading, causing EMI to pressure George Martin into releasing "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" as a single, which works, bringing back their popularity, although the songs couldn't be included in the album, marring it; "San Francisco is 49 square miles surrounded by reality" (Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane). On Nov. 9, 1966 John Lennon first meets Yoko Ono at a preview of her exhibition at Indica Gallery in Mason's Yard, Mayfair, London, featuring a panel on the ceiling with the word "yes" on it, climbing a ladder and viewing it through an attached microscope, after which she passed him a card reading "Breathe", then wouldn't let him hammer a nail into a white board that has a sign inviting visitors to do it because he didn't pay for admission, after which the gallery owner told her who he is (she allegedly didn't know), causing her to relent and offer to let him do it for five shillings, to which he replied "I'll give you an imaginary five shillings if you let me hammer an imaginary nail" - it was a long night, even layered and in a sleeping bag? On Nov. 24, 1966 the Beatles decide to reinvent themselves, and lock themselves up in a studio to begin recording their paradigm-shifting album #8 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ("the world's first 41-min. single"), which goes on to become the #1 rock album of all time, launching the era of the studio album, selling 32M copies.

Laura Nyro (1947-97)

In Jan. 1966 Bronx, N.Y.-born singer-songwriter Laura Nyro (Nigro) (1947-97) (pr. NEE-ro) (who sell "And When I Die" to Peter, Paul and Mary for $5K) releases her debut album More Than a New Discovery, which features the tracks And When I Die, Wedding Bell Blues, Blowin' Away, and Stoney End. In 1967 she appear at the Monterey Pop Festival. Album #2 Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (Mar. 3, 1968) features Stoned Soul Picnic, Eli's Comin', Emmie (first pop lesbian love song?), and Timer. Album #3 New York Tendaberry (Sept. 24, 1969) (#32 in the U.S.) features New York Tendaberry, Time and Love, and Save the Country. Album #4 Christmas and the Beads of Sweat (Nov. 25, 1970) (#51 in the U.S.) features Beads of Sweat, and Up on the Roof (by Gerry Goffin and Carole King) (#92 in the U.S.). Album #6 Smile (Feb. 1976) (#60 in the U.S.) features Money, I Am the Blues, Stormy Love, and The Cat Song. While she becomes mildly popular, several groups become super popular releasing covers of her songs. She dies on Apr. 8, 1997 of ovarian cancer, like her mother Gilda.

Paul S. Williams (1948-2013)

In Jan. 1966 Am. rock critic ("Godfather of Modern Rock Journalism") (fan of Philip K. Dick) Paul S. Williams (1948-2013) founds Crawdaddy!, the first serious rock mag., which champions The Velvet Underground, The Grateful Dead et al.; he leaves the mag. in 1968-93; he is in attendance at the Lennon-Ono Bed-In in Montreal.

Nancy Sinatra (1940-)

In Feb. 1966 Nancy Sandra Sinatra (1940-), daughter of Frank Sinatra (who is marries to Mia Farrow from 1966-8, who is the star of "Rosemary's Baby", making this a perfect time for a 666-powered hit?) releases her 1-hit wonder These Boots Are makes For Walkin' (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). In 2005 Jessica Simpson covered it in the film "The Dukes of Hazzard" (#14 in the U.S.). Not quite 1-hit wonder when pairing up with others, in 1967 she and her daddy Frank Sinatra (1915-98) releases the hit Somethin' Stupid (#1 in the U.S.), written by Clarence Carson Parks II (1936-2005). In 1968 she and Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) releases the album Nancy & Lee, which features the hit track Some Velvet Morning; "About Phaedra, how she give me life". In 1967 she sung the theme for the James Bond 007 film You Only Live Twice.

The Fugs

In Mar. 1966 the New York anti-war rock band The Fugs (euphemism for Fucks) (founded 1964), consisting of poets Ed Sanders (1939-) and Naphtali "Tuli" Kupferberg (1923-2011) (who once jumped off the Manhattan Bridge and survived, ending up in Allen Ginsberg's "Howl"), and Ken Weaver (drums) releases album #2 The Fugs (#95 in the U.S.), the first underground rock album, which features the tracks Kill for Peace, Frenzy, Group Grope, I Want to Know, and Skin Flowers. Their 1968 album It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest features the tracks Crystal Liaison, Johnny Piss Off, and Wide Wide River.

Percy Sledge (1941-)

On Apr. 16, 1966 Ala.-born R&B/soul singer Percy Sledge (1941-) releases his big debut hit single When a Man Loves a Woman (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), followed by Warm and Tender Love (1966), It Tears Me Up (1966), Baby, Help Me (1967), Out of Left Field (1967), Love Me Tender (1967), Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) (1967), Cover Me (1967), Take Time to Know Her (1968), Sudden Stop (1968), You're All Around Me (1968), and Any Day Now (1969).

Neil Diamond (1941-)

On May 21, 1966 New York City-born Neil Leslie Diamond (1941-) releases his first of 37 top-40 hit singles Solitary Man (#55 in the U.S.), followed on Aug. 20 by Cherry, Cherry (#6 in the U.S.), both releases by Bang Records. He follows this in 1967 with Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon (Apr. 8) (#10 in the U.S.), Thank the Lord for the Night Time (July 15) (#13 in the U.S.), and Kentucky Woman (Oct. 14) (#22 in the U.S.). In 1969 he releases Shilo (Sept.) (#24 in the U.S.), Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show (Feb. 22) (#22 in the U.S.), Sweet Caroline (June 28) (#4 in the U.S.) (inspired by JFK's 11-y.-o. daughter Caroline Kennedy) (audiences begin singing "So good so good so good" during perf.), Holly Holy (Nov. 1) (#6 in the U.S.). In 1970 he releases Cracklin' Rosie (Aug. 22) (#1 in the U.S.), and He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother (Nov. 7) (#20 in the U.S.). In 1971 he releases I Am I Said (Mar. 27) (#4 in the U.S.), and I'm a Believer (June 26) (#51 in the U.S.). In 1972 he releases Song Sung Blue (May 6) (#1 in the U.S.), and Play Me (Aug. 12) (#11 in the U.S.). In 1974 he releases Longfellow Serenade (Nov. 5) (#5 in the U.S.). In 1978 he releases You Don't Bring Me Flowers (w/Barbra Streisand) (Oct. 28) (#1 in the U.S.). In 1979 he releases Forever in Blue Jeans (Jan. 27) (#20 in the U.S.). He goes on to sell 115M records incl. 75M albums.

'Yesterday and Today' by the Beatles, 1966

On June 20, 1966 the Beatles releases album #6 Yesterday... and Today (#1 in the U.S.), with the "butcher cover" showing them dressed in white smocks covered with pieces of raw meat and decapitated dolls, pissing off Christian fans, who are already pissed off by John Lennon's statement that the Beatles are bigger than Jesus; it features Baby You Can Drive My Car, I'm Only Sleeping, Nowhere Man, Doctor Robert, Yesterday, Act Naturally, And Your Bird Can Sing, If I Needed Someone, We Can Work It Out, What Goes On, and Day Tripper. On Aug. 5, 1966 they release album #7 Revolver (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which popularized Backward Masking (Backmasking); it features Taxman, Eleanor Rigby (four violins, two cellos and two violas, with score by George Martin) ("Eleanor Rigby dies in the church and is buried along with her name/ Nobody came/ Father MacKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave/ No one is saved"), I'm Only Sleeping, Here, There and Everywhere, Yellow Submarine, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, Doctor Robert, I Want to Tell You, Got to Get You into My Life, and Tomorrow Never Knows, based on their LSD adventures before Yoko arrives; "Listen to the color of your dreams".

On Sept. 12, 1966 after a year of black protests, the town of Grenada, Miss. becomes a scene of racial strife as white mobs attacked black children trying to integrate white schools while the police did nothing; folk singer Joan Baez and other activists tried to protect the children, only to be harassed by the police; on Sept. 16 a judge issued an injunction, causing state troopers to be called out; on Sept. 18 the FBI arrested 13 whites on conspiracy charges, causing the mobs to disappear; on Sept. 19 MLK Jr. addressed a rally of 650; too bad, the fight went to another level as the children are harassed in the schools, causing walkouts, strikes and boycotts the rest of the year.

The Monkees

On Sept. 12, 1966 (Mon.) the anti-Millennial Fever NBC-TV series The Monkees debuts (until Mar. 25, 1968) (58 episodes), starring the new studio-recruited Americanized Beatles clone group ("the Pre-Fab Four") The Monkees, composed of English-born vocalist David Thomas "Davy" Jones (1945-2013), Los Angeles, Calif.-born drummer George Michael "Micky" Dolenz (1945-), and guitarists Robert Michael Nesmith (1942-) (known for wearing a knit cap, presumably to cover a bald spot), and dorky Peter Tork (Peter Halsten Thorkelson) (1942-2019); created by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider (Raybert Productions), it features Euro avant-garde production techniques and music videos; the ad for auditions looking for "4 insane boys" appeared on Sept. 8, 1965, and 400 showed up, of which 14 were given screen tests; lifer con Charles Manson tried-out for a spot and didn't quite fit in? Their debut album The Monkees (Oct. 10, 1966) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 5M copies, and features the tracks Theme from The Monkees, Saturday's Child, and Last Train to Clarksville (#1 in the U.S.) (a secret anti-Vietnam War song). Album #2 More of the Monkees (Jan. 9, 1967) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 5M copies) (#3 album of the 1960s), and features I'm a Believer (written by Neil Diamond) (#1 in the U.S.) (over 1M pre-orders; biggest single of 1967), (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone, Mary, Mary, She, and Your Auntie Grizelda. Album #3 Headquarters (May 22, 1967) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 2M copies, and is the first where they write their own songs and play their own instruments; it features Shades of Gray, For Pete's Sake, and Randy Scouse Git. Album #4 Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (Nov. 6, 196) (#1 in the U.S.) features Mickey Dolenz on one of the first 20 Moog synthesizers sold; it features Pleasant Valley Sunday, Daily Nightly, and Star Collector. Album #5 The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees (Apr. 22, 1968) (#3 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Valleri, Head Soundtrack (Dec. 1, 1968), last with all four Monkees until 1996 has a cover surfaced with aluminized PET film; it features Porpoise Song (Head Theme), and Circle Sky. Too bad, greedy Michael Nesmith sells out the others by making secret deals for the B-sides of singles and royalties, alienating them later when all they get is their lousy $500 a week from the studio. In 1970 Nesmith releases the solo single Joanne; watch video.

The Blues Magoos

On Nov. 1, 1966 the Bronx, N.Y.-based rock band The Blues Magoos, formerly The Trenchcoats, Peppy Castro (Emil Thielhelm) (1949-) (vocals), Dennis LaPore (guitar), Ralph Scala (organ), Ronnie Gilbert (bass), and John Finnegan (drums) release their debut album Psychedelic Lollipop, whose cover features the first use of the word "psychedelic" with reference to music?; it features their 1-hit wonder (We Ain't Got) Nothing' Yet (#5 in the U.S.).

Cream

On Dec. 9, 1966 the English rock supergroup Cream, consisting of Eric Patrick Clapton (1945-) (guitarist) (from the Yardbirds), John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (1943-2014) (bass) (from John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers), and Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (1939-2019) (drums) ("rock's first superstar drummer") release their debut album Fresh Cream, containing the hit I Feel Free. Album #2 Disraeli Gears (Nov. 1967) (garbled word for derailleur gears) contained the hits Strange Brew, and Sunshine of Your Love. Album #3 Wheels of Fire (Aug. 1968) (#1 in the U.S.) (#3 in the U.K.) is the world's first platinum double album, featuring the hits White Room, Sitting on Top of the World, and Born Under a Bad Sign. In just two years they sell 35M albums.

Buffalo Springfield

In 1966 the LA-based rock band (with the potential of becoming the American Beatles?) Buffalo Springfield is forms, consisting of Neil Percival Young (1945-), Stephen Arthur Stills (1945-), Paul Richard "Ritchie" Furay (1944-), James Melvin "Jim" Messina (1947-), Dewey Martin (1940-2009) (drums), and Bruce Palmer (1946-2004) (bass), and named after the Buffalo-Springfield [Steam] Roller Co. After performing at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles from May 2-June 18, 1966, they gets a deal with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, and releases the hit For What It's Worth (#7 in the U.S.) (written and sung by Stills), a protest against a police action against protesters of the closing of Pandora's Box nightclub on Sunset Strip. Too bad, they disbands on May 5, 1968 after 25 mo., after which all goes their own ways: Furay and Messina forms the country rock band Poco, known for the hit Kind Woman, then disbands after the Eagles' 1972 hit "Take It Easy" borrowed their style; Messina goes on to form the pop rock duo Loggins and Messina; Young and Stills forms Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; Martin forms the New Buffalo Springfield; Palmer suffers numerous drug arrests and is kicked out of the band, then resurfaces in summer 1969 to play for Crosby, Stills, and Nash for 2 weeks; after his Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (1974) disbands, Furay moves to Sugarloaf Mt. W of Boulder, Colo. and forms the Ritchie Furay Band (1976), then in 1983 Furay becomes pastor of Cavalry Chapel in Broomfield, Colo.

The Standells The Troggs Tommy James (1947-) and the Shondells Love The Royal Guardsmen Question Mark and the Mysterians The Music Machine Napoleon XIV Janis Ian (1951-) Count Five The Swingin' Medallions The Monks The Cyrkle

Another 1-hit wonder from 1966 is The Standells from Los Angeles, Calif., incl. Dick Dodd (former Mouseketeer) (vocals, drums), Tommy Valentino (guitar), and Larry Tamblyn (brother of actor Russ Tamblyn) (organ), who releases Dirty Water, about the Charles River in Boston, Mass.: "Down by the river, down by the banks of the river Charles, that's where you'll find me, along with lovers, fuckers and thieves... oh Boston, you're my home." Another group that hit it big in 1966 is the English (Andover) rock band The Troggs (formerly the Troglodytes), with Wild Thing (written by Angelina Jolie's uncle Chip Taylor AKA James Wesley Voight) and With A Girl Like You, followed in May 13, 1967 with the release of Love Is All Around. Also in 1966 Tommy James and the Shondells of Niles, Mich. have their first hit Hanky Panky (#1 in the U.S.), which was released in 1963 under the Snap Records label, which had no nat. distribution, then finally becomes a hit after a Pittsburgh, Penn. disc jockey give it regular airplay, making Tommy James star and causing him to reform the band, and release a string of hits, incl. I Think We're Alone Now (1967), Mirage (1967) (#10 in the U.S.), Mony Mony (1968) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Crimson and Clover (1968) (#1 in the U.S.), Sweet Cherry Wine (1969) (#7 in the U.S.), and Crystal Blue Persuasion (1969) (#2 in the U.S.). In July 1966 the racially-mixed LA group Love (originally The Grass Roots until they found out the name is taken) release their debut album, becoming Jim Morrison's favorite group. Members incl. Arthur Lee (1945-2006) (vocals) (black), Johnny Echols (1947-) (guitar) (black), Bryan Maclean (1946-98) (guitar, vocals), Kenneth Raymond "Ken" Forssi (1943-88) (bass), Alan "Snoopy" Pfisterer (1946-) (drums). Their first and only hit is My Little Red Book by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, about Mao's you know what . Also in six six 1966 the Royal Guardsmen from Ocala, Fla. score a big hit with the million-selling Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (#2 in the U.S.). Another group forever linked with 1966 is Question Mark (?) and the Mysterians of Bay City, Mich. (named after the 1957 Japanese sci-fi film "The Mysterians"), fronted by ? (Rudy Martinez), who have a #1 million-seller with the 2-chord garage band song 96 Tears, the first mainstream Latino rock group U.S. pop hit; the band also incl. Frank Rodriguez (Vox organ), Bobby Balderrama (guitar), Frank Lugo (bass), and Eddie Serrato (drums); named after the 1957 Japanese sci-fi film "The Mysterians"; lead singer Rudy Martinez only appears in public with sunglasses, and claims to be a Martian. Another 1-hit wonder garage band that makes it in 1966 is The Music Machine from LA (formerly the Ragamuffins), who score with Talk Talk; they liked to wear all-black clothing and black moptop hardos, and incl. Thomas Harvey "Sean" Bonniwell (1940-2011) (who wears a single black glove), Mark Landon (guitar), Keith Olsen (bass), Doug Rhodes (1945-) (Farfisa organ), and Ron Edgar (drums); too bad, they break up after one album, which also features the tracks Cherry Cherry, Double Yellow Line, Hey Joe, Taxman, and The People in Me. Another 1-hit wonder is Napoleon XIV (Jerry Samuels) (1938-), who score with the zany They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! (#3 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), releases in July 1966, rocketing to the top-5 before mental illness advocacy groups started complaining, causing radio stations to quit playing it, ha-haaa. Another 1-hit wonder is Janis Ian (Janis Eddy Fink) (1951-), who in 1966 releases Society's Child (#14 in the U.S.), about a white (Jewish) girl dating a black guy and getting hell for it, which she performs on The Smother's Brothers Comedy Hour, that's national activism right in your living room. Another 1-hit wonder group is The Count Five of San Jose, Calif., consisting of John "Mouse" Michalski (1948-), Kenn Ellner (1948-), Roy Chaney (1948-) (bass), John "Sean" Byrne (1947-), and Craig "Butch" Atkinson (1947-) (drums), who wore Count Dracula capes when performing, and in 1966 release their hit Psychotic Reaction. Also in 1966 the beach music group The Swingin' Medallions from Greenwood, S.C., incl. John McElrath (keyboards), Jim Doares (guitar), Carroll Bledsoe (trumpet), Charles Webber (trumpet), Brent Forston (sax), Steven Caldwell (sax), James Perkins (bass), and Joe Morris (drums) release their 1-hit wonder Double Shot (of My Baby's Love) (#17 in the U.S.). Also in 1966 the U.S. GI Band (in Germany) The Monks, formerly the 5 Torquays, incl. Gary Burger (vocals), Eddie Shaw (bass), Larry Clark (Lawrence Spangler) (organ), Dave Day (David Havlicek) (-2008) (guitar), and Roger Johnston (-2004) (drums), known for shaving their heads monk-style release their album Black Monk Time, which features the tracks Monk Chant, Monk Time, I Can't Get Over You, and Cuckoo. Also in 1966 the Easton, Penn.-based rock band The Cyrkle (named by atty. Nathan Weiss and spelled by John Lennon), incl. Don Dannemann (vocals, buitar), Tom Dawes (vocals, bass), Earl Pickens (keyboards), and Marty Fried (drums) releases two classic hits, Red Rubber Ball (#2 in the U.S.), and Turn Down Day (#16 in the U.S.). Too bad, they disbands in 1967.

The New Vaudeville Band

In 1966 the English (London) band The New Vaudeville Band, forms by songwriter Geoffrey "Geoff" Stephens (1934-) release their debut album Winchester Cathedral, which features the megahit (1967 best contemporary song Grammy) Winchester Cathedral (#1 in the U.S.) (3M copies). Album #2 On Tour (1967) features the tracks Peek-A-Boo (#7 in the U.K.), Finchley Central (#11 in the U.K.), and Green Street Green (#37 in the U.K.).

Lou Rawls (1933-2006)

Also in 1966 Chicago-born soul-jazz-blue singer Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls (d. 2006) (high school classmates with Sam Cooke) releases his debut single Love is a Hurtin' Thing, followed by Dead End Street (1967), Your Good Thing (Is About to End) (1969), Natural Man (1970), You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (1976) (#2 in the U.S.) (his breakthrough hit), and Lady Love (1978), becoming a pioneer of "pre-rap". He sells 40M records.

The Doors

On Jan. 4, 1967 the apocalyptic LA group The Doors (named after a line from William Blake's "Marriage of Heaven and Hell": "If the doors of perception are cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite"), fronted by short-lived Messianic singer James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (1943-71) (whose father Rear Adm George Stephen Morrison is the cmdr. of U.S. Naval forces at the Gulf of Tonkin during the crisis that started the Vietnam War), and incl. Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger (1946-) (guitar), John Paul Densmore (1944-) (drums), and Raymond Daniel "Ray" Manzarek Jr. (1939-2013) (keyboards) (Vox Continental organ) release their debut album The Doors, the first album advertised on a billboard, which features their first #1 single Light My Fire, plus the 12-min. track The End, which fit in nicely with the 666 year 1966 and the ever-growing death list from the Vietnam War, and apocalypticized the Summer of Love. On Sept. 25, 1967 they release album #2 Strange Days, which features People Are Strange. On July 11, 1968 they release album #3 Waiting for the Sun, which features their 2nd #1 single Hello, I Love You. Album #5 Morrison Hotel (Hard Rock Cafe) (Feb. 1970) features Roadhouse Blues. Album #6 L.A. Woman (Apr. 1971) is the last with Jim Morrison, who moves to Paris and dies on July 3; it features L.A. Woman, Love Her Madly, and Riders on the Storm.

1967 is a great year for psychedelic hippie rock, it's easy, anybody can do it. On Jan. 20, 1967 The Rolling Stones release album #8 Between the Buttons, which features Yesterday's Papers, Back Street Girl, Connection, Let's Spend the Night Together, Ruby Tuesday.

Linda Ronstadt (1946-)

On Jan. 30, 1967 the Stone Poneys release their debut album The Stone Poneys, featuring singer Linda Ronstadt (1946-). Album #2 Evergreen, Volume 2 (June 1967) features the hit Different Drum (by Michael Nesmith). After going solo in 1969, she proved she wasn't a one-trick pony, becoming known as the Queen of Rock.

The Move

In Jan. 1967 the English (Birmingham) rock band The Move (formed in Dec. 1966), composed of Carl Wayne (vocals); Roy Adrian Wood (1946-), Beverley "Bev" Bevan (1944-) (drums), Christopher John "Chris" "Ace" Kefford (1946-) (bass), and Trevor Burton (Ireson) (1944-) (guitar) release their first hit single Night of Fear #2 in the U.K.), followed in Apr. by I Can Hear the Grass Grow (#5 in the U.K.), and in Aug. by Flowers in the Rain (#2 in the U.K.). On Sept. 30, 1967 BBC Radio 1 began broadcasting, and the first single played is "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move; the 2nd is "Massachusetts" by the Bee Gees; in 2007 the compilation cover album Radio 1 establishes 1967 is pub. After their fearless mgr. (formerly mgr. of The Moody Blues) Anthony Michael "Tony" Secunda (1940-95) made them dress up in Blues Brothers Chicago gangsters suits and adopt an "auto destruction" stage act in order to rival the Who, then goes too far and pub. a promotional poster showing marries British PM Harold Wilson in bed with his private secy. (since 1956) Marcia Matilda Williams (later Baroness Falkender) (1932-) (who gets promoted in 1964 to er, head of his political office), Wilson successfully sues for libel and gets all royalties from the song assign to a charity of his choosing, causing the group to fire Secunda, who forms the supergroup Balls in 1969 with Trevor Burton of The Move and Denny Laine of The Moody Blues, then when that flopped, becomes the mgr. of T.Rex with Marc Bolan in 1971; meanwhile The Move chickened out about releasing Vote for Me for fear of another lawsuit, and it wasn't pub. until 1997; in 1972 they reforms as the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).

The Smothers Brothers David Steinberg (1942-) Pat Paulsen (1927-97)

On Feb. 5, 1967 TLW-favorite The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, starring New York City-born folk singers Thomas Bolyn "Tom" Smothers III (1937-) ("Mom always liked you best") and Richard Remick "Dick" Smothers (1938-) debuts on CBS-TV for 72 episodes (until June 8, 1969), combining great comedy and music with boundary-pushing political criticism of the LBJ regime and the Vietnam War, going on to beat "Bonanza" for the top audience ratings and host top rock groups incl. the Beatles until LBJ pulls strings with his personal friend and CBS head William S. Paley and gets the show summarily cancelled, using a comic sermon by Canadian Jewish comedian David Steinberg (1942-) as an excuse, when he said, "The Old Testament scholars say that Jonah is swallowed by a whale. The Gentiles, the New Testament scholars say, 'Hold it, Jews, no'. They literally grabbed the Jews by the Old Testament"; South Bend, Wash.-born comedian Patrick Layton "Pat" Paulsen (1927-97) runs for U.S. pres. in 1968, repeating every four years until 1996 - why does every one of TLW's favorite shows always get cancelled?

The Turtles The Seeds The Left Banke The Buckinghams

On Feb. 14, 1967 the 1-hit wonder group The Turtles release their hit Happy Together. On Feb. 25, 1967 the 1-hit wonder The Seeds releases Pushing Too Hard. Speaking of The Seeds, they are part of the Paisley Underground LA alternative rock scene, which later produced The Bangles. In Feb. 1967 the 2-hit wonder The Left Banke release their two "Bach Rock" hits Walk Away Renee, and Pretty Ballerina. In Feb. 1967 The Buckinghams, from Chicago, Ill., incl. Dennis Tufano (vocals), Nick Fortuna (bass), Carl Giammarese (guitar), Jon Poulos (drums), and Dennis Miccolis (keyboards) release their debut single Kind of a Drag (Feb.) (#1 in the U.S.) (1M copies) (written by Jim Holvay), followed by Don't You Care (#6), Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (#5), and Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song (#12). In 1968 they release Susan (#11), and Back in Love Again (#57), then break up in 1970.

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

While American whites in 1967 are looking for love, American blacks are still looking for a little respect? On Mar. 10, 1967 after launching her career with Columbia Records in 1960 and achieving only modest success, then switching to Atlantic Records, Memphis, Tenn.-born soul singer Aretha Louise Franklin (1942-) , daughter of Detroit Baptist minister ("the Man with the Million-Dollar Voice") Clarence LaVaughn "C.L." Franklin (1915-84) releases album #11 I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (#2 in the U.S.) (#1 R&B) (#36 in the U.K.), which incl. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), Respect (RESPECT) (#1 in the U.S.), Baby I Love You, Chain of Fools, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Do Right Woman, Do Right Man ("Take me to heart and I'll always love you"), going on to win the best female R&B performer Grammy every year from this year until 1974, causing her to be nicknamed "Lady Soul" and "the Queen of Soul". On Mar. 5-7, 1971 Aretha Franklin performs at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, Calif., pulling Ray Charles out of the crowd on Mar. 7 and performing Spirit in the Dark, becoming a major moment in pop-rock history; on May 19 Atlantic Records releases the album Aretha Live at Fillmore West.

Country Joe and the Fish

In Apr. 1967 San Francisco, Calif.-based Country Joe and the Fish release their debut album Electric Music for the Mind and Body (#39 in the U.S.); the group is named after the popular name for Joseph Stalin, and for Mao's statement that the true Commie revolutionary "moves through the peasantry as the fish does through water", and incl. Joseph Allen "Country Joe" McDonald (1942-) (vocals), Barry "the Fish" Melton (guitar), David Cohen (keyboards), Bruce Barthol (bass), and Gary "Chicken" Hirsh (drums); an early example of psychedelic rock, it features Flying High, Section 43, Bass Strings, Happiness is a Porpoise Mouth, Janis, Grace, and Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine. In Nov. 1967 they release album #2 I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die (#67 in the U.S.), which features The Fish Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die-Rag (The Vietnam Song); "And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for?/ Don't ask me I don't give a damn/ Next stop is Vietnam"; Kid Ory's daughter Babette Ory unsuccessfully sues for copyright infringement in 2001 for infringing her daddy's "Muskrat Ramble" (1926). In 1968 they release album #3 Together (#23 in the U.S.), which features Susan, and Mojo Navigator. In 1968 they also releases the single Who Am I?

The Electric Prunes

In Apr. 1967 The Electric Prunes, formerly The Sanctions, and Jim and the Lords, from San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, Calif., incl. James Lowe (vocals), Ken Williams (guitar), James "Weasel" Spagnola, Mike Gannon, Michael Weakley, Mark Tulin (bass), Joe Dooley/Preston Ritter (drums) (Kenny Loggins is a member briefly) release their debut album The Electric Prunes, which features their signature song I have Too Much to Dream (Last Night) (by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz) (#11 in the U.S., #49 in the U.K.), and Get Me to the World on Time. "Here they are ladies and gentlemen, the former Plums, the future Pits of America, here they are, the Electric Prunes" (Tommy Smothers). Album #2 Underground (Aug. 1967) features The Great Banana Hoax. Album #3 Mass in F Minor (Jan. 1968) is a psychedelic Latin Mass that is too difficult for them, causing them to break up and The Collectors to be hired by producer David Axelrod to finish; it features Kyrie Eleison, which is features in the 1969 film "Easy Rider".

Procol Harum Moby Grape

On May 12, 1967 the English (Richmond, London) band Procol Harum (named after a friend's Burmese cat) release their 1-hit wonder single A Whiter Shade of Pale. In June 1967 the San Francisco rock group Moby Grape, led by Canadian-born Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence (1946-99) release their debut album Moby Grape (#24 in the U.S.), which features the Skip Spence song Omaha. Too bad, they suffers from a perfect storm of the Summer of Love, San Francisco origin, and greed by Columbia Records in over-hyping them, resulting in their demise by the early 1970s, starting after they release their double album Wow/Grape Jam on Apr. 3, 1968, which features the track Never, after which Skip Spence goes crazy on LSD and ended up in Bellevue Hospital in New York City, then after release headed for Nashville on a motorcycle dressed in pajamas to record the solo album "Oar" (1969), quitting Moby Grape.

Scott McKenzie (1939-) The Yellow Balloon

On May 13, 1967 Jacksonville, Fla.-born Scott McKenzie (Philip Blondheim) (1939-) releases his 1-hit wonder single San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (written by John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas to promote the Monterey Pop Festival). It sells 7M copies worldwide, becoming the theme song for young hippies, attracting thousands to San Fran. "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair... You're going to meet some gentle people there." On May 20, 1967 the 1-hit wonder The Yellow Balloon releases Yellow Balloon; drummer Don Grady of Mousketeer and "My Three Sons" fame wore a disguise and called himself Luke R. Yoo.

The 5th Dimension

In May 1967 the LA sunshine R&B-soul-pop vocal group The 5th Dimension, originally The Versatiles, from Los Angeles, Calif., incl. Billy Davis Jr. (1938-), Marilyn McCoo (1943-), Florence LaRue (1943-), Lamonte McLemore, and Ronald "Ron" Townson (1933-2001) release their debut album Up, Up and Away, which features the tracks Up, Up and Away (#7 in the U.S.), and Another Day, Another Heartache. Album #2 The Magic Garden (Dec. 1967) features The Magic Garden, Paper Cup, The Worst That Could Happen, and Ticket to Ride (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney). Album #3 Stoned Soul Picnic (Aug. 1968) (#21 in the U.S.) features Stoned Soul Picnic (#3 in the U.S.), California Soul (#25 in the U.S.), and Sweet Blindness (#13 in the U.S.). Album #4 The Age of Aquarius (May 1969) (#2 in the U.S.) features Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (#1 in the U.S.) ("When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then Peace will guide the Planets, and Love will steer the Stars. This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius... Harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding; no more falsehoods or derision - golden living, dreams of visions, mystic crystal revelation, and the mind's true liberation. Aquarius..."), Workin' on a Groovy Thing (#20 in the U.S.), Wedding Bell Blues (#1 in the U.S.), and Blowing Away (#21 in the U.S.). Album #5 Portrait (Apr. 1970) features One Less Bell to Answer (#2 in the U.S.) (by Burt Bacharach and Hal David).

'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' by the Beatles, 1967 'Magical Mystery Tour' by the Beatles, 1967 Strawberry Alarm Clock

On May 26, 1967 The Beatles top everybody in the Summer of Love by releasing album #8 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in the U.K., followed by the U.S. on June 2, being certified gold the day of release, becoming the first album containing printed lyrics and a fold-out cover, pioneering the concept album with a beginning and end rather than random tracks; the cover features images of historical figures, incl. Marlon Brando from 1953's "The Wild One", and writer Terry Southern, becoming iconic; the Beatles finally come out and lead the drug culture openly; it is produced by George Martin; it goes on to hold the #1 slot in Britain for 27 weeks and in the U.S. for 19 weeks; the week following its release becomes "the closest Western Civilization has come to unity since the Congress of Vienna in 1815. In every city in Europe and America, radio stations played it and everyone listened" (Rolling Stone); too bad, it is banned behind the Iron Curtian, except for bootleg copies, starting a culture war that ends with the fall of the Soviet Union?; the Hippie theme is just right for the Summer of Love, which begins in the U.S. as the Hippie (Hippy) Movement arrives bigtime; on June 25 the 2.5-hour Our World Satellite Broadcast, with performers from 19 nations and an audience of 400M features the Beatles singing "All You Need is Love" along with an orchestra and invited friends incl. the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon, and Graham Nash - Baby Boomer activism begins with masturbating to Beatles music in white suburban bedrooms, then progresses to becoming hippies and moving into cheap lodgings, parks and communes and driving VW buses while getting high and practicing free love, after which the 1960s end and they get real, pair up and join the corporate ladder-climbing world and become Yuppies, changing everything they touch, all with the Vietnam War as their Judge? Tracks incl.: With a Little Help from My Friends (working title "Bad Flyer Boogie") (Ringo and Billy Shears), Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Within You Without You (George Harrison's Hindu sitar song, representing their rejection of Western materialism), When I'm Sixty-Four, Lovely Rita (Meter Maid), Getting Better, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Henry the waltzing horse), A Day in the Life, about Guinness heir Tara Browne (1945-1966), who "blew his mind out in a car" (ends with a 45-sec. chord), and incl. the soundbyte "In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make", also something about the town of Blackburn announcing it's filling all 10K holes in its streets?; three stacked pianos and the last 30 sec.; the handwritten ms. by John Lennon sells for $1.2M on June 18, 2010. On Nov. 27, 1967 they do it again with album #9 Magical Mystery Tour, which incl. the tracks: Magical Mystery Tour, The Fool on the Hill, I Am the Walrus ("I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together/ See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly/ I'm crying") (the weird lyrics are in response to John Lennon learning that a teacher at his alma mater Quarry Bank Grammar School is requiring Beatles songs to be analyzed?) (Jim Carrey later bests the Beatles with his comic version?), Hello Goodbye, ("You say yes, I say no, you say stop, and I say go, go, go"; "Hela, hey-ba hello-a"); Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane, Baby You're a Rich Man, All You Need is Love. In May 1967 Strawberry Alarm Clock (named after Strawberry Fields Forever) score a #1 hit with Incense and Peppermints.

Jimi Hendrix (1942-70) The Who Thunderclap Newman Arlo Guthrie (1947-) Janis Joplin (1943-70) Kris Kristofferson (1936-)

On June 16-18, 1967 the Summer of Love is capped by the Monterey Pop Festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, Calif., which is attended by 55K-90K, and features the first major U.S. appearances of James Marshall (Johnny Allen) "Jimi" Hendrix (1942-70) and Janis Lyn Joplin (1943-70). Hendrix and Joplin ended up dying of drug overdoses on Sept. 18, 1970 and Oct. 4, 1970, respectively. It is also the first major U.S. appearance of the English (London) band The Who (from England), (formed in 1964), composed of Roger Harry Daltrey (1944-), Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (1945-), John Alec Entwistle (1944-2002), and Keith John Moon (1946-78) (drums), who performs Summertime Blues at Woodstock. They have hits in 1967 with Happy Jack and I Can See for Miles, followed on May 23, 1969 by the album #4 Tommy (20M copies sold), the first of two rock operas about "deaf, dumb, and blind boy" Tommy, who becomes a new Messiah, dedicated to Meher Baba. Tracks incl. Pinball Wizard, See Me, Feel Me, Go to the Mirror, Tommy, Can You Hear Me?, I'm Free, and Christmas. Pete Townshend, Kit Lambert, Andy "Thunderclap" Newman et al. forms the band Thunderclap Newman, which releases the 1969 1-hit wonder Something in the Air (#1 in the U.K.). On Aug. 14, 1971 The Who releases album #5 Who's Next, about the failed rock opera "Lifehouse", which features My Wife, Bargain (ode to Meher Baba), The Song Is Over, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, and Baba O'Reily, often mistakenly causes Teenage Wasteland because of the chorus. On Oct. 19, 1973 they release double album #6 Quadrophenia, their 2nd rock opera, about Jimmy, who participates in the circa 1964 Mod lifestyle in England; "The story is sets on a rock" (Pete Townshend); tracks incl. Quadrophenia, Love, Reign o'er Me. Hendrix's debut album Are You Experienced (May 12, 1967) incl. the super hits Purple Haze, Hey Joe, and Fire. His 3rd and last album Electric Ladyland (Oct. 25, 1968) contained the hits Crosstown Traffic and All Along the Watchtower. The album cover is a photo of a group of naked ladies, Hendrix have a summer of love while recording it. After the Summer of Love ended, on Oct. 21, 1967 the March on the Pentagon saw 50K-70K anti-Vietnam War protesters march in Washington, D.C., you have me at hell no I won't go. After the big surprise Tet Offensive on Jan. 31, 1968, the protests ramped up bigger and bigger, infecting a whole segment of U.S. youth with anti-govt. and anti-establishment attitudes, which is picked up by the musicians, who churned out a ton of Anti-Vietnam War Songs. One of the first and most popular is the 18 min. 34 sec. Alice's Restaurant Massacree (1967), by Woody Guthrie's son Arlo Davy Guthrie (1947-). Another rock star who releases her debut album in Aug. 1967 is Janis Lyn Joplin (1943-70), whose 2nd album Cheap Thrills (Aug. 12, 1968) contains the hit Piece of My Heart. Too bad, she dies of a heroin overdose on Oct. 4, 1970, leaving the posthumous album Pearl (Jan. 11, 1971), which features the hit Me and Bobby McGee by her fellow Texan lover Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson (1936-). The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is the first of a long neverending line of Rock Festivals around the world.

The Association Frank Zappa (1940-93) and The Mothers of Invention Moon Unit Zappa (1967-)

The leadoff band at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is The Association, a sickeningly (to foreigners) all-American sunshine pop band from Calif., who have 1966 hits with Along Comes Mary and Cherish (#1 in the U.S.), followed in 1967 with Windy (#1 in the U.S.) (never charted in the U.K.) and Never My Love (#1 in the U.S.). Meanwhile on May 26, 1967 sickeningly anti-American (not really) Frank Zappa (1940-93) and The Mothers of Invention came on the scene with their album Absolutely Free, which incl. the tracks Brown Shoes Don't makes It, Plastic People, and America Drinks and Goes Home. Zappa goes on to mother a number of musical inventions, and to father Moon Unit Zappa (1967-), who voiced Valspeak on his hit 1982 single Valley Girl.

Bobbie Gentry 1944-)

In June 1967 Chicasaw County, Miss.-born singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry (Roberta Lee Streeter) (1944-) releases her debut album Ode to Billy Joe, which features her internat. hit Ode to Billy Joe (#1 in the U.S.), which knocked the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" off the #1 Billboard 200 slot; "Got some news this morning from Choctaw Ridge, that Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge". It is hated by Bob Dylan, who parodied it in "Clothesline Saga". Album #8 Fancy (1970) features the track Fancy.

The Fifth Estate

On July 1, 1967 the 1-hit wonder The Fifth Estate releases Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead.

The Box Tops

In July 1967 the blue-eyed soul-rock group The Box Tops, originally The Devilles, from Memphis, Tenn., incl. William Alexander "Alex" Chilton (1950-2010), John Evans, Thomas Boggs, and Rick Allen release their debut single The Letter (July) (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) followed by Neon Rainbow (Oct. 1967) (#24 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), Cry Like a Baby (Feb. 1968) (#2 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), and Soul Deep (June 1969) (#13 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.). They break up in 1970, and Alex Chilton goes on to front the powerpop band Big Star in 1971-4, then goes solo.

Los Bravos

In July 1967 the Madrid, Spain-based beat group Los Bravos, fronted by German-born Mike Kogel score a 1-hit wonder with Black is Black (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.).

The Small Faces

On Aug. 4, 1967 the East London mod rock group The Small Faces, fronted by big-voice-in-small-package Steven Peter "Steve" Marriott (1947-91), along with Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" "Plonk" Lane (1946-97), Kenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones (1948-) (drums), Jimmy Winston (James Edward Winston Langwith) (1945-) (keyboards), and Ian Patrick McLaglan (1945-) release their hit single Itchycoo Park (#16 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), the first British single with the underwater "flanging" effect; it is rereleases on Dec. 13, 1975. Album #4 Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (May 24, 1968) (#1 in the U.K.) (named after Ogdens' Nut-Brown Flake tobacco from Liverpool) features the tracks Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, Afterglow (Of Your Love), and Lazy Sunday. Album #5 The Autumn Stone (double album) (Nov. 1969) features the tracks Here Come the Nice, I Can't makes It, The Universal, Tin Soldier, and My Mind's Eye, after which they disbands then reforms as Faces, with Ronald Davis "Ronnie" Wood (1947-) and Roderick David "Rod" Stewart (1945-).

Pink Floyd

On Aug. 15, 1967 the English (London) rock band Pink Floyd, led by George Roger Wates (1943-) release their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, setting the bar for psychedlic rock, incl. tracks Astronomy Domine, Lucifer Sam, and Interstellar Overdrive.

Glen Campbell (1936-2017) Gary Usher (1938-90)

In Aug. 1967 Delight, Ark.-born super guitarist and perfect pitch tenor (former The Champs and Beach Boys member) Glen Travis Campbell (1936-2017) releases album #6 Gentle On My Mind (#5 in the U.S.), which features the hit track Gentle On My Mind. He follows it with album #7 By the Time I Get to Phoenix (Nov. 1967) (#15 in the U.S.), which features the track By the Time I Get to Phoenix, followed by album #12 Wichita Lineman (Nov. 1968) (#1 in the U.S.), which features Wichita Lineman, followed by album #13 Galveston (Mar. 1969) (#2 in the U.S.), which features Galveston. In 1968 the studio group Sagittarius, led by Gary Usher (1938-90) and incl. Glen Campbell release their debut album Present Tense, which features the track My World Fell Down (#70 in the U.S.). He goes on to release 70+ albums and sell 45M records incl. 29 top-10 and nine #1 before dying of Alheimer's on Aug. 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn.

Gary Puckett (1942-) and the Union Gap

In Aug. 1967 Gary Puckett (1942-) and the Union Gap (from San Diego, Calif.) release their debut single Woman Woman (#4 in the U.S.), followed on Mar. 4, 1968 with Young Girl (about pedo, er, underage love) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Lady Willpower (#2 in the U.S.), and in 1969 with This Girl Is a Woman Now, Gary Fuckit jokes here.

Captain Beefheart (1941-) 'Trout Mask Replica' by Captain Beefheart, 1969 Straight Records

In Sept. 1967 Glendale, Calif.-born 5-octave-range singer-songwriter Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) (1941-2010) (friend of Frank Zappa) and The Magic Band, incl. Alex St. Clair (guitar), Jeff Cotton (guitar), Jerry Handley (bass), and John French (drums) (Beefheart have no musical training or talent, and was just the genius with the idea which his band turned into music) release their debut album Safe As Milk on Buddah Records, which features Ry Cooder playing guitar; it features the tracks Zig Zag Wanderer, Dropout Boogie, Electricity, and Yellow Brick Road. Album #2 Strictly Personal (Oct. 1968) features Ah Feel Like Ahcid, Son of Mirror Man - Mere Man, Beatle Bones 'n' Smokin' Stones, and Gimme Dat Harp Boy. Landmark double album #3 Trout Mask Replica (June 1969) is released on Straight Records, formed in 1969 by Frank Zappa and Herb Cohen, which sign Alice Cooper, The Persuasions, Lord Buckley, The GTOs, and Judy Hensky and Jerry Yester. It features The Dust Blows Forward 'n the Dust Blows Back, Dachau Blues, Hair Pie: Bake 1, Sweet Sweet Bulbs, China Pig, Hobo Chang Ba, Ella Guru, My Human Gets Me Blues, Moonlight On Vermont, Pena, Veteran's Day Poppy, Sugar 'n Spikes, Hair Pie: Bake 2, and She's Too Much for My Mirror. Album #4 Lick My Decals Off, Baby (Dec. 1970) (#20 in the U.K.) features Lick My Decals Off, Baby, Dr. Dark, Japan Is A Dishpan, Petrified Forest, and I Love You, You Big Dummy. Album #5 Mirror Man (Apr. 1971) (#49 in the U.K.) features Tarotplane, and Kandy Korn. Album #6 The Spotlight Kid (Jan. 1972) (#131 in the U.S., #44 in the U.K.) (highest-charting U.S. album) features White Jam, Blabber 'n Smoke, Alice in Blunderland, and There Ain't No Santa Claus on the Evenin' Stage. Album #7 Clear Spot (Oct. 1972) (#191 in the U.S.) features Big Eyed Beans from Venus, Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles, and Nowadays A Woman's Gotta Hit A Man. Album #8 Unconditionally Guaranteed (Apr. 1974) (#192 in the U.S.) is yet another bomb that causes the Magic Band to get tired of living on food stamps and fire him, after which he disavowed the album and its successor (#9) Bluejeans & Moonbeams (Nov. 1974). On Oct. 2, 1975 Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa releases the live album Bongo Fury, which features Sam With the Showing Scalp Flat Top, and Man With the Woman Head. Album #10 Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (Sept. 1978), his comeback album features Bat Chain Puller, Harry Irene, and Owed t'Alex. Album #11 Doc at the Radar Station (Aug. 1980) features Hot Head, Ashtray Heart, A Carrot Is As Close As A Rabbit Gets to A Diamond. Album #12 (last) Ice Cream for Crow (Sept. 1982) (#90 in the U.K.) features Ice Cream for Crow, Semi-Multicoloured Caucasian, and '81 Poop Hatch. After that Beefheart retired to become a painter.

On Oct. 16-21, 1967 Stop the Draft Week saw 10K riot in downtown Oakland, Calif. in an attempt to shut down the Oakland Induction Center, battling police while attempting to block buses carrying draftees to military bases, resulting in 125 arrests, incl. Joan Baez, who gets 45 days for disturbing the peace; on Oct. 16 draft card turn-ins are held across the U.S., while others pasted eight draft cards to the door of the U.S. embassy in London; on Oct. 16 others occupied the U. of Chicago admin. bldg. for three days; on Oct. 17 Roman Catholic priest (1955-73) Philip Francis Berrigan (1923-2002) and three others splattered Selective Service records at the Baltimore Customs House in Md. with red liquid partly makes of their own blood; on Oct. 21 50K-150K students marched to the steps of the Pentagon "to confront the warmakers", causing 647 arrests by 2.5K federal troops and marshals.

Ten Years After

On Oct. 27, 1967 the English (Nottingham) blues-rock band Ten Years After, the recycled Jaybirds, incl. Ivan Jay, Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons, Ric Lee, and Chick Churchill, first rock band to sign with a major label (Deram) without a hit single release their debut album, which features the track Spoonful (by Willie Dixon). Album #2 Undead (Aug. 10, 1968) features I'm Going Home, which is a big hit at Woodstock. Album #3 Stonedhenge (Feb. 22, 1969) features Hear Me Calling. On Apr. 8, 1969 they performs their first U.S. concert at the Fillmore East in New York City, were so bad that Roger Chapman threw a microphone stand through the air in the direction of impresario Bill Graham, giving them a bad rep. Album #4 Ssssh (Aug. 1969) (#20 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. On Aug. 26-30, 1970 the Third Isle of Wight Festival (last) is attended by 600K (more than Woodstock), and features 50 acts incl. Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, The Doors, The Who, Jethro Tull, Chicago, Miles Davis, John Sebastian, Joni Mitchell, 10 years After, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Album #5 Cricklewood Green (Apr. 17, 1970), named after a friend who lived in Cricklewood, London and grew a psychedelic plant was 45 rpm on one side and 33 rpm on the other; it features Love Like a Man. Album #7 A Space in Time (Aug. 1971) features their biggest hit I'd Love to Change the World (#40 in the U.S.). Album #9 (last) Positive Vibrations (Apr. 1974) (#81 in the U.S.) features Positive Vibrations.

Max Frost and the Troopers

On Oct. 28, 1967 the fictional American rock band Max Frost and The Troopers release their 1-hit wonder Shape of Things to Come (#22 in the U.S.), written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The band is created for the film Wild in the Streets (releases May 29, 1968), which stars James Dean lookalike Christopher (William Frank "Billy") Jones (1941-) as Max Frost (Max Jacob Flatow Jr.), who fights for a Constitutional amendment to reduce the voting age and age reqts. for holding nat. political office to 14, and helps the Baby Boomers take over the world and lock up everybody over 35, mwuhahaha.

'Hair', 1967

In Oct. 1967 the rock musical Hair: The Americani Tribal Love-Rock Musical debut in New York City, and ran for 1,750 perf., plus another 1,997 in London. Hit songs incl. Hair, Good Morning Starshine (covered by the Strawberry Alarm Clock), Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures), Aquarius (covered by the 5th Dimension), and Three-Five-Zero-Zero (sung in a military camp).

Ohio Express

In Oct. 1967 the bubblegum music group Ohio Express, a group of studio musicians in New York City incl. Joey Levine (who goes on to write TV commercial jingles, incl. "Something you feel like a nut" for Almond Joy candy bars, and "This Bud's for you" for Anheuser-Busch) releases its first hit single Beg, Borrow and Steal (#29 in the U.S.), followed in May 1968 by Yummy Yummy Yummy (#4 in the U.S.), and in Oct. 1968 by Chewy Chewy (#15 in the U.S.).

Family

In Oct. 1967 the English (Leicester) rock band Family, forms from The Roaring Twenties and The Farinas, incl. Richard John "Charlie" Whitney (1944-) , Tim Kirchin/Richard Roman "Ric" Grech (1946-90), Harry Ovenall/Rob Townsend (1947-) (drums), Jim King (Alec Woodburn) (1942-), and Roger Maxwell "Chappo" Chapman (1942-) release their debut single Scene Through the Eye of a Lens, followed in July 1968 by their debut album Music in a Doll's House, which features the tracks Me My Friend, Mellowing Grey, Never Like This, and Winter. Originally wearing mafia-like double-breasted suits in concerts, they soon goes hippie. Album #2 Family Entertainment (1969) features The Weaver's Answer. In 1969 Jenny Fabian and Johnny Byrne (1935-2008) pub. the novel Groupie (Superstar), based on the underground rock and roll lifestyle of a London group they call "Relation", really them. Album #3 A Song for Me (June 13, 1970) features A Song for Me. Album #6 Fearless (Oct. 1971) features Between Blue and Me, and Larf and Sing. Album #7 Bandstand (Sept. 1972) is the last to feature John Kenneth Wetton (1949-) (who goes to King Crimson in 1972-4, then becomes the frontman for Asia in 1982), and the last to chart in the U.S.; it features Burlesque, and My Friend the Sun. Album #8 It's Only a Movie (Sept. 1973) features It's Only a Movie. After developing a small devoted following in the U.K. but not in the U.S., they disbands in Oct. 1973.

Jann Simon Wenner (1946-)

On Nov. 9, 1967 Rolling Stone mag., founded in San Francisco, Calif. by U. of Calif. at Berkeley Free Speech Movement activist Jann Simon Wenner (1946-) with $7.5K begins publication with a press run of 6K copies, growing to 400K by 1975; the debut cover features John Lennon wearing a netted helmet and glasses; the Jan. 22, 1981 cover features nude John Lennon dry humping clothed Yoko Ono.

The Moody Blues

On Nov. 11, 1967 the English (Birmingham) rock band The Moody Blues, incl. Denny Laine (Brian Frederick Arthur Hines) (1944-)/ David Justin Hayward (1946-) (guitar), Clint Warwick (Albert Clinton Eccles) (1940-)/ John Lodge (1945-) (bass), Michael Thomas "Mike" Pinder (1941-) (keyboards), Ray Thomas (1941-) (flute), and Graeme Charles Edge (1941-) (drums) releases album #2 Days of Future Passed, the first-ever concept album, with the London Festival Orchestra, which features the hits The Day Begins: Morning Glory, Nights in White Satin, and Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?). Album #3 In Search of the Lost Chord (July 26, 1968) features Legend of A Mind (about Timothy Leary), Departure, Ride My See-Saw (#42 in the U.K.), Voices in the Sky (#27 in the U.S.), and Dr. Livingstone, I Presume. Album #4 On the Threshold of a Dream (Apr. 25, 1969), their first #1 U.K. album and first U.S. top-20 album) features Never Comes the Day. Album #5 To Our Children's Children's Children (Nov. 21, 1969) (#2 in the U.K.) features Watching and Waiting. Album #6 A Question of Balance (Aug. 7, 1970) features Question (about the Vietnam War). Album #7 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (July 23, 1971) (#1 in the U.K., #2 in the U.S.) features The Story in Your Eyes, Procession, and Emily's Song. Album #8 Seventh Sojourn (Nov. 17, 1972) (#5 in the U.K., #1 in the U.S.) features Isn't Life Strange, and I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band). They go on to sell 70M albums worldwide.

On Dec. 8, 1967 The Rolling Stones release album #9 Their Satanic Majesties Request, (#3 in the U.K., #2 in the U.S.), a play on a British passport, which says "Her Britannic Majesty requests and requires"; a ripoff of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"?; "Satanic Majesties is Pepper" (John Lennon); it features Sing This All Together (with John Lennon and Paul McCartney), Citadel, In Another Land, She's a Rainbow, 2000 Light Years from Home.

Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)

On Dec. 27, 1967 low-voiced Jewish Canadian singer-songwriter (Leonard Nimoy lookalike?) Leonard Norman Cohen (1934-) releases his debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen (#83 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Suzanne (about a 1-nighter with Suzanne Verdal, who is married to Montreal sculptor Armand Vaillancourt) ("And she shows you where to look/ Among the garbage and the flowers/ There are heroes in the seaweed/ There are children in the morning"), So Long, Marianne, Sisters of Mercy, and Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye. Album #2 Songs from a Room (Apr., 1969) (#63 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Bird on a Wire, and The Partisan. Album #3 Songs of Love and Hate (Mar. 1971) (#145 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Famous Blue Raincoat, Avalanche, First We Take Manhattan, and Joan of Arc. In 1976 he makes his first appearance at the Monteux Jazz Festival, with Laura Branagan in his backup band. Album #5 Death of a Ladies' Man (Nov., 1977), produced by Phil Spector shocked fans by drowning Cohen's voice in his Wall of Sound; it features Death of a Ladies' Man, Memories, and Iodine. Album #6 Recent Songs (Sept. 27, 1979) blends acoustic folk music with jazz and Oriental influences; it features The Guests, Humbled in Love, and The Gypsy's Wife. Album #7 Various Positions (Dec. 1984), a collaboration with Jennifer Warnes (whose tribute album revived his career) features Dance Me to the End of Love, Hallelujah, and Coming Back to You. Album #8 I'm Your Man (Feb. 1988) features I'm Your Man. Some of his songs are covered by Judy Collins and other admirers.

The Lemon Pipers Neil Bogart (1943-82) Buddah Records

In Dec. 1967 after Neil Bogart (Neil E. Bogatz) (1943-82) founds Buddah Records (later changes to Buddha Records), signing The Ohio Express, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Melanie, Captain Beefheart, Gladys Knight and The Pips, and The Lemon Pipers, the Oxford, Ohio-based psychedelic pop band The Lemon Pipers, formerly Ivan and the Sabres, and Tony and the Bandits, incl. Dale "Ivan" Brown (1947-) (vocals), William "Bill" Bartlett (1946-) (guitar), Ron Simkins (1948-) (guitar), Ron "Dude" Dudek/Steve Walmsley (1949-) (bass), Robert G. "Reg" Nave (1945-) (keyboards), and William E. Albaugh (1948-99) release their 1-hit wonder Green Tambourine (#1 in the U.S.), the first #1 hit for the Buddah label and the first bubblegum pop U.S. #1 hit. They later have minor hits with Rice Is Nice (#46 in the U.S.), and Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade) (#51 in the U.S.), I'm just really allergic to truffles.

The Nice P.P. Arnold (1946-)

In Dec. 1967 the English (London) progressive rock band The Nice, named after Steve Marriot's slang term for being high, incl. Keith Anthony Joseph "Lee" Jackson (1943-) (bass/vocals), David "Davy" O'List (1948-) (guitar), Keith Noel Emerson (1944-2016) (keyboards) (formerly of The VIPs, precursor of Spooky Tooth) (known for holding down organ keys with a knife), and Ian Hague/Brian "Blinky" Davison (1942-2008) (drums), which started out as the backing group for U.S.-born English soul singer P.P. Arnold (Patricia Ann Cole) (1946-), known for the 1967 cover of the Cat Stevens song The First Cut Is the Deepest release their debut album The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (first progressive rock album), with the title taken from the last names of the group members; it features the tracks Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack, Brandenburger (Concerto), and America (Second Amendment) (by Leonard Bernstein, from "West Side Story"), the first instrumental protest song, incorporating parts of Dvorak's "New World Symphony", and ending with P.P. Arnold's 3-y.-o. son saying "America is pregnant with promises and anticipation, but is murdered by the hand of the inevitable." Speaking of America, on June 26, 1968 Keith Emerson burned a U.S. flag onstage at Royal Albert Hall in London during a performance of "America", getting the group banned for life. Album #2 Ars Longa Vita Brevis (Nov. 1968) is the first rock album to use an orchestra; David O'List is fired during the recording; it features Diary of an Empty Day, and Country Pie. Album #3 Nice/Everything as Nice as Mother Makes It (Sept., 1969) (#3 in the U.K.) features Hang On to a Dream, and For Example. Album #4 Five Bridges (June, 1970) (#2 in the U.S.), commissioned by the Newcastle Arts Festival, and named after the five bridges spanning the Tyne River saw them go over the bridge and compose and perform classical music, incl. The Five Bridges Suite. In 1970 Keith Emerson left to form Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and the band break up, releasing their final album Elegy (Apr. 1971) (#5 in the U.K.).

Traffic Steve Winwood (1948-)

In Dec. 1967 the English (West Midlands) jazz rock band Traffic, consisting of Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood (1948-), Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi (1944-2005), Christopher Gordon Blanford "Chris" Wood (1944-83), and David Thomas "Dave" Mason (1944-) release their debut album Mr. Fantasy (#88 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), which features the psychedelic rock jazz tracks Dear Mr. Fantasy, Paper Sun, Hole In My Shoe, and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Album #2 Traffic Oct. 1938) (#17 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features the tracks Feelin' Alright, (Roamin' Thru the Gloamin' with) 40,000 Headmen. After breaking up in 1968 and reuniting in 1970, album #4 John Barleycorn Must Die (July 1970) (#5 in the U.S.) is released, featuring the tracks Glad, and John Barleycorn. Album #6 The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Nov. 1971) features The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. They disbands in 1974. Steve Winwood goes solo, releasing album #2 Arc of a Diver (Dec. 31, 1980) (#3 in the U.S.), which features the hit While You See a Chance (#7 in the U.S.). Album #4 Back in the High LIfe (July 1986) (#3 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features the hits Back in the High Life Again (w/James Taylor) (#13 in the U.S.), Higher Love (w/Chaka Khan) (#1 in the U.S.), The Finer Things (#8 in the U.S.), and Freedom Overspill (#20 in the U.S.). Album #5 Roll With It (June 1988) sells 5M copies, and features Roll With It (#1 in the U.S.), and Don't You Know What the Night Can Do? (#6 in the U.S.).

Chicago Peter Cetera (1944-)

Also in 1967 the rock brass band Chicago (originally Chicago Transit Authority until in 1968 after the real one complained) is formed in Chicago, Ill. by Walter "Walt" Parazaider (1945-) (sax) after hearing the Beatles' "Got to Get You Into My Life" and wanting to put more horns into pop-rock; members incl. James Carter Pankow (1947-) (trombone), Lee Loughnane (1946-) (pr. LOCK-nane) (trumpet), Terry Alan Kath (1946-78) (guitar) (bandleader) (Jimmy Hendrix's favorite guitarist?), Robert William Lamm (1944-) (keyboards), Daniel Peter "Danny" Seraphine (1948-) (drums), and Peter Paul Cetera (1944-) (bass). Album #1 Chicago Transit Authority (double album) (Apr. 28, 1969) (2M copies) (#17 in the U.S.) (#9 in the U.K.); stays on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart for 171 weeks; it features Beginnings (#71 in the U.S.), Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (#7 in the U.S.), Questions 67 and 68 (#24 in the U.S.), I'm a Man (#49 in the U.S.). Album #2 Chicago (double album) (Jan. 26, 1970) (#4 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) (1M copies); features 25 or 6 to 4 (#4 in the U.S.), Make Me Smile (#9 in the U.S.) (part 1 of "allet for a Girl in Buchannon"), Coulour My World (#7 in the U.S.), and Where Do We Go From Here?. Album #3 Chicago III (double album) (Jan. 11, 1971) (#2 in the U.S.); released after they run out of original material and have to stump between long hours on the road; album cover "Tattered Flag" features the band dressed in historical U.S. uniforms in front of a field of cross representing those who died in the Vietnam War, along with a list of U.S. casualties by war to date; it features Free (#20 in the U.S.), and Lowdown (#40 in the U.S.). Album #4 Chicago (July 10, 1972) (#1 in the U.S.) (#1 of five straight #1 U.S. albums) (2M copies) features Saturday in the Park (#3 in the U.S.), and Dialogue (Part I & II) (#24 in the U.S.). Album #5 Chicago VI (June 25) (#1 in the U.S.) (2M copies); doesn't chart in the U.K.; recorded in the new Caribou Studios in Nederland, Colo. after leaving New York City; first with drummer Laudir de Oliveira; incl. Feelin' Stronger Every Day" (#10 in the U.S.), Just You 'N' Me (#4 in the U.S.). Album #6 Chicago VII (double album) (Mar. 11, 1974) (#1 in the U.S.) (2M copies) features Call On Me (#1 in the U.S.), (I've Been) Searchin' So Long (#9 in the U.S.), and Wishing You Were Here (#1 in the U.S.). Album #7 Chicago VIII (album #7) (Mar. 24, 1974) (#1 in the U.S.) features Brand New Love Affair, Part I & II (#61 in the U.S.). Harry Truman (#13 in the U.S.), and Old Days (#3 in the U.S.). Album #9 (2nd live album) Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits (Nov. 10, 1975) (#1 in the U.S.) (5M copies) doesn't chart in the U.K.; it stays on the U.S. Billboard 200 for 72 straight weeks; #5 of five straight #1 U.S. albums. Album #8 Chicago X (June 14, 1976) (#3 in the U.S.) (1M copies); first album to be officially certified platinum, causing Columbia Records to award them a 25 lb. bar of pure platinum from Cartier; it features If You Leave Me Now (#1 in the U.S.) (first #1 U.S. single), Another Rainy Day in New York City (#32 in the U.S.), and You Are On My Mind (#49 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 40M+ albums. Member (1967-85) Peter Paul Cetera (1944-) goes on to a great solo career, incl. #1 singles, Glory of Love (1986), and The Next Time I Fall (1986), with Amy Grant.

Classics IV

Also in 1967 the Jacksonville, Fla.-based band Classics IV, fronted by Dennis Yost (1943-2008) (who owns a Classic drum set) releases Spooky (#3 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.), pioneering Soft Southern Rock. They follow it in 1968 with Stormy, and in 1969 with Traces.

Red Krayola

Also in 1967 the Houston, Tex.-based experimental noise band (The) Red Krayola, incl. Mayo Thompson (vocals, guitar), Frederick Barthelme (drums), and Steve Cunningham release their debut album The Parable of Arable Land, which features Free Form Freak-Out, followed in 1968 by album #2 God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It (album #2), which features Say Hello to Jamie Jones.

The Youngbloods The Grass Roots Creed Bratton (1943-)

Also in 1967 the New York City rock band The Youngbloods, incl. Jesse Colin Young (1941-) (vocals, bass), Jerry Corbitt (guitar), Joe Bauer (drums), and Lowell "Banana" Levinger III (piano) release their 1-hit wonder Get Together (#5 in the U.S.) (1M copies), which becomes the love-peace-hippie anthem, but not until 1969, after the Nat. Council of Christians and Jews uses it in commercials, causing sales to surge. Also in 1967 the Grass Roots rock band came on the scene, fronted by Robert Frank "Rob" Grill (1943-), and setting a record of 307 straight weeks on the Billboard charts, selling over 20M records, incl. top-10 hits Let's Live for Today (1967), Midnight Confessions (1968), Temptation Eyes (1970), Sooner or Later (1971), and Two Divided by Love (1971). Their highest chart position is #5 for "Midnight Confessions", which is why everybody remembers their hits but can't remember the group. After turning into a nasty old fart, one of the members, Creed Bratton (1943-) later gets a role on NBC-TV's "The Office".

Caetano Veloso (1942-) Gilberto Gil (1942-) Os Mutantes

In 1967 in Brazil singer-songwriters Caetano Veloso (1942-) and Gilberto Gil (1942-) et al. founds the Tropicalista (Tropicalia) (Tropicalismo) movement, encompassing music, poetry and theater, which incl. the Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes (The Mutants), (originally the Six-Sided Rockers), incl. Rita Lee (1947-) (vocals), Arnaldo Baptista (1948-), and Sergio Dias Baptista (1951-), who in 1968 release their debut album Os Mutantes, which features the track A Minha Menina (My Girl).

Roy Harper (1941-)

In 1967 English folk singer Roy Harper (1941-), known for his unique finger style on the guitar and complex compositions releases his debut album Sophisticated Beggar, followed in 1968 by album #2 Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith, and in 1969 by album #3 Folkjokeopus, which features McGoohan's Blues, about the BBC TV series "The Prisoner", starring Patrick McGoohan. Album #4 Flat Baroque and Beserk (Jan. 1970) (#20 in the U.K.) features I Hate the White Man, Another Day, and Tom Tiddler's Ground. Album #5 Stormcock features The Same Old Rock with Jimmy Page AKA S. Flavius Mercurius. Album #9 Bullinamingvase (One of Those Days in England) (1977) features One of Those Days in England. He goes on to influence Led Zeppelin, The Who, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd et al. Let's not forget album #16 Once (1990), which features Black Cloud of Islam (w/Nick Harper).

Vanilla Fudge Marmalade The Foundations Savoy Brown

We're still not done with 1967 psychedelic groups. In 1967 Vanilla Fudge, from Long Island, N.Y., incl. Mark Stein (1947-) (vocals), John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III (1944-) (bass), Vince Martell (1945-) (guitar), and Carmine Appice (1946-) (drums) releases the hit single You Keep Me Hangin' On (by the Supremes) (#6 in the U.S.), followed by Season of the Witch. They break up in 1970. Also in 1967 The Marmalade (originally The Gaylords) from Glasgow, Scotland, incl. Dean Ford (Thomas McAleese) (1945-) (vocals), William "Junior" Campbell (1947-), John Graham Knight (1943-) (bass), Patrick "Pat" Fairley (1943-) (bass), and Alan Whitehead (1945-) (drums) release their U.K. cult hit I See the Rain, which makes a fan of Jimi Hendrix. Lovin' Things (by Keith Mansfield) (#6 in the U.K.) is released in summer 1968, and is covered by the Grass Roots in 1969. In Jan. 1969 their cover of the Beatles' Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da reaches #1 in the U.K. (first Scottish group to reach #1 in the U.K.), selling 1M copies worldwide. In 1969 their single Baby makes It Soon (by Tony Macaulay) reaches #9 in the U.K. In late 1969 they release their biggest hit Reflections of My Life (#10 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which sells 2M copies worldwide, after which they slowly break up and reflected about their lives. Also in 1967 the English (London) group The Foundations, incl. Clem Curtis (1940-) (vocals), Colin Young (1944-) (vocals), Arthur Brown (1942-) (vocals), Alan Warner (1941-) (guitar), Peter Macbeth (1943-) (bass), and Tim Harris (1948-) (drums), the first British band with an authentic Motown soul sound (being multracial doesn't hurt?) release their debut album From the Foundations, whch features their hit single Baby Now That I've Found You (#11 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (first #1 U.K. hit by a multiracial group), written by Tom Macaulay (1941-). In 1968 they release album #2 Rocking the Foundations, which features the hit single Build Me Up Buttercup (#2 in the U.K., #3 in the U.S.), written by Tom Macaulay (1941-); "Why do you build me up Buttercup, baby, just to let me down, and mess me around, and then worst of all, you never call baby, when you say you will, but I love you still. I need you more than anyone, darling, you know that I have from the start, so build me up Buttercup, don't break my heart" (should be the officlal Erectile Dysfunction song?); also Baby Now That I've Found You (#11 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (first #1 U.K. hit from a multiracial group) (written by Tom Macaulay). Album #3 is The Foundations. Album #4 Digging the Foundations (1969) features In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me) (#8 in the U.S.), and Born to Live, Born to Die (#46 in the U.K.). Also in 1967 the English (London) blues group (last gasp of blues in Britain?) Savoy Brown, incl. Kim Simmonds, John O'Leary, Bryce Portius, Trevor Jeavons/Bob Hall, (piano), and Leo Manning/Ray Chappell (drums) release their debut album Shake Down, which features Black Night. Album #2 Getting to the Point (1968) is the first with vocalist Chris Youlden; it features Stay With Me Baby. Album #3 Blue Matter (1969) features Train to Nowhere. Album #4 A Step Further features I'm Tired. Album #6 Looking In (1970) features Money Can't Save Your Soul. Album #8 Hellbound Train (Feb. 1972) features Hellbound Train.

The Music Explosion Amen Corner

Also in 1967 the Mansfield, Ohio-based garage band The Music Explosion, incl. James "Jamie" Lyons (vocals), Donald Atkins (guitar), Richard Nesta (guitar), Burton Stahl (bass), and Robert Avery (drums) releases their 1-hit wonder Little Bit O'Soul (#2 in the U.S.). Also in 1967 Amen Corner ("the Real Magnificent Seven"), incl. Andrew "Andy" Fairweather Low (1948-) (vocals), Neill Jones (1949-) (guitar), Allan Jones (1947-) (sax), Derek John "Blue" Weaver (1947-) (keyboards), Mike Smith (1947-) (sax), Clive Taylor (1948-) (bass), and Dennis Ronald Bryon (1949-) (drums) release their debut single Gin House Blues (#12 in the U.K.), followed by The World of breakn Hearts (1967) (#24 in the U.K.), Bend Me, Shape Me (1968) (#3 in the U.K.), High in the Sky (1968) (#6 in the U.K.), If Paradise Is Half As Nice (1969) (#1 in the U.K.), Hello Susie (#4 in the U.K.), and Get Back (by the Beatles) (1969).

Patti Labelle (1944-)

In 1967 Patti LaBelle (1944-) and the Bluebells releases Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which becomes her signature song. In Oct. 1974 they becomes the first African-Am. contemporary act to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Kenny Gamble (1943-) and Leon Huff (1942-) Kenny Gamble (1943-) and Leon Huff (1942-) Philadelphia Internat. Records The Soul Survivors Archie Bell (1944-) and The Drells The Sweet Inspirations Dee Dee Warwick (1945-)

In 1967 the songwriting team of Kenneth "Kenny" Gamble (1943-) and Leon A. Huff (1942-) launch Motown rival Philadelphia (Philly) Soul, which features a glockenspiel in the background and laid the groundwork for disco, going on to write and produce over 170 gold and platinum records for artists incl. the all-white The Soul Survivors, whose 1967 hit single Expressway to Your Heart (#5 in the U.S.) is their first hit. They also sign Archie Bell (1944-) and The Drells, from Houston, Tex., who on Mar. 30, 1968 release their 1-hit wonder debut single Tighten Up (#1 in the U.S.); "We dance just as good as we walk." They also sign The Sweet Inspirations, fronted by Emily "Cissy" Drinkard Houston (1933-), mother of Whitney Houston and aunt of Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, a backup singing group for Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis Presley. They also sign Delia Mae "Dee Dee" Warwick (1945-2008), whose biggest hit is I Want to Be With You (1966) (#41 in the U.S.). They also sign Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, and Jerry Butler. In 1971 they found Philadelphia International Records, which sign Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, The O'Jays, and Teddy Pendergrass. In the 1970s Gamble converts to Sunni Islam under the name Luqman Abdul Haqq, and nurtured connections with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and Jamil Al-Amin (AKA H. Rap Brown).

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1968-73 Goldie Hawn (1945-) Judy Carne (1939-) Artie Johnson (1929-) Ruth Buzzi (1936-) JoAnne Worley (1937-) Lily Tomlin (1939-)

On Jan. 22, 1968 (Mon.) Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In debuts on NBC-TV for 140 episodes (until May 14, 1973) to cheer up a jittery America, hosted by stand-up comedians Dan Rowan (1922-87) and Dick Martin (1922-2008), who begin the standing joke format (later adopted by the Smothers Brothers) of pretending not to be too obvious about being against the Vietnam War as well as totally politically and socially liberal, despite the jokes ridiculing the KKK, NRA, Pentagon et al.; the anti-establishment show makes a star of ditzy blonde Goldie Jeanne Hawn (1945-) ("My I.Q. has never been questioned; come to think of it, it has never been mentioned"), along with Arthur Stanton Eric "Arte" Johnson (1929-) ("Ve-e-e-ry interesting, but stupid"), Ruth Buzzi (1936-), Judy Carne (Joyce Audrey Botterill) (1939-2015) "Sock it to me!", JoAnne Worley (1937-) ("Is that a chicken joke?"), and Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (1939-), introducing "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls", "You bet your bippy", and "Heah come de judge" to the Am. lexicon; what uncanny luck debuting eight days before the Tet Offensive?; "Say good night, Dick"; "Good night Dick". What uncanny luck premiering eight days before the Tet Offensive?

Blue Cheer

1968 is a great year for rock. In Jan. 1968 the San Francisco, Calif. heavy metal pioneer band Blue Cheer (named after a street brand of LSD), incl. Richard Allan "Dickie" Peterson (1946-2009) (vocals, bass), Leigh Stephens (guitar), and Paul Whaley (drums) release their debut album Vincebus Eruptum (#11 in the U.S.), which features their 1-hit wonder Summertime Blues (written in 1958 by Eddie Cochran) (#14 in the U.S.).

The Status Quo

In Jan. 1968 The Status Quo from London, England, who started as the Spectres in 1962 release their only U.S. hit Pictures of Matchstick Men, after which they charted 60+ times in the U.K., most of any group, while dropping off the U.S. charts like burned-out matchsticks.

Kenny Rogers (1938-) and the First Edition

In early 1968 the rock band The First Edition, fronted by Houston, Tex.-born Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Rogers (1938-) release their first hit Just drops In (To See What Condition My Condition is In). In 1969 they release another top-10 hit Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town. After that the band goes country, and in 1975 Rogers goes solo, becoming one of the top country and pop artists ever, releasing The Gambler in 1978.

Mason Williams (1938-)

In Feb. 1968 Abilene, Tex.-born Mason Douglas Williams (1938-), head writer for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" releases the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, which features his 1-hit wonder Classical Gas. Of course he performs it on the show.

In Mar. 1968 Sony Corp. joins with CBS to found Sony/CBS Records, with $720M capitalization, becoming the first U.S.-Japan joint venture after Japanese capital deregulation; notice which name comes first?

Canned Heat

On Apr. 24, 1968 the weird but unique boogie rock band Canned Heat (formed in LA in 1965, and named after Tommy's Johnson's 1928 "Canned Heat Blues") releases On the Road Again (#16 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), followed in Sept. by Going Up the Country (#11 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.).

The Amboy Dukes Ted Nugent (1948-)

In Apr. 1968 the Detroit, Mich.-based band Amboy Dukes releases the hit single Journey to the Center of the Mind, and launched the career of Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent (1948-), who in 1977 releases the hit Cat Scratch Fever.

Quicksilver Messenger Service

In May 1968 the San Francisco psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service, formed in 1965 by Gary Duncan (Gary Ray Grubb) (1946-), John Cipollina (1943-89) et al. release their debut album Quicksilver Messenger Service, which features the tracks Gold and Silver, and Fool.

Steppenwolf

In June 1968 the LA hard rock group Steppenwolf, fronted by German-born Canadian vocalist John Kay (Joachim Fritz Krauledat) (1944-) releases the first-ever heavy metal song Born to Be Wild, which even coins the term in its lyrics "heavy metal thunder". In Sept. 1968 they follow it with Magic Carpet Ride.

Arthur Brown (1942-)

In June 1968 zany English rocker Arthur Wilton Brown (1942-) releases his 1-hit wonder Fire (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), where he plays Satan and invites listeners to join the BBQ, starting a genre later filled by Alice Cooper, Kiss, Marilyn Manson et al.

Spooky Tooth

In June 1968 the English rock band Spooky Tooth, formerly Art, incl. Michael "Mike" Harrison (1942-) (keyboards, vocals), Gary Malcolm Wright (1943-) (organ), Luther "Luke" Grosvenor (1946-) (guitar, vocals), Alfred Gregory "Greg" Ridley (1942-2003), Andy Leigh (bass, vocals), and Mike Kellie (1947-) (drums) release their debut album It's All About, which features the track Tobacco Road (by J.D. Loudermilk). Album #2 Spooky Two (Mar. 1969) (best?) features Waitin' for the Wind, Better By You, Better Than Me, Feelin' Bad, I've gets Enough Heartaches, and Lost in My Dream. Album #3 The Last Puff (July 1970) features I Am the Walrus by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Luther Grosvenor then leaves to go to Mott The Hoople under the alias Ariel Bender, and is replaced by Mick Jones, who later co-founds Foreigner. Album #7 The Mirror (Oct. 1974) is released 1 mo. after the group disbands, and features The Mirror.

The Band

On July 1, 1968 after touring with Bob Dylan in 1965-6, the Canadian (Toronto)-based roots rock band The Band (formerly Levon and the Hawks, Canadian Squires), incl. Jaime Robert "Robbie" Robertson (1943-2023), Richard George Manuel (1943-86), Eric Garth Hudson (1937-) (organ), Richard Clare "Rick" Danko (1942-99), Mark Lavon (Levon) Helm (1940-) (only Yankee, the one with the mournful voice who sings "The Weight"), known for switching instruments and taking turns singing release their debut album Music from Big Pink, a pink house at 2188 Stoll Rd. (56 Parnassus Ln.), West Saugerties, N.Y., which features the single The Weight, giving rock and roll a funky backwoods country dimension. Album #2 The Band (Brown Album) (Sept. 22, 1969) (Capitol Records) (#9 in the U.S.) features Up on Cripple Creek (#25 in the U.S.), Rag Mama Rag (#57 in the U.S.), The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Look Out Cleveland, and King Harvest (Has Surely Come). On Nov. 25, 1976 (Thanksgiving) The Band holds its farewell concert in Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Calif., titled The Last Waltz; a documentary dir. by Martin Scorsese is released on apr. 26 1978.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Saul Zaentz (1921-)

On July 5, 1968 the swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), fronted by Louisiana, er, Berkeley, Calif.-born singer-songwriter John Cameron Fogerty (1945-) release their debut album Creedence Clearwater Revival, which features their first hit Suzie Q. Album #2 Bayou Country (Jan. 1969) features Born on the Bayou, Good Golly Miss Molly, and Proud Mary. Album #3 Green River (Aug. 1969) features Green River, and Bad Moon Rising, popular with vampire lovers everywhere. Album #4 Willy and the Poor Boys (Nov. 1969) features Down on the Corner, Midnight Special, and the Vietnam War protest song Fortunate Son. Album #5 Cosmo's Factory (June 25, 1970) features Looking Out My Back Door, Run Through the Jungle, Up Around the Bend, Travelin' Band, and Who'll Stop the Rain. Album #6 Pendulum (Dec. 7, 1970) features Have You Ever Seen the Rain?. Too bad, mgr. John Fogerty put all the members' money in the tax dodge scam of his producer Saul Zaentz (1921-), losing it to the Castle Bank of Nassau, and after releasing album #8 Mardi Gras on Apr. 11, 1972, they break up on Oct. 16, 1972, after which John Fogerty gets in a court battle with Zaentz, which Fogerty won, later putting the line "Zanz can't dance but he'll steal your money" in his song "Zanz Kant Danz", which causes another court battle that Fogert won.

Marc Bolan (1947-77)

On July 5, 1968 the English (London) glam rock band T.Rex (full name Tyrannosaurus Rex), fronted by Marc Bolan (Feld) (1947-77) and Steve Peregrin Took (1949-80) release their debut album My People are Fair and have Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (album) (debut) (July 5) (#15 in the U.K.), featuring the tracks Hot Rod Mama. Child Star, and Scenescof. Album #2 Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages (Oct. 14, 1968) features Aznageel the Mage, The Friends, and Wind Quartets. Album #3 Unicorn (May 16, 1969) (#16 in the U.K.) features The Seal of Seasons, She was born To Be My Unicorn, Stones for Avalon, and Iscariot. Album #4 A Beard of Stars (Mar. 13, 1970) is the first with Mickey Finn (drums), and their first use of electric instruments; it features the tracks By the Light of a Magical Moon, Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart, Pavillions of Sun, and Ride a White Swan. Album #5 T.Rex (Dec. 18, 1970) was their first use of the abbreviated name for Tyrannosaurus Rex. Album #6 Electric Warrior (Sept. 24, 1971) (#32 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) is their breakthrough album, featuring the tracks Jeepster, and Bang A Gong (Get It On) (#10 in the U.S.), launching glitter-dabbing glam rock? Album #7 The Slider (July 21, 1972) (#17 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Telegram Sam, and Metal Guru. Album #8 Tanx (Mar. 16, 1973) (#102 in the U.S.) dumped glam rock for dark proto-punk, and features Shock Rock. In 1973 they release the hit single 20th Century Boy. Album #9 Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow - A Creamed Cage in August (Feb. 1, 1974) causes his attempt to pander to the U.S. market split his fans; it features Teenage Dream (#13 in the U.K.). Album #10 Bolan's Zip Gun (Feb. 16, 1975) features Light of Love (#22 in the U.K.), and Zip Gun Boogie. Album #11 Futuristic Dragon (Jan. 30, 1976) (#50 in the U.K.) features Futuristic Dragon (#50 in the U.K.), and Dreamy Lady (#30 in the U.K.). Album #12 (last) Dandy in the Underworld (Mar. 11, 1976) (#26 in the U.K.) features Dandy in the Underworld, I Love to Boogie, and The Soul of My Suit. Too bad, Marc Bolan dies in a car crash in London on Sept. 16, 1977 when his purple Mini was driven by his babe Gloria Jones into a sycamore tree (she survived); the site is turned into a shrine; the last guest on his Granada music show "Marc" is David Bowie.

Apple Records The Beatles' White Album, 1968 Beatles photographer Tom Murray Jane Asher (1946-) Fake John Lennon Dead Photo by Tom Murray, 1968

On July 28, 1968 while in the midst of founding Apple Records (the logo is a green Granny Smith apple), the Beatles have their Mad Day Out, going randomly around London while being photographed by Paul McCartney's Am. photographer girlfriend Francie "Franny" Schwartz (1944-), who Paul's upper-middle class actress fiance (since Dec. 25, 1967) Jane Asher (1946-) (sister of Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon) found him in bed with on July 20, ending their engagement; the Beatles' last official photoshoot, taken by society photographer Tom Murray and not releases until 2010, it has an eerie Photo of John Lennon Playing Dead. On Nov. 22, 1968 they release The White Album, their album #9 (double album), first release from the Apple label, which becomes their best-selling album, selling 2M copies the first week. It have a plain white cover design by English Pop artist Richard Hamilton (1922-), and features a serial number. Their first album after the death of mgr. Brian Epstein. Original title is "A Doll's House", after the Henrik Ibsen play. Tracks include: Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence (about Mia Farrow's sister Prudence Farrow), Glass Onion ("Here's another clue for you all, the walrus is Paul"), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Wild Honey Pie; The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (written by George), Happiness is a Warm Gun; Martha My Dear, I'm So Tired, Blackbird (about the racial struggle in the U.S.?), Piggies (George), Rocky Raccoon, Don't Pass Me By (Ringo), Why Don't We Do It in the Road?, I Will, Julia (quotes Khalil Gibran's 1923 work "The Prophet"), Birthday, Yer Blues, Mother Nature's Son, Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey, Sexy Sadie; Helter Skelter (4:29) (Charles Manson claims it sends him Satanic messages), Long, Long, Long (George), Revolution 1, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle (George), Cry Baby Cry, Revolution 9 (try it backwards and hear the Satanic messages, starting with "Number Nine" turning into "Turn me on dead man"?); Good Night. After that supernova of LSD-soaked musical creativity, they are probably all burned out and looking for excuses to say good night and break up? Talking about White Album, guess who countered with a Black Album?

Deep Purple Tetragrammaton Records 'Deep Purple in Rock', 1970

In July 1968 the English (Hertford) rock band Deep Purple (AKA Roundabout), incl. Rod Evans (1947-) (vocals), Jon Lord (1941-2012) (organ), Hugh Richard "Ritchie" Blackmore (1945-) (guitar), Nicholas "Nick" Simper (1945-) (bass), and Ian Paice (1948-) (drums) release their debut album Shades of Deep Purple, which features the track Hush (#4 in the U.S.), followed by album #2 The Book of Taliesyn (Dec. 11, 1968), which features River Deep, Mountain High (#53 in the U.S.). Album #4 Deep Purple in Rock (June 1970) (#4 in the U.K.) features Speed King, Into the Fire, Child in Time, and Black Night. Album #5 Fireball (July 1971) (#1 in the U.K.) features Fireball (#15 in the U.K.), Strange Kind of Woman (#8 in the U.K.), and Anyone's Daughter. On Mar. 18, 1972 they release the single When a Blind Man Cries, along with Never Before. Album #6 Machine Head (Mar. 1972) (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), recorded at the Grand Hotel Montreux, Switzerland on Dec. 6-21, 1971 after a fire during a performance by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention burned down a nearby casino features Smoke on the Water (#4 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.); "We all came out to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shoreline/ To makes records with a mobile, we didn't have much time." Too bad their distributor is Tetragrammaton Records, founded by Roy Silver, Marvin Deane, Bruce Post Campbell, and Bill Cosby, which also distributed John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1968 "Two Virgins" album, but goes bankrupt in 1971, leaving Deep Purple's deep pockets empty and break. After pioneering hard rock and heavy metal, and being listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as "loudest pop group", they went on to sell 100M albums worldwide.

The Archies Ron Dante (1945-)

On Sept. 14, 1968 (Sat.) as a fitting touche to the anti-materialistic Woodstock crowd, The Archie Show debut on CBS-TV for 17 episodes (until Aug. 30, 1969), featuring the fictional rock band The Archies, who goes on to have a string of hits that launched the Bubblegum Music craze (ends 1972). Their biggest hit is Sugar, Sugar, sung by Ron Dante (Carmine Granito) (1945-), releases on July 26, 1969, which becomes the #1 single of 1969 in the U.S. and U.K. After the show folded in one season, it spawned Sat. morning spinoff shows until 1978. In 1969 Dante also have a hit with Tracy under the name The Cuff Links.

Steve Miller Band

In Sept. 1968 the Steve Miller Band release their debut album Children of the Future, featuring Steppin' Stone, Key to the Highway. Album #2 Sailor (Oct. 1968) contained the hits Living in the USA, and Gangster of Love. Album #3 Brave New World (Sept. 1969) contained the hit track Space Cowboy. Album #8 The Joker (Oct. 1973) (#2 in the U.S.) contained the hit The Joker.

Jose Feliciano (1945-)

On Oct. 2-10, 1968 the Detroit Tigers (AL) defeated the St. Louis Cardinals (NL) 4-3 (4-1 in Game 7) to win the 65th World Series, helping unite the city after the 1967 Detroit Race Riot; on Oct. 2 Bob Gibson struck out 17 Tigers players to win Game 1; Gibson also won Game 4 and won the Cy Young and MVP awards with a 1.12 ERA during the season; Denny McLain won Game 6, while teammate pitcher Micky Lolich goes 3-0, and won World Series MVP; too bad, talented blind Puerto Rican immigrant crossover artist Jose Feliciano (1945-) sang The Star-Spangled Banner slow, jazzy Latin-style, changing the arrangement, starting a (racist?) backlash among veterans and causing radio stations to quit playing his music for several years, even though the single reaches #50 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 10 mo. later Jimi Hendrix did his here's-what-it-looks-like-here's-what-it-feels-like electric guitar rendition at Woodstock sans backlash. Meanwhile in 1968 he releases his hit album Feliciano!, featuring the hit track Light My Fire (by the Doors). In Nov. 1970 he releases the album Feliz Navidad, which features Feliz Navidad, which becomes one of the most popular Xmas songs ever, the racists still couldn't co-opt that, no wonder Puerto Rico won't opt for statehood.

Jethro Tull Jethro Tull (1674-1741) Jethro Tull Seed Drill

On Oct. 25, 1968 the English (Blackpool and Luton) rock band Jethro Tull, named after the English agriculturalist Jethro Tull (1674-1741) who perfected the horse-drawn seed drill in 1701, I guess it resembles a flute if you use your imagination, featuring Scottish floutist Ian Scott Anderson (1947-) release their debut album This Was (#62 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), which features Cat's Squirrel. Album #2 Stand Up (Aug. 1, 1969) (#1 in the U.K.) features A New Day Yesterday, and Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square. Album #3 Benefit (Apr. 20, 1970) (#3 in the U.K.), last with John Evan and Glenn Cornick features With You There to Help Me, and Play in Time. Album #4 Aqualung (Mar. 19, 1971) sells 7M copies, and features Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Mother Goose, and Locomotive Breath. Album #7 War Child (Oct. 14, 1974) features Bungle in the Jungle, Only Solitaire, and Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day. They go on to sell 60M albums.

Three Dog Night

In Oct. 1968 the all-cover LA-based rock band Three Dog Night (named by June Fairchild after an Australian night so cold that the aborigines need three dogs to keep them warm), comprised of Daniel Anthony "Danny" Hutton (1942-) (vocals), Charles "Chuck" Negron (1942-) (vocals), Cory Wells (Emil Lewandowski) (1942-) (vocals), Michael Rand "Mike" Allsup (1947-) (guitar), Jimmy Greenspoon (1948-) (keyboards), Joe Schermie (1946-2002) (bass), and Floyd Sneed (1942-) (drums) release their debut album Three Dog Night, containing the tracks Nobody, Try a Little Tenderness, and One (by Harry Nilsson) (#5 in the U.S.). Album #2 Suitable for Framing (June 1969) contained the hit singles Easy To Be Hard (from "Hair"), Eli's Comin' (by Laura Nyro), and Celebrate (featuring Chicago). Album #4 It Ain't Easy (Apr. 1970) contained the hits It Ain't Easy, and Mama Told Me (Not To Come). Album #5 Naturally (Nov. 1970) contained the hits Joy to the World (#1 in the U.S.) ("Jeremiah is a bullfrog, is a good friend of mine,/ I never understood a single a word he said, but I helped him drink his wine"), Liar (#7 in the U.S.), and One Man Band. Album #7 Harmony (Sept. 1971) contained the hits An Old Fashioned Love Song (by Paul Williams) (#4 in the U.S.), and Never Been to Spain (by Hoyt Axton) (#5 in the U.S.).

Bubble Puppy

In Nov. 1968 the Austin, Tex.-based rock band Bubble Puppy, named after the Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy game in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", incl. Rod Prince (guitar), Todd Potter (guitar), Roy Cox (bass), and David "Fuzzy" Fore (drums) release their 1-hit wonder Hot Smoke and Sassafras (#14 in the U.S.), named after a mangled line from "The Beverly Hillbillies".

Sly and the Family Stone

In Nov. 1968 the San Francisco multiracial rock-funk-soul group Sly and the Family Stone, incl. Sylvester Stewart "Sly" Stone (1943-) (vocals), Frederick Stewart "Freddie" Stone (1946-) (guitar), Rosemary "Rose" Stone (1945-) (keyboards) (known for performing while wearing a platinum-colored wig), Larry Graham (1946-) (bass), Cynthia Robinson (1946-) (trumpet), Jerry Martini (1943-) (sax), and Greg Errico (1948-) (drums), with background by Little Sister featuring Vaetta "Vet" Stone (1950-) release their first #1 U.S. hit single Everyday People. Album #2 Dance to the Music (Apr. 27, 1968) features the track Dance to the Music. Album #4 Stand! (May 3, 1969) is their breakthrough, selling 1M copies by Nov. 26, and 3M total; it features the tracks Stand!, Sing a Simple Song, I Want to Take You Higher, and Hot Fun in the Summertime; bassist Larry Graham invented the "slap bass technique" which becomes a staple of funk, along with "slapping and popping". Album #5 There's a Riot Goin' On (original title "Africa Talks to You") (Nov. 20, 1971) (#1 in the U.S.), sells 1M copies, and features Family Affair (#1 in the U.S.). They break up in Jan. 1975.

Free

In Nov. 1968 the English (London) group Free, composed of Paul Bernard Rodgers (1949-) (vocals), Paul Francis Kossoff (1950-76) (guitar), Andrew McLan "Andy" Fraser (1952-2015) (bass), John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick (keyboards), and Simon Frederick St. George Kirke (1949-) (drums) release their debut album Tons of Sobs, featuring Goin' Down Slow. Album #3 Fire and Water (June 1970) (#13 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features the hit All Right Now (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.).

On Dec. 3, 1968 still-slim Elvis Presley "the King" makes his Elvis Live Performance Comeback in an NBC-TV special.

'Beggars Banquet' by the Rolling Stones, 1968

On Dec. 6, 1968 after releasing the hit single Jumpin' Jack Flash in May 1968, the Rolling Stones releases album #7 (#9 in the U.S.) Beggars Banquet, featuring the tracks Dear Doctor, Parachute Woman, Street Fighting Man, Stray Cat Blues, Salt of the Earth ("Let's take a drink to the salt of the Earth"), Factory Girl, and their late-but-killer 666 entry Sympathy for the Devil (original title: "The Devil is My Name"). On Dec. 11, 1968 the BBC aired The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus, starring Taj Mahal (Henry Saint Clair Fredericks) (1942-), The Who (lead guitar Pete Townshend), John Lennon and Yoko Ono's horrible band Dirty Mac (playing "Gitless", with Yoko Ono squawking like a monkey), and finishing with the Rolling Stone's "Sympathy for the Devil" in what amounts to a Satanic rite with everybody celebrating. Mick Jagger's words "Who killed the Kennedys, after all it is you and me" stunned viewers so close to the assassination of RFK. This was the last appearance of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones (b. 1942) (who is found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool on July 3, 1969) with the Stones. The show is never reaired except once on VH1, then is finally released to PBS in 2007.

On Dec. 26, 1968 the British rock group Led Zeppelin plays their first U.S. concert in the Denver Auditorium Arena in downtown Denver, Colo.

Iron Butterfly

In 1968 San Diego, Calif.-based psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly releases the mega-hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (In the Garden of Eden) in the album of the same title, which sells 25M copies.

David Clayton-Thomas (1941-)

In 1968 English singer David Clayton-Thomas (1941-) releases the hit single Spinning Wheel (#2 in the U.S.), then joins the New York City jazz fusion band Blood, Sweat and Tears, which in 1969 releases You've makes Me So Very Happy (#2 in the U.S.).

Mary Hopkin (1950-) The United States of America 'The American Metaphysical Circus' by Joe Byrd (1937-) and the Field Hippies, 1969 Zager and Evans Chambers Brothers

In 1968 cute Welsh singer Mary Hopkin (1950-) releases her #1 U.K. single Those are the Days on the Apple label. In 1968 the LA psychedelic electronic rock band The United States of America, consisting of Joseph "Joe" Byrd (1937-), Dorothy Moskowitz, Gordon Marron, Craig Woodson, Ed Bogas, and Rand Forbes release their first and last album The United States of America, the ultimate underground hippie album, featuring the tracks The American Metaphysical Circus, Coming Down, The Garden of Earthly Delights, Hard Coming Love, Cloud Song, No Love to Give, Where Is Yesterday, and I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife ("But I've gets to consider my mortality, and I won't leave my wooden wife for you, sugar/ I've gets a split-level house with a wonderful view, sugar, three kids and Yorkshire terrier too, sugar, and I just couldn't stand it when you come home late from school"). In 1969 Joe Byrd (1937-) and the Field Hippies, incl. Tom Scott, Ted Greene, Meyer Hirsch, Victoria Bond, and Ernie Anderson release their first and last album The American Metaphysical Circus, which becomes a classic that stayed in print for almost 20 years; it features the tracks The Elephant at the Door, and Invisible Man (slams LBJ). In 1968 1-hit wonder Zager and Evans from Lincoln, Neb., consisting of of Denny Zager (1943-) and Rick Evans (1943-) releases the single In the Year 2525, which didn't go anywhere until 1969, when it goes #1 for 6 weeks starting on July 12, during the Apollo 11 Moon Mission; "In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may find... In the year 7010, if God's a comin', he ought to makes it by then... In the year 9595, I'm kinda wondering if man is gonna be alive. He's taken everything this old Earth can give, and he ain't put back nothing in... Now it's been 10,000 years. Man has cried a billion tears. For what, he never knew. Now man's reign is through. But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight, so very far away, maybe it's only yesterday." In 1968 the Chambers Brothers release their 11-min. hit Time Has Come Today, favorite of Historyscopers neverwhere.

Joni Mitchell (1943-) Van Morrison (1945-) Harry Nilsson (1941-94) James Taylor (1948-)

1968 saw the launch of singers Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell (nee Anderson) (1943-) of Canada, George Ivan "Van" Morrison (1945-) of Northern Ireland, Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Harry Edward Nilsson III (1941-94), and James Vernon Taylor (1948-) of N.C. In Mar. 1968 Alberta, Canada-born Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell (nee Anderson) (1943-) releases her debut album Song to a Seagull, which didn't go anywhere, but album #2 Clouds (May 1969) was a hit, with hit tracks Chelsea Morning, and Both Sides, Now. Album #3 Ladies of the Canyon (Mar. 1970) contained the hits Big Yellow Taxi ("They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"), Woodstock, and The Circle Game. In 1967 Van Morrison, who score a hit in 1964 with his Belfast band Them with the garage band staple Gloria went solo and releases the hit single Brown Eyed Girl. In 1968 he releases his solo debut album Astral Weeks, which didn't go anywhere, but his 3rd solo album Moondance (Feb. 28, 1970) was a hit, containing the hit tracks Moondance, Come Running, and Crazy Love. In June 1972 he releases album #6 Saint Dominic's Preview (#15 in the U.S.), which features Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) (#61 in the U.S.). On Mar. 17, 2008 he releases album #32 Keep It Simple (#10 in the U.S.), which features That's Entrainment; "Entrainment is when you connect with the music... Entrainment is really what I'm getting at in the music... It's kind of when you're in the present moment - you're here - with no past or future." In 1968 Harry Nilsson releases album #3 Aerial Ballet, which incl. Everybody's Talkin', which becomes a hit when it is uses as the theme of the 1969 Oscar winning film "The Midnight Cowboy". It also contained One, which is makes into a #1 U.S. hit by Three Dog Night ("One is the loneliest number"). In 1969 he recorded I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City (#34 in the U.S.) for "Midnight Cowboy", which is not uses in a film until "You've gets Mail" (1998). Nilsson's album #6 The Point! (Feb. 1971), about a a boy named Oblio, the only round-headed person in the Pointed Village features Me and My Arrow. Album #7 Nilsson Schmilsson (Nov. 1971) (#3 in the U.S.) features Without You (#1 in the U.S.), Coconut (#8 in the U.S.) ("She put the lime in the coconut, she drank 'em both up"), and Jump Into the Fire (#27 in the U.S.). Album #7 Son of Schmilsson (album #8) (July 1972) (#12 in the U.S.) features Spaceman (#23 In the U.S.), Daybreak (#39 in the U.S.), and You're Breakin' My Heart (AKA The Fuck You Song) ("You're breaking my heart/ You're tearing it apart/ So fuck you"). In Dec. 1968 James Taylor releases his debut album James Taylor, which is the first recording by a non-British artist to be releases by Apple Records, and his only release on that label. In Feb. 1970 he releases album #2 Sweet Baby James, containing the hit Fire and Rain (#3 in the U.S.). In 1971 his duet with Carole King You've gets a Friend (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) is released.

Ellen Willis (1941-2011)

In 1968 Manhattan, N.Y. born Jewish leftist feminist journalist Ellen Jane Willis (1941-2011) becomes the first pop-rock music critic for The New Yorker (until 1975), with the column "Rock, etc.", becoming the first with a nat. audience - took long enough, huh?

'Yellow Submarine', 1969 'Abbey Road', 1969 The Beatles on the Roof of Apple Records, Jan. 30, 1969 Billy Preston (1946-2006) Linda Eastman (1941-98) and Paul McCartney (1942-) Paul Is Dead Hoax, 1969 Allen Klein (1931-) Gloria Emerson (1929-2004) 'Two Virgins', 1968 John Lennon (1940-80) and Yoko Ono (1933-), 1969

1969 is the end of the magic Sixties Decade, and also the end of the magic Beatles. On Jan. 3, 1969 30K copies of the Nov. 29, 1968 John Lennon-Yoko Ono debut album Two Virgins were confiscated by police in Newark, N.J., claiming that the nude cover photo violates their obscenity laws - not because they're naked, but because they're so ugly? On Jan. 30, 1969 after releasing their Yellow Submarine soundtrack album (#10) on Jan. 17, which features the new tracks All Together Now, and Hey Bulldog, the Beatles give their last public performance on the roof of Apple Records in London, stopping traffic on the street while they makes a great video of Get Back (the first single release in true stereo in the U.S.) (a response to Enoch Powell's Apr. 20, 1968 Rivers of Blood Speech, with an early version having the line "Don't dig no Pakistanis taking all the people's jobs"); black Houston, Tex.-born Afro-wearing "5th Beatle" organist William Evertt "Billy" Preston (1946-2006) (hired on Jan. 22) accompanied them; the London bobbies shut them down in the middle of "Let It Be"; on Sept. 26, 1969 Preston releases album #4 That's the Way God Planned It on the Apple label, featuring the track That's the Way God Planned It, followed on Jan. 7, 1970 by album #5 Encouraging Words, featuring friend George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, followed on June 25, 1971 by album #6 I Wrote a Simple Song, featuring the hit Outa-Space, followed on Oct. 8, 1972 by album #7 Music Is My Life, featuring his #1 U.S. hit Will It Go Round in Circles, followed in Sept. 1974 by album #9 The Kids & Me, featuring You Are So Beautiful, and Nothing from Nothing. On Feb. 4, 1969 after growing dissatisfied with super-smart American Beatles atty. Allen Klein (1931-) (son of Hungarian Jewish immigrants) (motto: "Though I walk in the shadow of the valley of evil, I have no fear, as I am the biggest bastard in the valley"), Paul McCarthy hired the firm of Eastman and Eastman, run by Lee Eastman (Leopold Vail Epstein) (1910-91), which goes on to successfully sue the Beatles to dissolve their partnership; on Feb. 8 George Harrison have his tonsils removed at Univ. College Hospital in London after he neglected an infected molar. On Mar. 11, 1969 Levi Strauss & Co. begins to sell bell-bottomed jeans, causing cattle-like U.S. consumers to go moo and stampede to buy these silly pants to go with their Beatle ankle boots. On Mar. 12, 1969 Beatle Paul McCartney marries New York photographer Linda Louise Eastman (1941-98) (son of his atty. Lee Eastman) in London; meanwhile George Harrison and his wife Pattie are arrested in England for hashish possession. On Mar. 20, 1969 John Lennon marries zany Japanese artist Yoko Ono (1933-) in Gibraltar, after which they drove from Paris to Amsterdam on their honeymoon, then on Mar. 25-31 spent a week in bed in Room 902 (Honeymoon Suite) of the Amsterdam Hilton, making a point of acting "like angels" (no sex, despite their recent nude "Two Virgins" album cover), with signs over the bed reading "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace"; they then fly to Vienna, where they held their Bagism Conference, claiming that by living inside bags people would no longer judge each other by their appearance; in Apr. Yoko sent acorns to world heads of state as a symbol of peace, which are univerally ignored; on May 24 after John is refused entry to the U.S. because of his 1968 marijuana conviction, they held their Second Bed-In at the Sheraton Oceanus Hotel in the Bahamas, then leave because of the heat, and on May 26 they moves to Rooms 1738 and 1742 of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada, holding a Bed-In for Peace on May 25-June 2; on June 2 after inviting Timothy Leary, Dick Gregory, Tommy Smothers, and Al Capp, they recorded Give Peace a Chance under the name Plastic Ono Band, becoming the first single solo by a Beatle; the Radha Krishna Temple is in the chorus; in Dec. they rounded out their decade-ending Messianic message with a billboard campaign in 11 cities, reading "War is Over! If You Want It - Happy Christmas from John and Yoko". On Sept. 13, 1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono presented the Plastic Ono Band in concert for the first time at the Toronto Peace Festival in Canada, becoming Lennon's first public rock performance without the Beatles since meeting Paul McCartney in 1957; they are backed by Eric Patrick Clapton (1945-) (guitar), Klaus Voorman (1938-) (bass), and Alan White (1949-) (drums); the festival also featured Chuck Berry, Chicago, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard; they also releases the single Cold Turkey (#30 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), about Lennon's withdrawal from heroin. On Sept. 26, 1969 the Beatles release their ultra-cool (best?) 12th and last album Abbey Road in the U.K. (Oct. 1 in the U.S.). Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, it sells 20M copies, coming in #2 behind "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (30M copies) as the two best-selling albums of the decade. The album cover shows the Beatles walking across Abbey Road, with John in front dressed like a minister, followed by Ringo dressed in a funeral-going suit, then Paul barefoot like a cadaver, with George bringing up the rear dressed in work clothes like a gravedigger, fueling the Paul Is Dead Hoax, begun by amateur sleuths finding clues in album covers and backwards-played records, and launched in the U.S. on Oct. 21, 1969 when Detroit, Mich. DJ Russell "Uncle Russ" Gibb (1931-) of WKNR-FM announced it, after which it spread worldwide, fed by studio tricks engineered into this and prior releases, esp. the 1967 song I Am the Walrus, which cause mysterious suggestive words to be heard when played backwards, along with Strawberry Fields Forever, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolution 9, Yesterday, et al., building into a story that Paul McCartney dies in an auto accident and is replaced by lookalike William Stuart Campbell, who has a scar on his upper lip; after taking his new wife Linda and two children on holiday in Scotland, Paul utters the alternate universe soundbyte: "If I are dead, I'd be the last to know", which doesn't help, but the hoax started to dissipate after McCartney appeared alive on the Nov. 7 cover of Life mag., although the rumors persisted - a brilliant publicity stunt to save a dying franchise that backfires, or the truth of why they had to break up? In Dec. 1969 Am. New York Times reporter Gloria Emerson (1929-2004) interviews John Lennon and Oko Yono, er, Yoko Ono at their Apple Records HQ in London, and disputes the effectiveness of their anti-Vietnam War campaign despite the personal and prof. cost to them, pissing-off Lennon, and later being used as an example of establishment resistance to their peace movement, although Emerson is anti-establishment and claims the Beatles "could have stopped the war" by performing for U.S. troops in Vietnam.

Led Zeppelin 'Led Zeppelin I', 1969 'Led Zeppelin II', 1969 'Led Zeppelin III', 1970 'Led Zeppelin IV', 1971 Lori Mattix (1958-)

At the time, the end of the 1960s didn't seem like an end to any rock era. On Jan. 12, 1969 Led Zeppelin (I) is released by English (London) group Led Zeppelin, with hit tracks Good Times Bad Times, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, and Dazed and Confused. The group is fronted by effiminate (wears his shirt open to prove he doesn't have boobs?) singer Robert Anthony Plant (1948-), and features super guitarist James Patrick "Jimmy" Page (1944-) (formerly of the Yardbirds), bassist John Paul Jones (John Baldwin) (1946-), and drummer John Henry Bonham (1948-80). The four yearly albums turned them into rock legends, selling 200M+ albums (112M in the U.S.). Jimmy Page uses a rosewood 1959 Fender Telecaster electric guitar given him in 1966 by Jeff Beck after quitting the Yardbirds; in May 1970 fellow rocker Joe Walsh give him a 1958 Sunbursts Gibson Les Paul, which he uses in "Stairway to Heaven". Album #2 Led Zeppelin II (Oct. 22, 1969) features the tracks Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, and Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman). Album #3 Led Zeppelin III (Oct. 5, 1970) features the tracks Friends, Celebration Day, Since I've Been Loving You, and Tangerine. Album #4 Led Zeppelin IV (Nov. 8, 1971) (no title on the cover) features the tracks Black Dog, Going to California, Misty Mountain Hop, When the Levee Breaks, Rock and Roll, The Battle of Evermore (with Sandy Denny, who becomes the only guest vocalist on one of their albums), and Stairway to Heaven, written by pot-smoking 23-y.-o. Robert Plant in the remote Bron-Yr-Aur (Gael. "hill of gold") cottage in Wales; "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow/ don't be alarmed now/ It's just a spring clean for the May Queen." In 1972 Jimmy Page hooks up with 14-y.-o. LA-born groupie Lori Mattix (1958-) AKA Lori Maddox and Lori Lightning, carrying on an illegal affair with her for 1.5 years before dumping her for groupie Bebe Buell.

Bob Seger (1945-)

In Jan. 1969 Detroit, Mich.-born Robert Clarke "Bob" Seger (1945-) from Detroit, Mich. and his group the Bob Seger System releases his debut album Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (#62 in the U.S.), which features the single Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (#17 in the U.S.), which sounded kind of er, black, complete with lyrics that sounded like "You can have your fuckin' world", it is really funky. Too bad, he becomes known as a 1-hit wonder, performing to enthusiastic audiences in Detroit and going back to his blue collar white roots and forming the Silver Bullet Band in 1974, releasing the album Live Bullet (#34 in the U.S.) in Apr. 1976, which sells 5M copies in the U.S., and features Nutbush City Limits. On Oct. 22, 1976 Seger releases album #9 Night Moves, containing the hit track Night Moves. Album #10 Stranger in Town (May 5, 1978) (#4 in the U.S.) (6M copies) features Hollywood Nights (#12 in the U.S.), Still the Same (#4 in the U.S.), We've Got Tonight (#13 in the U.S.), Old Time Rock N' Roll (#28 in the U.S.) (makes Tom Cruise famous in "Risky Business"); We've Got Tonite. Album #11 Against the Wind (Feb. 25, 1980) (#1 in the U.S.) knocks Pink Floyd's "The Wall" from the #1 spot and spends six weeks on the Billboard Top LPs chart; it features Fire Lake (#6 in the U.S.), and Against the Wind (#5 in the U.S.). Album #12 The Distance (Dec. 1982) (#5 in the U.S.) (2M copies) features incl. Even Now, Shame on the Moon (#2 in the U.S.) , Roll Me Away (#13 in the U.S.). Album #13 Like a Rock (Apr. 1986) (#3 in the U.S.) (3M copies) features American Storm (#13 in the U.S.), and Like a Rock (#12 in the U.S.), which is used in Chevy truck commercials through the early 2000s. Album #17 Ride Out (Oct. 14, 2014) (#172 in the U.S.) features It's Your World, about climate change, uttering the soundbyte: "There are a lot of culprits in climate change, and everybody's responsible, myself included. Nobody gets a free pass on this one. We've got to change our ways and change them fast." He goes to sell 75M+ records worldwide.

On Feb. 21-23, 1969 KHJ-FM 93 Los Angeles airs the 48-hour series The History of Rock and Roll, which bills itself as "modern music's first rockumentary", and goes into syndication. Meanwhile on Feb. 9, 1969 its rival The Pop Chronicles begins airing on KRLA-AM Los Angeles. So the 1960s weren't even over and already rock was considered history material for old farts?

Flying Burrito Brothers Gram Parsons (1946-73)

In Feb. 1969 the American country rock band Flying Burrito Brothers, fronted by Gram Parsons (1946-73) and Christopher "Chris" Hillman (1944-) release their debut album The Gilded Palace of Sin, featuring the tracks Do Right Woman, and Dark End of the Street. Album #2 Burrito Deluxe (album #2) (Apr. 1970) features Wild Horses by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. In Jan. 1973 Parsons goes solo with the debut album GP, combining rock and country, featuring the track Streets of Baltimore. After another failed album he dies of an OD on Sept. 19, 1973 in a hotel room in Joshua Tree, Calif., after which his friend and road mgr. Phil Kaufman honored a prior pact and stole his body from the airport and brought it back to Joshua Tree Nat. Park and cremated it with 5 gal. of gasoline, getting fined $700 for stealing a coffin, which becomes the subject of the 2003 film Grand Theft Parsons, starring Gabriel Macht as Parsons and Johnny Knoxville as Kaufman.

Clay Laverne Shaw (1913-74) Jim Garrison (1921-92)

On Mar. 1, 1969 a jury in New Orleans, La. found businessman Clay Laverne Shaw (1913-74) not guilty of conspiracy to assassinate Pres. John F. Kennedy after being charged by DA Earling Carothers "Jim" Garrison (1921-92); the next person charged is ?

The James Gang

On Mar. 29, 1969 The James Gang, from Cleveland, Ohio, incl. Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (1947-) (vocals), Tom Kriss (bass), Jim Fox (1947-) (drums), Ronnie Silverman/Bob Webb (guitar), Greg Grandillo/Dennis Chandler (guitar), and Phil Giallombardo (keyboards) release their debut album Y'er Album; it features the legend "Turn me over" on side one, and "Play me again" on side two, which has grooves spaced to fool a record player into playing it over and over; it features the track Funk #48. Album #2 The James Gang Rides Again (July 1970) is the first with Dale Peters (bass), and features the hit track Funk #49. Album #3 Thirds (Apr. 1971) is the last with Joe Walsh, who is credited with "guitar, vocals, and train wreck"; it features the track Walk Away. Album #4 Passin' Thru (July 31, 1972) is the first with Roy Kenner in place of Joe Walsh; it features Had Enough. Album #5 Straight Shooter (Oct. 19, 1972) is the last with Domenic Troiano, who is replaced by Tommy Bolin; it features Kick Back Man. Album #6 Bang (Sept. 1, 1973) features Standing in the Rain, and Ride the Wind. Album #7 Miami (Dec. 14, 1974) is the last with Tommy Bolin, who joins Deep Purple. Album #9 Jesse Come Home (Feb. 7, 1976) have Bob Webb on lead guitar and Phil Giallombardo on keyboards; it features Love Hurts.

On Apr. 4-6, 1969 (Easter weekend) the Palm Springs Pop Festival in Calif. is attended by 5K, and features Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Doors, Canned Heat, Procul Harum, Ike and Tina Turner, Steve Miller, the Flying Burritos Brothers, the Jeff Beck Band featuring Rod Stewart, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band; too bad, the Desert Sun calls it a "hippie invasion", and an antsy gas station owner shoots and kills a 16-y.-o. boy standing in the long line.

Elvis Presley (1935-77)

In Apr. 1969 Elvis Presley releases the single In the Ghetto (The Vicious Cycle) (written by Mac Davis), which becomes his first top-10 U.S. hit in four years (#3), and his first U.K. top-10 hit in three years. On Aug. 26, 1969 Elvis released the single Suspicious Minds (written by Mark James), which restored his flagging career and becomes his 17th and last #1 U.S. single, and his first since 1962, neatly bracketing the 1960s as not his kind of decade.

Neil Young (1945-) The Cat in the Hat Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

On May 14, 1969 Canadian rocker Neil Percival Young (1945-) (formerly of Buffalo Springfield) and his backing band Crazy Horse releases album #2 Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, featuring the tracks Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River ("She could take me over the rainbow"), and Cowgirl in the Sand (written when he has a 103 F fever). On May 29, 1969 the "supergroup" Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, consisting of David Van Cortlandt Crosby (1941-) (formerly of the Byrds), Stephen Arthur Stills (1945-) (formerly of Buffalo Springfield), Graham William Nash (1942-) (formerly of The Hollies), and later occasional member Neil Young releases debut album Crosby, Stills & Nash, with hit tracks Marrakesh Express, and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. On Mar. 11, 1970 they release album #2 Deja Vu (Déjà Vu) (#1 in the U.S.), featuring the tracks Our House. Teach Your Children, Woodstock (written by Joni Mitchell); Ohio (June); about the Kent State Massacre of May 4, 1970; the lyrics are quickly adopted by the anti-Nixon student movement; "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming/We're finally on our own/ This summer I hear the drumming/ Four dead in Ohio/ Gonna get down to it/ Soldiers are cutting us down/ Should have been done long ago/ What if you knew her and/ Found her dead on the ground?/ How can you run when you know?"; too bad, after Still's part-Cherokee singer babe Rita Coolidge (1945-) left him for Nash, the band break up after their summer tour. Album #7 Daylight Again (June 21, 1982) (#8 in the U.S.) features Wasted on the Way (#9 in the U.S.), and Southern Cross (#18 in the U.S.). On Sept. 19, 1987 Neil Young releases album #3 After the Gold Rush, which incl. the tracks Only Love Can Break Your Heart, and When You Dance I Can Really Love. On Feb. 14, 1971 Neil Young releases album #4 Harvest, containing the hit tracks Old Man (#31 in the U.S.), and Heart of Gold (#1 in the U.S.). Album #5 On the Beach (July 16, 1974), "One of the most despairing albums of the decade" (Rolling Stone), which features Walk On, and On the Beach. Album #8 Tonight's the Night (June 20, 1975) features Tonight's the Night. Album #10 American Stars 'n Bars (June 13, 1977) features Like a Hurricane.

Delaney and Bonnie

In May 1969 husband-wife band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, fronted by Delaney Bramlett (1939-2008) and Bonnie Bramlett (Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell) (1944-) release their debut album Home, featuring It's Been a Long Time Coming, and Hard to Say Goodbye. They follow it the same year with album #2 Accept No Substitute, featuring Ghetto, which turned George Harrison on so much he offered them a deal with Apple Records, after which Eric Clapton took them on the road to open for Blind Faith. Album #3 On Tour with Eric Clapton (Mar. 1970) (#29 in the U.S., #39 in the U.K.) features Things Get Better, Only You and I Know, and I Don't Want to Discuss It. Album #4 To Bonnie from Delaney (Sept. 1970) (#58 in the U.S.) features Soul Shake, Living on the Open Road. Album #5 Motel Shot (Mar. 1971) (#65 in the U.S.) features Never Ending Song of Love (#13 in the U.S.). Album #6 (last) D&B Together (Mar. 1972) features Comin' Home, and Groupie (Superstar), after which they divorces.

Brian Jones (1942-69) and Linda Lawrence King Crimson

On June 8, 1969 Rolling Stones founder Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones (b. 1942) leaves the Rolling Stones over drug abuse, and is replaced by Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor (1949-) of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (since 1966), who left in Dec. 1974. On July 2/3, 1969 Jones is found dead in his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm in Hartfield, Sussex, and the death is officially ruled "accidental drowning under the influence of drugs and alcohol"; was he really murdered by bldg. contractor Frank Thorogood, who allegedly confessed on his deathbed in 1993? On July 5, 1969 the Rolling Stones play a free Concert in Hyde Park, London before 300K-650K, making it a tribute to deceased member Brian Jones, and introducing new guitarist Mick Taylor. New London rock band King Crimson also plays, and becomes an instant hit. On Oct. 10, 1969 they release their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (#5 in the U.K.), launching progressive rock, blending rock and roll with classical. Members incl. Robert Fripp (1946-) (guitar), Robert Steven "Adrian" Belew (1949-), Michael Rex Giles (1942-) (drums), Ian MacDonald (1946-) (sax), Gregorgy Stuart "Greg" Lake (1947-) (bass), and Peter John Sinfield (1943-) (synthesizer, lyrics). Tracks incl. The Court of the Crimson King, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, I Talk to the Wind, and Moonchild. The album stripped away the blues-based foundations of rock and added jazz and Classical, becoming the most influential progressive rock album ever releases?

Grand Funk Railroad

On July 4, 1969 the First Atlanta International Pop Festival in Ga. features all the usual suspects, incl. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin et al., and makes instant stars of the new band Grand Funk Railroad from Flint, Mich. (located on the Grand Trunk Railroad), composed of Mark Farmer (vocals), Mel Schacher (bass) (formerly of ? and the Mysterians), and Don Brewer (drums). In Aug. 1969 they release their million-selling debut album On Time, featuring Time Machine, featuring the bass guitar being mixed louder than the others. Album #2 Grand Funk (Red Album) (Dec. 1969) features a cover of Inside Looking Out by The Animals. Album #3 Closer to Home (July 1970) becomes their 3rd straight gold record, making them the best selling band in the U.S. in 1970. It features the hit track I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home), about Sir Frances Drake between Apr. 1579 when he left the Pacific Coast of Mexico to Nov. 1579 when he arrived in the East Indies? ("Everybody, listen to me/ And return me my ship/ I'm your captain, I'm your captain/ Although I'm feeling mighty sick/ I've been lost now, days uncounted/ And it's months since I've seen home,/ Can you hear me, can you hear me/ Or am I all alone.") A block-long $100K billboard ad for the album is placed in Times Square in New York City. In 1971 they sell out Shea Stadium in 72 hours, breaking the Beatles' record. Album #7 We're An American Band (July 1973) features We're An American Band (#1 in the U.S.). Album #9 All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (Dec. 1974) features the bodies of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu on the cover with the band members' faces pasted on, and incl. hit tracks Some Kind of Wonderful (#3 in the U.S.), and Bad Time (#4 in the U.S.).

'Easy Rider', 1969

All roads lead to Hollyweird? On July 14, 1969 Dennis Hopper's Am. hippie-biker film Easy Rider debuts, celebrating while ironically presaging the end of the hippie culture, becoming a $100M+ box office hit, opening up Hollyweird for awhile to young low-budget filmmakers, who launch New Hollywood; written by Hopper, Fonda, and Terry Southern and made for $350K, it stars Dennis Lee Hopper (1936-2010) as hippie Billy (dressed in buckskin with a bushman hat), and Peter Henry Fonda (1940-) (son of Henry Fonda) as hippie Captain America (dressed in U.S. flag-draped leather) (based on David Crosby and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds), who smuggle coke from Mexico to LA, sell it to the Rolls-Royce-riding Connection (Phil Spector), then stuff the money in the fuel tank of their Harley and head east for the New Orleans Mardi Gras, meeting up with alcoholic lawyer Jack Nicholson, who turns down marijuana because "It leads to harder stuff" and "I don't want to get hooked", then changes his mind, and is later killed by crackers with a machete; after reaching New Orleans, they shack up with hos Karen (Karen Black) and Mary (Toni Basil), and have a bad LSD trip in a cemetery before getting bushwacked by two rednecks in a pickup truck, who kill them with a shotgun before they can reach their long-awaited retirement in Fla.; the Holy Model Rarities play in the film, incl. drummer Sam Shepard; Dan "Grizzly Adams" Haggerty builds the tricked-up motorcycles for it; "You know, Billy, we blew it"; "This used to be a fine country - what went wrong?" (Nicholson); #4 grossing film of 1969 ($41.7M).

Yes

On July 25, 1969 the English (London) rock band Yes, incl. "the Architect of Progressive Music" Peter Banks (Peter William Brockbanks) (1947-2013) (guitar), John Roy "Jon" Anderson (1944-) (vocals), Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire (1948-2015) (bass), Tony Kaye (1942-) (organ), and William Scott "Bill" Bruford (1949-) (drums) launched progressive rock with their debut album Yes. Album #3 The Yes Album (Feb. 19) (#40 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) is their breakthrough, introducing guitarist Stephen James "Steve" Howe (1947-), and featuring the hit track I've Seen All Good People. Album #4 Fragile (Nov. 26, 1971) (#4 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.); features the hit Roundabout. Album #5 Close to the Edge (Sept. 13, 1973) (#3 in the U.S.) features And You and I. Album #7 Relayer (album #7) (Dec. 13, 1974) (#5 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features The Gates of Delirium. Album #18 The Ladder (Sept. 20, 1999) features Lightning Strikes. They go on to sell 30M albums.

Iain Stewart Macmillan (1938-2006) 'Abbey Road', 1969

On Aug. 8, 1969 Dundee, Scotland-born photographer Iain Stewart Macmillan (1938-2006) takes pictures of the Beatles as they cross Abbey Road for the much-discussed cover of their final Abbey Road album - the perfect alibi for the Tate murders?

David Bowie (1947-2016) David Bowie (1947-2016) David Bowie (1947-2016) David Bowie (1947-2016) and Iman (1955-) Chris Hadfield of Canada (1959-)

On Nov. 4, 1969 androgynous bi Australian rocker (not really - born in London) David Bowie (David Robert Jones) (1947-2016), whose childhood music hero wasn't Muddy Waters but Little Richard, whose right eye is blue and left eye hazel and dilated because of a punch taken as a schoolboy, who renamed himself after seeing Richard Widmark in "The Alamo", and is chosen to play in bands because of his weird blonde beauty gets his start with album #2 David Bowie: Man of Words, Man of Music (Space Oddity), which incl. Space Oddity (July 11), about Major Tom, who takes a spacewalk and gets lost in space (the world of drugs?); uses by the BBC during its Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 coverage. On May 12, 2013 Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (1959-) records a cover of it on the Internat. Space Station, altered so that Major Tom lands safely, becoming the first music video shot in space. He then turned into Ziggy Stardust on June 6, 1972 with the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, featuring the hit single Starman. Album #6 Aladdin Sane (Apr. 13, 1973) (#17 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features The Jean Genie (#71 in the U.S., #2 in the U.S.). Diamond Dogs (album) (Apr. 24) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Rebel Rebel (#5 in the U.K.). Album #9 Young Americans (Mar. 7, 1975) (#9 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Young Americans (#28 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), and Fame (#1 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.), co-written by John Lennon (who does backing vocals, along with Luther Vandross), and Carlos Alomar. After dissing Philly soul by calling it "plastic soul", he gets an invite to "Soul Train". On Dec. 5, 1975 he makes a cocaine-soaked appearance on "The Dick Cavett Show". The album Let's Dance (Apr. 14, 1983) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) is his biggest hit, featuring Let's Dance (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) (featuring guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, rocketing his career), China Girl (#2 in the U.K.), and Modern Love (#2 in the U.K.), by which time he "turned into a rock-and-roll version of Prince Charles", sporting an "old-fashioned haircut like a lemon meringue on his head" (Charles Shaar Murray). In 1992 he marries Somalian model Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (1955-). His album Earthling (Feb. 3, 1997) features Telling Lies, the first downloadable single by a major artist. After releasing his last studio album in 2003, he has emergency angioplasty for a blocked artery in 2004. Album #28 Blackstar is released on Jan. 8, 2016, his 69th birthday; too bad, he dies on Jan. 10 of cancer, making the album into his epitaph.

Humble Pie 'Humble Pie', 1970

In July 1969 the English supergroup Humble Pie, incl. Stephen Peter "Steve" Marriott (1947-91) of Small Faces (vocals), Peter Frampton (1958-) of The Herd (guitar), Alfred Gregory "Greg Ridley (1942-2003) of Spooky Tooth (bass), and 17-y.-o. Jerry Shirley (1952-) (drums) release their debut single Natural Born Bugie (#4 in the U.K.), followed in Aug. by their debut album As Safe As Yesterday Is (#16 in the U.K.), which Rolling Stone described as "heavy metal" in 1970. Album #2 Town and Country (Nov. 1969) features the track The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake. Album #3 Humble Pie (July, 1979) is their first with A&M Records; the cover features a drawing of a woman exposing her breasts and you know what; it features Only a Roach, and I'm Ready. Album #4 Rock On (Mar. 1971) is the last with Peter Frampton; it features Shine On. In Nov. 1971 they release the double album Performance: Rockin' the Fillmore (#21 in the U.S.), which features I Don't Need No Doctor (#73 in the U.S.). Album #5 Smokin' (Mar. 1972) (#6 in the U.S, #30 in the U.K.) is the first without Peter Frampton, with David "Clem" Clempson (1949-) replacing him to makes it their best-selling album; it features Hot 'n' Nasty, C'mon Everybody, and 30 Days in the Hole. Album #8 Thunderbox (Feb. 1974), named after the 17th cent. slang word for toilet has a cover showing a peephole through which a woman's humble pie can be seen on a toilet; it features I Can't Stand the Rain (by Ann Peebles) ("the perfect single" - John Lennon), and Anna (Go to Him) (by Arthur Alexander). Album #9 (last) Street Rats (Feb., 1975) (#100 in the U.S.) features Street Rat.

The Stooges

On Aug. 5, 1969 the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based rock band The Stooges, fronted by Iggy Pop (James Newell "Jim" Osterberg Jr.) (1947-) release their debut album The Stooges (#106 in the U.S.), launching punk rock, featuring the tracks 1969 ("Another year with nothing to do"), and I Wanna Be Your Dog ("I'm so messed up, I want you here"), which didn't sell well but makes waves.

Charles Manson (1934-) Coven

On Aug. 8-10, 1969 the Tate-La Bianca Murders in Los Angeles, Calif. by a Satanic cult led by Charles Milles "Charlie" Manson (1934-) bum-out the 1960s, but give the Dark Side rock bands a boost. Speaking of Prince of Darkness, in 1969 the Chicago group Coven, incl. Jinx Dawson (1950-) (vocals), Oz Osborne (bass) (not to be confused with Ozzy Osbourne), Chris Neilsen (guitar), Rick Durrett/John Hobbs (keyboards), and Steve Ross (drums) release their debut album Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls. The pure Satanic music causes a controversy after the Aug. 1969 Tate-La Bianca Murders, and is removed from the market, influencing Black Sabbath, Goth et al., incl. introducing the Sign of the Horns to rock & roll. The album features the track Satanic Mass.

Alice Cooper (1948-) Salvador Dali (1904-89) 'Portrait of Alice Cooper's Brain' by Salvador Dali (1904-89), 1973

In Aug. 1969 Alice Cooper (Vincent Damon Furnier) (1948-) releases his debut album Pretties for You, which is a flop, as is album #2 Easy Action (Mar. 1970). Album #3 Love It to Death (Jan. 12, 1971) breaks him into the mainstream with the hit track I'm Eighteen. Album #4 Killer (Nov. 1971) (#21 in the U.S.), "greatest rock album of all time" (Johnny Rotten) features Under My Wheels (#59 in the U.S.), and Be My Lover (#49 in the U.S.). Album #5 School's Out (June 1972) (#2 in the U.S.) features School's Out (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (hit first hit single) (""We gets no class / And we gets no principles / And we gets no innocence / We can't even think of a word that rhymes"), and Gutter Cat vs. the Jets. On Nov. 24, 1972 ABC-TV debuts In Concert, a late Fri. night rock music special featuring live bands, starting with Alice Cooper's act, which is so lewd it causes the network's Cincinnati affiliate to pull the plug in mid-performance. Album #6 Billion Dollar Babies (Feb. 25, 1973) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features the tracks Billion Dollar Babies (#57 in the U.S.), No More Mr. Nice Guy (#25 in the U.S.), Hello Hooray (#35 in the U.S.), I Love the Dead, and Elected (#26 in the U.S.) (video features a fake Nixon). Album #7 Muscle of Love (Nov. 20, 1973) (#10 in the U.S.) is the last by the original Alice Cooper band, and came in a cover makes of corrugated cardboard with a printed stain along the bottom; tracks incl. Muscle of Love, Teenage Lament '74 (#48 in the U.S.), and Man With the Golden Gun, which is rejected for the 1974 James Bond 007 movie. In 1973 Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali (1904-89) creates Portrait of Alice Cooper's Brain (First Cylindric Chrono-Hologram), which makes him immortal. His solo debut album Welcome to My Nightmare (Feb. 1975) features Welcome to My Nightmare (which he performs on "The Muppet Show"), Only Women (Bleed), and Department of Youth. Album #18 Trash (July 25, 1989) features Poison (#7 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), Bed of Nails, House of Fire, and Only My Heart Talkin'. On Sept. 13, 2011 Alice Cooper releases the album Welcome 2 My Nightmare (#22 in the U.S.), a sequel to "Welcome to My Nightmare" (1975); it features I Am makes of You, I'll Bite Your Face Off, and What Baby Wants (w/Ke$ha).

Ozzy Osbourne (1948-) Vertigo Records Black Sabbath

On Dec. 9, 1969 the English heavy metal group Black Sabbath (formed in 1968 under the name Earth), fronted by "The Prince of Darkness", "Godfather of Heavy Metal" John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (1948-) (an LA neighbor of Pat Boone) release their first single Evil Woman, followed by their debut album Black Sabbath on Feb. 13, 1970 (Fri.), if you guys have any questions just let me know. Other members incl. Frank Anthony "Tony" Iommi (1948-) (guitar), Terence "Geezer" Butler (1949-) (bass), and William Thomas "Bill" Ward (1948-) (drums); Iommi downtuned his Gibson from E to C-sharp for that "heavy" sound. Tracks incl. Black Sabbath, The Wizard, N.I.B., and Evil Woman. Album #2 Paranoid (Sept. 18, 1970) features the tracks Paranoid, War Pigs, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, Rat Salad, and Fairies Wear Boots. In the late 1960s Vertigo Records was founded in the U.K. by Universal Music UK, owned by Philips Records, and signed Black Sabbath, followed later by Jade Warrior and Nirvana. On Apr. 25, 1980 they release album #9 Heaven and Hell (#28 in the U.S.), first with keyboardist Geoffrey James "Geoff" Nicholls (1948-2017); it features Heaven and Hell, Children of the Sea, Neon Knights, and Die Young. On Jan. 20, 1982 after being fired from the band in 1979 and going solo, Ozzy took to throwing meat at the audience on his Diary of A Madman Tour, causing fans to start throwing stuff back, leading to the famous incident where he bit the head off a bat in Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, later claiming he thought it was fake, then getting rabies shots; the fan who threw it on stage later claimed it was already dead. In Mar. 1982 guitarist Randy Rhoads died while flying a stolen airplane over the tour bus, after which he was replaced by Bernie Torme then Brad Gillis. On July 4, 1982 Ozzy married Sharon Arden, daughter of Black Sabbath mgr. Don Arden, who became his mgr. after his 1979 firing, going on to have children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. In 1982 Ozzy got banned from San Antonio, Tex. for a decade for urinating on the Alamo while wearing future wife-mgr. Sharon's dress, and in 1989 he tried to strangle her after getting too drunk, the girl with no secrets, what is she doing with him, next on Cold Case. Ozzy's solo album #3 Bark at the Moon (Nov. 15, 1983) sells 3M copies, and features Bark at the Moon, and Rock 'n' Roll Rebel. Ozzy goes on to sell 50M albums worldwide. In May 2016 there are rumors that Ozzy and Sharon are splitting up after 34 years of marriage.

Woodstock, Aug. 15-18, 1969 Max B. Yasgur (1919-73) Satchidananda Saraswati (1914-2002) Joe Cocker (1944-2014) Richie Havens (1941-) Jimi Hendrix (1942-70) Melanie (1947-) 'Let It Bleed' by the Rolling Stones, 1969

On Aug. 15-18, 1969 the Rock and Roll Decade ends more appropriately far away from kooky California with the Woodstock Music and Art Fair: An Aquarian Exposition: Three Days of Peace and Music, which is held on the muddy 600-acre farm of dairy farmer Max B. Yasgur (1919-73) (who dies of a heart attack in Fla. in 1973) in the Catskill Mts. near Bethel in upstate New York; "What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for four hundred thousand"; Hatha Yogiraj Sri Swami Satchidananda Saraswati (C.K. Ramaswamy Gounder) (1914-2002) opens the festival with prayer; in 1980 he opened the Satchidananda Ashram AKA Yogaville in Buckingham, Va., founding his own brand of the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, and making celeb disciples incl. Alice Coltrane, Rivers Cuomo, Carole King, Allen Ginsberg, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Nyro, and Liev Schrieber; 300K-500K drugged-and-sexed-out mainly Baby Boomer gen. people (biggest live entertainment audience in history?) endure 20-mi. traffic jams and cruddy weather to hear rock acts, took drugs, and go around naked; future "Meet the Press" TV show host Timothy John "Tim" Russert (1950-2008) attends wearing a Buffalo Bills jersey carrying a case of beer; Woodstock rock acts incl. Joan Baez (1941-), Canned Heat, The Grateful Dead, Richard P. "Richie" Havens (1941-), James Marshall (Johnny Allen) "Jimi" Hendrix (1942-70), Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Who, Sha Na Na et al., while showing off and doing things with each other such as nudity, drugs and group sex, and groping for their own utopian society, only to discover VD, ODs, unwanted pregnancies, how much money they've blown, and how the rock acts don't work for free and want to sell them merchandise (advance sales are $1.2M); on Aug. 15 (Fri.) Richie Havens starts things out, scoring a hit with his own version of Motherless Child with an added verse containing the repeated word "freedom", after which 11 performers follow, ending with 3-octave trilling Joan Baez (1941-), who scores with Sweet Sir Galahad (the first song she ever composed), and the "organizing song" Joe Hill; Country Joe McDonald sings Feel-Like-I'm-Fixing-to-Die Rag (The Vietnam Song) using a stage guitar with a rope strap, changing the Fish Cheer to the Fuck Cheer; on Aug. 16 (Sat.) the 11 performers start with Quill, and incl. Santana, Canned Heat, and Janis Joplin; on Aug. 16 Pete Townshend of The Who knocked Abbie Hoffman from the stage as he tries to disrupt the show with a speech about poor John Sinclair, who gets a 10-year sentence for possession of one marijuana cig; on Aug. 17 at 8 a.m. #11 Jefferson Airplane caps off the all-day-all-night marathon with eight songs; on Aug. 17 (Sun.) English singer John Robert "Joe" Cocker (1944-) (known for covers of Beatles songs performs with a gritty voice and weird arm movements) begins the official day's events 9 hours late at 2 p.m., singing the Beatles hit With a Little Help from My Friends, and it goes all night without finishing; on Aug. 18 at 9 a.m., after most people have left (80K remaining), Jimi Hendrix, the 10th and last performer for Sun. ends the show by giving a 2-hour 17-song performance, ending with a psychedelic rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner on his overamped electric guitar; at frequent intervals an announcer tells the crowd "If you think you've taken poison, you haven't", referring to "bad acid"; a total of three people die at the event, one from a heroin OD, one from falling off a scaffold, and one from being run over by a tractor - let's see, that's EADGB, Every American Dog Goes Bad? After Melanie Safka (1947-) performs her song Beautiful People at Woodstock, she releases the album Candles in the Rain in 1970, featuring Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) #6 in the U.S.), about the crowd reaction; in 1970 she also releases the hit Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma; in 1973 she has a #1 U.S. hit with the song Brand New Key (The Roller Skate Song). Talking about ending the decade appropriately. On Sept. 12, 1969 after Brian Jones' death, the Rolling Stones release the compilation album Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2), which features the tracks Honky Tonk Women, and We Love You. On Dec. 5, 1969 they release album #8 (#10 in the U.S.) Let It Bleed. The cover features a cake baked by English cook Delia Smith "Dee" (1941-). Tracks incl. Love in Vain, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want, You gets the Silver, and Gimme Shelter ("War, children, it's just a shot away... Love, sister, it's just a kiss away").

On Aug. 30-31, 1969 the Second Isle of Wight Festival features Bob Dylan, The Band, The Who, The Moody Blues, Joe Cocker, and Richie Havens, and is attended by 150K.

Bread

In Sept. 1969 the LA-based soft rock band Bread, incl. David Gates (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Griffin (vocals, guitar), Robb Royer (vocals, bass, keyboards), Larry Knechtel (bass, keyboards), and Mike Botts (drums) release their debut album Bread (#127 in the U.S.), which features It Don't Matter to Me. Album #2 On the Waters (July 1970) features Make It with You. Album #3 Manna (1971) features If. Album #4 Baby I'm-a Want You (Jan. 1972), first with keyboardist Larry Knechtel features Baby I'm-a Want You (#3 in the U.S.), Everything I Own (#5 in the U.S.), Diary (#15 in the U.S.), and Mother Freedom (#37 in the U.S.). Album #5 Guitar Man (Oct. 1972) features The Guitar Man, Sweet Surrender, and Aubrey. Album #6 (last) Lost Without Your Love (Jan. 1977) features Lost Without Your Love (#9 in the U.S.), and Hooked On You (#60 in the U.S.).

Badfinger

In 1969 the London-based power pop band The Iveys release their debut album Maybe Tomorrow on Apple Records, which failed to promote it because of their financial mess; the group incl. Peter "Pete" Ham (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Tom Evans (vocals, guitar), Ron Griffiths (vocals, bass), and Mike Gibbins (vocals, drums); next year they changes their name to Badfinger. On Jan. 9, 1970 they release their debut Badfinger album Magic Christian Music (#55 in the U.S.), from the 1969 film "The Magic Christian"; it features Come and Get It (written by Paul McCartney). Album #2 No Dice (Nov. 9, 1970) (#28 in the U.S.), first with guitarist Joey Molland features No Matter What (#8 in the U.S.), and Without You. Album #3 Straight Up (Dec. 13, 1971) (#31 in the U.S.) featured Baby Blue (#14 in the U.S.) (written by Pete Ham about his babe Dixie Armstrong), and Day After Day (#4 in the U.S.).

Blind Faith 'Blind Faith', 1969 Eric Clapton (1945-) George Harrison (1943-2001) and Pattie Boyd (1944-) Ian Dallas (1930-) Abdalqadir as-Sufi (1930-)

In Aug. 1969 the English blues-rock supergroup Blind Faith, incl. Eric Patrick Clapton (1945-) and Ginger Baker of Cream, Steve Winwood of Traffic, and Ric Grech of Family release their #1 debut album Blind Faith, featuring Can't Find My Way Home, In the Presence of the Lord, and Sea of Joy. Billed as "Super Cream", they give a free concert at Hyde Park, London on June 7, then debut at Madison Square Garden on July 12, where an on-stage riot gets Baker clubbed on the head by a police officer; the album sells 500K copies the first mo.; too bad, the cover by Bob Seidemann features a topless pubescent girl holding a phallic silver spaceship, which backfires when rumors spread she's the group's slave groupie or Baker's illegitimate daughter, and they break up in Oct., after which Clapton forms the group Derek and the Dominos, whose debut album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Nov. 1970) features the hit Layla, inspired by his unrequired love for George Harrison's wife (since 1966) Patricia Anne "Pattie" Boyd (1944-) (a former model known for rabbit-like front teeth), along with swinging 60s Scottish-born London bohemian Ian Dallas (1930-), who give him a copy of the ancient Persian Sufi parable"Layla" by Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209), about a man who goes crazy when a beautiful woman wouldn't marry him; Clapton finally marries her in 1979, and divorces her in 1989. Meanwhile having converted to Sufi Islam in 1967 and changed his name to Abdalqadir as-Sufi, in the 1980s Dallas founds the Rabbit, er, Murabitun Worldwide Movement, with 10K followers by 2010, which preaches that the Islamic world will conquer the "Jewish dominated West", and also preaches against Capitalism.

Santana

In Aug. 1969 San Francisco, Calif.-based Latino rock group Santana, led by Carlos Augusto Alves Santana (1947-) releases its debut album Santana, which features the single Evil Ways, and Soul Sacrifice, which they played at Woodstock. In Sept. 1970 album #2 Abraxas is released, containing Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va.

Shocking Blue

On Oct. 2, 1969 the Dutch group Shocking Blue, incl. Mariska Veres (vocals), Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar), Klaasje van der Wal (bass), and Cor van der Beek (drums) releases album #2 At Home, which features their 1-hit wonder Venus (#1 in the U.S.). After selling 13.5M records, they disbands in 1974.

The Allman Brothers Band

On Nov. 4, 1969 The Allman Brothers Band, from Jacksonville, Fla., fronted by vocalist Gregory Lenoir "Gregg" Allman (1947-2017), and his slide-guitar playing brother Howard Duane Allman (1946-71), who were signed to the Atlanta Pop Festival by a phony promoter but got over it begin pioneering Southern rock with their debut album The Allman Brothers Band, which features the tracks Whipping Post, and Dreams, followed by album #2 Idlewild South (Sept. 23, 1970), containing the track Midnight Rider, and Revival, followed in July 1971 by the live double album #3 At Fillmore East, which Rolling Stone mag. ranked as the 49th greatest album of all time, and features In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. Too bad, on Nov. 29, 1971 Duane Allman is kills in a motorcycle accident on State Highway 19 in Macon, Ga.; fellow rocker Berry Oakley dies 13 mo. later three blocks away. Album #5 Brothers and Sisters (Aug. 1973) (#1 in the U.S.) (first without bassist Berry Oakley and with pianist Chuck Leavell) incl. the tracks Ramblin' Man (#2 in the U.S.), Jessica, and Southbound.

On Nov. 7, 1969 the Rolling Stones opened their U.S. tour in Ft. Collins, Colo. On Nov. 8, 1969 Simon (child-molester moustache?) and Garfunkel (Bride of Frankenstein hair?) give a concert at Southern Ill. U. in Carbondale, Ill., which is not releases until 1999; on Nov. 11 they give a concert at Miami U. in Oxford, Ohio, followed by another at Iowa State U. in Ames, Iowa; on Nov. 30 their TV special Songs of America aired, featuring anti-Vietnam War and anti-poverty songs. In Nov. 1969 Canned Heat appears on an episode of Playboy After Dark, where 20-y.-o. actress Lindsay Wagner sat on the lap of singer Bob Hite and gave him the nickname Bear, while Hite told Hugh Hefner that he owns over 15K 78rpm records.

Meredith Hunter (1951-69) at Altamont Speedway, Dec. 6, 1969

On Mar. 17, 1948 the Hells Angels under-25 middle-class dropout motorcycle gang in Calif. is founded, known for filthy Levis and denim tops, Nazi helmets and badges, and a symbiosis with hippies in the 1960s, policing their gatherings; to join one must perform an outrageous revolting act; the babes are classed as Mammas (free to all) or Old Ladies (attached). On Dec. 6, 1969 the Rolling Stones appear at a free rock concert at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore (near San Francisco), Calif. before 300K fans, hiring the Hells Angels for security (big mistake); too bad, after "Woodstock West" gets out of control, the Angels strike back with pool cues, and four die, incl. Meredith Hunter (b. 1951), a high-on-meth black teen in a turquoise suit who is kicked and stabbed to death by Hell's Angels as he tries to reach the stage allegedly holding a handgun.

Tiny Tim (1932-96) and Miss Vicki (1952-), 1969

On Dec. 17, 1969 speaking of the end of the decade, after "I can't believe he's not gay" folk singer Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury) (1932-96) have a 1-hit wonder in 1968 with a ukelele falsetto version of the #1 1929 Nick Lucas U.S. hit Tiptoe Through the Tulips, netting him several major network TV appearances, he marries Miss Vicki (Victoria May Budinger) (1952-) on The Johnny Carson Tonight Show in front of 40M viewers, and sung his big hit in his patented camp falsetto while playing his ukelele, with Lucas present; too bad, they filed for divorce in 1972 (granted 1977); watch video.

Jesus Freaks Norman Greenbaum (1942-) Ocean Quintessence

In the apocalyptic late 1960s the Jesus Freaks mass movement begins in the U.S., thumping copies of the 1966 Bible translation "Good News for Modern Man" (which sells 30M copies by 1971), and holding open air meetings where they grooved on Jesus' love with outstretched arms, don't miss it. One 1-hit wonder who makes hay while the Jesus Freak sun shone is Mass.-born Norman Greenbaum (1942-), who in 1969 releases the 2M-selling hit Spirit in the Sky (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which is huge with hippies and square Christians and half-and-half Jesus Freaks, along with everybody, even though few realized that he is Jewish and claimed to be a practicing Zombie, and is parodying TV evangelists, I just want to hide in a corner. Actually, he has some more charting hits, but none came close to equalling this classic, which is covered by Bauhaus, Doctor and the Medics, Elton John, Chipmunks United, DC Talk, and Nina Hagen. Actually, the Jesus Rock Movement peaked in 1971, but nevermind. In 1970 1-hit wonder Ocean, from London, Ont., Canada, consisting of Jance Brown (guitar, vocals), Greg Brown (keyboard, vocals), Jeff Jones (bass, vocals), Dave Tamblyn (guitar), and Chuck Slater (drums) releases the #2 Jesus Freak anthem Put Your Hand in the Hand (#2 in the U.S.), written by Gene MacLellan, and first performs by Anne Murray. On the other side of the spiritual spectrum, in Apr. 1969 the Hindu progressive rock band Quintessence was formed in Notting Hill, London, fronted by Australian-born Raja Ram (Ronald Rothfield) (1941-), becoming known for improvisational perf., and for performing at the Sept. 18, 1971 Concert for Bangladesh at the Oval in Kensington, London, along with The Who, Matt the Hoople, America, Rod Stewart and the Faces et al. Their tracks incl. Body, Only Love, In the Forest, Midnight Mode, Vishnu Narayan, and Wonders of the Universe.

The Family Dogg

Also in 1969 the English vocal group The Family Dogg (formed in 1966), incl. Mike Hazlewood (1941-2001), Kristine Sparkle (Christine Holmes), Stephen "Steve" Rowland (1932-), and Albert Hammond (1944-) release their 1-hit wonder A Way of Life (#6 in the U.K.).

Isaac Hayes (1942-2008)

In 1969 Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (1942-2008) releases album #2 Hot Butters Soul, which becomes a landmark in soul music. His July 1971 album Shaft Soundtrack features Shaft Theme, Soulville, and Do Your Thing. The album Black Moses (Nov. 1971) features the Jackson 5 cover Never Can Say Goodbye (#22 in the U.S.).

The Shaggs

Also in 1969 the Fremont, N.H.-based so-bad-they're-good sister group The Shaggs, consisting of Dorothy "Dot" (vocals/guitar), Betty (vocals/guitar), Rachel (bass), and Helen Wiggin (drums) release their only studio album Philosophy of the World, which Rolling Stone said sounded like "lobotomized Trapp Family singers", but influenced Kurt Cobain, and Frank Zappa, who called them "better than the Beatles"; album tracks incl. Who Are Parents?, My Cutie, It's Halloween, and My Pal Foot Foot.

Thunder and Roses

Also in 1969 the Philly-based psychedelic rock trio Thunder and Roses, Chris Bond (vocals, guitar), Tom Schaffer (vocals, bass), and George Emme (drums) release their first and last album King of the Black Sunrise, which features the tracks White Lace and Strange (later covered by Nirvana), Country Life, and Dear Dream Maker.

Tony Joe White (1943-) Brook Benton (1931-88)

Also in 1969 La.-born white black-sounding singer Tony Joe White (1943-) releases his 1-hit wonder Polk Salad Annie (#8 in the U.S.), about a salad makes from poisonous pokeweed, which must be boiled at least three times and the water changes each time to be edible. He also wrote Rainy Night in Georgia, which is a 1-hit wonder in 1970 by black singer Brook Benton (1931-88) (#4 in the U.S.).

Zephyr Tommy Bolin (1951-76)

In 1969 the Boulder, Colo.-based band Zephyr, incl. super guitarist Tommy Bolin (1951-76), John Faris (keyboards), David Givens (bass), Robbie Chamberlain (drums), and Janis Joplin-like singer Candy Givens releases their debut album Zephyr, featuring Sail On, and St. James Infirmary. Album #2 Going Back to Colorado (1971) features Going Back to Colorado, After Bolin left and is replaced with Jock Bartley, album #3 (last) Sunset Ride (1972) becomes a classic, and Zephyr fans becomes a loyal minority group until ?.

Chrysalis Records Robin Trower (1945-)

Never fear, as the 1960s are dying, a new generation of rock and roll is being born like a butterfly from a chrysalis or pupa. In 1969 Chrysalis Records is founded in England by Chris Wright and Terry Ellis, going on to sign Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens (Steven Demetre Georgiou) (1948-), Procol Harum and its spinoff solo artist Robin Leonard Trower (1945-), followed in the 1980s by British New Romantic movement bands Ultravox and Spandau Ballet, along with American acts Blondie, Pat Benatar (Patricia Mae Andrzejewski) (1953-), and Huey Lewis and The News, and English rock star Billy Idol (William Michael Albert Broad) (1955-). Speaking of Robin Trower, in 1973 he releases his solo debut album Twice Removed from Yesterday, which features the track Daydream. Album #2 Bridge of Sighs (1974) (#7 in the U.S.) features Bridge of Sighs, Too Rolling Stoned, Day of the Eagle, and Little Bit of Sympathy. Album #3 For Earth Below (Feb. 1975) sports a cover that is uses in the abortion scene in the film "The Omen"; it features the track Shame the Devil. Album #4 Long Misty Days (1976) features Long Misty Days. Album #5 In City Dreams (1977) features Sweet Wine of Love. Album #6 Caravan to Midnight (1978) features Caravan to Midnight. Album #7 Victims of the Fury (1979) features Victims of the Fury.

Sound City Studios

In 1969 Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif. is founded, becoming the studio of choice for Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Neil Young, REO Speedwagon, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine et al.

1970s

'The Partridge Family', 1970-4 'Josie and the Pussycats', 1970-1 Josie and the Pussycats

The 1970s are not only the decade when horrible ugly junky American cars finally allowed the Japanese to take over the industry, but are also a giant bleep in the history of rock and roll, as if it is dead in the water and is foundering, or goes on a hike and got lost in the woods. A typical monstrosity hiding behind the name of rock is the ABC-TV sitcom The Partridge Family (Sept. 25, 1970 - Aug. 31, 1974). Another one is the animated Sat. morning TV series Josie and the Pussycats, which debut on Sept. 12, 1970 on CBS-TV for 16 episodes (until Jan. 2, 1971), based on the Archie Comics series about an all-girl pop-rock music band that tours the world and gets into adventures; the opening theme shows them as three whites and one black.; on Dec. 5, 1970 the album Josie and the Pussycats is released, featuring Cathy Douglas, Patrice Holloway, and Cherie Jean Stoppelmoor, later known as Cheryl Ladd. Another less lame Sat. morning cartoon TV series on ABC-TV is The Jackon 5ive (Sept. 11, 1971 - Oct. 14, 1972), which features two Jackson 5 songs in each of the 23 episodes. On Sept. 19, 1971 the Jackson 5's first TV special Goin' Back to Indiana aired, with guests Diana Ross, Bill Cosby, Tommy Smothers, and Bobby Darin. Maybe it is the pre-Baby Boomers who really owned rock and roll, and the real Baby Boomers stunk it up when they gets the chance. Call me prejudiced, but if the 1970s have happened before the 1960s, it would have makes more sense. Just kidding, what happened is that the market grew and diversified, opening up niches for more genres, while it becomes increasingly hard for garage bands to get anywhere in the flood of has-been 1960s groups that kept trying to tour.

Beatles Breakup, Apr. 10, 1970 'Let It Be' by the Beatles, 1970 Paul McCartney (1942-) and Wings

On Jan. 4, 1970 (Sun.) the Beatles held their last recording session at EMI Studios. On Jan. 25, 1970 John Lennon and Yoko Ono shaved their heads and declared 1970 "Year One", donating their hair to the interracial Black House community center in North London for auction. On Apr. 7, 1970 (Tue.) after cryptic messages, the Beatles Breakup was announced by John Eastman, Paul McCartney's brother-in-law, and confirmed by Paul three days later on Apr. 10. they release a total of 10 hours 28 min. of music in their career. The breakup is causes by a combo of Yoko Ono, John Lennon wanting to step off the merry-go-round of stardom and "watch the wheels", and/or because John and George couldn't stand the arrogance of Paul McCartney anymore, with John using Yoko to drive the final wedge; "The dream is over" (Lennon). All four goes on to separate musical careers, causing the 1970s to be filled with loose Beatles, like an insect infestation. On Apr. 17, 1970 Paul Mcartney's debut solo album McCartney is released in Britain, featuring the hit Maybe I'm Amazed, after which he forms the group Wings with his wife Linda McCartney and Denny Laine in 1971, which goes on to release 14 top-10 singles in the U.S., incl. six #1s; all 23 of their singles makes the U.S. top 40, Britain's answer to Elvis sounds like he swallowed Mickey Mouse. His hit singles incl. Love Is Strange (1971), Give Ireland Back to the Irish (1972), Mary have a Little Lamb (1972), Hi, Hi, Hi (1972), My Love (1972), Live and Let Die (1972), Helen Wheels (1973), Jet (1973), Band on the Run (1973), My Love (1973), Junior's Farm (1974), Listen to What the Man Said (1975), Silly Love Songs (1976), Let 'Em In (1976), Mull of Kintyre (1977), With a Little Luck (1977), Goodnight Tonight (1978), and Coming Up (1980). Wings dissolved in Apr. 1981, after which on Apr. 26, 1982 McCartney releases solo album #4 Tug of War (#1 in the U.S.), which features Tug of War, Take It Away (w/Ringo and George Martin), and Ebony & Ivory (w/Stevie Wonder) (Mar. 29) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). Album #5 Pipes of Peace (Oct. 31, 1983) (#15 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Say Say Say (w/ Michael Jackson), Pipes of Peace, and So Bad. The 1985 single Spies Like Us (movie title track) reaches #7 in the U.S., becoming his last U.S. top-10 until ?. Album #7 Back in the USSR (The Russian Album) (Oct. 31, 1988) makes him the first Western artist to release an album exclusively in the Soviet Union. Album #8 Flowers in the Dirt (June 5, 1989) (#21 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features My Brave Face, Put It There, Figure of Eight, and This One. In 1989-90 the Paul McCartney World Tour is a big hit, after which he releases the live album Tripping the Live Fantastic (Oct. 29, 1990) (#26 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.). Album #9 Off the Ground (Feb. 1, 1993) (#17 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Off the Ground, Hope of Deliverance, and Biker Like an Icon, and is followed by the live album Paul Is Live (Nov. 8, 1993) (#78 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.) from his New World Tour (1993), with a cover parodying the "Paul Is Dead" hoax with a new Abbey Road-crossing photo. Album #10 Flaming Pie (May 5, 1997) features The World Tonight, Young Boy, and Calico Skies. Album #18 Egypt Station (Sept. 7, 2018) (#1 in the U.S.) is the first since 2005's "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard"; cover is his painting "Egypt Station"; it features Dominoes, Hand in Hand, Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link, and Despite Repeating Warnings, slamming climate deniers esp. Pres. Trump.

Edison Lighthouse Mountain Blues Image Mungo Jerry Bobby Bloom (1945-) Alive N Kickin' Frijid Pink Gypsy The Pipkins

Besides Norman Greenbaum, the 1970s have their share of 1960s-overflow 1-hit wonders. In Jan. 1970 the English studio group Edison Lighthouse, fronted by Anthony "Tony" Burrows (1942-) (formerly of the Flower Pot Men) have a million-selling hit with Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). On Mar. 7, 1970 the Long Island, N.Y. hard rock band Mountain, incl. Leslie West (Weinstein) (1945-) (vocals), Felix A. Pappalardi Jr. (1939-83) (bass, piano), and Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing (1948-) (drums) release their debut album (Mountain) Climbing! (album) (debut) (Mar. 7) (#17 in the U.S.), featuring the hit track Mississippi Queen (#21 in the U.S.), after which their name alone is so awesome they kept going for 40+ years on a dream but no hits. In Apr. 1970 the American rock band Blues Image releases album #2 (next to last) Open, containing their hit single Ride Captain Ride (#4 in the U.S.). "73 men sailed up from the San Francisco Bay/ Rolled off of their ship/ And here's what they have to say/ We're calling everyone to ride along/ To another shore/ We can laugh our lives away and be free once more/ But no one heard them callin'/ No one came at all/ Cause they are too busy watchin'/ Those old raindrops fall/ As a storm is blowin'/ Out on the peaceful sea/ 73 men sailed off to history/ Ride, captain ride/ Upon your mystery ship/ Be amazed at the friends/ You have here on your trip/ Ride captain ride/ Upon your mystery ship/ On your way to a world/ That others might have missed." Refers to Sir Francis Drake on his first voyage to America in 1572 in the Golden Hind? In May 1970 the English group Mungo Jerry, fronted by Raymond Edward "Ray" Dorset (1946-) and named after a poem in T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" release their first single In the Summertime, which becomes a phenomenon, selling 30M copies worldwide and reaching #1 in 26 countries, sparking Mungomania; Raymond Edward "Ray" Dorset (1946-) (vocals); the lyrics "Have a drink, have a drive/ go out and see what you can find" piss-off anti-drunk driving activists; the lyrics "If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal/ If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel/ Speed along the lane", is widely misunderstood as "Screw her on the lake"? The lyrics "If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal/ If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel/ Speed along the lane", is widely misunderstood as "Screw her on the lake". In Mar. 1971 their 2nd single Baby Jump goes #1 in the U.K., and they follow it in 1971 with the hit Lady Rose (#5 in the U.K.), in 1973 with Alright Alright Alright (#3 in the U.K.), and in 1974 with Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black (#13 in the U.K.). Another 1970 1-hit wonder is Robert "Bobby" Bloom (1945-74), with Montego Bay (#8 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), co-written by Jeff Barry; it's in Jamaica. Another is Alive N Kickin' of Brooklyn, N.Y., incl. Bruce Charles Sudano (1948-) (who marries Donna Summer in 1980), Woody Wilson (bass), John Parisio (guitar), and Ron Pell/Vito Albano (drums), who have the 1970 #7 hit Tighter, Tighter. In 1970 the Detroit group Frijid Pink, incl. Tom Beaudry (Kelly Green) (vocals), Gary Ray Thompson (guitar), Tom Harris (bass), Larry Zelanka (keyboards), and Richard Stevers (drums) have their one big hit with House of the Rising Sun (#7 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), which is released in 1969. Another 1970 1-hit wonder was the progressive rock band Gypsy, from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., fronted by Enrico Rosenbaum (1944-79) (vocals), along with James Walsh (keyboards), and Bill Lordan (drums), whose debut double album Gypsy features the tracks Gypsy Queen Part 1, Gypsy Queen Part 2, Dead and Gone, and The Vision. On Mar. 9-15, 1970 the Atomic Sunrise Festival in London features Gypsy along with Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Arthur Brown et al. The last 1970 1-hit wonder is The Pipkins, from England, the duo of Anthony "Tony" Burrows (1942-) and Roger John Reginald Greenaway (1938-), who score with Gimme Dat Ding by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood (#9 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.).

Rod Stewart (1945-)

In Feb. 1970 English singer Roderick David "Rod" Stewart (1945-), formerly of the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces releases his solo debut album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down, which didn't go anywhere. Album #3 Every Picture Tells a Story (May 1971) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) is his big breakthrough, featuring the hits Maggie May, and Every Picture Tells a Story. Album #7 A Night on the Town (June, 1976) (#2 in the U.S.) features Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (#1 in the U.S.), and The First Cut is the Deepest (#21 in the U.S.). Album #8 Foot Loose & Fancy Free (Nov. 4, 1977) (#3 in the U.S.) features You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (#4 in the U.S.), I is Only Joking (#22 in the U.S.), Hot Legs (#28 in the U.S.), and You Keep Me Hangin On. Album #9 Blondes Have More Fun (Nov. 24, 1978) (#1 in the U.S.) features Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? (#1 in the U.S.), and Ain't Love a Bitch (#22 in the U.S.). His Oct. 19, 2004 album Stardust: The Great American Songbook 3 (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), dedicated to the Tartan Army (fans of the Scottish nat. soccer team) is his first #1 album in the U.S. since "Blondes Have More Fun" (1978). He goes on to sell 100M records worldwide, incl. 16 top-10 U.S. singles (4 #1s).

Jackson Browne (1948-)

In Feb. 1970 the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, formed in 1966 in Long Beach, Calif. release their album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy, featuring the single Mr. Bojangles (by Jerry Jeff Walker) (#9 in the U.S.). In Jan. 1972 former member Clyde Jackson Browne (1948-) releases his debut album Jackson Browne (#53 in the U.S.), which contained the hit track Doctor My Eyes (#8 in the U.S.). Album #3 Late for the Sky (Sept. 1974) features the track Late for the Sky. Album #5 Running on Empty (Dec. 6, 1977) (#3 in the U.S.) features the hits Running on Empty, and The Load-Out/Stay. Album #6 Hold Out (album #6) (June 24, 1980) (#1 in the U.S.) incl. the hit That Girl Could Sing. Album #7 Lawyers in Love (Aug. 2, 1983) (#8 in the U.S.) features the tracks Lawyers in Love, Tender Is the Night, and For a Rocker. Album #8 Lives in the Balance (Feb. 18, 1986) features the tracks For America, and In the Shape of a Heart.

Ringo Starr (1940-) and Barbara Bach (1947-) Barbara Bach (1947-)

On Mar. 27, 1970 Ringo Starr releases his solo debut album Sentimental Journey, which reaches #22 in the U.S. and #7 in the U.K. although it is all covers. Album #2 Beaucoups of Blues (Sept. 25, 1970) (#65 in the U.S.) features the hits It Don't Come Easy, Back Off Boogaloo. Album #3 Ringo (Nov. 2, 1973) (#2 in the U.S.) features You're Sixteen (by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) (features a kazoo solo by Paul McCartney) (video features Carrie Fisher), Photograph (#1 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), I'm the Greatest (written by John Lennon, featuring Lennon on piano, George Harrison on guitar, Billy Preston on organ, and Klaus Voormann on bass), Oh My My (#5 in the U.S.). Album #4 Goodnight Vienna (Nov. 15, 1974) (#30 in the U.K.) features Goodnight Vienna (#8 in the U.S.), Only You (And You Alone) (by the Platters), No No Song (#3 in the U.S.). Carl Gottlieb's Caveman (Apr. 17, 1981) stars Ringo Starr as Atouk, who fights Lar (Dennis Quaid) for Lana, played by Barbara Bach (Goldbach) (1947-), whom Ringo marries on Apr. 27, 1981. After a string of flops and the death of John You Know Who, album #8 Stop and Smell the Roses (Nov. 2, 1981) (#98 in the U.S.) incl. his last U.S. top-40 hit Wrack My Brain (#38 in the U.S.).

Elton John (1947-)

On Apr. 10, 1970 English singer Elton John (Reginald Kenneth Dwight) (1947-), releases album #2 Elton John, which produced his first top-10 hit Your Song. He goes on to release hits incl. Levon (Nov. 29, 1971), Rocket Man (Apr. 17, 1972), Crocodile Rock (Oct. 27, 1972), Daniel (Mar. 26, 1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Oct. 15, 1973), Bennie and the Jets (Feb. 4, 1974), and Candle in the Wind (1974) - all while trying to come out as gay in stages.

War

In Apr. 1970 the multiracial Long Beach, Calif. funk rock group War, formerly The Creators and Nightshift, from Long Beach, Calif., incl. Howard E. Scott, Harold Brown, Charles Miller, Morris "B.B." Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Lee Oskar, Papa Dee Allen, and Deacon Jones, along with Eric Burdon, formerly of The Animals release their debut album Eric Burdon Declares War, which features the tracks Spill the Wine, and Tobacco Road. After Burdon left, album #4 All Day Music (Nov. 1971) features the track Slippin' Into Darkness, which sells 1M copies as a single. Album #5 The World Is a Ghetto (Nov. 1972) features The World Is a Ghetto, and The Cisco Kid (#1 in the U.S.). Album #6 Deliver the Word (Aug. 1973) features Gypsy Man (#8 in the U.S.), and Me and Baby Brother (#15 in the U.S.). Album #7 Why Can't We Be Friends (June 1975) features Why Can't We Be Friends? (#8 in the U.S.), and Low Rider. Their 1976 Greatest Hits album features the new track Summer (#7 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 50M records.

Pinkpop Festival, 1970-

On May 18, 1970 (Mon. after Pentecost) the first Pinkpop Festival (Dutch "Pinksteren" = Pentecost) is held in Geleen, Netherlands, featuring Golden Earring; later festivals are held from Sat.-Mon. on Pentecost weekend in Landgraaf; festival-goers like to wear pink hats.

Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' by Fleetwood Mac, 1977

On May 20, 1970 London-based Fleetwood Mac (founded July 1967) lead guitarist and founder (1967) Peter Green (Peter Allen Greenbaum) (1946-2020), who had contracted schizophrenia (from LSD?) quits the band after they failed to agree to give all their money to charity, and Christine McVie joins in his place; in Feb. 1971 member Jeremy Spencer quits to join the Children of God, causing Green to be invited back, bringing conga-playing friend Nigel Watson; on Jan. 26, 1977 Green is committed to a mental hospital in England after firing a pistol at a delivery boy. On July 11, 1975 the English (London) rock band Fleetwood Mac, named by founder Peter Green (Peter Allen Greenbaum) (1946-2020) after drummer Michael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood (1947-) and bassist John Graham McVie (1945-), incl. Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (1950-), Robert Lawrence "Bob" Welch Jr. (1945-), Robert Joseph "Bob" Weston (1947-), Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks (1948-), Lindsey Adams Buckingham (1949-), and Christine McVie (1943-), who released their debut album Fleetwood Mac back in Feb. 1968, followed in Nov. 1968 by the single instrumental Albatross (#1 in the U.K., #104 in the U.S.), and the single Dragonfly in Mar. 1971 (first with Christine McVie), and struggled through years of mediocre (300K+) sales, causing it to change its lineup, adding guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and his girlfriend vocalist Stevie Nicks, releases breakthrough album #10 Fleetwood Mac (White Album), which sets a record for most weeks on the Billboard 200 before reaching #1 (later breakn by Paula Abdul), selling 5M copies, making them superstars and helping all their marriages to break up. It features the hit tracks Say You Love Me (#11 in the U.S.), Rhiannon (#11 in the U.S.), Over My Head (#20 in the U.S.), and Landslide. They are named by 1967 founder Peter Green (Peter Allen Greenbaum) (1946-) after drummer Michael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood (1947-) and bassist John Graham McVie (1945-). Members incl. Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan (1950-), Robert Lawrence "Bob" Welch Jr. (1945-), Robert Joseph "Bob" Weston (1947-), Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks (1948-), Lindsey Adams Buckingham (1949-), and Christine McVie (1943-). On May 20, 1970 Green, who have contracted schizophrenia (from LSD?) quit the band after they failed to agree to give all their money to charity, and Christine McVie joins in his place; in Feb. 1971 member Jeremy Spencer quit to join the Children of God, causing Green to be invited back, bringing conga-playing friend Nigel Watson; on Jan. 26, 1977 Green is committed to a mental hospital in England after firing a pistol at a delivery boy. Album #11 Rumours (Feb. 4, 1977) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 40M copies (#1 album for 1977), featuring the tracks Go Your Own Way (#10 in the U.S.), Dreams (their only #1 U.S. hit), Don't Stop (#3 in the U.S.), You makes Loving Fun (#9 in the U.S.), Second Hand News, Gold Dust Woman, and The Chain. Double album #12 Tusk (Oct. 19, 1979) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) only sells 2M copies in the U.S. after the RKO radio chain let listeners tape it; it sells 4M copies worldwide. Hit tracks incl. Tusk (#8 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) (features the USC Marching Band), Think About Me (#20 in the U.S.), and Sara (7 min.) (#7 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.). They go on to sell 100M+ albums. In 2011 Stevie Nicks give an interview to Mike Doherty in which she lamented the state of the music industry, with the soundbyte: "The music business is in terrible shape right now because artists don't sell ten million albums anymore. [Labels are] not making all that money, so they can't have a whole slew of bands that they're helping and developing."

Uriah Heep Uriah Heep debut album, 1970

In June 1970 the English (London) heavy metal band Uriah Heep, formerly Spice and The Stalkers, incl. Michael Frederick "Mick" Box (1947-) (guitar), David Byron (Garrick) (1947-85) (vocals), Kenneth William David "Ken" Hensley (1945-), Paul Newton (bass), and Alex Napier/Ian Clarke (1946-) (drums) releases its debut album Very 'eavy... Very 'umble, which features lead singer David Byron drenched in cobwebs on the cover; it features the tracks Gypsy, Dreammare, Real Turned On, and Bird of Prey. Melissa Mills of Rolling Stone panned them, with the soundbyte "If this group makes it I'll have to commit suicide. From the first note you know you don't want to hear any more." Album #2 Salisbury (Jan. 1971) features Salisbury (backed by a 24-piece orchestra), and Lady in Black, which becomes a #1 hit in Germany. Album #3 Look at Yourself (Sept., 1971) have a reflective distorting foil mirror on the cover, and features July Morning, which inspired the Bulgarian Hippie tradition. Album #4 (best?) Demons and Wizards (May 19, 1972) causes Rolling Stone to turn around, with the soundbyte by Mike Saunders: "These guys are good. The first side of Demons and Wizards is simply odds-on the finest high energy workout of the year, tying nose and nose with the Blue Oyster Cult"; it features the tracks Easy Livin' (#39 in the U.S.), and The Wizard. Album #5 The Magician's Birthday (Nov. 1972) features The Magician's Birthday, Blind Eye (#97 in the U.S.), Sweet Lorraine (#91), and Spider Woman (#13 in Germany). Album #6 Sweet Freedom (Sept. 1973) features Sweet Freedom (#33 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), and Stealin'. Album #8 Return to Fantasy (May 1975) (#7 in the U.K.), the first with bassist John Wetton, who replaced Gary Thain (d. 1975) features Return to Fantasy, and Prima Donna. Album #9 High and Mighty (June 1976) features Weep in Silence, after which Byron is kicked out of the band for erratic behavior, and dies on Feb. 28, 1985 of alcoholism. They go on to sell 30M albums worldwide.

Tangerine Dream

In June 1970 the German electronic music group Tangerine Dream, founds in 1967 by Edgar Wilmar Froese (1944-) release their debut album Electronic Meditation, which features the track Journey Through A Burning Brain. Album #2 Alpha Centauri (Mar. 1971) features Ultima Thule. Double album #3 Zeit (Aug. 1972) features Nebulous Dawn. Album #4 Atem (Mar. 1973) features Atem. Album #5 Phaedra (Feb. 20, 1974) (#15 in the U.K.) features Phaedra. Too bad, on Dec. 13 Tangerine Dream and Nico held a concert at Reims Cathedral in France, but it is overbooked, and fans urinated in the hall, pissing off the Roman Catholic Church, which banned future perf.. Album #6 Rubycon (Mar. 21, 1975) (#12 in the U.S.) features Rubycon, Pt. 1. Album #8 Stratosfear (1976) (#39 in the U.K.) features Stratosfear. Album #9 Sorcerer Soundtrack (1977) (#25 in the U.K.) features Sorcerer. Album #11 Cyclone (1978) (#37 in the U.K.) is their first with vocals and lyrics, and features Bent Cold Sidewalk. Album #12 Force Majeure (Feb. 1979) (#26 in the U.K.) features Force Majeure. Legend Soundtrack (1986) features Is Your Love Strong Enough? (w/Bryan Ferry), Opening, Unicorn, Loved by the Sun (w/Jon Anderson), Blue Room, The Dance, Darkness, and The Kitchen (Unicorn Theme Reprise). They go on to release over 100 albums.

In summer 1970 the first hippie-style rock & roll Glastonbury Festival (originally the Pilton Festival) is held at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, England; it takes the Rolling Stones until 2013 to perform there.

Casey Kasem (1932-2014)

On July 4, 1970 American Top 40 (AT40), created and hosted by Lebanese-Am. disc jockey Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem (1932-2014) debuts on Los Angeles radio (until 2004); the show's first #1 hit song is Three Dog Night's "Mamma Told Me Not to Come".

The Carpenters Karen Carpenter (1950-83) and Thomas James Burris, 1980

On Aug. 19, 1970 after their first album Ticket to Ride (Oct. 9, 1969) flopped, the LA duo The Carpenters, consisting of siblings Karen Anne Carpenter (1950-83) (drums and vocals) and Richard Lynn Carpenter (1946-) releases album #2 Close to You (#2 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.), featuring the hit tracks (They Long to Be) Close to You, and We've Only Just Begun (written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols for a Crocker Nat. Bank TV commercial). They go on to become the #1 best-selling act in the U.S. in the 1970s. Album #3 Carpenters (Tan Album) (May 14, 1971) (#2 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) (first album with the Carpenters emblem) features the hit tracks For All We Know, Rainy Days and Mondays, and Superstar. Album #4 A Song for You (June 13, 1971) (#26 in the U.K.) features Bless the Beasts and Children, Top of the World, Hurting Each Other, It's Going to Take Some Time, Goodbye to Love, I Won't Last a Day Without You. Album #6 Horizon (June 6, 1975) (#13 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Please Mr. Postman (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), Only Yesterday (#4 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), and Solitaire (#15 in the U.S.). Album #7 A Kind of Hush (May, 1976) features There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World), and I Need to Be In Love. Album #8 Passage (Oct. 1977) features All You Get from Love is a Love Song, Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (which becomes the anthem of World Contact Day), and Sweet Sweet Smile. Too bad, after marrying divorces real estate developer Thomas James Burris on Aug. 31, 1980 and filing for divorce in Nov. 1981, which is to be finalized that day, Karen dies on Feb. 4, 1983 of anorexia nervosa.

Joe Cocker (1944-2014)

In Aug. 1970 the Beatles out of the way, allowing him to cover their hits, Sheffield, England-born John Robert "Joe" Cocker (1944-2014) releases the live album Mad Dogs and Englishmen (#16 in the U.K.), produced by Leon Russell, which features The Letter (by the Box Tops), She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (by John Lennon/Paul McCartney), Let It Be (by John Lennon/Paul McCartney) (w/Claudia Lennear), Something (by George Harrison), With a Little Help From My Friends (by John Lennon/Paul McCartney), making his North Am. Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour. In Oct. 1972 Cocker is arrested by Australian police for marijuana possession, then railroaded out of the country, causing a public outcry leading to the fall of the Conservative govt. in the Dec. elections.

Alan Wilson (1943-70) Jimi Hendrix (1942-70) Janis Joplin (1943-70)

In Sept.-Oct., 1970 the Second Day (really First Month) the Music dies started on Sept. 3, 1970, when Canned Heat rock star Alan Christie "Blind Owl" Wilson (b. 1943) died of an OD in Los Angeles, Calif., followed on Sept. 18 by rock star James Marshall (Johnny Allen) "Jimi" Hendrix (b. 1942), who dies of an OD in London, followed on Oct. 4 by rock star Janis Lyn Joplin (b. 1943), who dies of an OD at the Highland Gardens Hotel in Hollywood Heights, Calif. All dies at the same fabled age of 27, joining the fabled 27 Club, call me today.

George Harrison (1943-2001) 'All Things Must Pass' by George Harrison (1943-2001), 1970

On Nov. 23, 1970 George Harrison's My Sweet Lord becomes the first #1 single by an ex-Beatle. On Nov. 27, 1970 he releases the first-ever triple album by a solo artist All Things Must Pass, first triple album by a solo artist; the 3rd disk is called "Apple Jam". Tracks incl.: All Things Must Pass, My Sweet Lord, What Is Life, Isn't It a Pity, and If Not for You (by Bob Dylan). On Aug. 1, 1971 George staged the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York City; on Dec. 20, 1971 the album The Concert for Bangladesh is released, featuring George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston et al. On May 30, 1973 after developing a Jesus look, George Harrison releases the album Living in the Material World, featuring Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth). On Dec. 9, 1974 George releases his album Dark Horse, featuring the track Dark Horse. Too bad, he ruined his well-attended North Am. Dark Horse Tour by performing with a sore voice, and give up touring forever. On Sept. 22, 1975 Harrison releases the album Extra Texture (Read All About It) (last studio album releases by Apple) (#8 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), featuring the tracks You, and This Guitar (Can't Keep from Crying). On June 5, 1981 Harrison releases the album Somewhere in England (#11 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), featuring All Those Years Ago, a tribute to the late John Lennon, w/Ringo Starr, Paul and Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine. After taking a 5-year break, he releases his last album Cloud Nine on Nov. 2, 1987, which reestablishes his rep, going #8 in the U.S. and #10 in the U.K.), featuring Got My Mind sets on You, (#1 in the U.S.), a cover of a 1962 James Ray song, becoming the last ex-Beatle with a #1 U.S. hit, giving him three, vs. two for John Lennon, two for Ringo Starr, and nine for Paul McCartney. In 1988 and 1990 Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne releases two albums under the name Traveling Wilburys, as in "We'll bury the recording errors in the mix."

Cat Stevens (1948-) Yusuf Islam (1948-)

On Nov. 23, 1970 London-born Cat Stevens (Steven Demetre Georgio) (1948-), who in Jan. 1967 releases his debut album Matthew and Son, featuring the track I Love My Dog releases the album Tea for the Tillerman, containing the tracks Where Do the Children Play?, Wild World, Hard-Headed Woman, and Father and Son. On Oct. 1, 1971 he releases the album Teaser and Firecat, containing the hit tracks Morning Has breakn, Moonshadow, and Peace Train. On Mar. 19, 1974 his album Buddha and the Chocolate Box is released, containing the hit Oh Very Young and, er, Jesus. Too bad, he converted to Islam in Dec. 1977, and changes his name to Yusuf Islam, leaving the wild infidel rock world, he has a beard anyway so it is no sweat.

Kraftwerk

In Nov. 1970 the German (Dusseldorf) pioneer electronic Krautrock band Kraftwerk (German for power plant), fronted by Ralf Hutter (Hütter) (1946-) and Florian Schneider-Esleben (1947-) release their debut album Kraftwerk, which features the tracks Ruckzuck, and Stratovarius. Album #3 Ralf and Florian (Oct. 1973) features Kristallo, and Tongebirge. Album #4 Autobahn (Nov. 1974) features their only U.S. hit Autobahn (#25 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.), along with Comet Melody 1, and Comet Melody 2. Album #5 Radio-Activity (Oct. 1975) features Radioactivity. Album #6 Trans-Europe Express (Mar. 1977) features Trans-Europe Express. Album #7 The Man-Machine (Die Mensch-Maschine) (May 1978) features The Model (#1 in the U.K.), The Robots, and Neon Lights. Album #8 Computer World (May 1981) features Computer World, and Computer Love. Album #9 Electric Cafe (Techno Pop) (Oct. 16, 1986) features Techno Pop, and The Telephone Call. Album #10 Tour de France Soundtracks (Aug. 4, 2003) features Tour de France.

Edgar Winter (1946-) Johnny Winter (1944-)

In Nov. 1970 well-named albino multi-instrumentalist rock-blues-jazz singer Edgar Holland Winter (1946-) releases his debut album Entrance, which features Entrance, and Fire and Ice, then forms the group White Trash. In Nov. 1972 after forming the Edgar Winter Group, incl. Rick Derringer (1947-) (guitar, vocals), and Chuck Ruff (drums) he release their debut album They Only Come Out At Night, featuring the hit tracks Frankenstein (#1 in the U.S.) (named after all the cutting and splicing done during editing), and Free Ride (#14 in the U.S.) ("The mountain is high, the valley is low, and you're confused on which way to go,/ So I've come here to give you a hand, and lead you into the promised land"). Album #2 Shock Treatment (May 1974) (#13 in the U.S.) features River's Risin' (#33 in the U.S.), and Easy Street (#83 in the U.S.). In 1969 Edgar's albino brother John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III (1944-2014) performs the classic Mean Town Blues at Woodstock.

Brewer and Shipley

In 1970 the Kansas City, Mo.-based duo Brewer and Shipley, incl. Michael "Mike" Brewer (1944-) (tall hairy one) and Tom Shipley (short hairy one) release their 1-hit wonder (created in a moment of boredom, about smoking marijuana) One Toke Over the Line, which pissed-off Pres. Richard Nixon and Vice-Pres. Spiro Agnew, but is mistakenly performs on The Lawrence Welk Show and palmed off as a spiritual.

Paul Davis (1948-2008)

In 1970 Meridian, Miss.-born Paul Lavon Davis (1948-2008) releases his debut album A Little Bit of Paul Davis, which features A Little Bit of Soap (#52 in the U.S.), and I Just Wanna Keep It Together. Album #5 Singer of Songs, Teller of Tales (1977) features I Go Crazy (#7 in the U.S.) (longest chart run on the Billboard Hot 100 until ?), and Sweet Life (#17 in the U.S.) (#85 country). Album #7 (last) Cool Night (#52 in the U.S.) features Cool Night (#11 in the U.S.), 65 Love Affair (#39 in the U.S.), and Love or Let Me Be Lonely (by The Friends of Distinction).

Gordon Lightfoot (1938-)

In 1970 Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (1938-) releases his first hit If You Could Read My Mind (#5 in the U.S.), followed by Sundown (1974) (#1 in the U.S.), Carefree Highway (1974) (#1 in the U.S.), Rainy Day People (1975) (#1 in the U.S.), and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976) (#2 in the U.S.).

Funkadelic

In 1970 the Detroit black funk band Funkadelic, fronted by George Clinton (1941-) release their debut album Funkadelic. Album #2 Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow (July 1970) (#92 in the U.S.) features the track Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow. Album #3 Maggot Brain (July 1971) features the track Maggot Brain. Album #6 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (July 1974) features Standing on the Verge of Getting It On ("Hey lady won't you be my dog, I'll be your tree, and you can pee on me"). Album #7 Let's Take It to the Stage (Apr. 1975) features the track Let's Take It to the Stage. Album #10 One Nation Under a Groove (Sept. 1978) (greatest funk album of all time?) features the track One Nation Under a Groove, and Groovallegiance. Album #12 (last) The Electric Spanking of War Babies (Apr. 1981) features the track The Electric Spanking of War Babies.

The Five Stairsteps

In 1970 the Chicago soul group The Five Stairsteps, consisting of five of Betty and Clarence Burke Sr.'s six children, Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis, Kenneth "Keni", and Cubie, who have a string of low-charting Billboard 200 singles in the 1960s release their 1-hit wonder O-oh-h Child (#8 in the U.S.), earning them the title "The First Family of Soul" until the Jackson family superseded them.

Redbone

In 1970 the LA Native Am./Cajun band Redbone, composed of Native Am. (Yaqui, Shoshone, Mexican) brothers Lolly Vegas (Candido Albelando Vasquez-Vegas) (1939-2010) (vocals) and Patrick "Pat" Vegas (Vasquez-Vegas) (vocals, bass) and Peter "King Kong Beat" DePoe (drums) (the group's name means a mixed-race person) release their debut album Potlach, featuring the single Maggie. In 1971 they release their hit single The Witch Queen of New Orleans (#21 in the U.S.) (#2 in the U.K.), followed in 1974 by their biggest hit single Come and Get Your Love (#5 in the U.S.) (1M copies), becoming the first Native Am./Cajun band with a #1 internat. hit.

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

In 1970 Chicago, Ill.-born African-American jazz-soul poet-musician Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron (1949-2011) releases his debut album A New Black Poet: Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, which is full of social critique, causing him to become known as the Black Bob Dylan and the Godfather of Rap, influencing the development of hip hop; it features the track The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Album #2 Pieces of a Man (1971) features Home Is Where the Hatred Is.

Sugarloaf

In 1970 the Denver, Colo.-based rock band Sugarloaf (originally Chocolate Hair) (named after the mountain outside Boulder, Colo.), fronted by keyboardist Jerry Corbetta, incl. Bob Webber (formerly of the Moonrakers) (guitar), Veeder Van Dorn III (guitar), and Bob MacVittie (drums) releases Green-Eyed Woman (#3 in the U.S.). In 1975 they release Don't Call Us, We'll Call You (#9 in the U.S.)

Carly Simon (1945-)

In Feb. 1971 after singing folk music with her sister Lucy, Bronx, N.Y.-born Carly Elisabeth Simon (1945-), daughter of Simon & Schuster co-founder Richard L. Simon (1899-1960) and Jewish African-Am.-German civil rights activist-singer Andrea Heinemann Simon (1909-94) releases her debut album Carly Simon (#30 in the U.S.), featuring the hit track That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be (#10 in the U.S.). Album #2 Anticipation (Nov. 1971) (#30 in the U.S.) features Anticipation (#13 in the U.S.) (about a date with Cat Stevens), and Legend in Your Own Time (#50 in the U.S.) (about beau James Taylor). Album #3 No Secrets (Nov. 1973) (#1 in the U.S.) is her breakthrough, featuring You're So Vain (#1 in the U.S.), The Right Thing to Do (#17 in the U.S.), and When You Close Your Eyes. Album #4 Hotcakes (Jan., 1974) (#3 in the U.S.) features Mockingbird (with husband James Taylor) (#10 in the U.S.), and Haven't gets Time for the Pain (#14 in the U.S.). Her song Nobody Does It Better becomes the theme for the 1977 James Bond 007 flick The Spy Who Loved Me. Album #7 Boys in the Trees (Apr. 1978) (#10 in the U.S.) features You Belong to Me (#6 in the U.S.), Devoted to You (w/James Taylor) (#36 in the U.S.) (by the Everly Brothers).

Earth, Wind and Fire

In Feb. 1971 the Chicago-based R&B-funk band Earth, Wind and Fire, founded by Maurice White (1941-), and named after his astrological sign Sagittarius, also incl. Wade Flemons (1940-), Don Whitehead, Sherry Scott, Phillard Williams (drums), Verdine White (1951-) (bass), Michael Beale (guitar), Chester Washington (reeds), Leslie Drayton (trumpet), and Alex Thomas (trombone) release their debut album Earth, Wind and Fire, featuring the track Love is Life. Album #2 The Need of Love (Nov. 1971) features Energy. Album #4 Head to the Sky (May 1973) (#27 in the U.S.) is their breakthrough, selling 1M copies; it features Evil (#50 in the U.S.), and Keep Your Head to the Sky (#52 in the U.S.). Album #5 Open Our Eyes (Mar. 25, 1974) (#15 in the U.S.); incl. Mighty Mighty (#29 in the U.S.), Devotion (#33 in the U.S.), and Kalimba Story (#55 in the U.S.). Album #6 That's the Way of the World Soundtrack (Mar. 15, 1975) features That's the Way of the World (#12 in the U.S.), Shining Star (#1 in the U.S.). Their live double album Gratitude (Nov. 11, 1975) (#1 in the U.S.) features Can't Hide Love, and Reasons. Album #7 Spirit (Sept. 1976) (#2 in the U.S.) features Getaway, Saturday Nite, and On Your Face. Album #8 All 'N All (Nov. 21, 1977) (#3 in the U.S.) sells 3M copies, and features I'll Write A Song for You, Serpentine Fire, Love's Holiday, and the pop hit Fantasy. Album #9 I Am (July 16, 1979) (#3 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Boogie Wonderland (w/The Emotions) (#6 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), After the Love Has Gone (#2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.). Double album #10 Faces (Oct. 14, 1980) (#10 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) is the last with Al McKay; it features Let Me Talk (#44 in the U.S.), You (#48 in the U.S.), And Love Goes On (#59 in the U.S.), and Sparkle. Album #11 Raise! (Nov. 14, 1981) (#5 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) features Let's Groove (#3 in the U.S.), and Wanna Be With You (#51 in the U.S.).

Black Oak Arkansas

In Mar. 1971 Black Oak, Ark.-based Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas (originally the Knowbody Else), incl. Benton Harbor, Mich.-born James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum (1948-) (vocals) (inspiration for David Lee Roth), Rickie Lee "Risky" "Ricochet" Reynolds (guitar), Stanley "Goober Grin" Knight (guitar), Harvey "Burley" Jett (guitar), Pat "Dirty" Daughterty (bass), and Wayne "Squeezebox" Evans (drums) releases its debut album Black Oak Arkansas (Atco Records) (#127 in the U.S.), which features Uncle Lijiah, Memories at the Window, The Hills of Arkansas, and Singing the Blues (by Melvin Endsley). Album #2 Keep the Faith (Jan. 1972) (#103 in the U.S.) features Keep the Faith, Revolutionary All American Boys, Fever in My Mind, and The Big One's Still Coming. Album #3 If an Angel Came to See You... Would You makes Her Feel at Home (June 1972) (#93 in the U.S.) features Gravel Roads, Fertile Woman, Mutants of the Monster, and We Help Each Other. Album #4 Raunch 'N' Roll Live (Mar. 1973) (#90 in the U.S.) features Gettin' Kinda Cocky, When Electricity Came to Arkansas, Hot Rod, and Hot and Nasty. Album #5 High on the Hog (Sept. 23, 1973) (#52 in the U.S.) features Jim Dandy (#25 in the U.S.), Swimmin' in Quicksand, Back to the Land, and Movin'.

'Sticky Fingers' by the Rolling Stones, 1971

On Apr. 23, 1971 the Rolling Stones releases album #11/#9 Sticky Fingers, which contained the hits Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Sister Morphine, and Can't You Hear Me Knocking. The cover features the crotch of Joe Dalesandro in tight blue jeans, with a working zipper that opens to reveal a man in cotton briefs, conceived by Andy Warhol, design by John Pasche, and photographed by Billy Name; first use of the "Tongue and Lip Design" of Pasche, inspired by the Hindu goddess Kali the Destroyer. Album #11/#13 Goats Head Soup (Aug. 31, 1973) contained the hit Angie and Heartbreaker (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo). Album #12/#14 It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (Oct. 16, 1974) contained the hits It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It), Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Till the Next Goodbye, and Time Waits for No One. Album #14/#16 Some Girls (June 9, 1978) rebutted critics that claimed they are dinos in the age of punk rock, becoming their biggest selling album in the U.S. (6M copies), with hits Miss You, When the Whip Comes Down, Just My Imagination (Running Way with Me), Beast of Burden, Shattered, and Respectable.

Thin Lizzy Snowy White (1948-)

On Apr. 30, 1971 the Irish (Dublin) hard rock band Thin Lizzy (founded 1969), fronted by black Irishman Philip Paris "Phil" Lynott (1949-86) (vocals, bass) (the Irish Jimi Hendrix?), and white Irishman Brian Michael Downey (1951-) (drums), incl. guitarists Eric Bell (1969-73), Brian Robertson (1974-8), and Gary Moore (1974, 1977, 1978-9) release their debut album Thin Lizzy, featuring the track Honesty Is No Excuse. Album #2 Shades of a Blue Orphanage (Mar. 10, 1972) features Buffalo Gal. Album #3 Vagabonds of the Western World (Sept. 21, 1973) features Vagabonds of the Western World, and The Rocker. Album #4 Nightlife (Nov. 8, 1974) features Still in Love With You, and She Knows. Album #5 Fighting (Sept. 12, 1975) debut the twin guitars of Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham, and features Fighting My Way Back, and Freedom Song. Album #6 Jailbreak (Mar. 26, 1976), their U.S. breakthrough album features Jailbreak, The Boys Are Back in Town (#6 in the U.S.), and Angel from the Coast. Album #7 Johnny the Fox (Oct. 16, 1976) features Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed, and Don't Believe a Word. Album #8 Bad Reputation (Sept. 2, 1977) (#4 in the U.K.) features Bad Reputation, Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in the Spotlight) (#14 in the U.S.). Album #9 Black Rose: A Rock Legend (Apr. 13, 1979) (#2 in the U.K.) features Waiting for An Alibi, Do Anything You Want To, Sarah. Album #11 Renegade (Nov. 15, 1981) the 2nd and last with guitarist Terence Charles "Snowy" White (1948-) (backup player for Pink Floyd) features Angel of Death. Album #12 (last) Thunder and Lightning (Mar. 4, 1983) features The Sun Goes Down, and Cold Sweat; In 1983 Snowy White has a solo hit in the U.K. with Bird of Paradise (#6 in the U.K.).

The Doobie Brothers Michael McDonald (1952-)

Also in Apr. 1971 after years of playing in biker and hippie bars in N and C Calif., The Doobie Brothers from San Jose, Calif. (named after their fondness for doobies or marijuana cigs), incl. Charles Thomas "Tom" Johnston (1948-), Patrick "Pat" Simmons (1948-) (guitar), John Hartman (1950-) (drums), and Dave Shogren (bass) release their debut album The Doobie Brothers, featuring the track Nobody, which didn't go anywhere, after which they release 10 straight platinum and/or gold albums through 1980, starting with album #2 Toulouse Street (June 1972) (#21 in the U.S.), which features the hits Listen to the Music, and Jesus Is Just Alright. Album #3 The Captain and Me (Mar. 2, 1973) (#7 in the U.S.) features Long Train Runnin' (#8 in the U.S.), China Grove (#15 in the U.S.), and Without You. Album #4 What are Once Vices Are Now Habits (Feb. 1, 1974) (#4 in the U.S.) features Black Water (#1 in the U.S.). Album #5 Stampede (Apr. 25, 1974) (#4 in the U.S.) (last with Tom Johnson) features Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) (#11 in the U.S.). Album #6 Takin' It to the Streets (Mar. 19, 1976) (#8 in the U.S.) is the first with white-haired (later) blue-eyed soul singer Michael McDonald (1952-) on lead vocals, and features Takin' It to the Streets (#13 in the U.S.). Album #8 Minute by Minute (Dec. 1, 1978) (#1 in the U.S.) contained their biggest hit What a Fool Believes (#1 in the U.S.). Album #9 One Step Closer (Sept. 17, 1980) (#3 in the U.S.) contained their last hit Real Love (#5 in the U.S.).

Bill Withers (1938-)

In May 1971 Slab Fork, W. Va.-born singer-songwriter William Harrison "Bill" Withers (1938-) releases his debut album Just As I Am, which features the tracks Ain't No Sunshine (#3 in the U.S.), and Grandma's Hands (#42 in the U.S.). Album #2 Still Bill (May 1972) features the #1 U.S. hit Lean on Me, and the #2 U.S. hit Use Me. Album #6 Menagerie (1977) (#39 in the U.S., #27 in the U.K.) features Lovely Day (#30 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.).

Helen Reddy (1941-)

In Aug. 1971 Australian singer Helen Reddy (1941-) releases her hit I Am Woman, which was rereleases in May 1972, going #1, selling 1M+ copies. In 1973 she releases Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress) (#1 in the U.S.), and Delta Dawn (#1 in the U.S.). In 1974 she releases Keep on Singing (#15 in the U.S.), You and Me Against the World, (#9 in the U.S.), and Angie Baby (#1 in the U.S.). In 1975 she releases Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady (#8 in the U.S.).

New Riders of the Purple Sage

In Aug. 1971 the San Francisco, Calif.-based country rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage, forms mainly of members of The Grateful Dead, incl. Jerry Garcia (steel guitar), John Collins "Marmaduke" Dawson IV (1945-2009) (guitar), David Nelson (guitar), Spencer Dryden (drums), and Dave Torbert (bass) release their debut album New Riders of the Purple Sage (#39 in the U.S.), which features the tracks I Don't Know You, Dirty Business, and Last Lonely Eagle. In Nov. 1971 Buddy Cage replaces Jerry Garcia. Album #2 Powerglide (Mar. 1972) (#33 in the U.S.) features I Don't Need No Doctor, Rainbow, Sweet Lovin' One, and Hello Mary Lou (by Gene Pitney). Album #3 Gypsy Cowboy (Dec. 1972) features Gypsy Cowboy, Death and Destruction, Whiskey, Groupie, and Superman. Album #4 The Adventures of Panama Red (Oct. 1973) (#55 in the U.S.) features Panama Red, Lonesome L.A. Cowboy, and Kick in the Head.

On Sept. 19, 1971 John Lennon releases album #2 Imagine (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.); sax by King Curtis; "chocolate-coated for public consumption" with string accompaniments"; incl. a postcard showing him holding a pig to mock Paul McCartney's pose with a sheep on the cover of his Ram album; incl. his signature song Imagine (a plea for world peace sans religion, with lyrics starting "Imagine there's no Heaven/ It's easy if you try/ No Hell below us/ Above us only sky/ Imagine all the people living for today/ Imagine there's no countries/ It isn't hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion too/ Imagine all the people/ Living life in peace/ You may say that I'm a dreamer/ But I'm not the only one/ I hope someday you'll join us/ And the world will be as one"; Jealous Guy.

'Soul Train', 1971-2006

On Oct. 2, 1971 the syndicated U.S. African-American musical variety show Soul Train debut for 1,117 episodes (until Mar. 25, 2006), created and hosted by Chicago-born Donald Cortez "Don" Cornelius (1936-), giving black performers their day in the sun.

'American Pie', by Don McLean (1945-)

In Oct. 1971 Donald "Don" McLean (1945-) releases his 2-hit-wonder album American Pie, dedicated to Buddy Holly, containing the tracks American Pie (8.5 min.) (about the Day the Music Died), and Vincent (Starry Starry Night) (about earless artist Vincent Van Gogh). The cryptic lyrics in American Pie referencing rock and movie stars turn fans on, causing it to go #1 for 4 weeks; Satan refers to Mick Jagger.

REO Speedwagon

Also in Oct. 1971 REO Speedwagon (from Champaign, Ill.) releases its debut album REO Speedwagon, which gets them off to a speedy start with 157 Riverside Avenue. In 1972 they hired lead singer Kevin Cronin (1951-), whose voice sounded like a Southern Calif. beach boy, perfect for the U.S. market. Album #7 You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish (Mar. 16, 1978) sells 2M copies in the U.S., and features the track Time for Me to Fly. Album #8 Hi Infidelity (Nov. 21, 1980) was the best selling rock album of 1981 (10M copies), and incl. the hits Keep On Loving You (#1 in the U.S.) and Take It On the Run (#5 in the U.S.). Album #11 Wheels Are Turnin' (Nov. 1984) features the #1 hit Can't Fight This Feeling.

'No Jacket Required' by Phil Collins (1951-), 1985

On Nov. 12, 1971 the British group Genesis (who started out in 1967 as students of Charterhouse School) releases album #3 Nursery Cryme, which features their new drummer Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins (1951-), who have a closeup as a screaming teenie in the Beatles' film "A Hard Day's Night". Member Peter Gabriel departed in 1975 to go solo, which turned out well as it give Collins the chance to become the lead vocalist. Album #9 ...And Then There are Three... (Apr. 7, 1978) features the track Follow You Follow Me. Album #10 Duke (album #10) (Mar. 28, 1980) incl. the hit tracks Turn It On Again (#10 in the U.K.), and Misunderstanding (#20 in the U.S.). Album #11 Abacab (Sept. 14, 1981) (#1 in the U.K.) features the tracks Abacab, and No Reply at All. Their EP 3X3 (May 21, 1982) features Paperlate (#32 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.). Album #12 Genesis (Gold Shapes) (Oct. 3, 1983) (#9 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 4M copies in the U.S., and features Mama (#4 in the U.K.), and That's All (#10 in the U.S.). In 1984-5 Phil Collins goes solo for awhile, with the theme for the 1984 film Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), followed by the hit track Separate Lives, uses in the 1985 film "White Nights". The solo album No Jacket Required (Jan. 25, 1985) sells 30M copies. It is named for an incident at the Pump Room in Chicago, Ill. with maitre d' George Montgomery (-1992), which they later makes up for by sending him a sport coat. Hit tracks incl. Sussudio, One More Night, Don't Lose My Number, and Take Me Home. Album #13 Invisible Touch (June 9, 1986) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 15M copies, and features Invisible Touch (#1 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), Throwing It All Away (#4 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.), Land of Confusion (#4 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), Tonight, Tonight, Tonight (#3 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), and Domino. Album #14 We Can't Dance (Oct. 28, 1991) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), last with Phil Collins sells 4M copies in the U.S., and features I Can't Dance (#7 in the U.S. and U.K.), No Son of Mine (#12 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Hold on My Heart (#16 in the U.K.), and Jesus He Knows Me (#23 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.). They sells 150M albums, everything from Genesis to Revelation.

Loggins and Messina

In Nov. 1971 the rock-pop duo Loggins and Messina, Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (1948-) and James Melvin "Jim" Messina (1947-) release their debut album Sittin' In, featuring the tracks Danny's Song, and House at Pooh Corner. Album #2 Loggins and Messina (Oct. 1972) (#16 in the U.S.) features Your Mama Don't Dance (#4 in the U.S.) Album #3 Full Sail (Oct. 1973) (#10 in the U.S.) features My Music (#16 in the U.S.). They break up in 1976. In 1974 Kenny's cousin Dave Loggins (1947-) has a hit with Please Come to Boston.

On Nov. 28, 1971 John Lennon makes his last concert appearance at an Elton John concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, joining him to sing "Whatever Gets You Through the Night", "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", and "I Saw Her Standing There"; backstage, Lennon has a brief reunion with Yoko Ono (1933-), from whom he'd been separated for over a year - suck what? On Dec. 10, 1971 John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Phil Ochs, Allen Ginsberg, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale et al. makes a public appearance at a benefit concert for anti-racist White Panther Party leader (since 1968) John Sinclair (1941-), who is sentenced to 10 years in priz in 1969 for giving two joints of marijuana to an undercover narc; three days later Sinclair is released after the Mich. Supreme Court ruled the state's marijuana statutes unconstitutional, after which the Hash Bash rally has been held annually in Ann Arbor, Mich. to work for permanent decriminalization.

ELO

In Dec. 1971 the string-heavy English (Birmingham) rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), successor to The Move releases its debut album The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer), featuring 10538 Overture and Mr. Radio. Album #4 Eldorado (Sept. 1974) contained the track Can't Get It Out Of My Head. Album #5 Face the Music (Sept. 1975) contained the tracks Evil Woman, Strange Magic, and Fire on High. Album #6 A New World Record (Sept. 11, 1976) contained the hits Telephone Line, Livin' Thing, Do Ya, Tightrope, and Rockaria! Album #7 Out of the Blue was the first double album to have four top-20 singles in the U.K. Hit tracks incl. Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Mr. Blue Sky, Standin' in the Rain, Big Wheels, and Summer and Lightning. Their Aug. 1980 Xanadu Soundtrack album, done in conjunction with Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard, Gene Kelly, and The Tubes incl. the hits Xanadu, Magic, Suddenly, I'm Alive, Don't Walk Away, and All Over the World. The film effort seems to have maxed them out, after which they release an album in 1986 and took a 15-year breather.

Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022) Matt Lattanzi (1959-) Chloe Lattanzi (1986-)

In 1971 English-born Australian rock-pop-country singer Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022), daughter of Irene Born, eldest child of atomic physicist Max Born (connecting her somehow with super physicist Isaac Newton too?) releases her debut album If Not for You (#158 in the U.S.), featuring If Not for You, and If You Could Read My Mind. Album #2 Let Me Be There (Dec., 1973) (#1 country) (#54 in the U.S.) features Let Me Be There. Album #3 If You Love Me, Let Me Know (May 1974) (#1 country) (#1 in the U.S.) features If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#2 country) (#5 in the U.S.), and I Honestly Love You (#6 country) (#1 in the U.S.). Album #4 Have You Never Been Mellow (Feb. 1975) (#1 in the U.S.) features Have You Never Been Mellow. Album #6 Come On Over (Feb. 29, 1976) (#2 country) (#13 in the U.S.) features Come On Over (by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb), Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (by Fred Rose), and Jolene (by Dolly Parton. Album #7 Don't Stop Believin' (Oct. 1976) (#7 country) (#33 in the U.S.) features Don't Stop Believin' (by John Farrar) (#14 country) (#33 in the U.S.), Every Face Tells a Story (#21 country) (#55 in the U.S.), and Sam (#40 country) (#20 in the U.S.). Album #8 Making a Good Thing Better (1977) (#13 country) (#34 in the U.S.) features Making a Good Thing Better (by Pete Wingfield), Slow Dancing (by Jack Tempchin), and Ring of Fire (by June Carter and Merle Kilgore). Album #9 Totally Hot (1978) (#7 in the U.S.) features Totally Hot (#52 in the U.S.), A Little More Love (#94 country) (#3 in the U.S.), and Deeper than the Night (#87 country) (#11 in the U.S.). Album #10 Physical (Oct. 13, 1981) (#6 in the U.S.) (#11 in the U.K.) (10M copies) features Physical. In Dec. 1984 Olivia marries Portland, Ore.-born "Xanadu" dancer Matt Lattanzi (1959-); they divorces in 1995. In 2011 Olivia's daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi (1986-) freaked her mother out by releasing the disturbing shock rock video Play With Me.

John Denver (1943-97)

Also in 1971 yodeling 1-of-a-kind Roswell, N.M.-born singer John Denver (Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.) (1943-97) began creating his own pop rock genre, starting with the hit single Take Me Home, Country Roads, followed by Rocky Mountain High (1972), Sunshine On My Shoulders (1973) (#1), Annie's Song (1974) (#1), Thank God I'm a Country Boy (1975) (#1), and I'm Sorry (1975) (#1). After adopting Colorado and setting up shop regularly at Red Rocks Amphitheater, each year his Rocky Mountain Christmas is ABC-TV's highest-rated show. He goes on to become the Beatles of the 1970s, if you can wrap your mind around that.

Tom Clay (1929-95) Lee Michaels (1945-) Daddy Dewdrop (1940-) Seatrain Brownsville Mockingbird Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen Focus The Chi-Lites

1971 have its share of 1-hit wonders, starting with Tom Clay (Thomas Clague) (1929-95), and his What the World Needs Now (Abraham, Martin and John) (#8 in the U.S.) (1M copies), a tear-jerker composed of news reports and speeches with music in the background. Also Lee Michaels (Michael Olsen) (1945-) and his 1-hit wonder Do You Know What I Mean? (#6 in the U.S.). Also Daddy Dewdrop (Richard "Dick" Monda) (1940-) and his 1-hit wonder Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It) (#9 in the U.S.), based on the tune "John Jacob Jingleheimerschmitt". Also 13 Questions (#49 in the U.S.), from album #2 Seatrain (1970) by Seatrain, an American roots fusion band based in Marblehead, Mass., forms from the remnants of The Blues Project in 1969, which disbands in 1973 after George Martin produced albums #2 and #3 for them, the first after the Beatles. In 1971 Brownsville Mockingbird releases the 1-hit wonder Joy of Cooking. In Nov. 1971 the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based country rock band (founded 1967) Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen release their debut album Lost in the Ozone (#82 in the U.S.), which features their 1-hit wonder Hot Rod Lincoln (#9 in the U.S.), a cover of the 1955 original Hot Rod Lincoln by Charlie Ryan and W.S. Stevenson, and the 1960 cover Hot Rod Lincoln by Johnny Bond. Another 1971 1-hit wonder is the Dutch band Focus, incl. Thijs van Leer (keyboards), Jan Akkerman (guitar), Martin Dresden (bass), and Hans Cleuver (drums), who in Oct. 1971 releases album #2 Focus II (Moving Waves), which features Hocus Pocus (#9 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). Album #3 Focus 3 (1972) (#6 in the U.K.) features Sylvia (#89 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.). In 1971 the Chicago-based smooth vocal quartet The Chi-Lites have a hit with Have You Seen Her (#3 in the U.S, #3 in the U.K.), followed in 1972 by Oh Girl (#1 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.).

David Geffen (1943-)

Also in 1971 Asylum Records is founded by David Geffen (1943-) to attract Jackson Browne, going on to sign Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, and even Bob Dylan; in 1972 it is taken over by Warner and merged with Elektra Records.

Vivienne Westwood (1941-) Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010) Richard Hell (1949-)

Also in 1971 Vivienne Westwood (Vivienne Isabel Swire) (1941-), lover of Sex Pistols founder (Sept. 1975) Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren (1946-2010) opened the Sex fashion shop in London, which becomes known for its outrageous punk designs (a favorite of The Sex Pistols), featuring BDSM, safety pins, razor blades, chains, spiked dog collars, etc., based on the fashion style of New York punk musician Richard Hell (Richard Lester Meyers) (1949-), who in Sept. 1977 with his group The Voidoids release their debut album Blank Generation, which features the seminal punk rock track Blank Generation, followed in 1982 by their second and last album Destiny Street, which features the track Going, Going, Gone.

Middle of the Road

In 1971 the Scottish bubblegum pop group Middle of the Road, incl. Sally Carr (1945-) (vocals), Ian McCredie (1947-) (guitar), Eric McCredie (1945-) (bass), and Ken Andrew (1942-) (drums) release their debut album Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, which becomes a giant hit in the U.K., featuring the tracks Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (by Lally Stott) (#1 in the U.K.) (10M copies), Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum (#2 in the U.K.), and Soley Soley (#5 in the U.K.). By 1972 they are already dropping out of sight counting their money.

Bay City Rollers

Speaking of Scotland. In 1971 the Scottish Beatles-clone pop-rock band The Bay City Rollers ("the tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh), incl. Gordon Fraser "Nobby" Clark (1950) (vocals), Eric Faulkner (1953-) (guitar), Stuart John "Woody" Wood (1957-) (guitar), Alan Longmuir (1948-) (bass), and Derek Longmuir (1951-) (drums) release their first hit single Keep on Dancing (by The Gentrys) (#9 in the U.S.). In 1974 after Leslie Richard "Les" McKeown (1955-) replaced Nobby Clark as lead vocalist in 1973, they finally release their breakthrough single Remember (Sha La La La) (#6 in the U.K.), followed by Shang-a-Lang (1974) (#2 in the U.K.), Summerlove Sensation (1974) (#3 in the U.K.), and All of Me Loves All of You (1974) (#4 in the U.K.), sparking Rollermania during their 1975 U.K. tour, and leading to a 20-week BBC-TV series "Shang-a-Lang". In 1975 they release Bye, Bye, Baby (1975) (#1 in the U.K.) (1M copies), Give a Little Love (1975) (#1 in the U.K.). Rollermaniacs wore ankle-length tartan trousers and tartan scarves, and chanted "Eric, Derek, Woody too/ Alan, Leslie, we love you,/ With an R-O-double-L, E-R-S,/ Bay City Rollers are the best." In 1975 they staged a new British Invasion with the single Saturday Night (#1 in the U.S.), followed by Money Honey (1975) (#9 in the U.S.), I Only Want to Be With You (by Dusty Springfield) (1976) (#12 in the U.S.), Yesterday's Hero (1976) (#54 in the U.S.), and Dedication (1976) (#60 in the U.S.). Duh, maybe the U.S. fans thought they are from Bay City, Mich. and liked Roller Derby, until they caught a glance at them tartans and smelled a rat. Too bad, personnel changes helped cause them to trainspot, er, tank, and they exited stage left with It's a Game (by String Driven Thing) (1977) (#20 in the U.K.), and You makes Me Believe in Magic (1977) (#34 in the U.K., #10 in the U.S., #4 in Germany).

America

1972 is a very good year for rock and roll. On Jan. 31, 1972 the English-American (London) folk rock band America, discovered and produced by Ian "Sammy" Samwell (1937-2003), incl. Dewey Bunnell (1951-), Gerald Linford "Gerry" Beckley (1952-), and Dan Peek (1950-2011) release their million-selling debut album America (#1 in the U.S.), containing the hits A Horse With No Name (#1 in the U.S.), I Need You (#9 in the U.S.), Sandman (about the VQ-2 air squadron based in Rota, Spain?), and Three Roses. Album #2 Homecoming (Nov. 15, 1972) features Ventura Highway (#8 in the U.S.) ("alligator lizards in the air"). Album #4 Holiday (June 1974) features Tin Man (#4 in the U.S.) and Lonely People (#5 in the U.S.). Album #5 Hearts (Mar. 19, 1975) features Sister Golden Hair (#1 in the U.S.). All in all, America becomes Warner Brothers' biggest-selling act of the 1970s, but sorry, they're no Beatles.

Blue Oyster Cult

Also in Jan. 1972 the Long Island, N.Y.-based group Blue Oyster (Öyster) Cult (formerly Soft White Underbelly, Oaxaca, Stalk-Forrest Group, and Santos Sisters), comprised of Les Braunstein/Eric Bloom (1944-) (vocals), and Andrew Winters (bass) release their debut album Blue Öyster Cult, which sells well and is liked by critics, getting them on the tour circuit with the Byrds, Alice Cooper, and Mahavishnu Orchestra; it features Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll. Album #3 Secret Treaties (Apr. 1974) (#53 in the U.S.) contained the tracks Astronomy, and Born to Be Wild (by Steppenwolf). Their breakthrough album #4 Agents of Fortune (May 1976) (#29 in the U.S.) features the hit track (Don't Fear) The Reaper (#12 in the U.S.), and (This Ain't) The Summer of Love. Album #5 Spectres (Oct. 1977) contained the hit Godzilla. The live album Some Enchanted Evening (Sept. 1978) becomes their biggest seller (2M copies). Album #9 Fire of Unknown Origin (June 1981) contained the hit Burnin' for You (#40 in the U.S.), along with Joan Crawford, and Veteran of the Psychic Wars. Album #10 The Revolution (Revölution) by Night (Oct. 1983) contained the MTV hit Shooting Shark. They go on to sell 24M albums worldwide, incl. 7M in the U.S.

Todd Rundgren (1948-) Looking Glass

In Feb. 1972 Todd Harry Rundgren (1948-) releases his album #3 (double album) Something/Anything?, which makes him a star with the tracks Hello It's Me (#5 in the U.S.) and I Saw the Light (#16 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.). Album #10 The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (Jan. 1983) (#66 in the U.S.) features the hit Bang the Drum All Day (#63 in the U.S.), which the Green Bay Packers begins playing after every TD starting in 1995, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Harry Chapin (1942-81)

On Mar. 11, 1972 Harry Forster Chapin (1942-81) releases his debut album Heads & Tales, containing the 7-min. hit song Taxi. Album #4 Verities & Balderdash (Aug. 24, 1974) contained the hit Cat's in the Cradle (#38 in the U.S.) (about his son Josh).

In May 1972 the 1-hit wonder Jersey Shore band Looking Glass releases the #1 U.S. hit Brandy (You're a Fine Girl).

Jim Croce (1943-73)

Also in May 1972 Philly singer James Joseph "Jim" Croce (1943-73) releases album #3 You Don't Mess Around with Jim, featuring the hits You Don't Mess Around with Jim ("You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with Jim"), Time In A Bottle (about his pregnant wife Ingrid and newborn son A.J.), and Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels). Album #4 Life and Times (Jan. 1973) contained the hit Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. Album #5 I Gets a Name (Dec. 1, 1973) features the hit I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song (#9 in the U.S.). Too bad, Croce dies in a plane crash on Sept. 20, 1973.

Leon Russell (1942-)

In June 1972 1-hit wonder Leon Russell (Claude Russell Bridges) (1942-), whose debut album "Rhapsodies for Young Loves" came out in 1966 releases album #3 Carney (#2 on the U.S.), containing the hit single Tight Rope (#11 in the U.S.).

'Hold Your Head Up' by Argent, 1972

In July 1972 English rock band Argent, founded by Zombies keyboardist Rodney Terence "Rod" Argent (1945-) releases album #3 All Together Now, featuring their 1-hit wonder Hold Your Head Up (#5 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) (1M copies).

Gary Glitter (1944-)

Also in 1972 English glam rocker Gary Glitter (Paul Francis Gadd) (1944-) releases the caveman-sounding Rock and Roll Part 2 (Hey Song), which becomes a stadium anthem. Speaking of caveman, Glitter later gets into child porno and in 2006 is convicted of child molestation in Vietnam.

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946-)

Also in 1972 Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert (Raymond Edward) O'Sullivan (1946-) releases Alone Again (Naturally), which spends 6 weeks at #1 in the U.S., but only makes it to #3 in the U.K. He also charts Clair the same year, and goes on to rack up 16 top-40 hits incl. 6 #1s.

Stealers Wheel

Also in 1972 the 1-hit wonder Scottish group Stealers Wheel releases its debut album Stealers Wheel, containing the million-selling hit Stuck in the Middle With You (#6 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.). The 1992 Quentin Tarantino flick Reservoir Dogs forever gives it a horror dimension by using it to serenade a cop being burned alive with gasoline by a cop-hating hood.

'Talking Book' by Stevie Wonder (1950-), 1972

Speaking of Stevie Wonder, on Mar. 3, 1972 he showed he is back by releasing album #14 Music of My Mind (#21 in the U.S.), his first using synthesizers. It features Superwoman (Where are You When I Needed You), Happier Than the Morning Sun, and I Love Every Little Thing About You. Album #15 Talking Book (Oct. 28, 1972) is a giant R&B-to-rock crossover hit, featuring the tracks Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, and You and I (We Can Conquer the World). Album #16 Innervisions (Aug. 3, 1973) (#4 in the U.S.) features the tracks Higher Ground (#4 in the U.S.), Living for the City (#8 in the U.S.), and Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing (#16 in the U.S.). Album #17 Fulfillingness' First Finale (July 22, 1974) (#1 in the U.S.) features You Haven't Done Nothin' (with the Jackson 5) (#1 in the U.S.), and Boogie On Reggae Woman (#3 in the U.S.). Album #18 Songs in the Key of Life (Sept. 28, 1976) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.); 3rd best album of the year Grammy in 4 years features the tracks Isn't She Lovely? (about his daughter Aisha taking a bath) (#23 in the U.S.), I Wish (#23 in the U.S.), Sir Duke (#3 in the U.S.), and As (#36 in the U.S.). Album #19 Hotter Than July (Sept. 29, 1989) (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Master Blaster (Jammin) (#5 in the U.S.), I Ain't Gonna Stand for It (#11 in the U.S.), Lately (#64 in the U.S.), and Happy Birthday (#2 in the U.K.).

Pure Prairie League

In Mar. 1972 the Columbus, Ohio-based country rock band Pure Prairie League, incl. Craig Fuller (guitar, vocals), George Powell (guitar, vocals), Jim Lanham (bass, vocals), John David Call (steel guitar), and Jim Caughlan (drums) release their debut album Pure Prairie League, which features the tracks Tears, and Woman. Album #2 Bustin' Out (Aug. 1972) (#34 in the U.S.) features their 2nd biggest hit Amie (#27 in the U.S.). Album #3 Two Lane Highway (Apr. 1975) (#24 in the U.S.) features Kansas City Southern, and Just Can't Believe It (with Emmylou Haris). Album #4 If the Shoe Fits (Jan. 1976) (#33 in the U.S.) features Sun Shone Lightly. Album #9 Firin' Up (1980) (#37 in the U.S.) features their biggest hit Let Me Love You Tonight (#10 in the U.S.). Album #10 Something in the Night (1981) (#72 in the U.S.) features their 3rd biggest hit Still Right Here in My Heart (#28 in the U.S.), after which they fall off the charts.

Big Star

In Apr. 1972 the Memphis, Tenn.-based Beatles Invasion clone powerpop band Big Star, incl. William Alexander "Alex" Chilton (1950-2010) (guitar, vocals) (formerly of The Box Tops), Christopher Branford "Chris" Bell (1951-78) (guitar, vocals), Andy Hummel (bass), and Jody Stephens (drums) release their debut album #1 Record, which is a hit with the critics but didn't sell well because Stax Records underpromoted it, causing Bell to leave the group; it features the tracks Thirteen, When My Baby's Beside Me, and Don't Lie to Me. Album #2 Radio City (Feb. 1974) ses Ardent Records underpromote it, causing poor sales despite raves from critics; it features September Gurls, and Back of a Car. They break up in 1974, becoming influential in alternative rock. Album #3 Third (Sister Lovers), recorded in 1974 before their breakup features Femme Fatale (by the Velvet Underground), Kangaroo, and Holocaust. After reuiniting, on Sept. 27, 2005 they release album #4 In Space, featuring Turn My Back on the Sun, Best Chance, and Dony.

'Exile on Main Street' by the Rolling Stones, 1972

On May 12, 1972 the Rolling Stones releases double album #10/#12 Exile on Main Street (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) (their masterpiece?), recorded in summer 1971 in a mansion in the S of France rented by guitarist Keith Richards; it features the tracks Plundered My Soul (#2 in the U.S.), Tumbling Dice (#7 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), Happy (#22 in the U.S.), Shine a Light, Rocks Off, Torn and Frayed, Sweet Black Angel, and Turd on the Run.

Roxy Music

On June 15, 1972 the English (London) art rock band Roxy Music, fronted by Bryan Ferry (1945-), release their debut album Roxy Music (#10 in the U.K.), featuring the track Re-Make/Re-Model. Album #4 Country Life (#37 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) contained the tracks All I Want Is You, The Thrill of It All. Album #5 Siren (Oct. 24, 1975), features Ferry's babe Jerry Hall on the cover, and contains their biggest hit Love Is the Drug, and Both Ends Burning.

Eagles Glenn Frey (1948-2016) Don Henley (1947-)

On June 17, 1972 the LA-based band Eagles, incl. Glenn Lewis Frey (1948-2016) and Donald Hugh "Don" Henley (1947- release their debut album Eagles, which features Take It Easy (#12 in the U.S.), Peaceful Easy Feeling (#22 in the U.S.), and Witchy Woman (#9 in the U.S.). Album #2 Desperado (Apr. 17, 1972) features Tequila Sunrise. Album #3 On the Border (Mar. 22, 1974) features James Dean, and Best Of My Love (#1 in the U.S.). Album #4 One of These Nights (June 10, 1975) features One of These Nights (#1 in the U.S.), Lyin' Eyes (#2 in the U.S.), and Take It To the Limit (#4 in the U.S.). In Dec. 1975 Bernie Leadon left after his dating of Ronald Reagan's daughter Patti Davis causes tensions and he poured a beer over Glenn Frey's head; he is replaced by Joe Walsh, causing the James Gang to break up. On May 28, 1982 Glenn Frey releases his debut solo album No Fun Aloud, which features The One You Love. Album #2 The Allnighter (June 19, 1984) features Sexy Girl, and Smuggler's Blues (from "Miami Vice"). In 1985 he has a hit with The Heat Is On (#2 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop, and another with You Belong to the City (#2 in the U.S.), composed for the TV show "Miami Vice", whose Oct. 26, 1985 soundtrack album Miami Vice Soundtrack (#1 in the U.S.) is the best-selling album of 1985, and most successful TV soundtrack in history (until ?). They go on to sell 120M albums worldwide.

ABBA

Also in June 1972 the Swedish band ABBA (Agnetha, Benny, Björn, Anni-Frid) named after the first initials of the members Agnetha Faltskog (Fältskog) (1950-) (the blonde), Goran Bror "Benny" Andersson (1946-), Bjorn Kristian Ulvaeus (1945-), and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (1945-) release their debut single People Need Love. Album #1 Ring Ring (Mar. 26, 1973) features Ring Ring, and People Need Love. Album #2 Waterloo (Mar. 4, 1974) give them instant fame; it features Waterloo, King Kong Song, and Honey, Honey. Album #3 ABBA (Limo Album) (Apr. 21, 1975) features Mamma Mia, SOS, Bang-A-Boomerang, and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. Album #4 Arrival (Oct. 11, 1976) features Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money, My Love, My Life, When I Kissed the Teacher, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and That's Me. Album #5 The Album (Dec. 12, 1977) features Take a Chance on Me, The Name of the Game, Hole In Your Soul, and Thank You for the Music (later becoming their goodbye song). Album #6 Voulez-Vouz (Do You Want) (Apr. 23, 1979) features Voulez-Vous, As Good as New, Chiquitita, I Have a Dream, Angeleyes, and Does Your Mother Know. Album #7 Super Trouper (Nov. 3, 1980) (#1 album of the year in the U.K.) featurs Super Trouper, and The Winner Takes It All. Album #8 (last) The Visitors (Nov. 30, 1981), the first album manufactured in CD features incl. The Visitors. They go on to sell 380M+ records; their outrageous costumes were worn to quality for tax deductions - corny sells better than sex?

Foghat

Also in June 1972 the English (London) rock band Foghat, fronted by David "Lonesome Dave" Peverett (1943-2000) releases its debut album Foghat, with hit track I Just Want to makes Love to You (by Willie Dixon). Album #5 Fool for the City (Sept. 1975) contained their biggest hit Slow Ride (#20 in the U.S.).

The Raspberries Eric Carmen (1949-)

In July 1972 Cleveland, Ohio-based band The Raspberries, incl. Eric Howard Carmen (1949-) (vocals, guitar), James Alexander "Jim" Bonfanti (1948-) (drums), Wallace Carter "Wally" Bryson (1949-) (guitar), and David Bruce "Dave" Smalley (1949-) (bass), known for large bouffant hairdos release their 1-hit wonder Go All the Way (#5 in the U.S.) (1.3M copies), which is banned by the BBC for sexually suggestive lyrics, making it more popular? They break up in 1975 after pioneering the power pop genre (coined by Pete Townshend for what The Who did), making fans of Jack Bruce, Courtney Love, and Ringo Starr. On Dec. 1, 1975 Eric Carmen releases his solo debut All By Myself (#2 in the U.S.) (1M copies), based on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor. In 1976 he releases Never Gonna Fall in Love (#11 in the U.S.). On Nov. 7, 1987 he releases Hungry Eyes (#4 in the U.S.), which is featured in the film "Dirty Dancing". In May 1988 he releases Make Me Lose Control (#3 in the U.S.).

Curtis Mayfield (1942-99) Ron O'Neal (1937-2004) in 'Superfly', 1972

On Aug. 4, 1972 Chicago, Ill.-born African-American soul-funk singer Curtis Lee Mayfield (1942-99), known for his social conscience releases album #3 Super Fly Soundtrack, featuring the tracks Super Fly (title song), and Freddie's Dead (#2 in the U.S.), about the death of Fat Freddie, who is run over by a car.

The Staple Singers

On Aug. 20, 1972 110K attended Wattstax, a day-long "Black Woodstock" held in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum by Stax Records, featuring perf. by Isaac Hayes, Albert King, the Staple Singers, Rufus & Carla Thomas et al. In 1972 The Staple Singers, founded in 1948 in Chicago, Ill. by patriarch Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914-2000) and his daughters Cleothis Staples (1934-), Pervis Staples (1935-), Yvonne Staples (1936-), and Mavis Staples (1939-) release their first hit pop album Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (album) (#19 in the U.S.), featuring the hits Respect Yourself (#12 in the U.S.), and I'll Take You There (#1 in the U.S.). In 1975 they release the album Let's Do It Again Soundtrack (album), with songs by Curtis Mayfield, featuring Let's Do It Again (#1 in the U.S.).

ELf 'Elf', by Elf, 1972

In Aug. 1972 the English blues rock band Elf (formed in 1967 as The Electric Elves, becoming the opening act for Deep Purple), fronted by Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona) (1942-2010) (vocals), along with Doug Thaler (keyboards), Nick Pantas (-1968) (guitar), David Feinstein (guitar) (Dio's cousin), and Gary Driscoll (drums) release their debut album Elf, which features the tracks Never More, and First Avenue. Album #2 Carolina County Ball (Apr. 1974) features Carolina County Ball. Album #3 (last) Face the Music (Sept. 1975) features Wonderworld.

Joe Walsh (1947-)

Speaking of Joe Walsh. On Sept. 30, 1972 Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (1947-), formerly of the James Gang releases his debut solo album Barnstorm. Album #2 The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get (June 18, 1973) features Rocky Mountain Way. Album #3 So What (Dec. 14, 1974) features Welcome to the Club. Album #4 But Seriously, Folks... (May 16, 1978) (#12 in the U.S.) features the hit track Life's Been Good (from the 1978 film "FM"); "My Maserati does 185/ I lost my license, now I don't drive."

10cc

In Oct. 1972 the English (Stockport) art rock band 10cc, named after a particularly large cum spurt, incl. Graham Keith Gouldman (1946-), Eric Michael Stewart (1945-), Kevin Michael Godley (1945-), and Lol Creme (1947), who already have a #2 U.K. in July 1970 with Neanderthal Man under the name Hotlegs release their debut single Donna (#2 in the U.K.), followed by their debut album 10cc (July 1973), which features the tracks Rubber Bullets (#1 in the U.K.), The Dean and I (#10 in the U.K.), and Johnny Don't Do It. Album #2 Sheet Music (May 1974) (#81 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) (their best album?); incl. The Wall Street Shuffle, and Silly Love. Album #3 The Original Soundtrack (Mar. 1975) (#15 in the U.S., #3 in the .K.), the first release by Mercury Records, who sign them for $1M features I'm Not in Love (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), and Une Nuit A Paris (One Night in Paris). Album #4 How Dare You! (Jan. 1976), last with Godley and Creme features I'm Mandy Fly Me, and Art for Art's Sake, after which the band limped along as a duo.

Steely Dan

In Oct. 1972 Steely Dan (named after a dildo in the novel "Naked Lunch" by William S. Burroughs), comprised of Bard College (N.Y.) chums Donald Jay Fagen (1948-) and Walter Carl Becker (1950-) release their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill (#17 in the U.S.), which contained their big hit Reelin' in the Years, and Do It Again. Album #2 Countdown to Ecstasy (July 1973) contained the tracks Show Biz Kids, and My Old School. Album #3 Pretzel Logic (Mar. 1974) contained the biggest hit Rikki Don't Lose That Number (#4 in the U.S.). Album #4 Katy Died (pun on katydid) (Mar. 1975) (#13 in the U.S.) contained the track Black Friday (about the 1929 Stock Market Crash). Album #6 Aja (Sept. 1977) (#3 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) (named after Fagen's friend's brother's Korean wife) was their best selling album, 5M copies, and contained the tracks Deacon Blues, Peg, and Home at Last. Album #7 Gaucho (Nov. 21) contained the hit Hey Nineteen, after which the duo split.

Bette Midler (1945-)

On Nov. 7, 1972 after singing in the gay Continental Baths in New York City to piano accompanist Barry Manilow, Bette Midler (1945-) releases her debut album The Divine Miss M (#9 in the U.S.), featuring the singles Do You Want to Dance, Friends, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (#8 in the U.S.). On Nov. 2, 1988 she releases the album Beaches Soundtrack (#2 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), which sells 3M copies, and features her #1 U.S. hit Wind Beneath My Wings.

On Dec. 12, 1972 The Beatles perform the last concert of their final U.K. tour.

Roberta Flack (1937-)

In 1972 Asheville, N.C.-born Roberta Flack (1937-) scored with the single The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, written by Ewan MacColl (1915-89), Communist dad of Kirsty MacColl for his lover Peggy Seeger. In 1973 she score again with Killing Me Softly (With His Song), written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel; based on her reaction to Don McLean's 8.5 min. "American Pie"?

Johnny Nash (1940-2020)

In 1972 Houston, Tex.-born African Am. reggae singer John Lester "Johnny" Nash Jr. (1940-2020) releases his 1-hit wonder I Can See Clearly Now (#1 in the U.S.) (#5 in the U.K.).

Billy Paul (1934-)

In 1972 Philadelphia, Penn.-born soul singer Billy Paul (Paul Williams) (1934-) releases his 1-hit wonder Me and Mrs. Jones (#1 in the U.S.) ("Me and Mrs. Jones, we gets a thing goin' on/ We both know that it's wrong, but it's much too strong to let it go now").

Styx

We're not done with 1972 yet. In 1972 the South Chicago-based progressive rock band Styx (originally the Tradewinds and Tw4), comprised of Tommy Roland Shaw (1953-) (vocals), twins Charles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo (1948-) and John Panozzo (1948-) (drums), Dennis DeYoung (1947-) (keyboards), John "J.C." Curulewski (1950-88), and James "J.Y." Young (1949-) release their debut album Styx, featuring Best Thing, and Fanfare (Movement) for the Common Man. Album #2 Styx II (July 1973) (#20 in the U.S.) made them stars, with the hit track Lady (#6 in the U.S.). Album #3 The Serpent Is Rising (Feb. 1974) peaked at #192, and DeYoung called it "one of the worst recorded and produced in the history of music". Album #5 Equinox (Dec. 1, 1975) features the hit single Lorelei (#27 in the U.S.), and Suite Madam Blue (about the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial). Album #7 The Grand Illusion (July 7, 1977) (#6 in the U.S.) features the hits Come Sail Away (#8 in the U.S.), and Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) (#29 in the U.S.). Album #8 Pieces of Eight (Sept. 1, 1978) (#2 in the U.S.) features the tracks Renegade (#16 in the U.S.), Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) (#21), and Sing for the Day (#41). Album #9 Cornerstone (Oct. 19, 1979) (#2 in the U.S.) features the #1 U.S. hit Babe (#6 in the U.K.). Album #10 Paradise Theater (Jan. 19, 1981) (#1 in the U.S.) features the hit tracks The Best of Times (#3 in the U.S.), Too Much Time on My Hands (#9 in the U.S.), and Rockin' the Paradise; the track Snowblind, against drug addiction was accused of having backward Satanic messages, which didn't help it sell. Album #11 Kilroy is Here (Feb. 28, 1983) (#3 in the U.S.) features the hit tracks Mr. Roboto (#3 in the U.S.), and Don't Let It End (#6 in the U.S.). Album #12 Edge of the Century (Oct. 9, 1990) features the hit single Show Me the Way (#3 in the U.S.), which is adopted by the Gulf War troops as their anthem.

Barry White (1944-2003) The Bee Gees Andy Gibb (1958-88)

In 1973 the Disco Era began, starting with the classy Love's Theme (#1 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) (1973), the first disco record to go #1 in the U.S., by Galveston, Tex.-born Barry Eugene White (Carter) (1944-2003) and his female vocal trio backed by the 40-piece Love Unlimited Orchestra, folllowed by rich bass-voiced White's solo 1974 hits Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe (#1 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), and You're the First, the Last, My Everything (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Too bad, the airwaves are soon filling with such bottom scrapers as the Oct. 1976 novelty Disco Duck before being rescued by the Australian falsetto trio The Bee Gees, Barry Gibb (1946-), Robin Gibb (1949-2012), and Maurice Gibb (1949-2003), whose soundtrack for the Dec. 14, 1977 John Travolta movie Saturday Night Fever was a super hit. Hit tracks incl.: Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Jive Talkin', and More Than A Woman. Album #11 Main Course (May 1975) is their first to feature disco music, and features Nights on Broadway, and Jive Talkin'. Album #12 Children of the World (Sept. 1976) sells 2.5M copies, and features Children of the World, You Should Be Dancing, Love So Right, and Love Me. Album #13 Spirits Having Flown (Jan. 1979) sells 16M copies, and features Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, and Love You Inside Out. Too bad, after 6 #1 singles in 18 mo., the disco craze ended, and they tanked. Meanwhile in Sept. 1977 their youngest brother Andy Gibb (1958-88) releases his debut album Flowing Rivers, which sells 1M copies, making him the first male solo artist in the U.S. to chart three consecutive #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, incl. I Just Want To Be Your Everything, and (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, which replaced his brothers' "Staying Alive" as #1 in the U.S., only to be replaced by "Night Fever". Album #2 Shadow Dancing (Apr. 1978) sells 1M copies, and features Shadow Dancing (#1 in the U.S.), An Everlasting Love (#5 in the U.S.), and (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away (#9 in the U.S.). The Disco Era faded out about the same time as MTV gets going in 1981.

Aerosmith

Disco or no disco, real rock thrived. In Jan. 1973 the hard rock band Aerosmith release their debut album Aerosmith, featuring the single Dream On. AKA The Bad Boys from Boston and America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band, members incl. singer ("the Demon of Screamin') Steven Tyler (Steven Victor Tallarico) (1948-), guitarist Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry (1950-), guitarist Bradford Ernest "Brad" Whitford (1952-), bassist Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (1951-), and drummer Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer (1950-). On Mar. 1, 1974 they release album #2 Get Your Wings, featuring the tracks Same Old Song and Dance, and Train Kept A Rollin'. In Apr. 1975 they release album #3 Toys in the Attic, featuring Sweet Emotion and their signature song Walk This Way. On May 3, 1976 they release album #4 Rocks, featuring Back in the Saddle and Last Child. Too bad, drug use dragged the band down until album #10 Pump, releases on Sept. 12, 1989, which features What It Takes, Janie's gets a Gun and Love in an Elevator ("Oh, good morning, Mister Tyler, going dooooown?"). In Apr. 1993 they follow with album #11 Get a Grip, which sold 20M copies (7M in the U.S.), and features Livin' on the Edge, Cryin', Amazing, and Crazy. Album #12 Nine Lives (Mar. 18, 1997) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Nine Lives, Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees), Pink, Hole in My Soul, Full Circle, and Taste of India. The single I Don't Want to Miss A Thing from the 1998 film "Armageddon" goes #1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K. Album #13 Just Push Play (Mar. 9, 2001) (#2 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) features Just Push Play, Jaded, and Fly Away from Here.

On Jan. 14, 1973 Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii Concert from Honolulu becomes the first worldwide telecast by an entertainer, and is watched by more people than the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing.

On Feb. 13, 1973 the rock & roll club Ebbets Field is opened in downtown Denver, Colo., and features the Mark-Almond Band.

'Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd, 1973 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd, 1979

On Mar. 10, 1973 Pink Floyd's album #8 The Dark Side of the Moon (recorded at Abbey Road Studios) is released, becoming a mega-hit, charting for 741 straight weeks until 1988 and selling 45M copies - I know, they benefited from people bored with you know what starts with Duck. It features Money, Time, Brain Damage, Us and Them, and The Great Gig in the Sky (featuring Clare Torry). It generated the Dark Side of the Rainbow running rumor that it's really an alternative soundtrack to the 1939 MGM film "The Wizard of Oz". Album #11 (double album) The Wall (Nov. 30, 1979) sold 23M copies, and features the hits Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There?, Comfortably Numb, and Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 ("We don't need no education, we don't need no thought control"). It is adapted into the 1982 film Pink Floyd: The Wall, about Pink, who lost his father in WWII, is abused by his schoolteachers, and led a dysfunctional life.

The Pointer Sisters

In Mar. 1973 The Pointer Sisters, Ruth Pointer (1946-), Anita Pointer (1948-), Patricia Eva "Bonnie" Porter (1950-), and June Antoinette Pointer (1953-2006), from Oakland, Calif. release their debut album The Pointer Sisters (#13 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Wang Dang Doodle, and Yes We Can Can. In Aug. 1974 they release the live album Live at the Opera House after they becomes the first modern pop group to perform at the Opera House in San Francisco. Album #5 Energy (1978) (#13 in the U.S.) is the first sans Bonnie, leaving Anith, Ruth, and June; it features Fire (by Bruce Springsteen) (#2 in the U.S.), and Happiness (#40 in the U.S.). Album #7 Special Things (1980) (#34 in the U.S.) features He's So Shy. Album #8 Black & White (1981) (#13 in the U.S.) features Slow Hand (#2 in the U.S.), and Should I Do It (#13 in the U.S.). Album #9 So Excited! (July 1983) (#59 in the U.S.) features So Excited! (#9 in the U.S.), American Music, and I Feel for You (by Prince). Album #10 Break Out (Nov. 6, 1983) (#8 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) sells 3M copies, becoming their breakthrough, making them big MTV stars; it features the hit tracks Jump (For My Love), Automatic, and Neutron Dance. Too bad, they started tanking. Album #11 Contact (July 1985) (#25 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.) features Dare Me (#15 in the U.S.), Freedom, and Twist My Arm. Album #13 Serious Slammin' (1988) (#152) is the last with longtime producer Richard Perry, and their last album to make the Billboard 200; it features He Turned Me Out.

Michael Oldfield (1953-) 'The Exorcist', 1973 Richard Branson (1950-) Virgin Records

On May 25, 1973 English musician-composer Michael Gordon "Mike" Oldfield (1953-) releases the album Tubular Bells, which helped launch Virgin Records, founds in 1972 by English entrepreneur Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (1950-) et al. It features the cool hit instrumental track Tubular Bells, which is uses as the theme of the scary 1973 film The Exorcist.

Charlie Daniels (1936-)

In May 1973 Leland, N.C.-born fiddler-singer Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels (1936-) and his band releases the album Honey in the Rock, which features the hit track Uneasy Rider (#9 in the U.S.). On Apr. 29, 1979 they release the album Million Mile Reflections (#5 in the U.S., #74 in the U.K.), dedicated to Ronnie Van Zant, which features their big hit The Devil goes Down to Georgia (#3 in the U.S.).

Jimmy Buffett (1946-)

In June 1973 Pascagoula, Miss.-born singer-songwriter James William "Jimmy" Buffett (1946-) releases album #3 A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, which features the tracks He goes to Paris, Grapefruit - Juicy Fruit, and Why Don't We Get Drunk (and Screw). Album #2 Living and Dying in 3/4 Time (Feb. 1974) features Come Monday (first top-40 single). Album #5 A1A (Dec. 1974), named for Fla. State Road A1A on the Atlantic coast features A Pirate Looks at Forty. Album #8 Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Altitudes (Jan. 20, 1977) is his biggest hit, and features Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, and Margaritaville, after which his Parrothead fans carried him on to a life career with concerts and restaurant chains.

Chaka Khan (1953-)

In July 1973 the Chicago-based funk band Rufus, fronted by "Queen of Funk" Chaka Khan (Yvette Marie Stevens) (1953-) release their debut album Rufus (#175 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Feel Good, and Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me). Album #2 Rags to Rufus (May 1974) sells 1M copies, and features Tell Me Something Good (#3 in the U.S.) (by Stevie Wonder), and You gets the Love (#11 in the U.S.). Album #3 Rufusized (Dec. 1974) (#7 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features One You Get Started, and Please Pardon Me. Album #4 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (Nov. 1975) (#12 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Sweet Thing (#5 in the U.S.), Dance Wit Me (#39 in the U.S.), and Jive Talkin' (by the Bee Gees). Album #5 Ask Rufus (Jan. 1977) (#14 in the U.S.) features At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) (#30 in the U.S.), Hollywood (#32 in the U.S.), and Everlasting Love. Album #6 Street Player (Jan. 1978) (#14 in the U.S.) features Stay (#48 in the U.S.), and Blue Love. Chaka Khan's debut solo album Chaka (Oct. 12, 1978) features I'm Every Woman, which becomes her anthem. Album #7 Numbers (Jan. 1979) didn't feature Chaka Khan. Album #8 Masterjam (Nov. 1979) (#14 in the U.S.) features Do You Love What You Feel. Her solo album #5 I Feel for You (Oct. 1, 1984) features I Feel for You (by Prince) (#3 in the U.S.), and Through the Fire (#60 in the U.S.).

'Jesus Christ Superstar', 1973

On Aug. 7, 1973 the Norman Jewison film Jesus Christ Superstar debut, shot on location in Israel starring Ted Neeley as Jesus, and Carl Anderson as Judas. Hit songs incl. Superstar, and I Don't Know How to Love Him (Everything's Alright).

'American Graffiti', 1973 Flash Cadillac

On Aug. 11, 1973 the George Lucas film American Graffiti debut (one of three films to gross $100M at the box office, along with "The Exorcist" and "The Sting"), a coming-of-age flick sets in pre-JFK assassination 1962 Modesto, Calif. and centered around graduation, Mel's Drive-In, a sock hop, and a drag race, rocketing Lucas, Ron Howard (as Steve Bolander), Richard Dreyfuss (as Curt Henderson), Harrison Ford (as Bob Falfa), Suzanne Somers (blonde in white T-Bird), Cindy Williams (as Laurie Henderson), Candy Clark (as Old Harper and '58 Impala-loving Debbie "Deb" Dunham), Paul LeMat (as John Milner), and even nerdy Charles Martin Smith (as Terry "the Toad" Fields) to stardom to the cool voice of Wolfman Jack; it features a sock hop with the band Flash Cadillace and the Continental Kids from the U. of Colo. at Boulder, who performs At the Hop, She's So Fine, and er, Louie Louie.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

On Aug. 13, 1973 Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, named after gym teacher Leonard Skinner (1933-2010) for sending them to the principal's office of Robert E. Lee H.S. in Jacksonville, Fla. for having too long hair, and consisting of Steven Earl Gaines (1949-77), Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant (1948-77), Larkin Allen Collins Jr. (1952-90), Garry Robert Rossington (1951-), Larry Junstrom (1949-) (bass), and Bob Burns (1950-)/Thomas Delmer "Artimus" Pyle (1948-) (drums) release their debut album Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd), containing the rock anthem Free Bird and the hit Tuesday's Gone. Album #2 Second Helping (Apr. 15, 1974) (#12 in the U.S.) contained the hit Sweet Home Alabama, featuring their trademark triple guitar attack. Album #3 Nuthin' Fancy (Mar. 24, 1975) (#9 in the U.S.) contained the track Saturday Night Special. Too bad, on Oct. 20, 1977, three days after releasing album #5 Street Survivors, their chartered airplane crashed en route to Baton Rouge, La., killing bandmembers Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant (1948-77) and Steven Earl "Steve" Gaines (1949-77).

Don Kirshner (1934-2011)

On Sept. 27, 1973 the syndicated TV show Don Kirshner's Rock Concert debuts (until 1981), hosted by "The Man With the Golden Ear" Donald "Don" Kirshner (1934-2011) (classmate of Bobby Darin, who helped him launch his career with his songwriting talents, then managed The Monkees and The Archies), featuring a performance by The Rolling Stones; the show shuns lip-synching and lets them perform live.

Suzi Quatro (1950-)

In Oct. 1973 Detroit, Mich.-born singer Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro (1950-) releases her debut single Can the Can (#56 in the U.S.), which becomes a hit in Europe and Australia, with the chorus "Make a stand for your man, honey, try to can the can/ "Put your man in the can, honey, get him while you can"/ "Can the can, can the can, if you can, well can the can." She follow the same year with the singles 48 Crash (#3 in the U.K.), and Daytona Demon. Album #2 Quatro (1974) sold 1M copies, and features Devil Gate Drive. In 1978 she and Chris Norman (1950-) releases the hit duet Stumblin' In (#4 in the U.S.). She goes on to sell 50M records.

Kool and the Gang

In Oct. 1973 the Jersey City, N.J. funk disco band Kool and the Gang, incl. Robert Earl "Kool" Bell (1950-) (bass), Ronald Nathan Bell (1951-) (tenor sax), James Warren "J.T." Taylor (1953-) (vocals), Dennis Thomas (alto sax), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Claydes Charles Smith (1948-2006) (guitar), Rick Westfield (keyboards), and George Brown (drums) releases album #6 Wild and Peaceful, featuring their first hit Jungle Boogie (#4 in the U.S.), along with Hollywood Swinging (#6 in the U.S.). Album #13 Ladies' Night (Sept. 6, 1979) (#13 in the U.S.) features the tracks Ladies' Night (#8 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), and Too Hot (#5 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.). Album #14 Celebrate! (album #14) (Sept. 29) (#10 in the U.S.) features Celebration (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.). Album #15 Something Special (Sept. 24, 1981) (#10 in the U.K.) features Take My Heart (#17 in the U.S.), Get Down On It (#10 in the U.S.), and Steppin' Out (#89 in the U.S.). Album #16 As One (Sept. 7, 1982) features Let's Go Dancin' (#6 in the U.K.). After switching from disco to pop, album #17 In the Heart (Nov. 21, 1983) features Joanna (#2 in the U.S. and U.K.). Album #18 Emergency (Nov. 15, 1984) features Emergency (#20 in the U.S.), Cherish (#2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), Fresh (#9 in the U.S.), and Misled (#10 in the U.S.). Album #19 Forever (Nov. 3, 1986) features Victory (#10 in the U.S.), and Stone Love (#10 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 70M albums worldwide.

Billy Joel (1949-) Christie Brinkley (1954-)

On Nov. 2, 1973 late-blooming superstar William Martin "Billy" Joel (1949-), releases his first hit Piano Man, after which he goes on to sell 150M albums after his breakthrough album #5 The Stranger (Sept. 29, 1977) spent six weeks at #2 in the U.S. charts, featuring the tracks The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Vienna, Only the Good Die Young ("Catholic girls start much too late"), and She's Always a Woman. Album #6 52nd Street (Oct. 13, 1978), his 1st #1 U.S. album sells 7M copies, and is first album to be releases in CD in Japan in 1982). It features the tracks My Life (#3 in the U.S.), Big Shot (#14), and Honesty (#24). Album #7 Glass Houses (Mar. 12, 1980) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 7M copies in the U.S., and features his first #1 single It's Still Rock and Roll to Me. Album #8 The Nylon Curtain (Sept. 23, 1982) (#7 in the U.S.) (2M copies sold in the U.S.) features big hit Allentown (six weeks at #17 in the U.S.), and Pressure. Album #9 An Innocent Man (Aug. 8, 1983) (#6 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features the tracks Uptown Girl (#3 in the U.S.), Tell Her About It (#1 in the U.S.), and An Innocent Man (#10 in the U.S.), about his new model babe Christie Brinkley (1954-), whom he marries from 1985-94. Album #11 Storm Front (Oct. 30, 1989) features the #1 U.S. hit We Didn't Start the Fire (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) (lyrics are headline events from his birth year of 1949 to 1989), and Leningrad, about the end of the Cold War, after which he begins his sold-out Storm Front tour to pay off $9M in debts after years of bad money management causes by signing in 1971 with a producer who kept collecting royalties long after working with him, a wife (Elizabeth) who is also his business mgr. and took him to the cleaners at the divorce court in 1983, and her successor, her brother Frank Weber, against whom Joel have a $90M lawsuit pending; meanwhile his supermodel wife Christie Brinkley and posh home in East Hampton, N.Y. are a consolation, after which her real estate holdings gave her a net worth of $80M by 2010.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

In Dec. 1973 the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive cranked it up with the of their 2nd album Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, containing the hit Takin' Care of Business, followed in Aug. 1974 by their 3rd album Not Fragile, which features the hits You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and Roll On Down the Highway.

Kourosh Yaghmaei Googoosh (1950-)

In 1973 the rock scene begins to pump up in Iran, with guitar legend Kourosh Yaghmaei, known for the track Gole Yakh, and female pop star Googoosh (Faegheh Atashin) (1950-), known for the track Baaghe Bi Bargi. Too bad, the fundamentalist Islamic 1979 Iranian Rev. shut them up permanently. Bahman Ghobadi's film No One Knows About Persian Cats (May 14, 2009) is about Iranian rockers Hamed Behdad and Ashkan Kooshanejad, who have to go underground to form a rock band.

Golden Earring

In 1973 the Dutch (The Hague) rock band Golden Earring (named after Jan Vermeer's painting "The Girl with the Golden Earring"), led by George Kooymans (1948-) and Rinus Gerritsen (1945-) brought up the ear with hit song Radar Love, followed by Twilight Zone in 1982, and When the Lady Smiles in 1984.

On Jan. 3, 1974 Bob Dylan (b. 1941) begins his Before the Flood Tour, his first concert tour since 1966 when he is involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident, giving 40 perf. in 25 cities, beginning in Chicago.

Kiss Neil Bogart (1943-82) Casablanca Records

On Feb. 18, 1974 after starting their first tour in Edmonton, Canada on Feb. 5, the New York City rock band Kiss, composed of Paul "Starchild" Stanley (Stanley Eisen) (1952-) (vocals), Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (1951-) (vocals), Gene Simmons (1949-) (bass), Tommy Thayer (1960-), and Peter "Catman" Criss (George Peter John Criscuola) (1945-)/Eric Singer (Eric Doyle Mensinger) (1958-) (drums) releases its debut album Kiss, turning on the under-14 crowd with Japanese Kabuki makeup, tongue flicking, and stage pyrotechnics. Album #3 Dressed to Kill (Mar. 19, 1975) (#32 in the U.S.) incl. their first singles C'mon and Love Me, and Rock and Roll All Nite (#12 in the U.S.). Album #4 Destroyer (Mar. 15, 1976) (#11 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.) features the tracks Beth (#7 in the U.S.), and Shout It Out Loud (#31 in the U.S.). Album #5 Rock and Roll Over (Nov. 11, 1976) (#11 in the U.S.) features Hard Luck Woman (#15 in the U.S.), and Calling Dr. Love (#16 in the U.S.). Album #7 Dynasty (May 23, 1979) (#9 in the U.S.) features I is makes for Lovin' You (#11 in the U.S.); Sure Know Something (#47 in the U.S.). Kiss goes on to sell 100M albums. In 1973 Casablanca Records is founded by Humphrey, er, Neil Bogart (Neil E. Bogatz) (1943-82) of bubblegum label Buddah Records, and Kiss is the first to sign; too bad, after helping launch Disco by signing Donna Summer, Village People et al., then going New Wave with Boardwalk Records and signing Joan Jett, he dies of cancer at age 39.

Rush

On Mar. 1, 1974 the Canadian (Toronto) rock band Rush, incl. Geddy Lee (Gary Lee Weinrib) (1953-) (vocals, bass, keyboards), Alex Lifeson (Aleksandar Zivojinovic) (1953-) (guitar), and Neil Ellwood Peart (1952-2020) (drums) release their debut album Rush, which features the tracks Finding My Way, In the Mood, and Working Man. Album #2 Fly by Night (Feb. 15, 1975) (#113 in the U.S.) features Fly by Night. Album #3 Caress of Steel (Sept. 15, 1975) (#148 in the U.S.) sells 500K copies, and features Bastille Day, I Think I'm Going Bald, The Necromancer, and The Fountain of Lamneth. They finally hit it big with album #4 2112 (Twenty-One Twelve) (Apr. 1, 1976) (#61 in the U.S.), inspired by Ayn Rand, which sells 3M copies, and features 2112, A Passage to Bangkok, and The Twilight Zone. Album #5 A Farewell to Kings (Sept. 1, 1977) (#33 in the U.S.), their first U.S. gold album features Closer to the Heart, and Xanadu. Album #6 Hemispheres (Oct. 29, 1978) (#47 in the U.S.) features Circumstances, The Trees, and La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence). They then goes totally into freaky progressive rock, check back with me later when I come back from the 12th dimension.

The Ramones

On Mar. 30, 1974 the punk rock group The Ramones, from Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y., incl. Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glen Colvin) (1952-), Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Marky Ramone, Richie Ramone, C.J. Ramone, and Elvis Ramone give their first public performance, followed by 2,262 more over the next 22 years. Too bad, their albums didn't do well, starting with their debut album Ramones (Apr. 23, 1976) (#111 in the U.S.), featuring their biggest hit Blitzkrieg Bop ("They're forming in a straight line/ They're going through a tight wind/ The kids are losing their minds/ The Blitzkrieg Bop"), along with Beat on the Brat ("Beat on the brat/ Beat on the brat/ Beat on the brat with a baseball bat/ Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh"), Judy is a Punk ("Jackie is a punk/ Judy is a runt/ They both goes down to Berlin/ joins the ice capades/ And oh, I don't know why/ Oh, I don't know why/ Perhaps they'll die"), and Chainsaw. Album #11 Brain Drain (Mar. 23, 1989), last with Dee Ramone, and last on Sire Records features Pet Sematary.

Kansas

In Mar. 1974 the Topeka, Kan. progressive rock band Kansas, consisting of Lynn Meredith (vocals), Kerry Allen Livgren (1949-) (guitar), Dave Hope (1949-) (bass), Don Montre/Dan Wright (keyboards), Larry Baker (sax), and Phillip W. "Phil" Ehart (1950-) (drums) release their debut album Kansas, which features an illustration of John Brown on the cover. Album #4 Leftoverture (Oct. 1976) features their first hit single Carry On Wayward Son. Album #5 Point of Know Return (Oct. 11, 1977) features their biggest hit Dust in the Wind. Album #6 Monolith (May 1979) features People of the South Wind. After several members goes Christian, they split in 1983, then reformed in 1986 and releases album #10 Power (Nov., 1986), featuring All I Wanted.

Queen Freddie Mercury (1946-91) Freddie Mercury (1946-91) Tom Cruise (1962-)

On Apr. 16, 1974 the English (London) rock group Queen (formed in 1971), fronted by openly gay queen 4-octave range vocalist-songwriter Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) (1946-91) (Tom Cruise lookalike, causing rumors that Cruise is gay?) (who er, treats his fans to a slow wasting death from AIDS) stages it first show in the U.S. at Regis U. in Denver, Colo. On Nov. 1, 1974 they release album #3 Sheer Heart Attack, (#12 in the U.S.) which rockets them to fame, with tracks incl. Killer Queen (#12 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). Album #4 A Night at the Opera (Nov. 21, 1975) (named after a 1935 Marx Brothers film), most expensive recorded to that time (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K. contained the big hit Bohemian Rhapsody (best rock song of all time?), which contains the lyric "Bismillah" = in the name of Allah. Album #6 News of the World (Oct. 28, 1977) contained big hits We Will Rock You, and We Are the Champions. Album #8 The Game (June 30, 1980) (#1 in the U.S.) (4M copies sold) features the #1 U.S. hits Another One Bites the Dust, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Album #9 Hot Space (May 21, 1982) features Under Pressure with David Bowie (#29 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Album #13 (well-named?) Innuendo (Feb. 5, 1991) (#1 in the U.K.) features Innuendo. Album #14 Made in Heaven (Nov. 6, 1995) (#1 in the U.K.) sells 20M copies, and features the sad track Let Me Live, after which Mercury dies on Nov. 24, 1991; Mercury was possessed by the Devil?

George McCrae (1944-) KC and the Sunshine Band

Speaking of disco. In May 1974 Fla. soul singer George McCrae (1944-) releases the internat. hit Rock Your Baby (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 11M copies and becomes the first mega disco hit. The song is written by Richard Raymond Finch (1954-) and Harry Wayne "KC" Casey (1952-) of the multiracial KC and the Sunshine Band (founded 1973 in Miami, Fla.), who couldn't reach the high notes. Other band members incl. Jerome Smith (guitar), Robert Johnson/Oliver Brown/Fermin Goytisolo (drums), Ken Faulk/Vinnie Tanno (trumpet), and Mike Lewis (tenor sax). The band's 1974 debut album Do It Good didn't do too well, but album #2 KC and the Sunshine Band (July 1975) features the hit tracks That's the Way (I Like It), Get Down Tonight, and Boogie Shoes. Album #4 Part 3 (Oct. 1976) features I'm Your Boogie Man, and (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty. Their last fling is album #9 All in a Night's Work (Aug. 1982), featuring the U.K. hit Give It Up.

Bad Company

On June 26, 1974 the English rock supergroup Bad Company, consisting of Paul Bernard Rodgers (1949-) (vocals) (from Free), Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Ralphs (1944-) (guitar) (from Mott the Hoople), Raymond "Boz" Burrell (1946-2006) (bass) (from King Crimson), and Simon Frederick St. George Kirke (1949-) (drums) (from Free) release their debut album Bad Company (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), featuring the hits Bad Company, Can't Get Enough (#5 in the U.S.), Movin' On (#19 in the U.S.), Rock Steady, and Ready for Love. Album #2 Straight Shooter (Apr. 1975) (#3 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features the hits Feel Like Makin' Love (#10 in the U.S.), and Good Lovin' Gone Bad (#36 in the U.S.). Album #3 Run With the Pack (Feb. 21, 1976) (#5 in the U.S.) sells 3M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks Young Blood (by the Coasters) (#20 in the U.S.), Honey Child (#47 in the U.S.). Silver, Blue and Gold, Live for the Music. Album 4 Burnin' Sky (Mar. 3, 1977) (#15 in the U.S.) features the track Burnin' Sky (#78 in the U.S.). Album #5 Desolation Angels (Mar. 17, 1979) (#3 in the U.S.) (title taken from the Jack Kerouac novel) features Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (#13 in the U.S.), and Gone, Gone, Gone (#44 in the U.S.). Album #6 Rough Diamonds (Aug., 1982) (#26 in the U.S.) is the last by the original lineup, and incl. Electricland (#10 in the U.S.), and Painted Face. For decades these classics are played by Oldies radio stations, giving the impression of being from the 1960s when they are from the 1970s.

Judas Priest

On Sept. 6, 1974 the English (Birmingham) heavy metal band (Black Sabbath competitor) Judas Priest (formed in 1969), incl. Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford (1951-) (vocals), Kenneth "K.K." Downing Jr. (1951-) (guitar), Ian Frank Hill (1951-) (bass), and Glenn Raymond Tipton (1947-) (guitar) release their debut album Rocka Rolla, which suffers from poor production quality from Gull Records, maybe they have a Judas in it. Album #2 Sad Wings of Destiny (Mar. 23, 1976), another flop, causing them to sign with Columbia Records. Tracks incl. Tyrant, Genocide, The Ripper, and Victim of Changes. Album #3 Sin After Sin (album #3) (Apr. 23, 1977) features Sinner, and Diamonds and Rust (by Joan Baez). Album #4 Stained Class (Feb. 10, 1978) (#104 in the U.S.) features Beyond the Realms of Death, and Better By You, Better Than Me; on Dec. 23, 1985 James Vance and Ray Belknap entered a suicide pact while listening to it, and Belknap succeeded while Vance is disfigured, causing a 1990 lawsuit, which is dismissed. Album #5 Hell Bent for Leather (Killing Machine) (album #5) (Oct. 9, 1978) (#128 in the U.S.) features a cover displaying their new macho biker S&M spandex "leather and studs" look, and incl. the tracks Hell Bent for Leather, Rock Forever, and The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown). Album #6 British Steel (album #6) (Apr. 14, 1980) (#34 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), recorded at John Lennon's home at Tittenhurst Park features Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight, United. Album #7 Point of Entry (Feb. 26, 1981) features Don't Go, Hot Rockin', Heading Out to the Highway. Album #8 Screaming for Vengeance (July 17, 1982) (#17 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) features You've gets Another Thing Coming, Electric Eye, (Take These) Chains. Their creative slide begins after this album. They go on to sell 30M albums.

Supertramp

In Sept. 1974 the English progressive rock band Supertramp, which is formed in 1969 with the help of a Dutch millionaire, and sign up as one of A&M Records's first British groups, only to flop miserably, causing them to regroup and switch their lineup to Richard Davies (1944-) (vocals), Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson (1950-) (vocals), John Anthony Helliwell (1945-) (sax), Douglas Campbell "Dougie" Thompson (1951-) (bass), and Bob C. Bengerg (Robert Layne "Bob" Siebengerg) (1949-) (drums) releases album #3 Crime of the Century, featuring the hit songs Dreamer (#9 in the U.S.), and Bloody Well Right (#35 in the U.S.). Album #5 Even in the Quietest Moments... (Apr., 1977) (#16 in the U.S.), recorded at Caribou Ranch Studios in Colo. features the tracks Give a Little Bit (#15 in the U.S.), Fool's Overture. Album #6 Breakfast in America (Mar. 29, 1979) is their biggest hit, going #1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K. and selling 18M copies. Hit tracks incl. The Logical Song (#6 in the U.S.), Take the Long Way Home (#10 in the U.S.), and Goodbye Stranger (#15 in the U.S.). After righting with lead singer Davies, lead singer Hodgson left in 1982. They goe on to sell 18M albums.

John Lennon (1940-80) on 'Monday Night Football', Dec. 9, 1974

On Nov. 28, 1974 John Lennon makes his last concert appearance at an Elton John concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, joining him to sing "Whatever Gets You Through the Night", "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", and "I Saw Her Standing There"; backstage, Lennon have a brief reunion with Yoko Ono (1933-), from whom he'd been separated for over a year - suck what? On Dec. 9, 1974 John Lennon appears on Monday Night Football during a game between the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams, and is interviewed by Howard Cosell, uttering the soundbyte that football games "make rock concerts look like tea parties"; the Redskins won by 23-17. On Feb. 21, 1975 Lennon releases album #6 Rock 'n' Roll; producer Phil Spector pulls a loaded gun on Lennon during the song You Can't Catch Me at the Record Plant recording studio in Los Angeles, and the gun goes off, causing Lennon to tell him "If you're going to shoot me, shoot me, but don't mess with me ears; I need them to listen with"; he doesn't find that he was shooting real bullets until the next day, shaking him up; the album incl. Stand By Me (but not Phil Spector?); on Oct. 24, 1975 he releases album #7 Shaved Fish (#12 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), a compilation of his non-Beatles singles.

Ace Carl Douglas (1942-) Bruce Lee (1940-73) Maria Muldaur (1943-) Minnie Riperton (1947-79) Pilot

In 1974 1-hit wonder English rock band band Ace (originally Ace Flash and the Dynamos), fronted by Paul Carrack (1951-) releases How Long? (#3 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.). Also in 1974 Jamaican-born singer Carl Douglas (1942-) releases his 1-hit wonder Kung Fu Fighting (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which becomes the best-selling single of 1974, helped by the untimely death of Kung Fu martial arts movie star Bruce Lee (1940-73). Also in 1974 Greenwich Village, N.Y.-born singer Maria Muldaur (Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato) (1943-) releases her 1-hit wonder Midnight at the Oasis (#6 in the U.S.), written by David Nichtern. In June 1974 Chicago-born 5-1/2 octave range singer Minnie Julia Riperton (1947-79), mother of actress Maya Rudolph releases album #2 Perfect Angel, which features her 1-hit wonder Lovin' You (#1 in the U.S.). Also in 1974 the Scottish (Edinburgh) band Pilot, incl. former Bay City Rollers members David Paton and Billy Lyall releases their 1-hit wonder Magic (#5 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.); in 1975 they follow it with the #1 U.K. single January.

Rick James (1948-2004)

In 1974 African-American singer Rick James (James Ambrose Johnson Jr.) (1948-2004), known for his wild lifestyle releases his debut album Come Get It!, featuring the tracks You and I, and Mary Jane. Album #5 Street Songs (1981) features the tracks Super Freak, Ghetto Life, and Give It To Me Baby.

Donna Summer (1948-2012) Paul Jabara (1948-92) Giorgio Moroder (1940-)

In 1974 Boston, Mass.-born African-American disco singer Donna Summer (LaDonna Adrian Gaines) (1948-2012) releases her debut album Lady of the Night in Europe on Groovy Records, featuring the tracks Lady of the Night, and The Hostage. Despite the slow start, she goes on to score three consecutive U.S. #1 double albums, along with four #1 U.S. singles, all within a 13-mo. period, let's see how. Her singles are produced by Italian-born Giovanni Giorgio Moroder (1940-), who goes on to compose the music for the 1978 film "Midnight Express" and produce Irene Cara's "Flashdance.... What a Feeling" from the 1983 film "Flashdance", and Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" from the 1986 film "Top Gun". Album #2 Love to Love You Baby (Aug. 27, 1975) features Love to Love You Baby (#2 in the U.S.), which becomes her first U.S. hit after Time mag. reported that it contained 22 simulated orgasms, causing her to be called the First Lady of Love. Album #3 A Love Trilogy (Mar. 18, 1976) features Try Me, I Know We Can makes It, and Could It Be Magic. Album #4 Four Seasons of Love (Oct. 11, 1976) features Spring Affair, and Winter Melody. In 1977 she releases a duet with Paul Jabara (1948-92) titled Shut Out, followed in 1978 by Something's Missing (in My Life), and in 1979 by Never Lose Your Sense of Humor. Album #5 I Remember Yesterday (May 13, 1977) features I Remember Yesterday, I Feel Love, Love's Unkind, and Back in Love Again. Album #6 Once Upon a Time (double album) (Oct. 31, 1977), about a Cinderella rags-to-riches story features Once Upon a Time, I Love You, and Rumour Has It. Album #7 Live and More (double album) (Aug. 31, 1978) (#1 in the U.S.) features MacArthur Park, a cover of the 1968 Richard Harris hit by Jimmy Webb. In 1979 she releases a duet with Barbra Streisand titled No More Tears (Enough Is Enough). Album #8 Bad Girls (double album) (Apr. 25, 1979) (#1 in the U.S.) features Bad Girls, Hot Stuff, and Walk Away. Album #9 The Wanderer (Oct. 20, 1980) features The Wanderer.

Freddy Fender (1937-2006)

In Jan. 1975 San Benito, Tex.-born Tejano-country-rock singer Freddy Fender (Baldemar Garza Huerta) (1937-2006) releases his hit single Before the Next Teardrop Falls (#1 in the U.S.), followed in June 1975 by Wasted Days and Wasted Nights (#8 in the U.S.), which he originally recorded in 1959 but is spoiled by an arrest and conviction for marijuana possession.

AC/DC

On Feb. 17, 1975 the Australian rock group (heavy metal pioneers) AC/DC (formed in 1973), consisting of Scottish-born Angus McKinnon Young (1955-) and Malcolm Young (1953-) (guitars), Bon Scott (1946-80)/Brian Johnson (1947-) (vocals), Mark Evans/Cliff Williams (bass), and Phillip Hugh Norman "Phil" Rudd (1954-) (drums) release their debut album High Voltage. Album #3 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Sept. 1976) (#3 in the U.S.) sell 6M copies, and features the hits Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (#4 in the U.S.), and Big Balls (#26 in the U.S.). Album #6 Highway to Hell (Aug. 3, 1979) (#17 in the U.S.) is the last album with Scottish lead singer Bon Scott (b. 1946), who died on Feb. 19, 1980 from alcoholism (last words on the album are "Shazbot, Nanu-Nanu" on the track "Night Prowler"), and is replaced by English singer Brian Johnson (1947-), who likes to wear a Tyneside or baseball cap; it sell 8M copies, and features the tracks Highway to Hell, Girls gets Rhythm, Touch Too Much, and Night Prowler, which is the favorite of serial murderer Ricardo "Richard" Munoz Ramirez (1960-), AKA "the Night Stalker". Album #7 Back in Black (July 25, 1980) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (with a black mourning cover) sell 49M copies (most after Michael Jackson's "Thriller"), and features the hits Back in Black (#37 in the U.S.), Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution (#15 in the U.K.), Hells Bells (#52 in the U.S.), Shoot to Thrill (#60 in the U.S.), and You Shook Me All Night Long (#35 in the U.S.), which in 2011 is found to attract great white sharks. Album #8 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (Nov. 23, 1981) sell 4M copies in the U.S., featuring For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). They go on to sell 200M albums worldwide.

'Tommy', 1975

On Mar. 19, 1975 Ken Russell's Tommy (Columbia Pictures) debuted, based on the 1969 rock opera album, starring the British rock band The Who and a parade of mainly rock stars, incl. Ann-Margret as Nora Walker, Athur Brown as the Priest, Elton John as the Pinball Wizard, Eric Clapton as the Preacher, Keith Moon as Uncle Ernie, and Tina Turner as the Acid Queen; Jack Nicholson plays the Specialist, Robert Powell plays Group Capt. Walker, and Oliver Reed plays Uncle Frank Hobbs; does $34.3M box office on a $5M budget.

Journey

On Apr. 1, 1975 the San Francisco, Calif. rock band Journey, formed in 1973 by former members of Santana, incl. Neal Joseph Schon (1954-) (guitar), Gregg Alan Rolie (1947-) (keyboards, vocals), Ross Lamont Valory (1949-) (bass), George Tickner (1946-) (guitar), and Prairie Prince (1950-)/Aynsley Thomas Dunbar (1946-) release their debut album Journey, which features the tracks Of a Lifetime, Kohoutek, Mystery Mountain, and Topaz. In 1977-87 and 1995-98 they gained lead vocalist Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry (1949-). Album #5 Evolution (Apr. 5, 1979) sell 3M copies, and features Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'. Album #6 Departure (Mar. 23, 1980) features Any Way You Want It; Album #7 Escape (E5C4P3) (July 31, 1981) features the tracks Open Arms (#2 in the U.S.), Who's Crying Now (#4 in the U.S.), Don't Stop Believin' (#9 in the U.S.), and Still They Ride (#19 in the U.S.). Album #8 Frontiers (Feb. 22, 1983) sell 6M copies, and features Faithfully, Separate Ways, After the Fall, Send Her My Love, and Chain Reaction. Album #9 Raised on Radio (May 27, 1986) saw Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (1956-) (bass) and Larrie Londin (1943-) (drums) fill in for fired players Ross Valory and Steve Smith, who gets pissed off at changing the album title from "Freedom"; it sell 2M copies, and features the tracks Girl Can't Help It, Be Good to Yourself, I'll Be Alright Without You, and Suzanne.

Keith Carradine (1949-) Gwen McCrae (1943-) 'Feelings' by Morris Albert (1951-), 1975 Jigsaw Van McCoy (1940-79) Michael Martin Murphey (1945-) Shirley and Company Polly Brown (1947-)

On June 11, 1975 the film Nashville debut, featuring Keith Ian Carradine (1949-) singing his 1-hit wonder I'm Easy (#10 in the U.S.). Speaking of 1975 1-hit wonders, Pensacola, Fla.-born R&B singer Gwen McCrae (1943-) (wife of George McCrae) releases her 1-hit wonder Rocking' Chair (#11 in the U.S.). Also in 1975 Brazilian singer-songwriter Morris Albert (Mauricio Alberto Kaisermann) (1951-) releases his 1-hit wonder Feelings (#6 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.); too bad, he is successfully sues in 1988 by French songwriter Louis "Loulou" Gaste (Gasté) (1908-95), who won 88% of royalties after proving it's a ripoff of his 1956 song "Pour Toi" (For You). Also in 1975 the English (Coventry and Rugby) group Jigsaw, fronted by Clive Scott and Des Dyer release their 1-hit wonder Sky High (#3 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), from the 1975 George Lazenby film "The Man from Hong Kong", which becomes a huge hit in Japan after Mexican wrestler Mil Mascaras adopted it as his theme song. Also in 1975 Washington, D.C.-born singer-songwriter Van Allen Clinton McCoy (1940-79) releases album #4 LP Disco Baby, which features his 1-hit wonder The Hustle; at his untimely death he left 700 song copyrights. Also in 1975 Dallas, Tex.-born singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphey (1945-) releases album #4 Blue Sky, Night Thunder, which features the track Carolina in the Pines, and his 1-hit wonder Wildfire. Also in 1975 Shirley and Company, fronted by Shirley Goodman (1936-2005) release their 1-hit wonder Shame Shame Shame (#12 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.). Also in 1975 English (Birmingham) singer Polly Brown (Browne) (1947-), formerly of Pickettywitch and Sweet Dreams releases her 1-hit wonder solo debut single Up In A Puff of Smoke (#16 in the U.S., #43 in the U.K.).

Rainbow

In July 1975 the English hard rock band Rainbow, incl. Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore (1945-) of Deep Purple, Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padanova) (1942-) of Elf, Mickey Lee Soule (1946-) (keyboards), Craig Gruber (bass), and Gary Driscoll (1946-87) (drums) release their debut album Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, which features Black Sheep of the Family, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Man on the Silver Mountain, and Catch the Rainbow. Album #2 (Rainbow) Rising (May 17, 1976) (#48 in the U.S., #6 in the U.S.) features the new lineup of Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, James Stewart "Jimmy" Bain (1947-) (bass), Antony Laurence "Tony" Carey (1953-) (keyboards), and Cozy Powell (Colin Flooks) (1947-98) (drums), and features Stargazer (w/the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra). Album #3 Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (Apr. 9, 1978), last with Ronnie James Dio features Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Kill the King, and Gates of Babylon. Album #4 Down To Earth (July 28, 1979), first/only with vocalist Graham Bonnet (Bradley) (1947-) features Since You Been Gone, and Bad Girl. Album #5 Difficult to Cure (Feb. 3, 1981), marking their "Foreigner Junior" period (Ronnie James Dio) is the first with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito) (1951-) of Fandango; it features Jealous Lover (#3 in the U.K.). Album #6 Straight Between the Eyes (June 10, 1982) features Stone Cold. Album #7 (last) Bent Out of Shape (Aug. 24, 1983) features Street of Dreams, Can't Let You Go, and Snowman.

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 1975

On Aug. 14, 1975 the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show is released, based on the 1973 London musical about gays and transgenders, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick, creating a cult following as a midnight movie where the audience dress in drag and participate. Curry sings the hit Sweet Transvestite.

Bruce Springsteen (1949-) Mike Appel (1942-) and Bruce Springsteen (1949-) Jon Landau (1947-) and Bruce Springsteen (1949-)

On Aug. 25, 1975 American rock and roll begins to come back from its bleeping blip, starting with "The Boss", N.J.-born (not punk, but definitely blue-collar redneck) Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (1949-), and The E-Street Band, who releases game-changing album #3 Born to Run (#3 in the U.S.), which sells 6M copies in the U.S. and makes him an instant superstar, getting him on the covers of Time and Newsweek in the same week; ifeatures the tracks Born to Run ("I wanna die with you Wendy in the streets tonight in an everlasting kiss"), Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Thunder Road, and Jungleland. Previously album #1 Greetings from Ashbury Park, N.J. (Jan. 5, 1973), which sells only 25K copies the first year features Blinded by the Light, and Spirit in the Night, and album #2 The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (Sept. 11, 1973) features 4th of July, Asbury Park, and Rosalita (Come Out Tonight). On Aug. 27, 1976 the English rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band (founded 1971 by "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" Manfred Mann), release their album The Roaring Silence, which features a cover of Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen, and hit #1 in the U.S. After a 3-year legal battle with former mgr. Mike Appel (1942-), whose "incredible talking" gets Springsteen's foot in the door, and is replaced by Jon Landau (1947-), founding writer of Rolling Stone, who wrote the 1974 soundbyte "I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen", album #4 Darkness on the Edge of Town (June 2, 1978) (#16 in the U.S.) features Prove It All Night, and Badlands. Album #5 (double album) The River (Oct. 7, 1980) features The River, Hungry Heart (#5 in the U.S.), The Ties That Bind, Independence Day, and Out in the Street. Album #6 Nebraska (Sept. 30, 1982) (#3 in the U.S.) features Atlantic City (#10 in the U.S.), Open All Night (#22 in the U.S.), and Johnny 99. Album #7 Born in the U.S.A. (June 4, 1984) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies, and have 7 top-10 hits; despite 5 more top-10 hits, he never has a #1; it features the hit singles Dancing in the Dark (#2 in the U.S.) (the video, dir. by Brian de Palma and shot on June 28, 1984 at St. Paul Civic Center in Minn. one day before Springsteen's 1984 Born in the U.S.A. Tour opens there makes a star of Courteney Cox), Born in the U.S.A. (#9 in the U.S.) (in 1986 he turned down a $12M offer from Lee Iacocca to use it in an ad, and refuses to let Ronald Reagan use it in his pres. campaign), Glory Days (#5 in the U.S.), I'm on Fire (#6 in the U.S.), Cover Me (#7 in the U.S.), I'm Goin' Down (#9 in the U.S.), My Hometown (#6 in the U.S.), and also the tracks No Surrender, and Bobby Jean. The album stayed #2 against Prince's "Purple" Rain for a record 18 consecutive weeks. Album #8 Tunnel of Love (Oct. 9, 1987) (#1 in the U.S.) features Tunnel of Love (#9 in the U.S.), Brilliant Disguise (#5 in the U.S.), One Step Up (#11 in the U.S.), Tougher Than the Rest, and Spare Parts. Album #9 Human Touch (Mar. 31, 1992) (#2 in the U.S.) features Human Touch (#16 in the U.S.). Album #10 Lucky Town (album #10) (Mar. 31) (#3 in the U.S.) (1M copies); incl. Lucky Town, and Better Days (#16 in the U.S.). On Feb. 27, 1995 Springsteen releases the album Greatest Hits (4M copies) (#1 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.), which features the new track Secret Garden (#63 in the U.S.), featured in the 1996 film "Jerry Maguire" and the 1998 film "Night at the Roxbury". On Nov. 21, 1995 he releases album #11 The Ghost of Tom Joad (#11 in the U.S.) (breaks string of 8 straight top-5 U.S. albums); it features The Ghost of Tom Joad, Youngstown, and The New Timer. Yes, the 1970s-1990s are America's glory days, when they seemed to rule the world, glad I lived through it. Springsteen goes on to sell 135M albums worldwide incl. 64M in the U.S.

Little River Band

In Nov. 1975 the Australian (Melbourne) rock group Little River Band, incl. Glenn Barrie Shorrock (1944-) (vocals), Graeham George Goble (1947-) (guitar), Beeb Birtles (Gerard Bertelkamp) (1948-) (guitar), Wayne Nelson (1950-), David John Briggs (1951-) (guitar), Riccardo "Ric" Formosa (1954-) (guitar), Roger McLachlan (bass), and Derek Allan Pellici (1953-) (drums) release their debut album Little River Band (#80 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Curiosity (kills the Cat), Emma, Everyday of My Life, It's A Long Way There (#30 in the U.S.), and I'll Always Call Your Name. Album #3 Diamantina Cocktail (1976) (#49 in the U.S.), named after a Queensland cocktail of Bundaberg Rum, condensed milk, and an emu egg features Help Is On Its Way (#14 in the U.S.), and Happy Anniversary (#16 in the U.S.). Album #4 Sleeper Catcher (1978) (#16 in the U.S.) features Reminiscing (#3 in the U.S.), and Lady (#10 in the U.S.). Album #5 First Under the Wire (July 1979) (#10 in the U.S.) features Lonesome Loser (#6 in the U.S.), and Cool Change (#10 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 25M records incl. 13 U.S top-40 hits.

The Sex Pistols Sid Vicious (1957-79) and Nancy Spungen (1958-78) The Cramps The Vibrators The Radio Stars The Undertones Rough Trade Records Beggars Banquet Records

In Dec. 1975 the understandable putrid reaction to the Shag carpet ugly brown Anglo-Yankee Disco scene produced the London band The Sex Pistols, composed of John Joseph "Johnny Rotten" Lydon (1956-) (vocals) (known for orange hair and loudly blowing his nose in a big hanky), John Simon "Sid Vicious" Ritchie (1957-79), Steve Jones (1955-) (guitar), Paul Cook (1957-) (drums), and Glen Matlock (1956-) (bass) (songwriter), who produced rotten music just to show how pissed-off they are at the world, launching the Punk Rock genre, really a subculture, which branched off into the subgenre of New Wave, both of which are launched in the U.S. at the CBGB (Country, Bluegrass, and Blues) club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker St. in Manhattan (founded in 1973 by Hilly Krystal) (the one with the white awning), where the Ramones (from Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.) (the first punk rock group?), Blondie, Talking Heads, The Cramps et al. played for small crowds paying a $1 cover charge; Max's Kansas City at 213 Park Ave. South in Manhattan also contributed; by the late 1970s Blondie dominated the pop music landscape; Max's closed in Nov. 1981, and CBGB closed in Oct. 2005. On Feb. 2, 1979 Sid Vicious dies of a heroin OD in his New York City apt. after a party to celebrate his Feb. 1 release on $50K bail pending his trial for knifing and murdering his former girlfriend Nancy Spungen. The total output of the Sex Pistols by the time they disbands in 1980 is four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (Oct. 27, 1977) (releases on Virgin Records after EMI sacked them on Jan. 27, followed by A&M Records), featuring God Save the Queen (May 27) (#2 in the U.K.), releases for Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, but banned by the British media; calls the monarchy a "fascist regime", sneers at "England's dreaming", and says that England has "no future"; Pretty Vacant (July 1), and Holidays in the Sun (Oct. 14). In 1977 Beggars Banquet Records, founds in England in 1973 as a chain of record stores by Martin Mills and Nick Austin goes into the punk rock record biz, and sign acts incl. The Lurkers, Tubeway Army, Gary Numan (1958-), Bauhaus, Biffy Clyro, Buffalo Tom, The Charlatans UK, The Cult, The Go-Betweens, The National, and Tindersticks. In July 1979 The Cramps, from Sacramento, Calif., fronted by Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser) (1946-2009) and Poison Ivy (Kristy Marlana Wallace) (1953-) release their debut album Gravest Hits, which features the track Human Fly, followed by a string of albums well into the 2000s. In 1978 Geoff Travis founded Rough Trade Records in London, which sign post-punk and alternative rock bands incl. The Smiths, Agitpop, The Raincoats, The Slits, Young Marble Giants, and Scritti Politti. In June 1977 the English punk band The Vibrators, incl. Ian "Knox" Carnochan, Pat Collier (bass), John Ellis (guitar), and John "Eddie" Edwards (drums) release their debut album Pure Mania (#49 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Baby Baby, and Stiff Little Fingers. Album #2 V2 (Apr. 1978) (#33 in the U.K.) features their 1-hit wonder Automatic Lover (#33 in the U.K.), after which they vibrated, er, break up in 1980. In Oct. 1977 the English punk/New Wave band Radio Stars, incl. Andy Ellison (vocals), Ian Macleod (guitar), Martin Gordon (bass), and Steve Parry/ Paul Simon (drums) release their 1-hit wonder single Nervous Wreck (#39 in the U.K.). Earlier they release the singles Dirty Pictures (Apr. 1977), and No Russians in Russia (Aug. 1977). In May 1979 the Derry, Northern Ireland-based punk rock band The Undertones, fronted by Sean Feargal Sharkey (1967-), and guitarists John O'Neill and Damian O'Neill releases their debut album The Undertones, which features the tracks Teenage Kicks, and Here Comes the Summer, followed by album #2 Hypnotised (1980) (#6 in the U.K.), which features My Perfect Cousin (#9 in the U.K.), and Wednesday Week (#11 in the U.K.), followed by album #3 Positive Touch (May 1981) (#17 in the U.K.), which features It's Going to Happen (#18 in the U.K.), and Julie Ocean (#41 in the U.K.), followed by album #4 (last) The Sin of Pride (Mar. 1983) (#43 in the U.K.), which features Got to Have You Back, Chain of Love, and The Love Parade, before disbanding in July 1983, after which they reunited in 2003, releasing album #5 Get What You Need (Sept. 30, 2003), with new lead singer Paul McLoone (1967-).

Climax Blues Band

In 1975 the Stafford, England-based Climax Blues Band (originally the Climax Chicago Blues Band until the Chicago Transit Authority objects), incl. Colin Cooper (1939-2008) (vocals), Pete Haycock (1951-2013) (guitar, vocals), Derek Holt (1940-) (guitar), Richard Jones (1949-) (bass), Arthur Wood (1929-2005), and George Newsome (1947-) release their first hit single Using the Power (#10 in the U.S.), followed by Couldn't Get It Right (1976) (#3 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), Makin' Love (1978) (#91 in the U.S.), Gotta Have More Love (1980) (#4 in the U.S.), and I Love You (1981) (#12 in the U.S.). They go on to release 17 albums.

Sister Sledge

In 1975 the Philly singing group Sister Sledge, AKA Mrs. Williams' Grandchildren (all granddaughters of opera singer Viola Williams), Debbie Sledge (1954-), Joni Sledge (1957-), Kim Sledge (1958-), and Kathy Sledge (1959-) release their debut album Circle of Love. Album #3 Sister Sledge, We Are Family (Apr. 30, 1979) (#3 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) features the tracks We Are Family (#2 in the U.S.) (adopted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as their anthem), He's the Greatest Dancer (#9 in the U.S.), Lost in Music, and Thinking of You. In 1985 they release the hit single Frankie (#1 in the U.K.).

The Tubes

In 1975 the San Francisco, Calif. rock band The Tubes, incl. William "Bill" "Sputnik" Spooner (1949-) (vocals), Fee Waybill (vocals), Roger Steen (guitar), Charles L'Empereur "Prairie" Prince (drums), Michael Cotten (synthesizer), Vince Welnick (piano), and Rick Anderson (bass) release their debut album The Tubes, which features the track White Punks on Dope. Too bad, they are a decade too early for MTV, and ended up as white punks on dope.

The Rutles

Also in 1975 the British fake Beatles clone band The Rutles (AKA The Prefab Four), created by Eric Idle debut on BBC; members incl. David "Stig" Battley (Paul McCartney), Eric "Dirk" Idle (George Harrison), Neil "Nasty" Innes (Ringo Starr), and John "Barry Halsey (John). On Mar. 22, 1978 the NBC-TV movie All You Need Is Cash gained them internat. fame.

On Jan. 30, 1976 Karen Klaas (b. 1945), ex-wife of Righteous Brothers singer Bill Medley is raped by an unknown assailant, dying on Feb. 4; on Jan. 31, 2016 authorities announce that the killer is Kenneth Eugene Troyer (b. 1946), who escaped from a Calif. prison and was killed in 1982.

In 1976 the British Music Second Wave in the U.S. begins (until 1978), with groups incl. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, The Police, The Clash, The Cure, The Sex Pistols, and U2. On July 4, 1976 (U.S. Bicentennial) the Sex Pistols played in London, with The Clash opening for them in their debut, and punk rock is officially in with the Brits, George Washington is rolling over in his monument. On Dec. 1, 1976 the Sex Pistols staged a notorious profanity-laced interview with Bill Grundy on the Today programme of the BBC, rocketing generation-busting punk rock over the top.

Peter Frampton (1950-)

On Jan. 6, 1976 English rocker Peter Kenneth Frampton (1950-), formerly of Humble Pie and The Herd attained instant international stardom when he releases his double live album Frampton Comes Alive! which stayed at #1 in the U..S. for 10 weeks and sell over 6M copies, featuring tracks Show Me the Way, Baby, I Love Your Way, and Do You Feel Like We Do. Album #5 I'm in You (May 28, 1977) contained the #2 U.S. hit I'm in You.

Heart

On Feb. 14, 1976 (guess why?) the Seattle-Vancouver rock band Heart, featuring rock sisters Ann Dustin Wilson (1950-) (dark hair, who later gets pudgy) and Nancy Lamoureux Wilson (1954-) (blonde hair) releases its debut album Dreamboat Annie, containing the hit singles Dreamboat Annie (#42 in the U.S.), Crazy on You (#35 in the U.S.), and Magic Man (#9 in the U.S.). Album #2 Little Queen (May 14, 1977) (#9 in the U.S.) features the tracks Little Queen, and Barracuda (#11 in the U.S.) (written after their Mushroom Records label staged a stunt suggesting that they're lovers, causing Ann to get as mad as a you know what). Album #4 Dog & Butterfly (Oct. 7, 1978) (#17 in the U.S.) (one side is rock, the other is ballads) features Dog & Butterfly, and Straight On. Album #5 Bebe le Strange (Feb. 14, 1980) (#5 in the U.S.) features Bebe le Strange, Even It Up. Album #6 Private Audition (June 5, 1982) (#25 in the U.S.) features This Man Is Mine. Album #8 Passionworks (Aug. 20, 1983) (#39 in the U.S.) features How Can I Refuse? Album #9 Heart (July 6, 1985) (#1 in the U.S.) features These Dreams (#1 in the U.S.), If Looks Could Kill, What About Love?, Never, and Nothing' at All. Album #10 Bad Animals (June 6, 1987) (#2 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies), and features Alone (#1 in the U.S.), Who Will You Run To? (#7 in the U.S.), There's the Girl (#12 in the U.S.), I Want You So Bad (#47 in the U.S.). Album #11 Brigade (Mar. 26, 1990) (#3 in the U.S.) features All I Wanna Do is makes Love To You (#2 in the U.S.). Album #14 Red Velvet Car (Aug. 31, 2010) (#10 in the U.S.) features WTF, and Hey You.

Wild Cherry

On Mar. 20, 1976 the funk rock band Wild Cherry, from Mingo Junction, Ohio, incl. Louie Osso (vocals, guitar), Rob Parissi (vocals, guitar), Larry Brown (bass), Larry Mader (keyboards), and Ben Difabbio (drums) release their debut album Wild Cherry, featuring their 1-hit wonder Play That Funky Music (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 2M copies as a single.

Boz Scaggs (1944-)

In Mar. 1976 Canton, Ohio-born singer William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (1944-), formerly of the Steve Miller Band releases solo album #7 Silk Degrees (#2 in the U.S.), featuring the hit tracks Lowdown (#3 in the U.S.), Lido Shuffle (#11 in the U.S.), and We're All Alone. Album #9 Middle Man (Apr. 1980) (#8 in the U.S.) features Breakdown Dead Ahead (#15 in the U.S.), and Jojo (#17 in the U.S.). His session musicians later form the rock band Toto.

The Starland Vocal Band

In Apr. 1976 The Starland Vocal Band, (originally Fat City) from Washington, D.C., fronted by husband-wife team William "Bill" Danoff (1946-) (songwriter of several John Denver Hits incl. "Take Me Home, Country Roads) and Taffy Nivert release their 1-hit wonder single Afternoon Delight, which is #1 in the U.S. on July 4, 1976, Stars and Stripes, Starland, get it? The single spawned a half-hour summer CBS-TV series that replaced Rhonda.

Boston

In July 1976 Boston, Mass. rock band Boston, fronted by Bradley E. "Brad" Delp (1951-2007), and run by MIT-educated engineer, musician and brain man Donald Thomas "Tom" Scholz (1947-) release their debut album Boston (July 1976) (#3 in the U.S.), which sells 17M copies, becoming the #2 best-selling debut album in the U.S. after "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns N' Roses; it features the tracks More Than a Feeling, Peace of Mind, Rock and Roll Band, Smokin, and Hitch a Ride. Album #2 Don't Look Back (album #2) (Aug. 1978) (#4 in the U.S.) sell 7M copies, incl. 4M in the first month, and features the tracks Don't Look Back, and Feelin' Satisfied. Too bad, a contract dispute with Epic Records kept them from releasing a new album until 1986, but they makes up for it with album #3 Third Stage (Sept. 23, 1986) (#1 in the U.S.), the first CD album to go gold, and first to go gold in both CD and LP formats, featuring the #1 hit Amanda, and the #9 hit We're Ready. Album #4 is released in 1994, featuring the forgettable I Need Your Love. They sell 31M albums in the U.S. alone. In 1982 MIT grad Scholz invented the Rockman headphone guitar amplifier to give anybody the "Boston" sound.

Al Stewart (1945-)

In July 1976 Scottish singer Alastair Ian "Al" Stewart (1945-) releases album #7 Year of the Cat, with his big hit single Year of the Cat, about a mysterious woman, also On the Border, how many Stewarts are we up to?

The Modern Lovers

In Aug. 1976 the Boston, Mass.-based proto-punk rock band The Modern Lovers, fronted by wide-eyed Jonathan Michael Richman (1951-) ("the Godfather of Punk"), and incl. David Robinson (1953-) (drums), Jeremiah Griffin "Jerry" Harrison (1949-), and Ernie Brooks release their debut album (recorded in 1971-2) The Modern Lovers, which features the tracks Roadrunner (first punk rock song?), and Pablo Picasso. Their example influenced a slew of alternative and punk rock bands, incl. The Sex Pistols, Joan Jett, Violent Femmes, and Weezer.

Hall & Oates

On Sept. 18, 1976 after four years of trying, the blue-eyed soul duo Hall and Oates, Daryl Hall (Daryl Franklin Hohl) (1946-) and John William Oates (1949-) releases album #5 Bigger Than Both of Us, containing their first #1 single Rich Girl. They go on to release five more #1 singles, incl. Private Eyes (1981), Kiss on My List (1981), I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) (1981), Maneater (1982), and Out of Touch (1984). In 1980 they release their #5 hit You makes My Dreams (Come True).

Tom Petty (1950-2017)

On Nov. 9, 1976 Gainesville, Fla.-born Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (1950-2017) and The Heartbreakers release their debut album Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, which reaches #24 in the U.K. and #55 in the U.S., and features the hit tracks Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll, Breakdown, and American Girl. Album #2 You're Gonna Get It! (May 20, 1978) (#23 in the U.S.) features I Need to Know, and Listen to Her Heart. Album #3 Damn the Torpedoes (Oct. 19, 1979) is their breakthrough album, reaching #2 in the U.S. for seven weeks behind Pink Floyd's "The Wall", selling 2M copies, and featuring tracks Don't Do Me Like That (#10 in the U.S.), Here Comes My Girl, and Refugee (#15 in the U.S.). Album #4 Hard Promises (May 5, 1981) is recorded at a studio where John Lennon is scheduled, but is murdered before he could show up, causing "WE LOVE YOU JL" to be inscribed on every vinyl copy of the album; it features The Waiting, and Insider (w/Stevie Nicks). Album #5 Long After Dark (album #5) (Nov. 2, 1982) (#9 in the U.S.), the first with Howard Norman "Howie" Epstein (1955-2003) (bass) features You gets Lucky, Change of Heart, and One Story Town. Album #6 Southern Accents (Mar. 26, 1985) (#13 in the U.S.) came with a music video filled with Alice in Wonderland imagery, and features the hit Don't Come Around Here No More (#13 in the U.S., #50 in the U.K.). Petty's debut solo album Full Moon Fever (Apr. 24, 1989) (#3 in the U.S.) features the tracks I Won't Back Down (#12 in the U.S.), Runnin' Down A Dream (#23 in the U.S.), Free Fallin' (#7 in the U.S.), A Face in the Crowd, and I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, an old Byrds song written by Gene Clark, who uses the royalties to drink himself to death? Album #8 Into the Great Wide Open (July 2, 1991) (#13 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features Into the Great Wide Open (music video stars Johnny Depp as Eddie, who finished h.s., goes to Hollywood and gets a tattoo), Out in the Cold, and Learning to Fly. Petty's solo album #2 Wildflowers (Nov. 1, 1994) sell 3M copies, and features Wildflowers, and You Don't Know How It Feels (#13 in the U.S.). Petty dies on Oct. 2, 2017 after selling 80M records worldwide.

Billy Ocean (1950-)

In 1976 Trinidad-born English R&B singer Billy Ocean (Leslie Sebastian Charles) (1950-) releases his debut album Billy Ocean, which features the track Love Really Hurts Without You (#22 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). On Sept. 12, 1984 he releases his breakthrough album #5 Suddenly (#9 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) featuring the hit track Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run) (#1 in the U.S.). Album #6 Love Zone (1986) features Love Zone, There'll Be Sad Songs (To makes You Cry), and When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going from the 1985 film "The Jewel of the Nile". Album #7 Tear Down These Walls (Jan. 1988) features Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.

Rose Royce Mary MacGregor (1948-) Thelma Houston (1946-) Walter Murphy (1952-) Starbuck Andrea True (1943-) Vicki Sue Robinson (1954-2000)

Disco Year 1976 have its 1-hit wonders, starting with the LA-based R&B group Rose Royce, whose debut album Car Wash Soundtrack (#14 in the U.S., #59 in the U.K.) features Car Wash (#1 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), and I Wanna Get Next to You (#10 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.). Also in 1976 St. Paul, Minn.-born singer Mary MacGregor (1948-) releases her 1-hit wonder Torn Between Two Lovers (#1 in the U.S, #5 in the U.K.). Also in 1976 Leland, Miss.-born Thelma Houston (1946-) releases her 1-hit wonder Don't Leave Me This Way (#1 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.). Also in 1976 Doc Severinsen's arranger for the Tonight Show band Walter Anthony Murphy Jr. (1952-) releases his 1-hit wonder instrumental A Fifth of Beethoven (#1 in the U.S.). Also in 1976 Starbuck, from Atlanta, Ga., incl. Bruce Blackman (vocals, keyboards), Bo Wagner (marimba), and Tommy Strain (guitar) release their 1-hit wonder Moonlight Feels Right (#3 in the U.S.); in 1977 they release the charter Everybody Be Dancin' (#38 in the U.S.). Also in 1976 New York City porno star Andrea True (1943-) and her True Connection releases her debut album More, More, More (#47 in the U.S.), which features her 1-hit wonder More, More, More (#4 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.). Album #2 White Witch (1977) features N.Y., You gets Me Dancing (#27 in the U.S.), and What's Your Name, What's Your Number (#4 in the U.K.). After album #3 (1980) bombed, she returned to porno, found out she is too old, then have to have an operation on her vocal chords that ended the singing career too, don't ask. Also in 1976 Harlem, N.Y.-born singer-actress Vicki Sue Robinson (1954-2000) (black father, white mother) releases her 1-hit wonder Turn the Beat Around (#3 in the U.S.); in 1996 Gloria Estafan's cover Turn the Beat Around reaches #6 in the U.S.

In Jan. 1977 John Lennon and Yoko Ono visit Egypt, and try to loot Egyptian antiquities?

Cheap Trick

In Feb. 1977 the rock band Cheap Trick from Rockford, Ill., consisting of Robin Zander (1953-) (vocals), Rick Nielsen (1948-) (guitar), Tom Petersson (1950-) (bass), and Bun E. Carlos (1951-) (glasses/mustache) (drums) release their debut album Cheap Trick, featuring the tracks Hot Love, and ELO Kiddies. Album #2 In Color (Sept. 1977) made them stars with the very American track I Want You to Want Me. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Cheap Trick gained fame by twisting the Beatlesque into something shinier, harder, more American." Album #3 Heaven Tonight (May 1978) features the tracks Surrender, Auf Widersehen, and California Man (by The Move). In Feb. 1979 they release the live album Cheap Trick at Budokan (#4 in the U.S.), which is recorded Apr. 28, 1978 at the Nippon Budokan in Japan, where they become known as the "American Beatles"; it sell 4M copies, featuring the tracks Lookout, and Need Your Love. Album #4 Dream Police (Sept. 21, 1979) (#6 in the U.S.) incl. Dream Police (#26 in the U.S.), and Voices (#32 in the U.S.).

Foreigner

On Mar. 8, 1977 New York City-based British-American rock band Foreigner, composed of Lou Gramm (Louis Andrew Grammatico) (1950-) (vocals), Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones (1944-) (guitar), and Ian McDonald (1946-) releases their debut album Foreigner, featuring the hit tracks Cold As Ice, Feels Like the First Time, and Long, Long Way from Home. Album #2 Double Vision (June 20, 1978) features Double Vision (#2 in the U.S.), Hot Blooded (#3 in the U.S.), and Blue Morning, Blue Day. Album #3 Head Games (Sept. 11, 1979) (#5 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies in the U.S., and features the hits Head Games (#14 in the U.S.), and Dirty White Boy (#12 in the U.S.). Album #4 4 (July 2, 1981) (#1 in the U.S.) features the hits Urgent, Waiting for a Girl Like You, and Juke Box Hero. Album #5 Agent Provocateur (Dec. 7, 1984) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features their biggest hit I Want to Know What Love Is (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), and That is Yesterday (#12 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 70M albums.

The Clash

On Apr. 8, 1977 the English (London) punk rock band The Clash (formed in 1976), incl. Joe Strummer (John Graham Mellor) (1952-2002) (vocals), Michael Geofffrey "Mick" Jones (1955-) (guitar), Paul Gustave Simonon (1955-) (bass), and Terry Chimes (1955-)/Nicholas Bowen "Nicky" "Topper" Headon (1955-) (drums) release their debut album The Clash, which wasn't releases in the U.S. until 1979, featuring the tracks White Riot, and Remote Control. Album #3 London Calling (Dec. 14, 1979) (#27 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies, and becomes the #1 punk rock album of all time. The cover uses the same B/W with pink and green titles of Elvis Presley's debut album. Tracks incl. London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, The Man in Me (by Bob Dylan), The Guns of Brixton (eerily predicting the coming Brixton Race Riots), Remote Control, and Train in Vain (hidden track) (used in the 1986 film "Stand By Me"). Album #4 Sandanista! (triple album) (Dec. 12, 1980) (#24 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.) features The Call Up (#40 in the U.K.), Hitsville UK (#56 in the U.K.), and The Magnificent Seven (#34 in the U.K.). Album #5 Combat Rock (May 14, 1982) (#7 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) (2M copies); original title "Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg"; it features Rock the Casbah (disssing the Iranian ban on Western music, with the lines "Drop your bombs between the minarets", and "Sharia don't like it"), Should I Stay or Should I Go?, Know Your Rights, and Straight to Hell. The band now begins to fall apart, starting with Mick Jones and Topper Headon being fired, and disbands in 1983.

The Jam

On Apr. 29, 1977 the English (Woking, Surrey) New Wave band (garage Beatles wannabees?) The Jam, incl. Paul Weller (vocals, guitar), Bruce Foxton (bass), Steve Brookes (guitar), and Rick Buckler (drums), known for channeling The Who complete with suits and Rickenbacker guitars, call them 1960s British Invasion throwbacks release their debut single In the City, follow on May 20, 1977 by their debut album In the City, which features a cover of the Batman Theme, and another cover of Slow Down (by Larry Williams). Album #2 This Is the Modern World (Nov. 18, 1977) features The Modern World. Album #3 All Mod Cons (Nov. 3, 1978) features Down in the Tube Station at Midnight (#15 in the U.K.), and David Watts. Album #4 Setting Sons (Nov. 11, 1979) features The Eton Rifles (#3 in the U.K.), Smithers-Jones, and Heat Wave. Album #5 Sound Affects (Nov. 28, 1980) features Start! (#1 in the U.K.), and Pretty Green. Album #6 (last) The Gift (Mar. 12, 1982) (#1 in the U.K.) features Town Called Malice, and Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero? After they break up, Peter Weller, his wife Dee C. Lee (vocals), Mike Talbot (keyboards), and Steve White (drums), forms The Style Council.

Elvis Costello (1954-) Blondie

On July 2, 1977 one English rocker who gets into punk/New Wave and liked to wear oversized glasses a la 1950s Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello (Declan Patrick MacManus) (1954-), releases his debut album My Aim Is True, which features the track Less Than Zero. Too bad, in Mar. 1979 he gets into a drunken argument in a Holiday Inn bar in Columbus, Ohio with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett, using the N-word, which is latched onto by the press, but he patched things up and goes on to produce a string of music known more for the "pop encyclopedia" lyrics. The U.S. reaction to them is more artistic and commercial music with an undercurrent of punk, led by the New York City band Blondie, fronted by bleached blonde singer Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry (1945-) (formerly of The Wind in the Willows), which release their debut album Blondie in Dec. 1976. Album #3 Parallel Lines, releases in Sept. 1978 contained the breakthrough hit Heart of Glass. Album #4 Eat to the Beat (Oct. 1979) is the first-ever "music video album", releases on home video and in audio form by Chrysalis Records; it features the tracks Dreaming, Union City Blue, Atomic, and The Hardest Part. Album #5 Autoamerican, releases in Nov. 1980 contained the singles The Tide Is High, and Rapture, which becomes the first rap song to reach #1 in the U.S.

Village People

On July 11, 1977 the gay-friendly Greenwich Village, N.Y. disco group Village People, created by gay French composer Jacques Morali (1947-91), incl. Victor Edward Willis (1951-) (policeman) (only non-gay), Felipe Ortiz Rose (1954-) (Amerindian chief), Randy Jones (1952-) (cowboy), David "Scar" Hodo (1947-) (construction worker), Glenn M. Hughes (1950-2001) (biker in leather), and Alexander "Alex" Briley (1951-) (military man) release their debut album Village People, featuring the track San Francisco (You've gets Me). Album #2 Macho Man (Feb. 27, 1978) features Macho Man. Album #3 Cruisin' (Sept. 25, 1978) features their classic hit YMCA (#2 in the U.S.), which comes complete with its own arm dance. Album #4 Go West (Mar. 26, 1979) features the hit tracks In the Navy (#2 in the U.S.), and Go West; the U.S. Navy provided San Diego Naval base for them to film the video, causing a public outcry, boosting the song's popularity. Too bad, Victor Willis left the group, after which it sunk, er, tanked, selling over 100M albums.

On July 24, 1977 Led Zeppelin played their last U.S. concert at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Calif.; to bad, fighting erupts between the crew and the staff of promoter Bill Graham, resulting in criminal assault charges for drummer John Bonham et al.

Fat Elvis (1935-77)

Did I mention that on Aug. 16, 1977 the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-77) was found dead on his bathroom floor in Memphis of heart failure caused by drug OD after getting addicted to Demerol and ballooning up into Fat Elvis? Pres. Jimmy Carter issued a statement saying that Elvis have "permanently changes the face of American popular culture." Like any Messiah, he isn't really dead, and there are many Elvis sightings to prove it? The King is Dead, long live the King. In his last year, Elvis took 10K doses of sedatives, amphetamines, and narcotics in 199 prescriptions written by Dr. Nicholpoulous. He received 3 Grammys, all for gospel music: "The truth is like the Sun - you can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away" - <0i>the good get too much Vitamin P?

Iggy Pop (1947-)

Speaking of fat, on Aug. 29, 1977 thin, sinewy Muskegon, Mich.-born (Australian-looking?) Iggy Pop (James Newell "Jim" Osterberg Jr.) (1947-), formerly of The Stooges releases solo album #2 (in collaboration with David Bowie) Lust for Life, containing his big hit Lust for Life, later features in the 1996 film "Trainspotting". On June 2, 2009 he releases the album Preliminaires (Préliminaires), which Rolling Stone called "Definitely the weirdest record of the punk godfather's career"; it features Nice to Be Dead.

The Misfits Jerry Only (1959-) The Misfits Logo 'The Crimson Ghost, 1946

In Aug. 1977 the Lodi, N.J.-based pioneer horror punk band The Misfits, fronted by Glenn Danzig (Glenn Allen Anzalone) (1955-) (vocals), along with Jerry Only (Gerald Caiafa) (1959-) (bass) (inventor of the devilock a la Eddie Munster), whose logo is the Crimson Ghost (from the 1946 Republic Pictures serial) release their debut single Cough/Cool, followed by Bullet (June 1978), Horror Business (June 26, 1979), Night of the Living Dead (Oct. 31, 1979), Halloween (Oct. 31, 1981), and Die, Die My Darling (May 1984). They break up in 1983, then reformed in 1997 and releases the album American Psycho (May 13, 1997), which features the track Dig Up Her Bones, and the album Static Age (July 15, 1997), consisting of original recordings from 1978.

Talking Heads The Fools

On Sept. 16, 1977 the New York City New Wave band Talking Heads, fronted by Scottish-born David Byrne (1952-), and composed of Charlton Christopher "Chris" Frantz (1951-) (drums), Martina Michele "Tina" Weymouth (1950-) (bass), and Jeremiah Griffin "Jerry" Harrison (1949-) (keyboards) release their debut album Talking Heads: 77, featuring the track Psycho Killer (#92 in the U.S.); in 1979 The Fools releases the parody Psycho Chicken, which becomes a hit in their hometown of Boston, Mass. before going nationwide. Album #2 More Songs About Buildings and Food (July 21, 1978) (#29 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), the first of three co-produced by Brian Eno features the track Take Me to the River (by Al Green) (#26 in the U.S.). Too bad, despite being praised by critics, it is a slow seller. Album #4 Remain In Light (Oct. 8, 1980) (#19 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.) features the hit Once in a Lifetime (#14 in the U.K.), which strangely didn't do well in the U.S. although it is praised by critics. On May 31, 1983 they release their breakthrough album #5 Speaking in Tongues (#15 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), featuring their first and only top-10 U.S. hit Burning Down the House (#9 in the U.S.). Album #6 Little Creatures (July 15, 1985) (#20 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) features The Lady Don't Mind, And She Was, and Road to Nowhere (#6 in the U.K.). After releasing album #8 in 1988, they officially break up in 1991.

Motörhead

On Sept. 24, 1977 the English (London) heavy metal power trio Motorhead (Motörhead), fronted by Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister (-2015) (bass, vocals) release their debut album Motörhead, featuring the tracks Motörhead, Lost Johnny, White Line Fever, and Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (by ZZ Top). Album #2 Overkill (Mar. 24, 1979) (#24 in the U.K.) (Mar. 24) features Overkill, and No Class. Album #3 Bomber (Oct. 27, 1979) (#12 in the U.K.) features Bomber, Dead Men Tell No Tales (anti-heroin), and Stone Dead Forever. Album #4 Ace of Spades (Nov. 8, 1980) (#4 in the U.K) features Ace of Spades (#15 in the U.K.). Album #5 Iron Fist (Apr. 17, 1982) (#6 in the U.K.), last with Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor features Iron Fist (#29 in the U.K.). Album #6 Another Perfect Day (June 4, 1983) (#20 in the U.K.), with 1-album guitarist Brian "Robbo" Robertson features Shine, Dancing On Your Grave, I gets Mine. Album #7 Orgasmatron (Aug. 9, 1986) (#21 in the U.K.) (original title "Ridin' with the Driver") features Orgasmatron, Deaf Forever, and Claw. Album #8 Rock 'N' Roll (Sept. 15, 1987) (#34 in the U.K.) features Eat the Rich, from the 1987 Peter Richardson film. Album #9 1916 (Feb. 26, 1991) features 1916. Album #15 We Are Motörhead (May 16, 2000) features a cover of the Sex Pistols' God Save the Queen. Album #16 Hammered (Apr. 9, 2002) features The Game, written by Jim Johnson as the entrance theme for WWE wrestler Triple H. Album #19 Motörizer (Aug. 26, 2008) features Rock Out. Album #20 The Wörld Is Yours (Dec. 14, 2010) features Get Back in Line.

Meat Loaf (1947-2022) 'Bat Out of Hell' by Meat Loaf (1947-2022), 1977

On Oct. 21, 1977, talk about good timing for new fat rock stars, Dallas, Texas-born Meat Loaf (Michael/Marvin Lee Aday) (1947-) (Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show) (got his name after stepping on his high school football coach's foot) releases album #2 Bat Out of Hell, which becomes a phenomenon, selling over 40M copies worldwide. The lyrics are by Jim Steinman (1947-), and the guitar is by Todd Rundgren. Tracks incl. Bat Out of Hell, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Light (w/Ellen Foley), and I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That). He goes on to turn it into a trilogy, and dies after selling 100M albums worldwide; watch video.

Chic

On Nov. 22, 1977 the African-American disco-R&B band Chic, fronted by Nile Rodgers (1952-) and Bernard Edwards (1952-1996) release their debut album Chic, which sells 500K copies, and features the tracks Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah), and Everybody Dance. Album #2 C'est Chic (Aug. 11, 1978) (#4 in the U.S.) features Le Freak (sold 6M copies), and We Are Family. Album #3 Risque (July 30, 1979) (#5 in the U.S.) features Good Times, My Forbidden Lover, and My Feet Keep Dancing.

Grace Jones (1948-)

In 1977 Jamaican-born singer-model Grace Jones (Mendoza) (1948-) releases her debut album Portfolio, featuring I Need a Man, Sorry, and That's the Trouble. Album #5 Nightclubbing (1982) features Pull Up to the Bumper (her biggest hit), and I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango). Album #8 Inside Story (Nov. 14, 1986) features I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You), Victor Should Have Been a Jazz Musician, Crush, and Party Girl.

Quiet Riot

In 1977 the LA heavy metal band Quiet Riot, incl. Kevin Mark DuBrow (1955-2007) (vocals), Randall William "Randy" Rhoads (1956-82) (guitar), Kelly Garni (1957-) (bass), and Drew Forsythe (drums) release their debut album Quiet Riot, which didn't do too well. Album #3 Mental Health (Mar. 11, 1983) is their breakthrough, knocking "Synchronicity" by the Police out of #1 in the U.S., and selling 6M copies. It features the hits Cum Feel the Noize (by Slade) (#5 in the U.S.) (first heavy metal song to makes the U.S. top-5), and Mental Health (#31 in the U.S.). Album #4 Condition Critical (July 27, 1984) (#15 in the U.S., #71 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies despite the thumbs-down Rolling Stone review "Condition terminal", and features Mama Weer All Crazee Now.

Eddie Money (1949-2019)

In 1977 New York City-born singer-songwriter (ex-cop) Eddie Money (Edward Joseph Mahoney) (1949-2019) releases his debut album Eddie Money (#37 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Baby Hold On (#11 in the U.S.), Two Tickets to Paradise (#22 in the U.S.), and You've Really gets a Hold On Me. Album #4 No Control (June 1983) features Think I'm In Love (#16 in the U.S.), Shakin' (#63 in the U.S.) (video features Apollonia of "Purple Rain" fame), and Take a Little Bit.

George Thorogood (1950-)

In 1977 Wilmington, Del.-born George Thorogood (1950-) and the Destroyers release their debut album George Thorogood and the Destroyers, featuring the hit cover One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, first recorded in 1953 by Amos Milburn. Album #2 Move It On Over (Nov. 1978) features the Bo Diddley cover Who Do You Love?. Album #5 Bad to the Bone (Sept. 1982) features the sleeper hit Bad to the Bone, which was features in the Ahnuld flick "T2". They go on to sell 15M albums worldwide.

Throbbing Gristle

In 1977 the English (Manchester) group Throbbing Gristle, incl. Genesis P-Orridge (Neil Megson) (bass), Cosey Fanni Tutti (guitar), Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, and Chris Carter launched industrial music with their debut album United/Zyklon B Zombie, featuring the tracks United, and Zyklon B Zombie. Too bad, their idea of industrial is Nazi concentration camps and porno.

Shanana

On ?, 1977 the syndicated Sha Na Na TV show debuts (until 1981), reviving 1950s hits incl. Blue Moon, and always closing with "Goodnight Sweetheart", with members incl. Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (1947-) (bass) (replacement for Alan Cooper) (known for flexing his skinny arms), Elliot "Gino" Cahn (guitar) (later becomes mgr. of Green Day), Bruce "Bruno" Clarke (who later becomes an English prof.), Alan Cooper (bass), Dave Garrett, Frederick "Denny" Greene (who quits to attend Yale Law School), Henry Gross (1951-) (guitar), Rich Joffe, Rob Leonard, John "Jocko" Marcellino" (drums), "Dirty Dan" McBride, Scott "Capt. Courageous" Powell (AKA Tony Santini) (who becomes a surgeon), "Screamin' Scott" Simon (piano) (replaces Joe Witkin, who goes to medical school), Dave "Chico" Ryan (1948-98), Joe Witkin (piano), Donald "Donny" York; they are formed in 1969 at Columbia U., and are originally called the Kingsmen; their name comes from the 50s hit "Get a Job" by the Silhouettes.

Alan O'Day (1940-2013) David Soul (1943-) The Floaters Ronnie McDowell (1950-) Ram Jam Sanford and Townsend Band Paul Nicholas (1945-)

Speaking of throbbing gristle, 1977 is the low point of the decade, which is maybe responsible for the bad taste it leaves in some people's mouths, especially as men dominated the 1-hit wonders this year, vs. women in 1976. In 1977 Hollywood, Calif.-born singer-songwriter Alan O'Day (1940-2013) releases his 1-hit wonder Undercover Angel (#1 in the U.S.), that is, if you don't want to count his 1977 Australian #1 hit Skinny Girls. Also in 1977 David Soul (1943-), Det. Kenneth Hutch of "Starsky and Hutch" (1975-9) fame releases his 1-hit wonder Don't Give Up On Us (#1 in the U.S.), lucky he has acting to fall back on. Also in 1977 the Detroit, Mich. R&B group The Floaters release their 1-hit wonder Float On (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Also in 1977 Elvis singalike Ronald Dean "Ronnie" McDowell (1950-) releases his 1-hit wonder The King Is Gone (about Elvis Presley) (#4 in the U.S.). Also in 1977 the American rock band Ram Jam, originally Starstruck, incl. Myke Scavone (vocals), William "Bill" Bartlett (1946-) (guitar) (formerly of the Lemon Pipers), Pete Charles (drums), Howie Arthur Blauvelt (bass), and Jimmy Santoro (guitar) release their 1-hit wonder Black Betty (#7 in the U.S.), based on a song by Leadbelly. Also in 1977 the Sanford and Townsend Band, from Ala., incl. Ed Sanford and Johnny Townsend release their 1-hit wonder Smoke from a Distant Fire (#9 in the U.S.). Also in 1977 English singer-actor Paul Nicholas (Paul Oscar Beuselinck) (1945-) releases his 1-hit wonder Heaven on the 7th Floor (#6 in the U.S., #40 in the U.K.), heaven in the 1970s wasn't on this floor, or maybe it was, there's no accounting for taste.

Clive Calder (1946-) Ralph Simon Barry Weiss (1959-) Samantha Fox (1966-) Tight Fit Jive Records

In 1977 Jive Records is founded in New York City by South African-born Clive Calder (1946-), and Ralph Simon (who later helped found the modern mobile entertainment industry, becoming known as "Father of the Ring Tone"), signing A Flock of Seagulls, Billy Ocean (Leslie Sebastian Charles) (1950-), Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox (1966-), whose 1986 debut single Touch Me (I Want Your Body) (#4 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) goes #1 in five countries, and Tight Fit, which makes yet another cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, in 1982 (#1 in the U.K.), then hiring Barry Weiss (1959-) and going on in the late 1980s to sign hip hop artists DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, R. (Robert Sylvester) Kelly (1967-), and Aaliyah (Aaliyah Dana Haughton) (1979-2001), followed in the 1990s by pop acts Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync (*NSYNC), and Britney Jean Spears (1981-).

Warren Zevon (1947-2003)

On Jan. 18, 1978 Chicago-born rock singer-songwriter Warren William Zevon (1947-2003) releases album #3 Excitable Boy, featuring his 1-hit wonder Werewolves of London, along with Excitable Boy, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, and Lawyers, Guns and Money. His 1976 debut album Warren Zevon is released after the troubled artist becomes an expatriate in Spain and lands a record deal with the help of friend Jackson Browne, and is a critical success but flops.

Van Halen David Lee Roth (1954-)

On Feb. 10, 1978 hard rock band Van Halen, from Pasadena, Calif. incl. Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (1955-2020), Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen (1953-) (drums), Michael Anthony Sobolewski (1954-) (bass), David Lee Roth (1955-) release their debut album Van Halen (Feb. 10, 1978), which sells 10M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks Runnin' with the Devil, Jamie's Cryin', Eruption, Ain't Talking 'bout Love, I'm the One, and You Really gets Me (by Ray Davies). The band goes on to sell 80M albums. Van Halen have two lead vocalists, "Diamond" David Lee Roth (1954-) in 1974-85, who didn't get along with Eddie, causing the latter in 1982 to try to join Kiss, and "Red Rocker" Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar (1947-) in 1985-96. Other hits incl. So This Is Love? (1980), Panama (1984), Why Can't This Be Love (1984), and Amsterdam (1995). When the U.S. invaded Panama in 1989 and Gen. Manuel Noriega holed-up in the Vatican mission in Panama City on Dec. 24, U.S. troops bombarded him with hard rock music incl. "Panama" by Van Halen, "I Fought the Law" by The Clash, and "The Howard Stern Show", until he surrendered to the DEA on Jan. 3. In 1986 David Lee Roth releases his solo debut album Eat 'Em and Smile, with a band incl. Steve Vai (1960-) (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Gregg Bissonette (drums), launching metal arena rock; it features Goin' Crazy, Yankee Rose, Tobacco Road.

XTC

On Jan. 20, 1978 the English (Swindon) New Wave band XTC, incl. Andy Partridge (vocals, guitar), Colin Moulding (bass), Barry Andrews (keyboards), and Terry Chambers (drums) releases their debut album White Music #38 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Statue of Liberty (banned by the BBC for the line "sail beneath your skirt"), This Is Pop, and All Along the Watchtower (by Jimi Hendrix). Album #3 Drums and Wires (Aug. 17, 1979) (#176 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.) features Making Plans for Nigel (#17 in the U.K.), and Life Begins at the Hop (#44 in the U.K.). Album #4 Black Sea (Sept. 12, 1980) (#16 in the U.K.) features Generals and Majors (#104 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.), Tower of London (#31 in the U.K.), and Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (#16 in the U.K.). Album #5 English Settlement (Feb. 12, 1982) (#48 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Senses Working Overtime (#10 in the U.K.), Ball and Chain (#58 in the U.K.), and No Thugs in Our House. Album #6 Mummer (Aug. 30, 1983) (#145 in the U.S., #51 in the U.K.) features Great Fire, Wonderland, and Love on a Farmboy's Wages (#50 in the U.K.). Album #7 The Big Express (Oct. 15, 1984) (#181 in the U.S., #38 in the U.K.) features All You Pretty Girls, and This World Over. Album #8 Skylarking (Oct. 27, 1986) (#70 in the U.S., #90 in the U.K.) features Grass, and Dear God. Album #9 Psonic Psunspot (Aug. 1987), releases like album #8 under the alias The Dukes of the Stratosphear to satire 1960s bands features Vanishing Girl, You're My Drug, Pale and Precious, and You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel). Album #10 Oranges & Lemons (Feb. 27, 1989) features The Mayor of Simpleton (#46 in the U.K.), King for A Day, and The Loving (#44 in the U.S., #28 in the U.K.). Album #11 Nonsuch (Apr. 27, 1992) features The Disappointed (#33 in the U.K.), and The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (#71 in the U.K.).

Kate Bush (1958-)

On Feb. 17, 1978 after being discovered by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, English (Kent) singer-songwriter Catherine "Kate" Bush (1958-) releases her debut album The Kick Inside (#3 in the U.K.), featuring the tracks Wuthering Heights (first woman to have a #1 hit in the U.S. with a self-written song), James and the Cold Gun, The Saxophone Song, The Man with the Child in His Eyes, and Them Heavy People. Album #2 Lionheart (Nov. 13, 1978) (#6 in the U.K.) features Oh England, My Lionheart, Wow (#20 in the U.K.), Fullhouse (Symphony in Blue), and Hammer Horror (Coffee Homeground). In 1979 she makes a concert tour, and is the most photographed woman in Britain. Album #3 Never for Ever (Sept. 8, 1980) (#1 in the U.K.) (first solo female British singer to top the U.K. album charts) features The Wedding List, Breathing, Army Dreamers, and Babooshka. Album #4 The Dreaming (Sept. 13, 1982) (#3 in the U.K.) features The Dreaming, Sat in Your Lap, There Goes a Tenner, Get Out of My House (based on the film "The Shining"), and Houdini. Album #5 Hounds of Love (Sept. 16, 1985) (#1 in the U.K.) knocked Madonna's "Like a Virgin" off the top of the U.K. charts; it features Running Up That Hill, Hounds of Love, Cloudbusting, and The Big Sky.

The B-52's

In Apr. 1978 the Athens, Ga.-based New Wave band The B-52's (named after the beehive hairdo), incl. Fred Schneider III (1951-), Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson (1948-), Keith Strickland (drums), Cynthia Leigh "Cindy" Wilson (1957-), and Ricky Helton Wilson (1953-85) (guitar) (who dies of AIDS) release their first single Rock Lobster (#56 in the U.S.), followed on July 6, 1979 by their debut album The B-52's (#59 in the U.S.), a favorite of John Lennon, which also features the track Planet Claire. Album #2 Wild Planet (Aug. 27, 1980) (#18 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.) features Private Idaho, used as the title of the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho. Album #5 Cosmic Thing (June 27, 1989) (#4 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Love Shack, Roam, Deadbeat Club, and Cosmic Thing.

Jerry Garcia (1942-95) Jerry Garcia (1942-95) Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream

In Apr. 1978 the Jerry Garcia Band, formed in 1975 by San Francisco-born Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (1942-95) of The Grateful Dead release their debut album Cats Under the Stars, which features the tracks Cats Down Under the Stars, Ruben and Cherise, Palm Sunday, and Rhapsody in Red. Album #2 Jerry Garcia Band (Aug. 27, 1991) features Deal, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. After his Aug. 9, 1995 death, they release How Sweet It Is (1997), featuring How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Don't Let Go (2001), and Shining Star (2001), featuring Shining Star. To commemorate his untimely death, Ben & Jerry's started making Cherry Garcia ice cream. As the final tribute, the term "cherry garcia" develop a dirty sexual meaning, related to "dirty sanchez".

Joy Division New Order

On June 3, 1978 the English (Salford, Greater Manchester) rock band Joy Division, originally Warsaw, incl. Ian Kevin Curtis (1956-80) (vocals), Bernard Sumner (1956-) (guitar, keyboards), Peter "Hooky" Hook (1956-) (bass), and Stephen Paul David Morris (1957-) (drums) (JD is the Nazi term for concentration camp sex slaves) release their debut album An Ideal for Living, which features the track Warsaw. Their debut album Unknown Pleasures (June 14, 1979) features New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, and Interzone (from the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch"). Album #2 (last) Closer (July 18, 1980) features Isolation, and Heart and Soul. Too bad, lead singer Ian Curtis (b. 1956) committed suicide by hanging on May 18, 1980, and the band reforms under the name New Order, incl. Bernard Sumner (Dicken) (1956-) (vocals), Peter "Hooky" Hook (1956-) (bass), Gillian Lesley Gilbert (1961-) (keyboards), and Stephen Paul David Morris (1957-) (drums), which in Nov. 1981 releases its debut album Movement, which features the tracks Temptation Ceremony, Doubts Even Here, Dreams Never End, and Everything's Gone Green. Album #2 Power, Corruption & Lies (May 1983) features Age of Consent. In 1983 they release Blue Monday, which becomes the best-selling 12-in. single (resembling a floppy disk) of all time. In Apr. 1984 they release Thieves Like Us (named after the 1974 Robert Altman movie), followed in May 1984 by Murder. Album #3 Low-Life (May 13, 1985) (#94 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) features The Perfect Kiss, Sub-Culture, and Elegia. Album #4 Brotherhood (Sept. 29, 1986) (#161 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Bizarre Love Triangle (used in the 1988 film "marries to the Mob"). In 1986 they also releases Shellshock, which is used in the 1986 film "Pretty in Pink". Album #5 Technique (Jan. 30, 1989) (#32 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Fine Time (#11 in the U.K.), Round & Round, Vanishing Point, and Run. Album #6 Republic (May 3, 1993) (#11 in the U.K., #1 in the U.K.) features Regret, Ruined in a Day, World, and Spooky. Album #7 Get Ready (Aug. 27, 2001) (#41 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) have German actress Nicolette Krebitz on the cover, and features Crystal, 60 Miles an Hour, and Someone Like You. Album #8 (last) Waiting for the Sirens' Call (Mar. 28, 2005) (#46 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Waiting for the Sirens' Call, Krafty, and Jetstream.

The Cars

On June 6, 1978 the Boston, Mass.-based rock band The Cars, fronted by Ric Ocasek (Richard Theodore Otcasek) (1949-2019) release their debut album The Cars, which features the tracks Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, and Good Times Roll. Arriving just in time for the MTV Generation, album #4 Shake It Up (Nov. 6, 1981) features Shake It Up and Since You're Gone. Album #5 Heartbeat City (Mar. 13, 1984) features Drive, You Might Think, and Magic.

'Grease', 1978

On June 16, 1978 the musical film Grease is released, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The Grease Soundtrack album is the #2 best-selling album of the year in the U.S. after "Saturday Night Fever", featuring the track You're the One That I Want.

Siouxsie Sioux (1957-)

On Aug. 18, 1978 British post-punk band Siouxsie and The Banshees, fronted by London-born Siouxsie Sioux (Susan Janet Ballion) (1957-) release their debut single Hong Kong Garden (#7 in the U.K.), which becomes a classic. Their debut album The Scream (Nov. 13, 1978) features the tracks Overground, Helter Skelter (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney), and Metal Postcard (Mittageisen). The single The Staircase (Mystery) (Mar. 23, 1979) reaches #24 in the U.K. Album #2 Join Hands (Sept. 7, 1979) features Playground Twist, and The Lord's Prayer. Album #3 Kaleidoscope (Aug. 1, 1980) features Happy House, Christine, and Red Light. On Nov. 28, 1980 they release the single Israel (#41 in the U.K.). Album #4 Juju (June 6, 1981), first with super guitarist John Alexander McGeoch (1955-2004) ("the Jimmy Page of New Wave") (who later joins Public Image Ltd.) features Spellbound, and Arabian Knights. Album #5 A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (Nov. 5, 1982), the last with John McGeoch features Melt!, and Slowdive. Their Beatles cover single Dear Prudence (Sept. 23, 1983) reaches #3 in the U.K. Album #6 Hyaena (June 8, 1984), with Robert Smith of The Cure features Dazzle, and Swimming Horses. Album #7 Tinderbox (Apr. 21, 1986), the first with guitarist John Valentine Carruthers features Cities in Dust, and Candyman. Album #8 Through the Looking Glass (Mar. 2, 1987) is all covers; it features Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit. Album #9 Peepshow (Sept. 5, 1988), the first with Martin McCarrick features Peek-a-Boo, and The Last Beat of My Heart. Album #10 Superstition (June 10, 1991) features Kiss Them for Me (#23 in the U.S.), their first U.S. hit, them Yanks are slow, a little too slow. Album #11 (last) The Rapture (Jan. 17, 1995) features O Baby, and Stargazer.

Toto

On Oct. 15, 1978 the Calif.-based rock band Toto release their debut album Toto, which features the tracks Hold the Line, I'll Supply the Love, and Georgy Porgy. Composed of session musicians, members incl. Robert Troy "Bobby" Kimball (1947-) (vocals), Steve "Luke" Lukather (1957-) (guitar), David Hungate (1948-) (bass), David Frank Paich (1954-) (keyboards), Jeff Porcaro (drums), Steve Porcaro (keyboards), Jeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro (1954-92) (drums), and Michael Joseph "Mike" Porcaro (1955-) (bass); Toto means "all-encompassing". Album #4 Toto IV (Apr. 8, 1982) was their breakthrough, with hit tracks Rosanna (#2 in the U.S.) (just a coincidence that member Steve Porcaro uses to go out with actress Rosanna Arquette?), Africa (#1 in the U.S.), and I Won't Hold You Back. They go on to sell 35M albums.

'The Wiz', 1978

On Oct. 24, 1978 Sidney Lumet's musical film The Wiz, a black version of "The Wizard of Oz" debut, starring too-old Diana Ross as Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy, who is whisked away to the Land of Oz, which looks like New York City; Michael Jackson plays a good Scarecrow; too bad, the $24M production lost $11M, dooming black films for years. It features the song Ease on Down the Road.

The Police

On Nov. 2, 1978 the English (London) New Wave rock band The Police , fronted by Stink, er, Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) (1951-), known for folding jazz, punk, and reggae into rock release their first album Outlandos d'Amour, which features Can't Stand Losing You (about suicide), and Roxanne (about prostitution). Too bad, it flopped from lack of financial backing, until 1979, when the album hit #6 in the U.K. Album #2 Regatta de Blanc (Oct. 5, 1979) features the hit Message in a Bottle. Album #3 Zenyatta Mondatta (Oct. 3, 1980) features the hits De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da and Don't Stand So Close to Me. Album #4 Ghost in the Machine (Oct. 2, 1981) features Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Invisible Sun, and Spirits in the Material World. Album #5 (last) Synchronicity (June 1, 1983) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 8M copies in the U.S, and features their biggest hit Every Breath You Take. They go on to sell over 50M albums worldwide.

Midnight Oil

In Nov. 1978 the Australian rock band Midnight Oil (originally Farm), incl. Peter Robert Garrett (1953-) (vocals), Jim Moginie (1956-) (guitar), Martin Rotsey (guitar), Rob Hirst (1955-) (drums), and Andrew James/Peter Gifford/Bones Hillman (bass) release their debut album Midnight Oil (AKA Blue Meanie), which features the tracks Powderworks, Run by Night, and Nothing Lost Nothing Gained. Album #2 Head Injuries (1979) features Cold Cold Change, and Section 5 (Bus to Bondi). Album #5 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (Nov. 1982) features Power and the Passion, Read About It, and Scream in Blue. Album #6 Red Sails in the Sunset (Oct. 1984) is their first #1 in Australia, and features Best of Both Worlds. Album #8 Diesel and Dust (Aug. 1987) features The Dead Heart, Put Down That Weapon, Dreamworld, and their big hit Beds Are Burning ("How can we dance when our Earth is turning?/ How do we sleep while our beds are burning?"). Album #9 Blue Sky Mining (Feb. 25, 1990) features Blue Sky Mine; Forgotten Years, King of the Mountain, Bedlam Bridge, and One Country.

Wax Trax! Records Logo

In Nov. 1978 after selling their shop in Dirty Denver, Colo., Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher open Wax Trax! Records on 2449 North Lincoln Ave. in Gangsterland Chicago, Ill., going on to become the center of the New Wave, punk rock, and industrial music scenes there; in mid-2014 after going kaput in 2001, founder Jim Nash's daughter Julia Nash reopens Wax Trax! Records with the release of a 12-in. single from Cocksure.

Public Image Ltd.

In Dec. 1978 the English (London) post-punk band Public Image Ltd. (PiL), "arguably the first post-rock group" (New Musical Express), incl. John Joseph Lydon (AKA Johnny Rotten) (1956-) (vocals), Julian Keith Levene (1957-) (bass), Jah Wobble (John Joseph Wardle) (1958-) (bass), and Martin Atkins (drums) release their debut album First Issue, which features the tracks Public Image, and Fodderstompf. Album #2 Metal Box (Nov. 23, 1979) consisted of three 12" 45 rpm records in a 16mm metal film canister, and features Albatross, Swan Lake, and Memories. Album #4 This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get (July 6, 1984) features This Is Not a Love Song (#5 in the U.K.), Bad Life, and The Order of Death, which is uses in "The Blair Witch Project", and the "Miami Vice" episode "Little Miss Dangerous".

Lene Lovich (1949-) Nina Hagen (1955-)

In 1978 American punk rock singer (in England) Lene Lovich (Lili-Marlene Premilovich) (1949-) releases her debut album Stateless, featuring her breakthrough single Lucky Number, along with Say When. Album #2 Flex (1979) features the tracks Bird Song (#29 in the U.K.), and What Will I Do Without You? (#58 in the U.K.). In 1978 German punk rock singer Nina Hagen (1955-) releases her debut album The Nina Hagen Band, which features the tracks Superboy, TV-Glotzer (cover of "White Punks on Dope" by The Tubes), and Auf'm Bahnhof Zoo. Album #3 NunSexMonkRock (1982) features Smack Jack. Album #4 Angstlos (Fearless) (1984) features Zarah (#45 in the U.S.) (cover of the Zarah Leander song "Ich Weiss, es Wird Einmal ein Wunder Gescheh'n), and New York New York (cover of the Frank Sinatra hit) (#9 in the U.S.). Album #5 In Ekstasy (1985) features Universal Radio, Spirit in the Sky (cover of the Norman Greenbaum hit), and My Way (cover of the Frank Sinatra hit). Album #6 Nina Hagen (Oct. 8, 1989) features Viva Las Vegas (by Elvis Presley), and Ave Maria (by Franz Schubert). Album #15 Personal Jesus (July 16, 2010) features Personal Jesus (by Depeche Mode).

Robert Palmer (1949-2003)

In 1978 English singer Robert Allen Palmer (1949-2003) releases album #4 Double Fun (#45 in the U.S.), which features the track Every Kinda People. Album #5 Secrets (1979) (#19 in the U.S., #54 in the U.K.) features Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) (#14 in the U.S.). Album #9 Riptide (Nov. 1985) (#8 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features the #1 U.S. single Addicted to Love, with the video featuring the irresistible undulating guitar-strumming Palmer Girls, with heavy makeup, short slick black hair, long hosed legs and little black dresses with almost see-through bodices, modeled after artist Patrick Nagel; it also features I Didn't Mean to Turn You On, he probably did. Album #10 Heavy Nova (June 22, 1988) (#13 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.) features more of the Palmer Girls, with the hit track Simply Irresistible (#1 in the U.S.).

Bonnie Tyler (1951-)

In 1978 Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler (Gaynor Hopkins) (1951-) releases album #2 Natural Force (It's a Heartache), which features her hit track It's a Heartache. Album #5 Faster Than the Speed of Light (Apr. 1983) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features her big hit Total Eclipse of the Heart (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). In 1984 she releases the hit Holding Out for a Hero (#2 in the U.K.) on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Footloose.

Slash Records Ruby Records

In 1978 Slash Records is founds in Los Angeles by painter Bob Biggs, editor of the fanzine Slash, who sign The Germs, X, Fear, The Blasters, L7, and Los Lobos. In 1981 they spun off the subsidiary Ruby Records, which sign The Misfits, Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club, Violent Femmes, BoDeans, Robyn Hitchcock, and Burning Spear. In 1986 they are acquired by London Records, a subsidiary of PolyGram.

Exile Nick Giler (1951-) John Paul Young (1950-) Alicia Bridges (1953-) Walter Egan (1948-) Foxy Lenny LeBlanc (1951-) and Pete Carr (1950-) Odyssey Johnny Paycheck (1938-2003) Samantha Sang (1951-) Nicolette Larson (1952-97) Peaches and Herb Steve Martin (1945-) Patrick Juvet (1950-)

Disco Era year 1978 have its share of 1-hit wonders, starting with Kiss You All Over (#1 in the U.S.), by Exile, from Richmond, Ky., fronted by James Preston "J.P." Pennington (1949-). Also in 1978 English-Canadian rock singer Nicholas George "Nick" Gilder (1951-) of Sweeney Todd releases his 1-hit wonder Hot Child in the City (#1 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 Glasgow, Scotland-born Australian singer John Paul "Squeak" Young (1950-) releases his 1-hit wonder Love Is in the Air (#3 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 white Lawndale, N.C.-born R&B singer Alicia Bridges (1953-) releases her 1-hit wonder I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round) (#5 in the U.S.), which even crossed over to country stations since she is did-I-say white. Also in 1978 Jamaica, N.Y.-born singer Walter Egan (1948-) releases his 1-hit wonder Magnet and Steel (#8 in the U.S.), produced by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut of Fleetwood Mac. Also in 1978 Foxy, from Miami, Fla., incl. Ish "Angel" Ledesma (1952-) (vocals), Charllie Murciano (keyboards), Arnold Paseiro (1950-) (bass), Richard "Richie" Puente (1953-2004) (drums) (son of Tito Puente), and Joe Galdo (drums) release their 1-hit wonder Get Off (#9 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 Lenny LeBlanc (1951-) and Jesse Willard "Pete" Carr (1950-) release their 1-hit wonder Falling (#13 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 the New York dance band Odyssey, fronted by the Virgin Islands-born Lopez sisters Lillian Lopez (1945-), Louise Lopez (1943), and Carmen Lopez release their 1-hit wonder Native New Yorker (#21 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 Ohio-born country singer Johnny Paycheck (1938-2003) releases his 1-hit wonder crossover hit Take This Job and Shove It. Speaking of crossover, in 1978 Australian singer Samantha Sang (Cheryl Lau Sang) (1951-) releases her 1-hit wonder Emotion (#3 in the U.S.), written and produced by the Bee Gees, which sounded so much like the Bee Gees that I still can't believe it, cry me a river that leads to your ocean, it's just emotion that's taking me over. Actually she also reaches #56 in the U.S. in 1978 with You Keep Me Dancin'. Also in 1978 Helena, Mont.-born singer Nicolette Larson (1952-97) releases her debut album Nicolette (#15 in the U.S.), which features her 1-hit wonder Lotta Love (by Neil Young) (#1 in the U.S.). Also in 1978 Peaches and Herb release their 2-hit wonders Shake Your Groove Thing (#5 in the U.S.), and Reunited (#1 in the U.S.). Even Saturday Night Live star Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (1945-) have a 1978 1-hit wonder with the million-selling King Tut (#17 in the U.S.), backed by the Toot Uncommons, really the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; it is helped by the King Tut craze causes by the traveling exhibit of his tomb artifacts. In 1978 Swiss-born falsetto disco singer Patrick Juvet (1950-) releases the single I Love America, followed in 1979 by Lady Night, Swiss Kiss, and Laura Theme.

The Blues Brothers

Also in 1978 the Blues Brothers blues and soul revivalist band is founded by Saturday Night Live comedy actors Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd (1952-) and John Adam Belushi (1949-82), who cashed in big with the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, which features appearances by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and John Lee Hooker, along with great renditions of Rawhide, Stand By Your Man, Everybody Needs Somebody, and Jailhouse Rock.

In 1978 British 1-hit wonder band Sniff 'n' the Tears release their debut album Fickle Heart, which features Driver's Seat.

Sony Walkman, 1978

In 1979 the $199.95 Sony Walkman was first markets, design in 1978 by Nobutoshi Kihara (1926-) (inventor of the home video tape recorder in 1964) as a portable pocket hi-fidelity audio cassette player with earphones, and named in tribute to Superman, although chmn. Akio Morita hated the name, causing it to also be markets under the names Soundabout, Freestyle, and Stowaway. It goes on to sell 220M units by the time it is discontinued in Apr. 2010. The first version have two earphone jacks since they assumed people wanted to share, plus a cutoff button for conversation.

The Pretenders

In Jan. 1979 the English-American group The Pretenders, fronted by Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde (1951-) releases its first single, Stop Your Sobbing (by The Kinks), followed in Nov. 1979 with Brass in Pocket (#14 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Their debut album Pretenders (Jan. 19, 1980) is a hit. Album #3 Learning to Crawl (1983) (releases after bandmembers James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farnon dies of ODs) features Back on the Chain Gang. Album #4 Get Close (Nov. 4, 1986) features their biggest hits Don't Get Me Wrong and My Baby. Album #6 Last of the Independents (May 10, 1994) contained the hit I'll Stand by You.

Gary Numan (1958-)

In Apr. 1979 English (Hammersmith, West London) New Wave musician Gary Numan (Gary Anthony James Webb) (1958-) and his Tubeway Army releases album #2 Replicas (#1 in the U.K.), containing the track Are 'Friends' Electric? (#1 in the U.K.). In Sept. 1979 he releases his solo debut album The Pleasure Principle (#1 in the U.K.), featuring the track Cars (#9 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), all of which helped launch synthpop just in time for the 1980s. In 1984 he founds his own label Numa Records.

Eddie Rabbitt (1941-98)

On May 9, 1979 Brooklyn, N.Y.-born country singer (the Wolfman?) Edward Thomas "Eddie" Rabbitt (1941-98), who wrote "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 decided to become a crossover star with album #5 Loveline, which features the track Suspicions (#1 country) (#13 in the U.S.). Album #6 Horizon (June 20, 1980) (#19 in the U.S.) features Drivin' My Life Away (#1 country) (#5 in the U.S.), and I Love a Rainy Night (#1 country) (#1 in the U.S.). Album #7 Step by Step (July 31, 1981) (#23 in the U.S.) features Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight (#1 country) (#15 in the U.S.), and I Don't Know Where to Start (#2 country) (#35 in the U.S.). Album #8 Radio Romance (Oct. 1, 1982) (#31 in the U.S.) features You and I (w/Crystal Gayle) (#1 country) (#7 in the U.S.), and You Can't Run from Love (#1 country) (#55 in the U.S.). After that he goes back to pure country, although album #11 I Wanna Dance With You (Mar. 1, 1988) features a cover of Dion DiMucci's 1961 hit The Wanderer (#1 country) - by now rock is so far out that old rock is country? On May 7, 1998 he dies in Nashville of lung cancer after releasing 15 studio albums and 43 singles incl. 34 top-10 and 17 country #1s in 1976-90.

The Cure

On May 11, 1979 the English punk rock group The Cure from Crawley, West Sussex, incl. Robert Smith (1959-) (vocals), Paul Stephen "Porl" Thompson (1961-) (sax, keyboards), Simon Jonathon Gallup (1960-) (bass), and Jason Toop Cooper (1967-)/ Boris Peter Bransby-Williams (1952-) (drums) release their debut album Three Imaginary Boys (Boys Don't Cry), which features the tracks 10:15 Saturday Night, and Foxy Lady (by Jimi Henrix). Album #2 Seventeen Seconds (album #2) (Apr. 18, 1980) (#20 in the U.K.) features Three, and A Forest. Album #3 Faith (Apr. 10, 1981) features Faith, Primary, The Holy Hour, and The Drowning Man. Album #4 Pornography (May 3, 1982) (#8 in the U.K.) starts out with "It doesn't matter if we all die." Tracks incl. Pornography, and The Hanging Garden. Album #5 The Top (Apr. 30, 1984) (#180 in the U.S.) (first album to chart in the U.S.) features The Caterpillar. Album #6 Head on the Door (Aug. 26, 1985) (#59 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) is the first with drummer Boris Williams, and features the tracks In Between Days, and Close to Me. Album #7 Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (double album) (May 25, 1987) (#35 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) features Just Like Heaven (#40 in the U.S.), Hey You!, Catch, Why Can't I Be You? (#54 in the U.S.), and Hot Hot Hot!!! Album #8 Disintegration (album #8) (May 1, 1989) (#12 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) saw Robert Smith turn 30, and go back to LSD to makes it his best; it features Pictures of You (#71 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.), Lovesong (The Cure Song) (#2 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), Lullaby (#74 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and Fascination Street (#46 in the U.S.). Album #9 Wish (Apr. 21, 1991) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 4M copies; they forgot the "The" on the cover; it features High (#42 in the U.S.), Friday I'm in Love (#17 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), and A Letter to Elise.

'Off the Wall' by Michael Jackson (1958-2009), 1979

Speaking of ding-dongs. On Aug. 10, 1979 grown-up child star Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009) releases album #5 Off the Wall, his first adult solo album, which sells 20M copies (8M in the U.S.), making him the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album in the Billboard top-10; it features the tracks Off the Wall, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock with You, Girlfriend, and She's Out of My Life. If he has just stayed away from the plastic surgeons?

Bauhaus

In Aug. 1979 the English (Northampton) Gothic rock group (first-ever) Bauhaus, originally Bauhaus 1919, incl. Peter John Murphy (1957-) ("the Godfather of Goth") (vocals), Daniel Gaston Ash (1957-) (guitar, vocals), David J (David J. Haskins) (1957-) (bass), and Kevin Haskins (Kevin Michael Dompe) (1960-) (drums) release their debut single Bela Lugosi's Dead, follow the same year by Dark Entries, Terror Couple Kill Colonel, and Telegram Sam (by T.Rex). Their debut album In the Flat Field (Oct. 1, 1980) features the tracks In the Flat Field, God in An Alcove, and Small Talk Stinks. Album #2 Mask (Oct. 1981) features Mask, The Passion of Lovers, The Man With the X-Ray Eyes, and Kick in the Eye. Album #3 The Sky's Gone Out (Oct. 1982) features Silent Hedges, Spirit, and Exquisite Corpse. Album #4 (last) Burning from the Inside (July 1983) features She's in Parties, after which they break up. In 2008 they reunited for their last last album #5 Go Away White (Mar. 3, 2008), which features Too Much 21st Century. Meanwhile in 1983 Peter Murphy goes solo, and in 1985 David Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins forms the alternative rock band Love and Rockets, named after the comic book series by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, and release their debut album Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (Oct. 11, 1985), which features the track The Dog-End of A Day Gone By, followed by album #2 Ball of Confusion, Express (Sept. 15, 1986) (#72 in the U.S.), which features the tracks All in My Mind, and Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man). Album #3 Earth, Sun, Moon (Sept. 9, 1987) (#64 in the U.S.) features Earth, Sun, Moon, and No New Tale to Tell. Album #4 Love and Rockets (May 1989) (#14 in the U.S.) features the tracks Motorcycle, and So Alive by T.Rex (#3 in the U.S., #79 in the U.K.), which supported a major tour that burned them out and causes them to take off for a few years. After Beggar's Banquet drops them and American Recordings picks them up, album #5 Hot Trip to Heaven (Sept. 26, 1994) is followed by album #6 Sweet F.A. (Mar. 1996) (#172 in the U.S.), which features Sweet F.A. (Sweet Fuck-All), and Sweet Lover Hangover, and is marries by a fire at American Recordings where they are living and recording, causing them to lose their gear, and saddled them with a large legal bill to beat the insurance co. After releasing album #7 Lift (Oct. 13, 1998) they disbands in 1999; it features Resurrection Hex, Holy Fool, and R.I.P. 20 C.

Gang of Four

In Sept. 1979 the English (Leeds) post-punk political band ("probably the best politically motivated band in rock & roll" - David Fricke, Rolling Stone) Gang of Four, incl. Jon King (1955-) (vocals), Andy Gill (1956-) (guitar), Dave Allen (1956-) (bass), and Hugo Burnham (1956-) (drums) release their debut album Entertainment!, which sells 100K copies in the U.K., and features the tracks At Home He's a Tourist (#58 in the U.K.), and Natural's Not In It. "It [the album] completely changes the way I looked at rock music and sent me on my trip as a bass player." (Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Album #2 Solid Gold (Mar. 1981) features What We All Want, Outside the Trains Don't Run on Time, and He'd Send in the Army. Album #3 Songs of the Free (1982) features I Love a Man in a Uniform, The History of the World, and Muscle for Brains.

Pat Benatar (1953-)

On Oct. 26, 1979 Brooklyn, N.Y.-born Pat Benatar (Patricia Mae Andrzejewski) (1953-) releases her debut album In the Heat of the Night, featuring her first hit Heartbreaker. Album #2 Crimes of Passion (Aug. 6, 1980) (#2 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features the hits Heartbreaker, and Hit Me With Your Best Shot. He first live album Live from Earth (Oct. 1983) features her big hit Love Is a Battlefield. Album #6 Tropico (Nov. 24, 1984) (#14 in the U.S.) features the hit We Belong.

Adam and the Ants

On Oct. 30, 1979 the English post-punk/New Wave band Adam and the Ants, fronted by Adam Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard) (1954-), along with Matthew James Ashman (1960-95) (guitar), Andy Warren (1961-) (bass), and Dave Barbarossa (1961-) (drums) release their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox, featuring the tracks Zerox, Cartrouble, Cleopatra, Never Trust a Man (With Egg on His Face), Catholic Day (about JFK), and The Day I Met God; last two are drops in the 1983 ed. Album #2 Kings of the Wild Frontier (#1 in the U.K.) (bestselling album in the U.K. in 1981) introduced the Burundi drum sound, and features the tracks Kings of the Wild Frontier (#2 in the U.K.), Dog Eat Dog (#4 in the U.K.), and Antmusic. Album #3 (last) Prince Charming (Nov. 1981) features Prince Charming (#1 in the U.K.), Stand and Deliver (#1 in the U.K.), and Ant Rap (#10 in the U.K.).

Whitesnake 'Lovehunter' by Whitesnake, 1979

In Oct. 1979 the English hard rock glam band Whitesnake, forms by David Coverdale (1951-) of Deep Purple (whose 1979 solo debut album is titled guess what) releases album #2 Lovehunter, which gained sales from its soft porno cover of a nude woman and a snake; it features the track Long Way from Home. After a string of hits in the U.K. but not the U.S., album #7 Whitesnake (Apr. 7, 1987) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 8M copies in the U.S. alone, and features the tracks Is This Love, Crying in the Rain, Still of the Night, Give Me All Your Love, and Here I Go Again (David Coverdale's babe Tawny Kitaen appears in the video in a white negligee on the hood of a Jaguar). Album #9 Slip of the Tongue (Nov. 18, 1989) sells 1M copies, and features the tracks Fool for Your Loving, The Deeper the Love, and Now You're Gone. After that, they are gone, releasing their next album in 1997 only in the U.K.

On Dec. 3, 1979 11 are kills in a stampede of fans for seats at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the British rock group The Who is performing, causing the press to go after the $2B a year rock concert biz.

Anita Pallenberg (1944-)

In 1979 Keith Richards' Italian-born practicing witch model-actress partner (since 1967) Anita Pallenberg (1944-) (former lover of Brian Jones) is arrested for the death of 17-y.-o. groundskeeper Scott Cantrell in her bed at their house in South Salem, N.Y., but the death is ruled a suicide despite rumors they are lovers playing Russian Roulette.

Robin Scott (1947-) Amii Stewart (1956-) Nick Lowe (1949-) Ian Gomm (1947-) Patrick Hernandez (1949-) Herman Brood (1946-) Anita Ward (1945-) Spizzenergi The Flying Lizards

1979 have its 1-hit wonders, listen to disco, forget about the rat race, staring with Pop Muzik (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) by the British band M, fronted by Robin Esmond Scott (1947-). Another 1979 1-hit wonder is Knock on Wood (by Eddie Floyd) (#1 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) by Washington, D.C.-born singer Amy "Amii" Paulette Stewart (1956-). Another 1979 1-hit wonder is Cruel to Be Kind (#12 in the U.S. and U.K.) by English singer Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe (1949-), if you don't count his 1978 U.K-only hit I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass (#7 in the U.K.). Another 1979 1-hit wonder is Ian Robert Gomm (1947-), co-writer of "Cruel to Be Kind", who reaches #18 in the U.S. with Hold On (To What You Got). Yet another 1979 1-hit wonder is Born To Be Alive (#16 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) by French singer Patrick Hernandez (1949-) (Spanish father, Italian-Austrian mother). Another 1979 1-hit wonder is Saturday Night (#35 in the U.S.) by Hermanus "Herman" Brood (1946-2001), Netherland's only rock and roll star, who switched to art then capped his sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll lifestyle with suicide. On May 17, 1979 Memphis, Tenn.-born singer Anita Ward (1945-) releases her 1-hit wonder Ring My Bell (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). In Dec. 1979 the English (West Midlands) punk/New Wave band Spizzenergi, fronted by Kenneth "Spizz" Spiers, and incl. Pete Petrol, Mark Coalfield, Jim Solar, and Clive Parker (first band to sign with Rough Trade Records) release their 1-hit wonder Where's Captain Kirk?, becoming the first to top the new U.K. Indie Chart in early 1980. Another 1979 1-hit wonder is the English experimental rock band The Flying Lizards, incl. David Toop (1949-), Steve Beresford (1950-), Michael Upton, David Cunningham (1954-), Vivien Goldman, Robert Fripp (1946-), and Bob Black, whose debut album The Flying Lizards (#99 in the U.S., #60 in the U.K.) features the tracks HerStory, The Window, and their 1-hit wonder Money (That's What I Want) (by Barrett Strong) (#50 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.).

Revolver Records

In 1979 Revolver Records (Music) is founded in Britain by Paul Birch, going on to sign punk rock groupsincl. The Stone Roses, The Wild Flowers, Crazyhead, The Vibrators, Jane's Addiction, and Crazyhead.

1980s

In 1980 Sony, Philips, and PolyGram proposed technical standards for Compact Discs (CDs), which are accepted worldwide by 1981, making commercial development possible, changing the nature of the music business, they're off to the races like whippets. In 1980 the MTV-driven British Music Aftershock Era begins (ends 1999), with a new wave of British groups hitting the giant U.S. market, incl. Duran Duran, Culture Club, New Order, The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Spice Girls. In parallel the New Wave of British Heavy Metal features groups incl. Budgie, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, Demon, Angel Witch, Avenger, Tygers of Pan Tang, Blitzkreig, Motorhead (Motörhead), Girlschool, Diamond Head, Jaguar, Samson, and Tank.

The Romantics The Scorpions Huey Lewis (1950-) and the News Devo Christopher Cross (1951-) Bryan Adams (1959-)

The year 1980 saw a rush of new rock groups and singers poised for the coming MTV Revolution, incl. The Scorpions (from Germany), The Romantics (from Detroit, Mich.), Huey Lewis and The News (from San Francisco), Devo (from Ohio), Christopher Cross (Christopher Charles Geppert) (1951-) (from Houston, Tex.), and Bryan Guy Adams (1959-) (from Canada). The Scorpions' big hit is Rock You Like a Hurricane (1984). The Romantics' big hit is Talkin' in Your Sleep (1983). Huey Lewis' big hit is The Power of Love, features in the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future. Devo's big hit is Whip It (1980), with a great video to go with it. Christopher Cross' big hit is Sailing (July 1980), also Ride Like the Wind, Arthur's Theme (Best You Can Do), and Never Be the Same; all his album covers have a flamingo. Bryan Adams' album #3 Cuts Like a Knife (Jan. 18, 1983) is his breakout album, selling 4M copies worldwide, with hits incl. Cuts Like a Knife, Straight from the Heart, and This Time.

Also in the 1980s Goa Trance Music originated in Goa, India, culiminating in the English group Juno Reactor, known for their work for "The Matrix" movie franchise.

Speaking of practicing witches, the 1980s saw an explosion of Satanic Rock Bands, which causes a Christian counterreaction in accusations of Satanic Ritual Abuse. The 1980s also saw thrash metal evolve, er, devolve into Black Metal, with groups incl. Bathory, Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Mayhem, and Venom, and becomes even more extreme in the 1990s with anti-Christian crime-ridden Norwegian Black Metal, with groups incl. Burzum, Darkthrone, Emperor, Immortal, and Taake. The Swedish (Gothenburg) bands At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, In Flames, the British group Carcass, and the Swedish supergroup Arch Enemy led the devolution to Melodic Death Metal in the 1990s-2000s, pass me some throat spray.

Split Enz Crowded House

On Jan. 21, 1980 the Kiwi rock group Split Enz (formed in 1971), fronted by Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn (1952-) (dark hair) and Cornelius Mullane "Neil" Finn (1958-) releases album #5 True Colours, featuring their 1-hit wonder track I gets You. After they break up in 1984, in 1985 the Finn Brothers founds the group Crowded House in Melbourne, Australia, consisting of Neil Finn (1958-), Nicholas More "Nick" Seymour (1958-) (bass), Mark Hart (1953-) (guitar), and Paul Newell Hester (1959-2005) (drums). In June 1986 they release their debut album Crowded House (#12 in the U.S., #99 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Don't Dream It's Over (#2 in the U.S.) (used in Stephen King's TV movie "The Stand"), Something So Strong (#7 in the U.S.), World Where You Live, and Now We're Getting Somewhere; the house they rented in LA during the album's production is what? Album #3 Woodface (July 2, 1991) (#83 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) dissed the U.S., no wonder that Princess Di called them her favorite band; it features Fall At Your Feet, Weather With You, and Chocolate Cake.

J. Geils Band

On Jan. 28, 1980 after a string of minor hits causes them to change to a harmonica-heavy 80s style, the Worcester, Mass.-based blues-rock band The J. Geils Band (formed in 1967), incl. John "J." "Jay" Geils (1946-) (vocals, guitar), Peter Wolf (Peter W. Blankfield) (1946-) (vocals), Danny "Dr. Funk" Klein (bass), Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz (harmonica), Seth Justman (keyboards), and Stephen Jo Bladd (drums) releases album #11 Love Stinks (album #11) (#18 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Love Stinks (#38 in the U.S.), and Come Back (#32 in the U.S.). Album #12 Freeze Frame (Oct. 26, 1981) (#1 in the U.S.) features Freeze Frame (#4 in the U.S.), Centerfold (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) ("Does she walk? Does she talk? Does she come complete? My homeroom homeroom angel always pulled me from my seat"), and Angel in Blue (#40 in the U.S.). Album #14 (last) You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd (1984), sans Peter Wolf, with Seth Justman taking over lead vocals features Concealed Weapons (#63 in the U.S.). They break up in 1985, then reunited several times.

Def Leppard 'Pyromania' by Def Leppard, 1983

On Mar. 14, 1980 the English (Sheffield) New Wave heavy metal band Def Leppard, incl. Joseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott (1959-) (vocals), Peter Andrew "Pete" Willis (1960-) / Philip Kenneth "Phil" Collen (1957-), Rick "Sav" Savage (1960-) (bass), Stephen Maynard "Steve" Clark (1960-91) (guitar), Anthony Rueben "Tony" Kenning/ Richard John Cyril "Rick" Allen (1963-) (drums), and Vivian Patrick Campbell (1962-) (guitar) release their debut album On Through the Night (#51 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.). Album #3 Pyromania (Jan. 20, 1983) (#2 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.) ("Drive me crazier, no serenade, no fire brigade, just a pyromania") sells 10M copies, and features the tracks Photograph, Rock of Ages ("Gunther glieben glauchen globen"), and Foolin'. Album #4 Hysteria (Aug. 3, 1987) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 20M copies, and features Hysteria, Love Bites, Women, Animal, Pour Some Sugar on Me, and Rocket. Too bad, Clark dies from an OD on Jan. 8, 1991, but that didn't stop them. Album #5 Adrenalize (Mar. 31, 1992) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) is their first album whose title doesn't end with "ia"; it sold 10M copies, and features Let's Get Rocked, Make Love Like a Man, Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad, Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion), Heaven Is, and Tonight. The goes on to sell 65M albums.

Loverboy

On Mar. 28, 1980 after being turned down by Columbia Records et al., the Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based rock band Loverboy, incl. Mike Reno (vocals), Paul Dean (guitar), Scott Smith (bass), Doug Johnson (keyboards), and Matt Frenette (drums) release their debut album Loverboy (3M copies), which features Turn Me Loose, The Kid is Hot Tonight, and Lady of the 80's. Album #2 Get Lucky (#7 in the U.S.) (Oct. 7, 1981) (4M copies) features Working for the Weekend, and When It's Over. Album #3 Keep It Up (Nov. 8, 1983) (#7 in the U.S.) features Hot Girls in Love (#11 in the U.S.), and Queen of the breakn Hearts. Album #4 Lovin' Every Minute of It (Aug. 1985) features Lovin' Every Minute of It. In 1986 they release the single Heaven in Your Eyes, which is featured in the 1986 film "Top Gun".

Air Supply

In Mar. 1980 after five years of trying, the Australian soft rock band Air Supply, consisting of Russell Charles Hitchcock (1949-) and Graham Cyrill Russell (1950-) releases album #5 Lost in Love (#22 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies and makes them into internat. stars, and features the tracks Lost in Love (#3 in the U.S.), All Out of Love (#2 in the U.S.), and Every Woman in the World (#5 in the U.S.). Album #6 The One That You Love (1981) (#10 in the U.S.) features The One That You Love (#1 in the U.S.), Here I Am (Just When I Thought I is Over You) (#5 in the U.S.), and Sweet Dreams (#5 in the U.S.). Album #7 Now and Forever (1982) (#25 in the U.S.) features Even the Nights Are Better (#5 in the U.S.), Young Love (#38 in the U.S.), and Two Less Lonely People in the World (#38 in the U.S.).

On Apr. 2, 1980 an article in The Washington Post carries the line "It's time to rock and roll. The Town is ours", becoming the first use of rock and roll as a verb.

Iron Maiden

On Apr. 14, 1980 the English (Leyton, London) heavy metal band Iron Maiden, named after the Alexandre Dumas pere novel "The Man in the Iron Mask", incl. Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris (1956-) (bass), Paul Mario Day (1956-)/ Dennis Wilcock (vocals), David Michael "Dave" Murray (1956-) (guitar), and Doug Sampson (1957-) (drums), and accompanied by band mascot Edward the Head (Eddie the 'Edd) release their debut album Iron Maiden (#4 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Iron Maiden, Sanctuary, Phantom of the Opera, and Running Free. Album #3 The Number of the Beast (Mar. 29, 1983) is the first with vocalist Paul Bruce Dickinson (1958-), and is a hit, making them heavy metal superstars, complete with criticism as Satanic, and Rolling Stone printing the review "blusters along aimlessly, proving again that bad music is hell"; it features The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. They go on to sell 85M records worldwide.

The Human League

In Apr. 1980 the English (Sheffield) New Wave synthpop band The Human League, originally The Dead Daughters and The Future, incl. Philip Oakey (1955-) (vocals), Martyn "Teddy Bear" Ware (1956-), Ian Craig Marsh (1956-), Joanne Catherall (1962-), and Susan Ann Sulley (1963-) release their debut EP Holiday '80 (#56 in the U.K.), which features the track Being Boiled, and didn't go anywhere. Neither did album #2 Travelogue (The Human League Album) (May 1980), which features the track Only After Dark (by Mick Ronson). Album #3 Dare (Oct. 20, 1981) (#1 in the U.K.) score big, and features the hit tracks Don't You Want Me, Open Your Heart, The Sound of the Crowd, The Things That Dreams Are makes Of, and Love Action (I Believe in Love). After that they couldn't follow their own act until album #5 Crash (Sept. 1986), which features the #1 U.S. single Human.

Irene Cara (1959-) Laura Branigan (1952-2004) Michael Sembello (1954-) Joe Esposito (1948-) Jerry Bruckheimer (1945-)

On May 16, 1980 Alan Parker's musical film Fame debut, about a group of students at the New York High School of Performing Arts, featuring the title song Fame by Irene Cara (1959-). On Apr. 15, 1983 Adrian Lyne's R-rated Flashdance (Apr. 15) debut, written by Thomas Heldey Jr. and Joe Eszterhas, and starring Jennifer Beals as 18-y.-o. welder Alex Owens, who dances at a bar at night and romances her boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri) while trying to get into the School of Ballet (by having Marine Jahan, Sharon Shapiro, and Richard Colon do her dancing); the hit title song Flashdance (What a Feeling) is sung by Irene Cara; the film also features hit songs Maniac by Michael Sembello (1954-), Gloria by 4-octave range Laura Ann Branigan (1952-2004), and Lady, Lady, Lady by Joe Esposito (1948-) (songwriter for Donna Summer et al.); the first big hit ($93M) for Jewish-Am. producer Jerome Leon "Jerry" Bruckheimer (1945-), who follow it with "Beverly Hills Cop", "Top Gun", "The Rock", "Con Air", "Crimson Tide", "Armageddon" et al.

The English Beat

In May 1980 the interracial English (Birmingham) 2 Tone ska revival band The (English) Beat (founded 1978), incl. David "Dave" Wakeling (1956-) (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (Roger Charlery) (1961-) (vocals), Andrew "Andy" Cox (1956-) (guitar), David "Shuffle" Steele (1960-) (bass), Saxa (Lionel Augustus Martin) (1930-) (sax), and Everett Morton (1951-) (drums) releases their debut album I Just Can't Stop It, which features the tracks Mirror in the Bathroom, and Hands Off... She's Mine. Album #3 (last) Special Beat Service features I Confess, Save It for Later, and Rotating Head (March of the Swivelheads). They break up in 1983, and Andy Cox and David Steele hooked up with rolling gifted singer Roland Gift to form Fine Young Cannibals, while Everett Morton and Saxa hooked up with internat. beat singer Tony Beet to form the International Beat.

Dexys Midnight Runners

In May 1980 the English (Birmingham) band Dexys Midnight Runners, led by Kevin Rowland (1953-) and Kevin "Al" Archer of the Killjoys, and named after the popular drug Dexedrine that let them dance all night release their first #1 U.K. hit Geno. On June 28, 1982 they release their 2nd and last #1 U.K. hit Come on Eileen.

'Emotional Rescue' by the Rolling Stones, 1980 'Tattoo You' by the Rolling Stones, 1981

On June 20, 1980 the Rolling Stones declared that they still weren't past their prime by the release of album #15/#17 (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) Emotional Rescue, containing the hits Emotional Rescue and She's So Cold. On Aug. 24, 1981 album #16/#18 Tattoo You is releases, becoming the last to reach #1 in the U.S., with hits Start Me Up (later ruined by being bought by geeky Microsoft), Hang Fire, and Waiting on a Friend. Album #21 Steel Wheels (Aug. 29, 1989) contained Mixed Emotions, Rock and A Hard Place, and Almost Hear You Sigh, okay, they are starting to show their age.

Echo and the Bunnymen

On July 18, 1980 the English (Liverpool) post-punk band Echo and the Bunnymen, incl. Ian McCulloch (1959-) (vocals), Will Sergeant (1958-) (guitar), Leslie "Les" Pattinson (1958-) (bass), and Peter Louis Vincent "Pete" de Freitas (1961-89) (drums) release their debut album Crocodiles (#17 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Pictures on My Wall, and Rescue. Album #2 Heaven Up Here (May 30, 1981) (#184 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) features A Promise, and Over the Wall. Album #3 Porcupine (Feb. 4, 1983) (#137 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features The Back of Love, and The Cutter. On July 8, 1983 they release the single Never Stop (#15 in the U.K.). Album #4 Ocean Rain (May 8, 1984) (#87 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features The Killing Moon, Silver, and Seven Seas. Album #5 Echo and the Bunnymen (July 6, 1987) (#51 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), the last with Ian McCulloch and Pete de Freitas features The Game, Lips Like Sugar, and Bedbugs and Ballyhooo. Album #7 Evergreen (July 14, 1997) (#8 in the U.K.) features Nothing Lasts Forever, and Don't Let It Get You Down. Album #10 Siberia (Sept. 20, 2005) features Of A Life.

On Aug. 16, 1980 the first free Monsters of Rock Festival was held in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England, with 35K in attendance to watch Rainbow (from the U.K.), Judas Priest (from the U.K.), Scorpions (from Germany), Saxon (from the U.K.), April Wine (from Canada), Riot (from New York City), and Touch (from New York City), followed on Aug. 22, 1981 by AC/DC (from Australia), Whitesnake (from the U.K.), Blue Öyster Cult, Slade (from the U.K.), and Blackfoot (from the U.S.), followed on Aug. 21, 1982 by Status Quo (from the U.K.), Gillan (from the U.K.), Hawkwind (from the U.K.), Uriah Heep (from the U.K.), and Anvil (from Canada), followed on Aug. 20, 1983 by Dio (from the U.S.), and Diamond Head (from the U.K.); after peaking at 100K attendance in 1988, it is cancelled in 1997.

'Solid Gold', 1980-88

On Sept. 13, 1980 the syndicated U.S. TV series Solid Gold debut (until July 23, 1988), hosted by Dionne Warwick, followed by Marilyn McCoo, Andy Gibb, Rex Smith, Rick Dees, Arsenio Hall, and Nina Blackwood, featuring the Solid Gold Dancers, incl. Darcel Wynne (1951-), Tony Fields (1958-95) et al. Also on Sept. 13, 1980 outed Elton John finally came out of his shell and give a free concert to 400K in New York City's Central Park near the Dakota, where his friend John Lennon was murdered 3 mo. later.

Oingo Boingo

On Sept. 17, 1980 the LA-based New Wave band (originally a music comedy troupe) Oingo Boingo (founded 1972), originally The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, fronted by Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman (1953-) release their debut EP Oingo Boingo, which features the tracks Ain't This the Life, Only A Lad, and I'm So Bad. Their debut album Only A Lad (June 19, 1981) features Capitalism. Album #2 Nothing to Fear (June 22, 1982) features Private Life, and Wild Sex (in the Working Class). Album #3 Good for Your Soul (July 26, 1983) features Good for Your Soul. Danny Elfman's solo album debut (backed by Oingo Boingo) So-Lo (Nov. 11, 1984) features Gratitude (from the 1984 film "Beverly Hills Cop"). Album #4 Dead Man's Party (Oct. 28, 1985) features the tracks Dead Man's Party (from the 1986 film "Back to School), and Weird Science (from the 1985 film "Weird Science). Album #5 Boi-ngo (Mar. 2, 1987) features Home Again (from 1997 the film "Home Alone 3"). Album #6 Dark at the End of the Tunnel (Feb. 20, 1990) features Run Away, and Flesh 'N Blood. Album #7 (last) Boingo (May 17, 1994) features I Am the Walrus (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney). They go on to give several great Halloween concerts, while Elfman becomes a successful film-TV composer, with hits incl. Tim Burton's "Batman", and the theme for "Desperate Housewives".

Dead Kennedys

In Sept. 1980 the San Francisco hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys, incl. Jello Biafra (Eric Reed Boucher) (1958-) (vocals), East Bay Ray (Raymond John Pepperell) (1958-) (guitar), Klaus Fluoride (Geoffrey Lyall) (1949-) (bass), and 6025 (Carlos Cadona) (drums) release their first of five albums Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, featuring the tracks Holiday in Cambodia, Let's Lynch the Landlord, California Uber Alles, and Kill the Poor. The EP In God We Trust, Inc. (Dec. 1981) features Moral Majority, Religious Vomit, Nazi Punks Fuck Off, and Rawhide. Album #3 Frankenchrist (Oct. 1985) features a poster of H.R. Giger's "Penis Landscape", getting them charged with distribution of matter harmful to minors, which ended in a er, hung jury; tracks incl. A Growing Boy Needs His Lunch, Chicken Farm, Jock-O-Rama (Invasion of the Beef Patrol), and M.T.V. - Get Off the Air.

Annie Leibovitz (1949-) 'John and Yoko', by Annie Leibovitz (1949-), 1980 'Double Fantasy' by John Lennon (1940-80) and Yoko Ono (1933-), 1980 John Lennon (1940-80) and Mark David Chapman (1955-) Mark David Chapman (1955-) Albert Goldman (1927-94)

On Sept. 22, 1980 John Lennon signs with Geffen Records. On Dec. 8, 1980 (5:00 p.m.) Rolling Stone chief photographer (1973-83) Anna-Lou "Annie" Leibovitz (1949-) takes the famous photo of naked John Lennon and clothed Yoko Ono smooching on the floor, becoming the first photographer to professionally shoot Lennon, and the last when he is shot and killed five hours later; she goes on to work for Vanity Fair mag. On Dec. 8, 1980 (Mon.) (12-8-80) (10:49 p.m.) after a nude photoshoot by Annie Leibovitz of Rolling Stone mag., and a recording session for Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice", former Beatle John Winston Ono Lennon (b. 1940) is shot 4x in the back, side, and shoulder with a Charter Arms .38 Special Undercover snub-nosed revolver firing five hollow point "dum-dum" bullets, and kills outside the Dakota Apt. Bldg. in New York City's Upper West Side on W 72nd St. (6 blocks from 66th St.) (a reputed home for witches, famous as the setting for "Rosemary's Baby") by deranged eyeglasses-wearing Fort Worth, Tex.-born "Catcher in the Rye"-loving fan and Honolulu security guard Mark David Chapman (1955-), who got his autograph earlier in the day, and stayed on the scene reading his novel, then called out "Mr. Lennon" and drops to a combat stance before firing, and later tells police "I'm sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person in the book - the small part of me must be the Devil". Lennon is hit in the aorta and collapses to the floor, dropping cassettes of "Walking on Thin Ice", then struggling to the lobby shouting "I'm shot! I'm shot!", and arrives DOA at the hospital, then is pronounced dead at 11:07 p.m. ; Chapman remains on the scene, letting his smoking gun drop on top of Lennon's bloodstained eyeglasses, and not resisting arrest, telling them "I acted alone" and "Lennon had to die"; future rock star Madonna (1958-), who have just moved to the Big Apple is walking a few blocks away at the time, and joins the crowd outside the Dakota; singer Neil Diamond was also in town for the debut of his movie "The Jazz Singer"; Howard Cosell announced Lennon's death on Monday Night Football during a game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, with the soundbyte "This, we have to say it, remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City. John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all the Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival." After the usual calls for more gun control laws, Pres. Reagan said they wouldn't have prevented the shooting. On Dec. 14 fans around the world paid tribute to the brainy Beatle in a memorial service in Central Park across the street from the Dakota, where the Strawberry Fields Memorial (design by Yoko Ono) is erected, complete with the word "Imagine" (dedicated on Oct. 9, 1985). Fidel Castro commemorated a statue to this "revolutionary hero". Before he died, John arranged a dog for his 5-y.-o. son Sean Ono Lennon (1975-), which arrived on Dec. 25 and was named "Merry Christmas". One month after the murder, Yoko Ono releases "Walking on Thin Ice (for John), her first charting single, peaking at #58. Lennon is awarded a posthumous album of the year at the 1982 Grammy Awards; Chapman toyed with an insanity defense then pled guilty, and on Aug. 24, 1981 wass sentenced to 20-life, ending up in Attica Correctional Facility in Buffalo, N.Y. The hit is really ordered by the CIA? The senseless death ended the endless dreams of Beatle fans for a reunion, and seemed to cause them all to fade away. In 1988 Albert Goldman (1927-94) pub. The Lives of John Lennon, which portrays him as meagerly talented, violent, drugged-out, neurotic, dyslexic, schizophrenic, and anti-Semitic, and claims he has a gay affair with mgr. Brian Epstein along with boy hos in Thailand, pissing-off Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney, despite Ono in 1981 calling him a "closet fag" who liked her because she looked "like a bloke in drag"; also accuses him of killing a sailor in Hamburg, causing the death of Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe by kicking him in the head during a drunken rage, and killing Yoko's unborn baby in 1968 by kicking her in the belly; also claims that there is no 5-year "house-husband" phase in 1975-80; in 2015 Yoko admits that John have a desire for sex with men but never acted on it, and that Epstein "made a move" but Lennon didn't go all the way.

U2

On Oct. 20, 1980 the Irish rock group U2 release their debut album Boy (#63 in the U.S., #52 in the U.K.), about adolescence, which features their first hit single I Will Follow. Members incl. singer Bono (Paul David Hewson) (1960-) (short for Bono Vox or Good Voice), guitarist The Edge (David Howell Evans) (1961-), bassist Adam Charles Clayton (1960-), and drummer Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Mullen Jr. (1961-). Album #2 October (Oct. 12, 1983) (#104 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.), about the conflict between rock & roll and their Christian faith ("It's about God" - Bono) features Fire, and Gloria. Album #3 War (Feb. 28, 1983) (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), their first political album features Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Two Hearts Beat As One, and 40. 5-5-83, Or, Under a Blood Red Sky? On June 5, 1983 (Sun.) (eve.) U2 gives a near-religious performance at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver, Colo. to 4.4K rain-soaked fans, which is later released as U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky, which rockets them to internat. stardom; at the same time 16K lamer fans watch Neil Diamond at McNichols Arena in Denver in his Heartlight tour. Album #4 The Unforgettable Fire (Oct. 1, 1984) (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features their biggest hit Pride (In the Name of Love), along with The Unforgettable Fire, and Bad (about heroin addiction). Album #5 (their magnum opus?) The Joshua Tree (Mar. 9, 1987) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 25M copies, and features Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and With or Without You. Album #6 Rattle and Hum (Oct. 10, 1988) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Desire, Angel of Harlem, When Love Comes to Town, and All I Want Is You. Album #7 Achtung Baby (Nov. 19, 1991) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), named after a phrase utters in "The Producers" sells 18M copies, and features The Fly, Mysterious Ways, One, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. After signing a record-busting $60M 6-album deal with Island/PolyGram, album #8 Zooropa (July 6, 1993) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features Zooropa, Numb, Lemon, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), The First Time. Album #9 Pop (Mar. 3, 1997) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Discotheque, Staring at the Sun, Last Night on Earth, Please, If God Will Send His Angels, Mofo. Album #10 All That You Can't Leave Behind (Oct. 30, 2000) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sold 12M copies, and features Beautiful Day, Walk On, Elevation, and Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of. Album #11 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Nov. 22, 2004) sell 9M copies, and features Vertigo, City of Blinding Lights, Sometimes You Can't makes It On Your Own, Yahweh, and Original of the Species. Album #12 No Line on the Horizon (Feb. 27, 2009) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) (cover photo by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto) sold a measly 5M copies, and features Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, and White as Snow. They go on to release 14 studio albums, sell 150M-170M albums, and win 22 Grammy Awards, most of any band.

GG Allin (1956-93)

In 1980 Lancaster, N.H.-born punk rocker Jesus Christ (Kevin Michael) "GG" Allin (1956-93) releases his debut album Always Was, Is and Always Shall Be with The Jabbers, which is halfway decent, but he soon gets addicted to heroin et al. and forms The Murder Junkies, becoming the most degenerate shock rock performer ever known, into everything that transgresses known moral limits. Despite predicting his own onstage suicide for years, he died of an accidental OD in New York City on June 28, 1993. His best tracks incl. Bite It You Scum, You Hate Me and I Hate You, Don't Talk to Me, Clit Licker, and Guns, Bitches, Brawls and Bottles.

Gloria Estefan (1957-)

In 1980 Cuban-American singer-songwriter ("Queen of Latin Pop") Gloria Estefan (1957-) and The Miami Sound Machine release their debut album Miami Sound Machine (The Piano Album). Album #8 Eyes of Innocence (Aug. 25, 1984) is their first English album, and features the track Dr. Beat. Album #9 Primitive Love (Aug. 1, 1985) (#23 in the U.S.) (first to chart) features Words Get in the Way (#5 in the U.S.), Bad Boy (#8 in the U.S.), Conga (#10 in the U.S.), and Falling in Love (Uh-Oh) (#25 in the U.S.). Album #10 Let It Loose (Anything for You) (June 1, 1986) (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) makes her the top female Latin artist on Earth, and features Can't Stay Way from You, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, 1-2-3, and Anything for You. Album #11 Cuts Both Ways, (July 5, 1989) (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), her first solo album sells 10M copies, and features Don't Wanna Lose You (#1 in the U.S.), Get On Your Feet, Here We Are, and Oye Me Canto (Hear My Voice). Solo album #7 Destiny (May 30, 1996) sell 2.6M copies, and features Reach, which becomes the official theme of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She goes on to sell over 100M albums worldwide, incl. 31.5M in the U.S.

The Vapors

Also in 1980 the English New Wave band The Vapors, incl. David Fenton (vocals), Howard Smith (drums), Edward Bazalgette (guitar), and Steve Smith (bass) release their debut album New Clear Days, featuring their 1-hit wonder Turning Japanese (#36 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), about the face somebody makes when masturbating, think of John and Oko, "Suck what?" After that hit, they vaporized?

Wall of Voodoo

Also in 1980 LA-based rock band Wall of Voodoo (named after Phil Spector's Wall of Sound), incl. Stan Ridgeway/Andy Prieboy (vocals), Marc Moreland (guitar), Bruce Moreland (bass), Chas T. Gray (keyboards), and Joe Nanini/ Ned Leukhardt (drums) release their debut album Wall of Voodoo (The Index Masters), which features the track Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. Album #3 Call of the West (1983) features their 1-hit wonder Mexican Radio (#58 in the U.S., #58 in the U.K.). Album #4 Seven Days in Sammystown (1985) features Far Side of Crazy. Album #5 Happy Planet (1987) features Do It Again (by the Beach Boys).

Yello

Also in 1980 the Swiss electronica band Yello ("a yelled hello"), Dieter Meier (1945-), Boris Blank (1952-), and Carlos Peron (1952-) (who founds the TRANCETRONIC studio in Zurich with Blank) release their debut album Solid Pleasure, featuring the track Bimbo. Album #2 Claro Que Si (1981) features The Evening's Young. Album #3 You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess (1983) (#184 in the U.S., #65 in the U.K.), the last with Carlos Peron features I Love You (#41 in the U.K.), and Lost Again (#73 in the U.K.). Album #4 Stella (album #4) (Jan. 29, 1985) (#92 in the U.K., #1 in Switzerland) features their 1-hit U.S. wonder Oh Yeah (#51 in the U.S.), which is features in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton's favorite. Album #5 One Second (1987) features The Rhythm Divine (w/Shirley Bassey), and Call It Love. Album #6 Flag (Nov. 1, 1988) features The Race (#7 in the U.K.), and Blazing Saddles. Album #7 Baby (1991) features Jungle Bill, and Ocean Club. Album #13 Touch Yello (Oct. 2, 2009) features The Expert.

Rocky Burnette (1953-) Benny Mardones (1946-) Steve Forbert (1954-) Grover Washington Jr. (1943-99) Lipps Inc. David Rivkin (1953-)

Another 1980 1-hit wonder is Memphis, Tenn.-born Jonathan "Rocky" Burnette (1953-), son of "You're Sixteen" singer Johnny Burnette, who releases Tired of Toein' the Line (#8 in the U.S., #58 in the U.K.), tying his daddy's 1960 chart performance. Also in 1980 Cleveland, Ohio-born singer-songwriter Benny Mardones (1946-) releases his 1-hit wonder Into the Night (#11 in the U.S.), which is reborn and reaches #20 in July 1989, setting a record of 37 weeks on the Billboard-200 chart, vs. 36 weeks for Laura Branigan's "Gloria". Another 1980 1-hit wonder is Meridian, Miss.-born Samuel Stephen "Steve" Forbert (1954-), whose album #2 Jackrabbit Slim features Romeo's Tune (#11 in the U.S.), "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard". Another 1980 1-hit wonder is jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. (1943-99), who teamed with Bill Withers to release Just the Two of Us (#2 in the U.S.). Yet another is Lipps Inc. ("lip sync") of Minneapolis, Minn., incl. Cynthia Maria Johnson (1949-) (lead vocals), Melanie Rosales, Margaret Cox, David Z (Rivkin (1953-), and Steven Greenberg, who releases Funkytown (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). They also have a minor hit in 1981 with Designer Music. David Z (Rivkin) (1953-), brother of white drummer Bobby Rivkin of Prince (1958-2016) and The Revolution goes on to produce the 1989 U.S. #1 single "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals.

Roadrunner Records

In 1980 Roadrunner Records is founded in the Netherlands to import heavy metal records, opening a U.S. HQ in 1986, then going on to sign King Diamond, Annihilator, Life of Agony, Machine Head, Suffocation, Sepultura, and Type O Negative.

Children born in 1981-95 are considered to be part of the "Buckle-Up for Safety" Generation Y (Millennials) (Net Generation) (Generation 9/11) (Generation Next), coming after Generation X (1965-80), which follows the numerically-dominant Baby Boomers (1946-64); a 2006 Pew Research Center Study found Gen. Y to be more tolerant and obsessed with becoming rich quick than Gen. X, and more likely to vote Dem., not to mention being known for being coddled by their Baby Boomer parents, who pester their college profs. about low grades, show up with them for job interviews, etc. Ironically, it seems to have worked, because by the time the next generation starts to graduate, there's no jobs for them except free apprenticeships and jobs pouring lattes and other manual labor.

Spandau Ballet

1981 is the peak year for the British New Romanticism movement. On Mar. 6, 1981 the English (Islington, London) New Romantic rock band The Spandau Ballet ("Rudolf Hess, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet") (founded 1976), originally The Makers, and The Cut, incl. Tony Hadley (1960-) (vocals), Gary Kemp (guitar), Martin Kemp (bass), Steve Norman (guitar), and John Keeble (drums) release their debut album Journeys to Glory, which features To Cut a Long Story Short, Musclebound, and Toys. Album #2 Diamond (May 25, 1982) features Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) (#3 in the U.K.), and Instinction (#10 in the U.K.). Album #3 True (Mar. 1983) (#19 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features True (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Gold (#27 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), Communication (#59 in the U.S.), and Pleasure. Album #4 Parade (May 25, 1984) features Only When You Leave (#3 in the U.K.), and I'll Fly for You (#9 in the U.K.). They disbands in 1990, and reformed in Mar. 2009.

Vangelis (1943-)

In Mar. 1981 Greek electronic composer Vangelis (Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou (1943-) hit the bigtime with his score for the Oscar-winning picture Chariots of Fire, incl. his cool Chariots of Fire Theme. He did it again with the June 25, 1982 film Blade Runner, which features the cool Blade Runner Love Theme, and the super-cool Blade Runner End Theme.

Kim Carnes (1945-)

In Apr. 1981 Hollywood, Calif.-born singer-songwriter ("the female Rod Stewart") Kim Carnes (1945-) releases album #6 Mistaken Identity, which features her 1-hit wonder Bette Davis Eyes (#1 in the U.S.) (written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie De Shannon), along with Mistaken Identity, and Draw of the Cards. Actually, she have other hits, but none could follow her Bette Davis Eyes act, so we'll skip them.

Duran Duran

On June 15, 1981 the English (Birmingham) pop rock band Duran Duran, fronted by Simon John Charles Le Bon (1958-) releases its debut album Duran Duran (#10 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which features the track Girls on Film, whose leading edge video makes them stars in the U.S. Album #2 Rio (May 10, 1982) (#6 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Hungry Like the Wolf. Album #3 Seven and the Ragged Tiger (Nov. 21, 1983) features Union of the Snake. Album #11 Astronaut (Oct. 11, 2004), the first with original five members since 1983 features (Reach Up for the) Sunrise, What Happens Tomorrow, Nice. They sells 100M records.

The Thompson Twins

In June 1981 the British pop group Thompson Twins (named after bumbling dicks Thomson and Thomson in Herge's "The Adventures of Tintin"), incl. Tom Bailey (1953-) (bass, vocals), Pete Dodd (guitar, vocals), Allanah Joy Currie (1957-) (vocals), John Roog (guitar), Chris Bell (drums), Joe Leeway (congas), and Jane Shorter (sax) release their debut album A Product of... (Participation). After Jane Shorter left and Matthew Seligman (bass) joins, album #2 Set (Feb. 1982) features In the Name of Love. Album #3 Quick Step and Side Kick/Side Kicks (Feb., 1983) (#2 in the U.K.) features Lies. Album #4 Into the Gap (Mar. 6, 1984) (#10 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features their big hit Hold Me Now. Album #5 Here's to Future Days (Sept. 17, 1985) (#20 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Lay Your Hands on Me, and Roll Over. Album #6 Close to the Bone (Mar. 31, 1986) (#76 in the U.S., #90 in the U.K.), the first without Joe Leeway flopped; it features the track Get That Love (#31 in the U.S.).

In June 1981 the No Wave music genre is launched in New York City by Sonic Youth, featuring groups incl. Swans, Theoretical Girls, Big Black, and Live Skull.

R.E.M.

On July 9, 1981 Athens, Ga.-based R.E.M. (Raging Eternal Miasma?), composed of Michael Stipe (1960-) (vocals), Peter Lawrence Buck (1956-) (guitar), Michael Edward "Mike" Mills (1958-) (bass), William Thomas "Bill" Berry (1958-) (drums) releases its debut single Radio Free Europe, which features their trademark unintelligible lyrics. Their debut album Murmur (Apr. 13, 1983) features the tracks Talk About the Passion, and Perfect Circle. Album #5 Document (Sept. 1, 1987) features The One I Love (#9 in the U.S.) (lyrics are actually intelligible?), It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), and Finest Worksong. Album #6 Green (Nov. 7, 1988) features the #1 hit tracks Orange Crush, and Stand. Album #7 Out of Time (Mar. 8, 1991) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 18M copies worldwide, and features the hit single Losing My Religion (#4 in the U.S.) ("That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight losing my religion"). Album #8 Automatic for the People (Oct. 7, 1992) features the track Everybody Hurts, which allegedly was listened to by Kurt Cobain before his suicide. Album #9 Monster (Sept. 26, 1994) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features What's the Frequency, Kenneth?, Crush with Eyeliner, and Let Me In, written for Kurt Cobain, who dies during the sessions. In 1995 drummer Bill Berry suffers an aneurysm onstage, then quite in 1997, the band folds in Sept. 2011.

The Go-Go's

On July 24, 1981 the LA band The Go-Go's, incl. Belinda Jo Carlisle (1958-), Jane Wiedlin (1958-), Charlotte Irene Caffrey (1953-), Kathryn "Kathy" Valentine (1959-) (bass), and Regina Ann "Gina" Schock (1957-) (drums), becomes the first all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments and reach the top of the Billboard charts when they release their debut album Beauty and the Beat (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies, and features the hit singles We gets the Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed. Album #2 Vacation (Aug. 11, 1982) (#8 in the U.S.) features Vacation (#8 in the U.S.) (first single cassette?), Get Up and Go, He's So Strange, and Speeding (used in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"). Album #3 Talk Show (Jan. 13, 1984) (#18 in the U.S.) features Head Over Heels (#11 in the U.S.). After taking off for 17 years, album #4 God Bless the Go-Go's (May 15, 2001) (#57 in the U.S.) features Unforgiven, and Automatic Rainy Day.

Lionel Richie (1949-) 'Endless Love', starring Brooke Shields (1965-), 1981 'Endless Love', by Lionel Richie (1949-) and Diana Ross (1944-)

On July 17, 1981 Franco Zeffirelli's film Endless Love debut, based on the 1979 novel by Scott Spencer, and starring hot Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt; the Endless Love Theme by Diana Ross and Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (1949-) was a #1 hit in the U.S., and Ross' best-selling single of her career. In 1982 Richie releases his debut album Lionel Richie (#1 in the U.S.), which features hit tracks Truly (#1 in the U.S.), You Are (#4), and My Love. Album #2 Can't Slow Down (Oct. 11, 1983) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 20M copies, and features Hello (#1 in the U.S.), All Night Long (#1 in the U.S.), Penny Lover (#8 in the U.S.), Stuck on You (#3 in the U.S.), and Running with the Night (#7 in the U.S.). Album #3 Dancing on the Ceiling (July 15, 1986) (#2 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) (original title "Say You, Say Me") features Dancing on the Ceiling (#20 in the U.S.), Love Will Conquer All (#9 in the U.S., #45 in the U.K.), Ballerina Girl (#7 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.), Say You, Say Me, and Se La. He goes on to sell 100M albums.

MTV, 1981- Joan Jett (1958-)

On Aug. 1, 1981 as the Disco Era faded, MTV debut, airing music videos played not by DJs but VJs. The first music video shown is Video kills the Radio Star (1979) by the English New Wave group The Buggles. In 1981 Joan Jett (Joan Marie Larkin) (1958-) and the Blackhearts releases I Love Rock'n Roll, which goes #1 for 7 weeks, boosted by her cool B&W music video on MTV.

The Replacements

On Aug. 25, 1981 the South Minneapolis, Minn.-based alternative rock band The Replacements fronted by Paul Westerberg, incl. Bob Stinson (guitar), Tommy Stinson (bass), and Chris Mars (drums) release their debut album Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, which features the single I'm in Trouble. On June 24, 1982 they release the EP The Replacements Stink, which features Kids Don't Follow, which is breakn up by the Minn. police, causing audience member David Pirner of Soul Asylum to curse them on the track. On Apr. 29, 1983 they release album #2 Hootennany (The Replacements Album), which features Hootenanny, and Lovelines. On Oct. 2, 1984 they release album #3 Let It Be, which becomes a classic; it incl. I Will Dare, Adrogynous, and Black Diamond (by Kiss). In Oct. 1985 they release album #4 Tim (#183 in the U.S.), which features Kiss Me on the Bus, Bastards of Young, and Left of the Dial, which becomes a college radio anthem. On Jan. 18, 1986 they performs on Saturday Night Live, and were banned for life for swearing. Late in 1986 Bob Stinson is kicked out of the band. On June 17, 1987 they release album #5 Pleased to Meet Me (#131 in the U.S.), which features Can't Hardly Wait, Alex Chilton, IOU (based on the autograph "IOU nothing" by Iggy Pop), The Ledge (banned by MTV), and Skyway. In Feb. 1989 they release album #6 Don't Tell a Soul, first with guitarist Bob "Slim" Dunlap, which features I'll Be You, and Achin' to Be. On Sept. 25, 1990 they release album #7 (last) All Shook Down, which features Merry Go Round, Someone Take the Wheel, When It Began, and Happy Town. They disbands in 1991, then reunited in 2012.

Kix

In Sept. 1981 the Hagerstown, Md.-based hard rock glam metal band Kix (originally Shooze, then The Generators), incl. Steve Whiteman (vocals), Ronnie "10/10" Younkins (guitar), Brian "Damage" Forsythe (guitar), Donnie Purnell (bass), and Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (drums) release their debut album Kix, which features Love at First Sight, Kix Are for Kids, and Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Album #2 Cool Kids (Mar. 7, 1983) (#177 in the U.S.) features Body Talk. Album #3 Midnight Dynamite (Oct. 7, 1985) features Midnight Dynamite, and Layin' Rubber. Album #4 Blow My Fuse (Sept. 19, 1988) (#46 in the U.S.) (500K copies) (their breakthrough album) features Blow My Fuse, Don't Close Your Eyes (#11 in the U.S.), She drops Me the Bomb, Cold Blood, and Get It While It's Hot. Album #5 Hot Wire (July 9, 1991) (#64 in the U.S.) (200K copies) features Hot Wire, Girl Money, Tear Down the Walls, and Same Jane. Album #6 (last) Show Business (1995) flops due to the grunge rage.

Eurythmics

On Oct. 16, 1981 the British pop rock duo Eurythmics, fronted by Scottish manly woman Ann "Annie" Lennox (1954-) ("Greatest White Soul Singer Alive") and backed by her English ex-lover David Allan "Dave" Stewart (1952-) release their debut album In the Garden, containing the tracks Belinda, and Never Gonna Cry Again. Album #2 Sweet Dreams (Are makes of This) (Jan. 21, 1982) features the track Sweet Dreams (Are makes of This), in which she cut her hair short and dyed it orange, wore a suit and gloves, and cracked a whip; "Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get uses by you, some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused." Album #3 Touch (Nov. 26, 1983) (#1 in the U.K.) features thr tracks Who's That Girl?, Right By Your Side, and Here Comes the Rain Again. After releasing album #8 We Too Are One, they cracked their last whip and split in 1990.

Quarterflash

On Oct. 21, 1981 the Portland, Ore. rock band Quarterflash, composed of Rindy Ross (vocals), Marv Ross (guitar), Jack Charles (guitar), Rick DiGiallonardo (keyboards), Rich Gooch (drums), and Brian David Willis (drums) release their debut album Quarterflash (#8 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies, and features the hit tracks Harden My Heart (#3 in the U.S.), and Find Another Fool (#16 in the U.S.). Album #2 Take Another Picture (1983) (#34 in the U.S.) features Take Me to Heart (#14 in the U.S.). After album #3 (1985) bombed, they disbands.

Billy Idol (1955-)

On Oct. 24, 1981 ultra-cool English punk rocker Billy Idol (William Michael Albert Broad) (1955-) releases his debut album (EP) Don't Stop, featuring the hit tracks Mony Mony (#1 in the U.K.), and Dancing with Myself. His full-length solo debut album Billy Idol (July 1982) (#45 in the U.S.) features White Wedding, and Hot in the City (#13 in the U.K.). Album #2 Rebel Yell (Nov. 10, 1983) (#6 in the U.S.) features Rebel Yell, Eyes Without a Face, and Flesh for Fantasy. Album #3 Whiplash Smile (Sept. 1986) features To Be a Lover (#6 in the U.S.). Album #4 Charmed Life (May 1990) features Cradle of Love. His next album Cyberpunk (June 29, 1993) is a concept album that is the first to use the Internet, email, virtual communities, and multimedia software, after which he drops off the rock radar.

Bow Wow Wow 'Duck Rock', by Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010)

Also in Oct. 1981 the English New Wave band Bow Wow Wow, created by Malcolm McLaren, known for its African drum sound, and fronted by Anglo-Burmese singer Annabella Lwin (Myint Myint Aye) ("high high cool") (1966-) releases album #2 See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape Crazy (#192 in the U.S.). In May 1982 they release the EP The Last of the Mohicans, which features their 1-hit wonder (cover of the 1965 Strangeloves 1-hit wonder) I Want Candy (#67 in the U.S.). The dreadful-commercial-by-talentless-teen-idol-era begins already? They also releases the raunchy Sexy Eiffel Tower, about female masturbation. Speaking of English impresario Malcolm McLaren, in 1983 he releases the album Duck Rock, which features the tracks Buffalo Gals, and Double Dutch, introducing hip hop to the U.K.

Depeche Mode

On Nov. 7, 1981 the English (Essex) electronic group Depeche Mode, incl. Dave Gahan (1962-) (vocals), Martin Lee Gore (1961-) (guitar), Andrew John "Fletch" Fletcher (1961-) (keyboards), and Vince Clarke (Vincent John Martin) (1960-)/ Alan Charles Wilder (1959-) (keyboards) release their debut album Speak & Spell (#10 in the U.K.), which features the tracks New Life, Dreaming of Me, and Just Can't Get Enough. Album #7 Violator (Mar. 19, 1990) (#7 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Personal Jesus (#28 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), Enjoy the Silence (#8 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Policy of Truth, and World in My Eyes. On Mar. 20, 1990 rock band Depeche Mode held a record-signing session at the Wherehouse record store in Los Angeles, Calif., drawing 10K fans and sparking a near-riot before the police shut it down. They go on to sell 100M records worldwide.

Men at Work

On Nov. 9, 1981 the Australian rock band Men at Work, incl. Colin James Hay (1953-) (vocals), Ron Strykert (1957-) (vocals), Gregory Norman "Greg" Ham (1953-2012) (keyboards, sax), and Jerry Speiser (1953-) (drums) release their debut album Business as Usual (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 15M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Who Can It Be Now?, (Land) Down Under (successfully sues in 2010 for violating the 1934 copyright of Marion Sinclair (1895-1988) for "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree"), and Be Good Johnny. They only releases three albums, the last in Apr. 1985, selling a total of 30M albums.

Mötley Crüe 'Too Fast for Love', by Mötley Crüe, 1981

In Nov. 1981 the LA heavy metal glam band Motley Crue (Mötley Crüe), incl. Vince Neil (Vincent Neil Wharton) (1961-) (vocals), Nikki Sixx (Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr.) (1958-) (guitar), Mick Mars (Robert Alan Deal) (1951-) (guitar), and Tommy Lee (Thomas Lee Bass) (1962-) (drums) release their debut album Too Fast for Love (#77 in the U.S.), which features a leather version of the Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" album cover, and features the track Live Wire. Album #2 Shout At the Devil (Sept. 26, 1983) (#17 in the U.S.) features Shout At the Devil, Looks That Kill, and Too Young to Fall in Love. Album #3 Theatre of Pain (album #3) (June 21) (#6 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.) is the first after Hanoi Rocks member Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley is kills in a car crash, resulting in the arrest of singer Vince Neil for drunk driving and manslaughter, and features the tracks Smokin' in the Boys Room, and Home Sweet Home. Album #4 Girls, Girls, Girls (May 15, 1987) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 4M copies, and features Girls, Girls, Girls (#12 in the U.S.), Wild Side, and You're All I Need (#83 in the U.S.). Album #5 Dr. Feelgood (Sept. 1, 1989) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 6M copies, and features Dr. Feelgood (#6 in the U.S.), Without You (#8 in the U.S.), Kickstart My Heart (#27 in the U.S.), Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) (#19 in the U.S.), and Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) (#78 in the U.S.). They go on to sell 80M albums worldwide, incl. 25M in the U.S.

Soft Cell

In Dec. 1981 the English New Wave synthpop duo Soft Cell, consisting of openly gay vocalist Marc (Peter Mark Sinclair) Almond (1957-), and instrumentalist David James Ball (1959-) release their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, containing their hit singles Tainted Love (by Gloria Jones), and Where Did Our Love Go. In 1983 they release the hit single Torch, then break up in 1984.

Tommy Boy Records

In 1981 Tommy Boy Records (Entertainment) is founded by Dance Music Report publisher Tom Silverman on a $5K loan from his parents, going on to sign House of Pain, Information Society, De La Soul, RuPaul Andre Charles (1960-), The Medicine Men, Sneaker Pimps, Naughty by Nature, Queen Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens) (1970-) et al. In 1990 it is purchased by Warner Brothers Records.

Greg Kihn Band

In 1981 the Greg Kihn Band, fronted by Greg Kihn (1949-) releases album #4 Rockihnroll, featuring The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) (#15 in the U.S.), Sheila, and The Girl Most Likely. Album #6 Kihnspiracy features (Our Love's in) Jeopardy (#2 in the U.S.), Fascination, and I Fall to Pieces.

Level 42

In 1981 the English (Isle of Wight) pop-rock jazz-funk band Level 42, incl. Mark King (1958-) (vocals, bass), Michael "Mike" Lindup (1959-) (vocals), Rowland Charles "Boon" Gould (1955-) (guitar), and Philip Gabriel "Phil" Gould (1957-) (drums) release their debut album Level 42, which features the tracks Love Games, Turn It On, and Starchild. Album #2 Strategy (1982) features Love Meeting Love, and (Flying on the) Wings of Love. Album #3 The Pursuit of Accidents (1982) features The Chinese Way. Album #4 Standing in the Light (1983) (#9 in the U.K.) features The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up), and Micro-kid. Album #5 True Colours (Oct., 1984) features Hot Water (#18 in the U.K.), and The Chant Has Begun (#41 in the U.K.). Album #6 World Machine (album #6) (Sept. 1985) (#3 in the U.K.) features World Machine, Something About You (#7 in the U.S.), Leaving Me Now, and Physical Presence. Album #7 Running in the Family (Mar. 1987), last with Phil and Rowland Gould features Lessons in Love (#3 in the U.K.), Running in the Family (#6 in the U.K.), To Be With You Again (#10 in the U.K.), It's Over (#10 in the U.K.), and Children Say (#22 in the U.K.). Album #8 Staring at the Sun (Sept. 1988) features Heaven in My Hands (#12 in the U.K.). Album #9 Guaranteed (1991) features Guaranteed (#17 in the U.K.). Album #10 Forever Now (Mar. 14, 1994), last with Mark King and Mike Lindup features Forever Now, All Over You, and Love in a Peaceful World.

Stray Cats

Also in 1981 the Massapequa, Long Island, N.Y.-based rockabilly band Stray Cats, fronted by blonde Paul McCartney lookalike Brian Setzer (1959-) (vocals), along with Lee Rocker (1961-) (bass), and Slim Jim Phantom (James McDonnell) (1961-) (drums) release their debut album Stray Cats (#6 in the U.K.), which features the hits Stray Cat Strut (#11 in the U.K.), Rock This Town (#9 in the U.K.), and Runaway Boys (#9 in the U.K.). Album #3 Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats (1983) features (She's) Sexy and 17 (#5 in the U.S.), and I Won't Stand in Your Way.

Tommy Tutone Taco Ockerse (1955-)

In 1981 the Willits, Calif.-based New Wave band Tommy Tutone, fronted by Tommy Heath releases album #2 Tommy Tutone 2, featuring their 1-hit wonder 867-5309/Jenny. Also in 1981 Indonesian-born Dutch singer Taco (Ockerse) (1955-) releases his 1-hit wonder Puttin' On the Ritz, which reaches #3 in the U.S. and sells 1M copies.

The Waitresses

On Jan. 11, 1982 the Akron, Ohio-based new wave band The Waitresses, fronted by naughty Patricia J. "Patty" Donahue (1956-96), and led by guitarist-songwriter Chris Butler (1949-) release their debut album Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? (#41 in the U.S.), which features their 1-hit wonder I Know What Boys Like (#23 in the U.S.).

Aldo Nova (1956-)

In Jan. 1982 Montreal, Canada-born musician Aldo Nova (Caporuscio) (1956-) releases his debut album Aldo Nova (#8 in the U.S.), which features Fantasy (#23 in the U.S.), and Foolin' Yourself. Album #2 Subject... Aldo Nova (Oct. 1983) features Monkey On Your Back, and Always Be Mine. Album #3 Twitch (1985) features Rumours of You, and Tonight (Lift Me Up). He goes on to co-write the hit songs "A New Day Has Come" for Celine Dion, and "This is the Night" for Clay Aiken.

Toni Basil (1943-) Buckner and Garcia

On Feb. 5, 1982 Philadelphia, Penn.-born singer Toni Basil (Antonia Christina Basilotta) (1943-) releases her 1-hit wonder Mickey (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), original title "Kitty", written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, first released by the U.K. group Racey in 1979. Also in 1982 Buckner and Garcia, Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia, from Akron Ohio release their 1-hit wonder Pac-Man Fever (#9 in the U.S.).

Men Without Hats

On Mar. 20, 1982 the Canadian (Montreal) synth-pop group Men Without Hats, fronted by Ukrainian-descent singer Ivan Doroschuk (1961-) release their debut album Rhythm of Youth, which features their 1-hit wonder The Safety Dance (#3 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), and Living in China. Album #3 Pop Goes the World (June 29, 1987) features their other mini-hit Pop Goes the World (#20 in the U.S.).

Asia

In Mar. 1982 the English rock supergroup Asia, incl. John Kenneth Wetton (1949) of King Crimson (vocals), Stephen James "Steve" Howe (1957-) of Yes (guitar), Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes (1952-) (The Buggles, Yes) (keyboards), and Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer (1950-) of Emerson, Lake and Palmer (drums) release their debut album Asia (#1 in the U.S.) (best-selling U.S. album in 1982), featuring the tracks Heat of the Moment (#4 in the U.S.), Only Time Will Tell, and Sole Survivor. Album #2 Alpha (July 26, 1983), their last with all four original members features Don't Cry (#10 in the U.S.), and The Heat Goes On.

A Flock of Seagulls

In Apr. 1982 the English (Liverpool) rock band A Flock of Seagulls, incl. Michael "Mike" Score (1957-) (vocals, keyboards), Paul Reynolds (1962-) (guitar) (known for wearing large white eyeglasses), Alister James "Ali" Score (drums), and Frank Maudsley (bass) release their debut album A Flock of Seagulls (#10 in the U.S.), which features the hit tracks I Ran (So Far Away), and Space Age Love Song. Album #2 Listen (May 1983) features Wishing (If I have a Photograph of You). Album #3 The Story of a Young Heart (Aug. 1984) features The More You Live, the More You Love.

Modern English

On May 5, 1982 the English (Colchester, Essex) band Modern English, originally the Lepers, incl. Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar), and Michael Conroy (bass) releases album #2 After the Snow (#5 in the U.K.), which features their 1-hit wonder I Melt With You (#78 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.).

Survivor 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor, 1982

On June 8, 1982 the Chicago rock band Survivor, fronted by beret-wearing singer Dave Bickler (1953-), along with Frankie M. Sullivan III (1955-) guitar), Jim Peterik (1950-) (keyboards), Stephan Ellis (bass), and Marc Droubay (drums) releases album #3 Eye of the Tiger, featuring the hit track Eye of the Tiger, theme song of the film Rocky III (May 28, 1982). Album #5 Vital Signs (Sept. 1984) (#16 in the U.S.), first with vocalist Jimmy Wayne "Jimi" Jamison (1951-2014) features I Can't Hold Back, High on You, The Search is Over (The Zoo), and Moment of Truth. Album #6 When Seconds Count (1986) (#49 in the U.S.) features Is This Love (#9 in the U.S.).

Talk Talk

In July 1982 the English (London) rock band Talk Talk, a clone of New Wave group Duran Duran complete with repetitive name, producer Colin Thurston, and EMI label, composed of Mark Hollis (1955-) (vocals), Lee David Harris (1962-) (drums), Paul Douglas Webb (1962-) (bass), Tim Friese-Greene, and Simon Brenner (keyboards) release their debut album The Party's Over (#21 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Talk Talk, and Today. Album #2 It's My Life (Feb. 1984) (#42 in the U.S., #35 in the U.K.) features It's My Life, and Such a Shame. Album #3 The Colour of Spring (Mar. 1986) (#58 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Life's What You makes It. Album #4 Spirit of Eden (Sept. 16, 1988) flopped, although it is a hit with critics for its pioneering of the post-rock sound; it features Eden. Album #5 (last) Laughing Stock (Nov. 19, 1991) is released on Verve Records sans Paul Webb, and is another flop that is a hit with critics; it features After the Flood, and Myrrhman.

Twisted Sister

On Sept. 18, 1982 the Long Island, N.Y. heavy metal glam band Twisted Sister (formed in Dec. 1972), from Long Island, N.Y., incl. Daniel "Dee" Snider (1955-), Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda (1955-), and Jay Jay French (John French Segall) (1952-) release their debut album Under the Blade (#125 in the U.S., #70 in the U.K.), which sells 2M copies, and features the track Under the Blade. Album #3 Stay Hungry (May 10, 1984) (#15 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features We're Not Gonna Take It, I Wanna Rock, The Price, and Burn in Hell. Album #5 (last) Love Is for Suckers (Aug. 13, 1987) (#74 in the U.S., #57 in the U.K.) features Hot Love, after which they break up, reuniting occasionally starting in 1997.

Janet Jackson (1966-)

On Sept. 21, 1982 Michael Jackson's younger sister Janet Damita Jo Jackson (1966-) releases her debut album Janet Jackson, which features the track Young Love. Album #3 Control (Feb. 6, 1986) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 14M copies, and features Control, Nasty, What Have You Done for Me Lately, When I Think of You, and Let's Wait Awhile. Album #4 Rhythm Nation 1814 (Sept. 19, 1989) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 14M copies, becoming the #1 album in the U.S. for 1990, generating a record seven top-5 hits, incl. 4 #1s, 2 #2s, and 1 #4; "We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together by our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color lines"; Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1814, R is the 18th letter, N is the 14th letter, and guess what day the album is released; oh yes, in 1814 women are granted education beyond the 8th grade; it features Rhythm Nation, State of the World, Miss You Much, Love Will Never Do (Without You), Alright, Escapade, Black Cat, and Come Back to Me. Album #5 Janet. (Janet, period.) (May 18, 1993) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), an attempt to break away from the Jackson name also break away from her Jehovah's Witness upbringing by posing nude on the cover, ending speculation that she's really just Michael with a wig, with lyrics talking about safe sex; it sell 20M copies worldwide, and features That's the Way Love Goes, If, Again, Because of Love, Any Time, Any Place, Throb, You Want This, Whoops Now, and What I'll Do. Album #6 The Velvet Rope (Oct. 7, 1997) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 10M copies; the lyrics go into domestic violence, sadomasochism, gay sex, and despondency; she sign with Virgin Records for a record $80M, eclipsing her brother Michael Jackson and Madonna, who only gets $60M, causing her to become known as the Queen of Pop; tracks incl. I Get Lonely (#3 in the U.S), Together Again (#1 in the U.S.), Got 'till It's Gone (#36 in the U.S.), and Go Deep (#28 in the U.S.). Album #7 All for You (Apr. 24, 2001) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 9M copies (3M in the U.S.), and features Doesn't Really Matter, All for You, Someone to Call My Lover, Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (w/Missy Elliott), Come On Get Up, and Would You Mind (eliminated from a clean version of the album). Album #9 20 Y.O. (Sept. 20, 2006) (#2 in the U.S., #63 in the U.K.) features Call On Me (w/Nelly), So Excited, and Enjoy. She goes on to sell 100M records, becoming one of the richest people in show biz.

Boy George (1961-) and Culture Club

In Sept. 1982 very gay androgynous English singer-songwriter Boy George (George Alan O'Dowd) (1961-) (AKA Lt. Lush) and his New Wave band Culture Club release their debut album Kissing to Be Clever, which features the tracks Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), I'll Tumble 4 Ya (#1), and Time (Clock of the Heart), becoming the first band since the Beatles to have three top-10 hits in the U.S. from a debut album. Album #2 Colour by Numbers (Oct. 1983) sells 10M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Karma Chameleon, Church of the Poison Mind, It's a Miracle, and Miss Me Blind. Too bad, in summer 1986 he verified rumors that he is a heroin addict, and in July he is arrested in Britain for marijuana possession, after which keyboardist Michael Rudetsky is found dead in George's home of a heroin OD, after which the band break up and George tried a solo career, which fizzled.

'Thriller' by Michael Jackson (1958-2009), 1982 'Bad' by Michael Jackson, 1987

On Nov. 20, 1982 Michael Jackson releases album #6 Thriller, which becomes the best-selling album of all time, with 65M-110M copies sold, winning eight Grammys, making him into a superstar and breaking "the apartheid of pop" that have kept black music out of the mainstream; many young blacks and whites gets a new hero who shows that staying a kid through adulthood is cool?; "His high-flying tenor makes him sound like the lead in some funked-up boys choir" (Time mag.). The cover features him with a black shirt, white jacket, and white pants with black belt. It features the tracks Thriller (the 13 min. video, based on "An American Werewolf in London" cost a record $600K and contained a warning that Jackson's Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs don't allow endorsement of a belief in the occult), The Girl Is Mine (w/Paul McCartney), Beat It (inspired by "West Side Story"), and Billie Jean. On Mar. 25, 1983 he performs live in the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV special, debuting his signature dance move, the Moonwalk, a retropulsion dance step originated by bandleader Cab Calloway, dancer Bill Bailey et al.; it is watched by 47M viewers, confirming him as a superstar in the same league with Elvis and the Beatles; his trademark single gloved hand projects an image as the ultimate bridge between white and black. Since the title of King of Rock and Roll is taken by Elvis, he accepted King of Pop. Beginning in the thrilling year 1982 his skin color begins growing whiter, causing talk of bleaching his skin; meanwhile his facial structure begins morphing from plastic surgery, especially his nose, lips, and cheekbones - all to makes him look like a black man who has transformed into a white man? Coincidentally or not, on Jan. 27, 1984 his face and scalp sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns after a poorly-timed explosion on the sets of a Pepsi commercial sets his hair on fire; on July 6-Dec. 9 the 23-city Victory Tour angered fans with the stiff $30 ticket price; in Oct. Forbes mag. estimated Michael Jackson's wealth at $70M; the accident causes him to get into painkillers and alienated him from his brothers because he didn't drink Pepsi and didn't want to endorse it. In 1984 he outbid ($47.5M) English entertainer Paul McCartney for the 4K-song music catalog of Associated Television Corp. (ATV), incl. most of the Beatles songs, causing their friendship to cool; in 1995 Sony Corp. paid Jackson $95M to merge ATV with Sony to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In 1986 the tabloids begins claiming that Michael slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stay young and effeminate looking and sounding, which he denied; later he is claimed to be trying to buy the bones of Elephant Man Joseph Merrick, which he also denied, causing him to become known as Wacko Jacko, and causing him to release the 1989 music video Leave Me Alone. Album #7 Bad (Aug. 31, 1987) sell 30M copies (8M in the U.S.), becoming the first album with five #1 Billboard singles, incl. Bad, Dirty Diana, I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Man in the Mirror, and The Way You makes Me Feel, along with Smooth Criminal (about Annie, who is attacked in her apt. by a smooth assailant). Never mind his Jehovah's Witness parents and upbringing, in 1987 the Jehovah's Witnesses confirm that he is no longer a member (i.e., he is disfellowshipped) after his "Thriller" video came out filled with occult messages, which wasn't a bad idea after his fondness for boys and other weird personal behavior begins to surface. In Apr. 1988 he pub. his autobiography Moonwalk, in which he admits to having two nose jobs and a chin cleft but denies whitening his complexion or having his cheeks or eyes altered; on Apr. 21, 1988 New York City plastic surgeon Howard Bellin claimes in the Sunday New York Times that he had at least 10 surgical procedures. On Feb. 10, 1993 Michael appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show, claiming the skin color change is due to the disease vitiligo, and claiming "very little, very little" plastic surgery, "I mean you can count on my two fingers." On June 27-July 2, 1990 the Painted Cave Fire in the Santa Ynez Mts. of Calif. explode across Santa Barbara County, fed by heat, drought, and arson, destroying 427 bldgs. (most in Calif. history until ?)) from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and killin 1; Calif. Gov. George Deukmejian offers $50K rewards for arsonists, later identifying Leonard Ross as the perp; the fires cause Michael Jackson's 2.7K-acre Neverland Valley Ranch N of Santa Barbara, Calif. to be mentioned in the press for the first time; it even has a Ferris wheel.

'Midnight Madness' by Night Ranger, 1983

In Nov. 1982 the San Francisco, Calif.-based rock band Night Ranger, incl. Jack Blades (1954-) (vocals, bass), Brad Gillis (1957-) (guitar), and Kelly Keagy (1952-) (drums, vocals) release their debut album Dawn Patrol which features the track Don't Tell Me You Love Me. Album #2 Midnight Madness (Oct. 1983) sells 1M copies in the U.S., and features Sister Christian (#5 in the U.S.), (You Can Still) Rock in America, When You Close Your Eyes, and Rumors in the Air (used in the film "Sixteen Candles"). Album #3 Seven Wishes (May 1985) features Four in the Morning (I Can't Take Anymore), Sentimental Street, and This Boy Needs to Rock. Album #4 Big Life (Mar. 1987) features The Secret of My Success from the 1987 Michael J. Fox film (#64 in the U.S.). Album #5 Man in Motion (Sept. 1988) features Man in Motion. They then becomes another casualty of Grunge after selling 10M copies worldwide. Album #9 Hole in the Sun (Apr. 23, 2007), their first album since 1998 features Tell Your Vision, and There Is Life.

Berlin

Also in 1982 the LA-based New Wave/Synthpop band Berlin, incl. Terri Kathleen Nunn (vocals), David Diamond (keyboards), Ric Olsen (guitar), Matt Reid (keyboards), John Crawford (bass), and Rod Learned (drums) releases album #2 Pleasure Victim (#30 in the U.S.), which features Sex (I'm A...), The Metro, and Masquerade. Album #3 Love Life (Mar. 12, 1984) (#28 in the U.S.) features No More Words (#23 in the U.S.). Album #4 Count Three & Pray (Oct. 13, 1984) (#61 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.) features Take My Breath Away, used in the 1986 film Top Gun.

Thomas Dolby (1958-)

In 1982 London, England-born singer Thomas Dolby (Thomas Morgan Robertson) (1958-) releases his 1-hit wonder She Blinded Me With Science (#5 in the U.S., #49 in the U.K.).

Romeo Void

Also in 1982 San Francisco, Calif. New Wave band Romeo Void, fronted by Debora Kay Iyall (1954-) releases the single Never Say Never, which becomes an American New Wave anthem, and is features in the 1984 film Reckless, where Aidan Quinn does the strangest dance ever seen to it to turn on frigid Daryl Hannah. In 1984 they release the single A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing).

Rick Rubin (1963-) Def Jam Records Megaforce Records Metal Blade Records

In 1982 Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin (1963-) founds Def Jam Records (Recordings) in his dorm room at NYU, releasing a 45 rpm by the art punk band Hose, and going on to popularize hip hop, introducing LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., and the Beastie Boys. Meanwhile in 1982 Megaforce Records is founded by Jon and Marsha Zazula to distribute the works of Metallica, going on to sign The Black Crowes, Anthrax, Testament, Metallica, Overkill, Ministry, and Mushroomhead. Also in 1982 Metal Blade Records is founded in Agoura Hills, Calif. by Brian Slagel (1961-) to distribute heavy metal music, giving Metallica their big break with an appearance on their 1982 compilation album "Metal Massacre", then going on to sign The Goo Goo Dolls, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Trouble, As I Lay Dying, Behemoth, Fates Warning, Sacred Reich, The Black Dahlia Murder et al.

Philip Norman (1943-)

In 1982 British writer Philip Norman (1943-) pub. Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation, the first major Beatles post-breakup bio., which the NYT calls "The definitive biography"; "Only in ancient times, when boy emperors and pharaohs were clothed, even fed with pure gold, had very young men commanded an equivalent adoration, fascination and constant, expectant scrutiny." In 2016 he pub. a bio. of Paul McCartney.

Husker Du (Hüsker Dü)

In Jan. 1983 the St. Paul, Minn.-based alternative/punk rock band Husker Du (Hüsker Dü) (Danish for "Do you remember?"), formed in 1979, incl. Robert Arthur "Bob" Mould (1960-) (guitar), Gregory James "Greg" Norton (1959-) (bass), and Grantzberg Vernon "Grant" Hart (1961-) (drums) release their debut album Everything Falls Apart, which features the track Everything Falls Apart. Their first EP Metal Circus (Oct. 1983) features Diane. Double album #2 Zen Arcade (July 1984) features Hare Krsna, Whatever. Album #3 New Day Rising (Jan. 1985) features New Day Rising, and Celebrated Summer. Album #4 Flip Your Wig (Sept. 1985) features Makes No Sense At All, and Keep Hanging On. Album #5 Candy Apple Grey (Mar. 1986), first with Warner Bros. features Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely, and Sorry Somehow. Double album #6 (last) Warehouse: Songs and Stories (Jan. 5, 1987) features Ice Cold Ice, Could You Be the One?, and She's A Woman (And Now He Is A Man).

Tears for Fears

On Mar. 7, 1983 the English New Wave duo Tears for Fears, consisting of childhood friends Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana (1961-) and Curt Smith (1961-) (known for slow, meticulous production - the garage band days are way over) release their debut album The Hurting (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Mad World, Change, and Pale Shelter. Album #2 Songs from the Big Chair (Feb. 25, 1985) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) (named after the 1976 TV movie "Sybil") features Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout, Mothers Talk, and Head Over Heels. Album #3 The Seeds of Love (Sept. 25, 1989) (#8 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Sowing the Seeds of Love. They split in 1991 after selling 22M albums worldwide.

ZZ Top

On Mar. 23, 1983 after their 1971 debut album ZZ Top's First Album didn't go anywhere, nor did the next six, Houston, Texas blues-boogie rock band ZZ Top, fronted by "Rev." Billy F. Gibbons (1949-), (his 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar is named Miss Pearly Gates, and he uses a Mexican peso as a guitar pick) and bassist Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill (1949-) (both of whom grew chest-length beards after taking a 2-year break in 1977, then returned wearing cheap sunglasses, black suits, and white baseball caps, playing hollow-bodied Gibsons), along with drummer er, Frank Lee Beard (1949-), releases album #8 Eliminator, which sold 10M copies, and features the hit tracks Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, Gimme All Your Lovin, and Got Me Under Pressure. Album #10 Recycler (Mar. 23, 1990) features Doubleback (which they play in the 1990 film "Back to the Future Part III"), Concrete and Steel, and My Head's in Mississippi.

Bananarama

In Mar. 1983 the English (London) pop trio Bananarama, Siobhan Fahey (1958-), Keren Woodward (1961-), and Sara Dallin (1961-) release their debut album Deep Sea Skiving (#7 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Shy Boy, and Really Saying Something. Album #2 Bananarama (Apr. 1984) (#30 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) features Cruel Summer (first U.S. top-10 hit), and Robert De Niro's Waiting (#3 in the U.K.). Album #3 True Confessions (July 1986) features Venus (#1 in the U.S.). Album #4 Wow! (Sept. 1987) (#44 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.) (last to chart in the U.S.) features I Heard a Rumour, and Love in the First Degree.

John Cougar Mellencamp (1951-)

On Apr. 12, 1983 American heartland rock singer John Cougar Mellencamp (1951-) releases album #6 American Fool, his last album releases under the name John Cougar; he later drops the Cougar completely; it features the tracks Hurts So Good, Jack and Diane, Hand to Hold On To, and Thundering Hearts. Album #7 Uh-Huh (1983) features Tumblin' Down, and Pink Houses. Album #8 Scarecrow (Aug. 1985) (#2 in the U.S.) features Small Town (#6 in the U.S.), R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (#2 in the U.S.), and Lonely Ol' Night (#1 in the U.S.). He goes on to sell 40M albums worldwide.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On Apr. 20, 1983 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is created; it took until 1995 for enough donations to come in to open it officially at 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd. in Cleveland, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie (home of Alan Freed), designed by architect I.M. Pei. On Jan. 23, 1986 it inducts its first group of inductees incl. Chuck Berry (1926-2017), James Brown (1933-2006), Ray Charles (1930-2004), Sam Cooke (1931-64), Fats Domino (1928-2017), the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly (1936-59), Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-), Little Richard (1932-), and Elvis Presley (1935-77). On Jan. 3, 1987 "Queen of Soul" Aretha Louise Franklin (1942-2018) becomes the first woman inducted. The basic requirement is 25 years lapsed since the release of the first record. Too bad, it ends up snubbing Red State favorites incl. Bon Jovi, Steve Miller Band, Kansas, Styx, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Ted Nugent.

Violent Femmes

In Apr. 1983 the alternative rock band Violent Femmes, from Milwaukee, Wisc., incl. Gordon Gano (1963-) (vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (1960-) (bass), Victor DeLorenzo (1954-) (drums), and Guy Hoffman (1954-) (drums) release their debut album Violent Femmes, which features the tracks Blister in the Sun (#76 in the U.S.), (used in the 1997 film Grosse Pointe Blank), Add It Up, Kiss Off, Gone Daddy Gone, and Please Do Not Go. Album #2 Hallowed Ground (June 1984) features Country Death Song, about a man in 1862 who threw his daughter into a well then hanged himself in his barn. Album #6 The Blind Leading the Naked (1986) features Children of the Revolution. In 1987 Gano and Ritchie goes solo, but they regrouped to release album #4, er, #3, er, #4 3 (1989), which features Fat. They go on to sell 9M albums.

Dio

On May 25, 1983 the Portsmouth, N.H.-based heavy metal band Dio, fronted by former Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona) (1942-2010) (who popularizes the cornuto (Devil's horns) hand gesture) and drummer Vincent "Vincent" Appice (1957-) release their debut album Holy Diver (#56 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), whose cover depicted the band's demon mascot Murray killing a priest; it features the tracks Holy Diver (#40 in the U.S.), and Rainbow in the Dark. They go on to release 10 studio albums before Dio dies of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010.

Billy Bragg (1957-)

In May 1983 English 1-man band alternative rocker and left-wing activist (English Woody Guthrie?) Stephen William "Billy" Bragg (1957-) releases his debut album Life's A Riot with Spy Vs. Spy (#30 in the U.K.), which features the tracks To Have and To Have Not, The Milkman of Human Kindness, and A New England. Album #2 Brewing Up with Billy Bragg: A Puckish Satire on Contemporary Mores (Nov. 1984) (#16 in the U.K.) features It Says Here, Love Gets Dangerous, The Myth of Trust, and From a Vauxhall Velox. Album #3 Talking with the Taxman about Poetry (Sept. 1986) features Levi Stubbs' Tears (#29 in the U.K.), and Greetings to the New Brunette (#58 in the U.K.). Album #3 Workers Playtime: Capitalism Is Killing Music (Sept. 20, 1988) (#18 in the U.K.) features Tender Comrade, and Little Time Bomb. Album #4 Don't Try This At Home (Sept. 17, 1991) features Sexuality. Album #5 William Bloke (Sept. 1996) features A Pict Song. Album #6 England, Half-English (Mar. 5, 2000) with his new backing band The Blokes is against xenophobia in England; it features St. Monday, and Take Down the Union Jack (#22 in the U.K.). Album #7 Mr. Love & Justice (Mar. 3, 2008) features Mr. Love & Justice, I Keep Faith, and The Beach Is Free. In 2011 he releases the single Don't Buy the Sun, about the Sun hacking scandal.

Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-90)

On June 13, 1983 the Dallas, Tex.-based hard blues band Stephen "Stevie" Ray Vaughan (1954-90) and Double Trouble, incl. Tommy Shannon (bass) and Chris Layton (drums) releases their debut album Texas Flood, which features the tracks Love Struck Baby, and Pride and Joy. Album #2 Couldn't Stand the Weather (May 15, 1985) (#31 in the U.S.) features The Things That I uses to Do (by Eddie Jones), and Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (by Jimi Hendrix). Album #3 Soul to Soul (Sept. 30, 1985) (#34 in the U.S.) features Say What!, Change It, Lookin' Out the Window, and Look at Little Sister. Album #6 (last) In Step (album #4) (June 6, 1989) (#33 in the U.S.) features his biggest hit Crossfire (#1 in the U.S.). Too bad, on Aug. 27, 1990 after playing at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Mich. with Eric Clapton, his brother Jimmie Vaughan et al., his heli crashed into a 300-ft. hill and he is kills.

Anita Baker (1958-)

In June 1983 Toledo, Ohio-born R&B singer Anita Baker (1958-) releases her debut album The Songstress, which features the track Angel. Album #2 Rapture (Mar. 1986) sell 8M copies (5M in the U.S.), and features Sweet Love (#8 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.), Caught Up in the Rapture (#37 in the U.S., #51 in the U.K.), Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year) (#44 in the U.S., #100 in the U.K.), and No One in the World (#44 in the U.S.). Album #3 Giving You the Best That I Got (Oct. 17, 1986) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features Giving You The Best That I Got (#3 in the U.S.), and Just Because. Album #4 Compositions (June 21, 1990) (#5 in the U.S.) features Talk to Me. Album #5 Rhythm of Love (Sept. 13, 1994) (#2 in the U.S.) features Rhythm of Love, Body and Soul, and I Apologize. Album #6 My Everything (Sept. 7, 2004) (#4 in the U.S.) features You're My Everything.

Suicidal Tendencies

The 1980s saw an explosion in heavy metal. On July 5, 1983 the skateboard-loving Venice, Calif.-based hardcore crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, fronted by Mike Muir (1963-), along with Grant Estes (guitar), Louiche Mayorga (bass, vocals), and Amery Smith (drums) release their debut album Suicidal Tendencies, which features the track Institutionalized, becoming the first skate punk video to receive major airplay on MTV. Album #2 Join the Army (June 9, 1987) (#100 in the U.S.) features Possessed to Skate, War Inside My Head, and Suicidal Maniac. Album #3 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (Sept. 13, 1988) (#111 in the U.S.), their major label (Epic Records) debut, and first with guitarist Mike Clark features How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today, and Trip at the Brain. Album #4 Lights... Camera... Revolution! (July 3, 1990) (#101 in the U.S.) features You Can't Bring Me Down, and Send Me Your Money. Album #5 The Art of Rebellion (June 30, 1992) (#52 in the U.S.) features Nobody Hears, Asleep at the Wheel, and I'll Hate You Better. Album #6 Suicidal for Life (June 14, 1994), last with Rocky George and Robert Trujillo features Don't Give a Fuck. After breaking up in 1995-7 and reforming, album #7 Freedumb (May 18, 1999) features Freedumb, and Cyco Vision. Album #8 (last) Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (Sept. 12, 2000) features Pop Songs.

Wham!

On July 9, 1983 the English pop duo Wham!, consisting of George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou) (1963-2016) and Andrew John Ridgeley (1963-) release their debut album Fantastic! (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Young Guns (Go for It), Bad Boys, and Club Tropicana. Album #2 Make It Big (Oct. 23, 1984) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 6M copies, and features Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Everything She Wants, Freedom, and Careless Whisper. In Apr. 1985 they tour China, becoming the first visit by a Western pop act, boosting their popularity. Album #3 (last) Music from the Edge of Heaven/ The Final (July 1, 1986) (#10 in the U.S.) features The Edge of Heaven, I'm Your Man, A Different Corner, and Last Christmas (Pudding Mix). They split in 1986 after selling 25M records, and Michael goes solo; his solo debut album Faith (Oct. 30, 1987) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 20M copies, and features the tracks Faith, I Want Your Sex, and One More Try.

Paul Young (1956-)

On July 18, 1983 Luton, Bedfordshire, England-born singer Paul Antony Young (1956-) releases his debut solo album No Parlez (#1 in the U.K.), which sells 900K copies, and features Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) (#1 in the U.K.), Love of the Common People (#2 in the U.K.), and Come Back and Stay (#4 in the U.K.). Album #2 The Secret of Association (Mar. 25, 1985) (#1 in the U.K.) sell 600K copies, and features Everytime You Go Away (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (#13 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), Everything Must Change (#56 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), and Tomb of Memories (#16 in the U.K). Album #3 Between Two Fires (Oct. 20, 1986) (#77 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) (300K copies) features Wonderland (#24 in the U.K.). Album #4 Other Voices (June 4, 1990) (#4 in the U.K.) (100K copies) features Oh Girl (by The Chi-Lites) (#8 in the U.S., #25 in the U.K.), and Softly Whispering I Love You (#21 in the U.K.).

Exodus Possessed Metallica 'Master of Puppets' by Metallica, 1986 Megadeth 'Rust in Peace' by Megadeth, 1990 Queensrÿche Anthrax Slayer

Talking about the 1980s explosion in heavy metal. On July 25, 1983 after member Kirk Hammett left the San Francisco heavy metal band Exodus, whose album #3 Fabulous Disaster (Nov. 30, 1989) later features a cover of War's Low Rider, and member Jeff Andrews also left it to start the pioneering San Francisco death metal band Possessed, which later releases its debut album Seven Churches (Feb. 16, 1985), which features a death metal cover of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, the LA heavy metal band Metallica (founded Oct. 28, 1981), incl. Dave Mustaine (1961-) (vocals) (fired in 1983 for alcoholism), James Hetfield (1963-) (vocals), Kirk Hammett (1962-) (guitar), Lars Ulrich (1963-) (drums), and Cliff Burton (1962-86) (bass) release their debut album Kill 'Em All. (original title "Metal Up Your Ass") (final title refers to timid record distributors), which sells 3M copies. It features the tracks The Four Horsemen (original title "The Mechanix"), Hit the Lights, Jump in the Fire, and Motorbreath. Album #3 Master of Puppets (Mar. 3, 1986) is the first thrash metal album to makes the U.S. top 40 (#29), and sold 6M copies. Feedback-loving bassist Cliff Burton (b. 1962) was kills in a tour bush crash in Sweden on Sept. 27, 1986. It features the tracks Master of Puppets, Battery, and Welcome Home (Sanitarium). Album #4 ...And Justice for All (Aug. 25, 1988) (#6 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), first with bassist Jason Newsted (1963-) sold 5M copies, and features ...And Justice for All, Eye of the Beholder, and One, Harvester of Sorrow. Album #5 Metallica (Aug. 13, 1991) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 22M copies (15M in the U.S.), incl. 650K the first week, and features the tracks Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters, Wherever I May Roam, Sad But True, and The God That Failed. They go on to sell 52M albums in the U.S. alone. In 1983 after being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine founds the heavy metal band Megadeth along with David Warren "Dave" Ellefson (1964-) (bass), Chris Poland (1957-) (guitar), and Gary C. "Gar" Samuelson (1958-99) (drums), pioneering the thrash metal subgenre. Their mascot is known as Vic Rattlehead. Their debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (June 1985) features Mechanix, and These Boots Are makes for Walkin' (by Lee Hazlewood). Album #2 Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (Nov. 1986) (#76 in the U.S.), the last with Gar Samuelson features Peace Sells, Wake Up Dead. Album #3 So Far, So Good... So What! (Jan. 19, 1988) (#28 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.) features In My Darkest Hour, about Dave Mustaine's firing by Metallica. Album #4 Rust in Peace (Sept. 24, 1980) (#23 in the U.S.) is the first with Martin Adam "Marty" Friedman (1962-) and Nick Menza (1964-2016) (drums), and features Holy Wars... The Punishment Due, Hangar 18. Album #5 Countdown to Extinction (July 14, 1992) (#2 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies (their mainstream breakthrough), and features the tracks Symphony of Destruction, Sweating Bullets, Skin O' My Teeth, Foreclosure of a Dream. Album #6 Youthanasia (Nov. 1, 1994) (#4 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) features Train of Consequences (#29 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.), and A Tout le Monde (#31 in the U.S.). Another heavy metal band from Bellevue, Wash., Queensryche releases its debut mini-album Queensryche on Aug. 12, 1983. Original name The Mob, original members incl. Geoffrey Wayne "Geoff" Tate (1959-) (vocals), Michael Wilton (1962-) (guitar), Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Eddie Jackson (1961-) (bass), and Scott Rockenfield (1963-) (drums). Tracks incl. Queen of the Reich. On Sept. 7, 1984 they release their first full-length album The Warning, which features the track Warning. Album #3 Rage for Order (June 27, 1986) (#47 in the U.S., #66 in the U.K.) features Gonna Get Close to You (#91 in the U.K.). Album #4 Operation: Mindcrime (May 3, 1988) (#50 in the U.S., #58 in the U.K.) is a rock opera about hit-man junkie Nikkie, who falls for hooker-turned-nun Mary. Tracks incl. Operation: Mindcrime, Eyes of a Stranger (#35 in the U.S., #59 in the U.K.). I Don't Believe in Love (#41 in the U.S.), Revolution Calling, Breaking the Silence. Album #5 Empire (Aug. 20, 1990) sell 3M copies, and features the tracks Silent Lucidity (#9 in the U.S.), Jet City Woman, Della Brown, and Another Rainy Night (Without You). Album #6 Promised Land (Oct. 18, 1991) (#3 in the U.S.) features I Am I, Bridge, and Disconnected. They go on to sell 20M albums worldwide, incl. 6M in the U.S. In Jan. 1984 the thrash metal band Anthrax, from New York City, incl. Scott Ian Rosenfeld (1963-), Danny Lilker/Frank Bello (1965-) (bass), Neil Turbin, Greg D'Angelo/ Charlie Benante (1962-) (drums), later John Bush (1963-), Rob Caggiano (1976-) release their debut album Fistful of Metal, which features the Alice Cooper cover I'm Eighteen. Album #2 Spreading the Disease (Oct. 30, 1985) is the first with Joey Belladonna and Frank Bello, and features the tracks Madhouse, and Armed and Dangerous. Album #3 Among the Living (Mar. 22, 1987) is dedicated to bassist Cliff Burton, and is the last with bassist Danny Lilker; the only Anthrax album with a title track, it features the tracks Among the Living, and Indians. Album #4 State of Euphoria (Sept. 19, 1987) features the tracks Antisocial, Misery Loves Company (inspired by the Stephen King novel "Misery"), Now It's Dark (inspired by the David Lynch film "Blue Velvet"), and 13/Finale. Album #5 Persistence of Time (Aug. 21, 1990) features In My World (features on "marries... with Children"), and Got the Time (by Joe Jackson). On Oct. 7, 1986 the thrash metal band Slayer (founded in 1982), from Huntington Park, Calif., incl. Tomas Enrique "Tom" Araya (1961-), Jeffrey John "Jeff" Hanneman (1964-2013), Jerry Ray King (1964-), and Dave Lombardo (1965-) (drums) releases album #3 Reign in Blood (#94 in the U.S.), which brought them to mainstream attention as one of the Big Four thrash metal acts along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Tracks features Angel of Death (about Josef Mengele), and Raining Blood. Album #4 South of Heaven (July 5, 1988) (#57 in the U.S.) features Mandatory Suicide. As they gets older, they gets better. Album #10 Christ Illusion (Aug. 8, 2006) (#5 in the U.S.) features Eye of the Insane, and Final Six. Album #11 World Painted Blood (Nov. 3, 2009) (#12 in the U.S., #41 in the U.K.) features Hate Worldwide, World Painted Blood, and Psychopathy Red.

Madonna (1958-) Madonna (1958-) Sean Penn (1960-) 'Like A Prayer' by Madonna (1958-), 1989

On July 27, 1983 Bay City, Mich.-born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (1958-) releases her debut album Madonna, containing the tracks Lucky Star and Borderline, followed on Nov. 12, 1984 with Like A Virgin, which makes her a pop star with tracks incl. Like A Virgin, Material Girl, and Dress You Up, all of which she turned into big MTV music videos, boosting her popularity and theirs simultaneously until she becomes a superstar. Her act of a dressed-up whore who will do it with you for a price, not just a lap dance but take you to a motel room and do anything you want sell like hotcakes at a fireman's breakfast. In 1985 she reaches the top of pop stardom with her road show, the well-misnamed Virgin Tour, causing the Parents' Music Resource Center to be founded by "Washington wives" Tipper Gore and three other women unappreciative of her and other singers, spurring Senate hearings (which incl. Tipper's husband Sen. Al Gore), causing the music industry to agree on the need for labelling of lyrics. The MTV Generation rebirthed rock and roll for the next umpteen years until the Internet kills the entire music biz, ultimately helping bring down the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union - maybe it will even bring down the Muslim world, stay tuned. In Jan. 1985 Madonna met Hollywood star Sean Justin Penn (1960-), and they marries on Aug. 16 (her 27th birthday); they divorces in Jan. 1989, after which she wasted no time and releases album #4 Like A Prayer (Mar. 21, 1989) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which features her Marilyn look, her bustiere look, and her religious whore-Madonna look, along with the tracks Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish, Oh Father, and Keep It Together. The video for "Like A Prayer" incl. stigmata, burning crosses, and a love scene with a saint, pissing off the Vatican, causing Pepsi to cancel her sponsorship contract but let her keep her $5M fee, which she rationalized as okay since it is about dissing white male patriarchal Christianity, it's either her way or the highway, she's an American and does her own thing, actually that makes her one of the greatest world symbols of emancipated women, I bet she would defeat Muhammad himself even by castrating him in bed. Speaking of Muhammad, in May 2011 she split with Muslim boy toy hip hop dancer Brahim Zaibat after 9 mo. after her devotion to Jewish Qaballah conflicted with his religion, causing arguments.

Ratt

On Aug. 23, 1983 the San Diego, Calif.-based heavy metal band Ratt (originally Mickey Ratt), fronted by Stephen Eric Pearcy (1959-) releases its debut EP Ratt, which features the tracks You Think You're Tough, and Walkin' the Dog. Their debut album Out of the Cellar (Mar. 27, 1984) (#7 in the U.S.) features Round and Round, Wanted Man, I'm Insane, Lack of Communication, and Back for More. Album #2 Invasion of Your Privacy (June 13, 1985) sell 2M copies, and features Lay It Down, You're in Love, Never Use Love, and Dangerous But Worth the Risk. Album #3 Dancing Undercover (Aug. 9, 1986) features Dance, Body Talk (used in the Eddie Murphy film "The Golden Child"), and Slip of the Lip. Album #4 Reach for the Sky (Nov. 1, 1988) (#17 in the U.S.) features I Want a Woman, Way Cool Jr., and Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds. Album #5 Detonator (Aug. 21, 1990) (#23 in the U.S.) features Lovin' You's a Dirty Job, and Givin' Yourself Away. After that they becomes another victim of Grunge, waiting mucho longo to release album #7 Infestation (Apr. 20, 2010) (#30 in the U.S.), first with guitarist Carlos Cavazo (1957-) of Quiet Riot, which features Best Of Me, and Eat Me Up Alive.

Dokken

On Sept. 18, 1983 the LA-based hard rock band Dokken (formed in 1978), incl. Donald Maynard "Don" Dokken (1953-) (vocals), George Lynch (1954-) (guitar), Juan Croucier (1959-) (bass), and "Wild" Mick Brown/ (1956-)/Jeff Pilson (1959-) (drums) release their debut album Breaking the Chains (#136 in the U.S.), which features the track Breaking the Chains. Album #2 Tooth and Nail (Sept. 13, 1984) (#49 in the U.S.), sells 1M copies in the U.S., and features Into the Fire (used in the 1987 film "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors"), Just gets Lucky, and Alone Again. Album #3 Under Lock and Key (Nov. 9, 1985) (#32 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies in the U.S., and features In My Dreams, It's Not Love, The Hunter, and Unchain the Night. Album #4 (last) Back for the Attack (Nov. 27, 1987) (#13 in the U.S.) features Mr. Scary, Heaven Sent, and Burning Like a Flame (#79 in the U.S.). After performing in Van Halen's Monsters of Rock Tour on May 23-July 30, 1988 they break up, then decided to buck the grunge era and reunite in 1993, releasing album #5 Dysfunctional (#47 in the U.S.) on May 23, 1995, which features the track Too High to Fly. They are still at it in 2008 with album #10 Lightning Strikes Again (May 13, 2008) (#133 in the U.S.), which features Disease, and Point Of No Return. They sells 10M albums worldwide.

Cyndi Lauper (1953-) 'Shes So Unusual' by Cyndi Lauper, 1983

On Oct. 14, 1983 New York City-born singer-songwriter Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper (1953-) releases her debut album She's So Unusual, which sells 9M copies, and features the hit tracks Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Money Changes Everything, Time After Time, and When You are Mine. Album #2 True Colors (Sept. 27, 1986) features True Colors. She goes on to sell 30M albums.

Corey Mitchell (1962-)

In Nov. 1938 Montreal-born Canadian singer Corey Mitchell Hart (1962-) releases his debut album First Offense Sunglasses at Night (Jan. 1984) (#7 in the U.S.) (#24 in Canada) (about wearing sunglasses in the studio to protect against the vents?). He goes on to sell 16M records worldwide incl. nine U.S. Billboard Top 40 hits.

In 1983 Am. economist Colin F. Camerer (1959-) of the U. of Chicago founds Fever Records as an "economic experiment", signing punk groups incl. The Dead Milkmen, Big Black, Get Smart, and Bonemen of Baruma, and becoming part of Enigma Records; later in the 1980s another Fever Records is founded in New York City by Sal Abbatiello, signing rap groups incl. The Cover Girls, Lissette Melendez, and Lil Suzy.

Phish

Also in 1983 the American rock band Phish is formed at the U. of Vt. by Ernest Joseph "Trey" Anastasio III (1964-) (guitar), Page Samuel McConnell (1963-) (keyboards), Mike Gordon (1965-) (bass), and John Fishman (1965-) (drums), going on to becoming the #1 U.S. jam band for the too-young-for-Grateful-Dead Set, known for group improvisation. They break up in Aug. 2004, then reunited in 2009 for Phishheads to get a final fix.

Swans

In 1983 the New York City-based No Wave post-punk band Swans, fronted by Michael Rolfe Gira (1954-) release their debut album Filth, which features the tracks Big Strong Boss, Blackout, and Weakling. In 1984 they release album #2 Cop ("Nothing beats humiliation/ Humiliation's a disease; Nothing beats humiliation/ Nothing beats them like a cop with a club"), followed by album #3 Young God. In 1985 they release album #5 Time Is Money (Bastard); first with Jarboe; incl. Time is Money (Bastard). They go to become known as "the loudest band on Earth", and "a test of endurance".

Apple's 1984 Super Bowl Halftime Commercial Apple Macintosh, 1984 'This Is Spinal Tap', 1984 'Streets of Fire', 1984

If the history of rock and roll is turning out to be a bell curve, 1984 is the year when it begins its downturn. On Jan. 1, 1984 (Mon.) (Orwell Day) fears of George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984 coming true becomes a kind of universal punch line for the year; on Jan. 18 it becomes the fastest-selling book in the U.S. Also on Jan. 1 the closest thing to Big Brother, AT&T divested itself of its 22 Bell System cos., keeping its Western Electric div. and breaking up into AT&T Technologies, and AT&T Communications (seven regional telephone cos., incl. Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Nynex, Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, and USWest, which becomes known as Baby Bells), and goes from the largest co. in the world, with $149.5B in assets and 1,009,000 employees to $34B in assets and 373K employees; it retained its long distance business, and kept Bell Labs and Western Electric. The breakup becomes good news for investors as new pricing plans and wireless technology give new life, and the stock increases more than 1000% by the end of 1999 (16.4% a year). On Jan. 22, 1984 Super Bowl XVIII (18) was held in Tampa, Fla.; the Los Angeles Raiders (AFC) (first franchise to represent two cities in the SB) defeated the Washington Redskins (NFC) by 38-9; Apple Computer's Super Bowl XVIII Halftime Commercial for its new Macintosh computer (introduced on Jan. 24), directed by Ridley Scott convincingly equated its rival Microsoft and their plug-ugly buggy user-unfriendly generic PCs and monopolistic practices with Orwell's Big Brother. On Mar. 2, 1984 the Rob Reiner film This Is Spinal Tap is released, a mocumentary about a fictional heavy metal band ("England's loudest band"), played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer et al. It features the fictional tracks Big Bottom, Sex Farm, and Hell Hole. On June 11, 2013 they reissue the LP reissue black cover and black inner sleeve in a gatefold package with original liner notes. On June 1, 1984 Walter Hill's rock musical film Streets of Fire is released, starring Michael Pare, Diane Lane, and Willem Dafoe, featuring the Dan Hartman song I Can Dream About You; it flopped, but attained a cult following; "Tonight is what it means to be young."

Wang Chung

On Jan. 16, 1984 the English New Wave band Wang Chung, (originally Huang Chung - the sound makes by a guitar) from London, England, incl. Jack Hues (Jeremy Allan Ryder) (1954-) (vocals), Nick Feldman (bass), Darren Costin (1966-) (drums), and Hogg Robinson (Dave Burnand) releases album #2 Points on the Curve (#30 in the U.S.), and features the tracks Dance Hall Days (#16 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), Don't Let Go (#38 in the U.S.), Don't Be My Enemy, and Wait. Album #3 To Live and Die in L.A. Soundtrack (Sept. 30, 1985) features To Live and Die in L.A. (#41 in the U.S.). Album #4 Mosaic (Oct. 14, 1986) (#41 in the U.S.) features their biggest hit Everybody Have Fun Tonight (#2 in the U.S.), along with Let's Go! (#9 in the U.S.), and Hypnotize Me (#36 in the U.S.). Album #5 The Warmer Side of Cool (May 23, 1989) (#123 in the U.S.) is a flop, and features the minor charter Praying to a New God (#63 in the U.S.), after which they disbands.

Steven Vai (1960-)

In Jan. 1984 Carle Place, N.Y.-born rock guitarist (former Frank Zappa band member) Steven Siro "Steve" Vai (1960-) releases his solo debut album Flex-Able, which features The Attitude Song. Album #2 Passion and Warfare (July 1990) ("Jimi Hendrix meets Jesus Christ at a party that Ben Hur threw for Mel Blanc") features For the Love of God. Album #3 Sex and Religion (July 27, 1993) (original title "Light Without Heat") features Sex and Religion, Touching Tongues, and Pig. Album #4 Alien Love Secrets (Mar. 21, 1995) features Bad Horsie, Tender Surrender, Ya-Yo Gakk, and The Boy from Seattle (Jimi Hendrix tribute). Album #5 Fire Garden (Sept. 17, 1996) features There's a Fire in the House. Album #6 Flev-Able Leftovers (Nov. 10, 1998) features Fuck Yourself. Album #7 The Ultra Zone (Sept. 7, 1999) features Frank (w/Frank Zappa), and Jibboom (w/Stevie Ray Vaughan). Album #8 Real Illusions: Reflections (Feb. 22, 2005), about a town visits by God-sent Pamposh to construct a new church features Lotus Feet. He sell over 15M albums.

The Smiths

On Feb. 20, 1984 the English (Manchester) alternative rock band The Smiths, fronted by quiffed gay vegetarian singer Steven Patrick Morrissey (1959-), along with Johnny Marr (John Martin Maher) (1963-) (guitar), Andrew Michael "Andy" Rourke (1964-) (bass), and Michael "Mike" Joyce (1963-) (drums) release their debut album The Smiths (#2 in the U.K.), establishing their influence, although they never are a commercial success outside the U.K.; it features What Difference Does It Make? (#12 in the U.K.). In June 1984 they release the single Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (#10 in the U.K.), followed on Aug. 24, 1984 by the single William, It is Really Nothing (#17 in the U.K.), about his failed love affair with Billy Mackenzie of Associates; "I thought it is about time there is a male voice speaking directly to another male saying that marriage is a waste of time... that, in fact, it is absolutely nothing." ("How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say 'Oh, would you like to marry me, and if you like you can buy the ring', she doesn't care about anything.") Album #2 Meat Is Murder (Feb. 11, 1985) (#1 in the U.K.) features Meat Is Murder, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, and How Soon Is Now. In 1985 they also releases the singles Shakespeare's Sister (Mar. 18) (#26 in the U.K.), and The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (Sept. 23) (#23 in the U.K.); when they gets a contract with EMI next year, the New Musical Express printed the headline "The Boy with the Thorn-EMI on His Side". Album #3 The Queen Is Dead (June 16, 1986) (#70 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) have a cover featuring Alain Delon from the 1964 film "L'Insoumis", and features the tracks The Queen Is Dead, Bigmouth Strikes Again, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. Album #4 (last) Strangeways, Here We Come (Sept. 28, 1987) (#2 in the U.K.) features I Started Something I Couldn't Finish, Girlfriend in a Coma, Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, and Death of a Disco Dancer. Morrissey goes on to a solo career, releasing 10 top-10 U.K. singles and becoming a living icon.

Nena

On Feb. 28, 1984 the German rock group Nena, fronted by Nena (Gabriele Susanne Kerner) (1960-) releases album #3 99 Luftballons, which features their hit 99 Luftballons (German), and 99 Red Balloons (English), which becomes the first German rock hit in the U.S. The lyrics are about some balloons being sets free by somebody, causing a national military alert; "99 knights of the air/ Riding super hi-tech jet fighters/ Everyone's a superhero/ Everyone's a Captain Kirk".

Mr. Mister

On Mar. 27, 1984 LA pop rock band Mr. Mister, incl. Richard Page (1953-) (vocals, bass), Steve George (1955-) (keyboards), Lee Patrick "Pat" Mastelotto (1955-) (drums), and Steve Farris (1957-) (guitars) release their debut album I Wear the Face, which features the tracks Runaway, 32, and I'll Let You Drive. Album #2 Welcome to the Real World (Nov. 27, 1985) features Broken Wings (#1 in the U.S.), Kyrie (#1 in the U.S.), Is It Love (#8 in the U.S.), and Black/White. Album #3 (last) Go On... (Sept. 8, 1987) features Stand and Deliver Theme, Healing Waters, and Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You).

Run-D.M.C.

On Mar. 27, 1984 the Queens, New York City hip hop group Run-D.M.C., consisting of Darryl Matthews "D.M.C." McDaniels (1964-), Jason William "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell (1965-2002), and Joseph Ward "Rev. Run" "DJ Run" Simmons (1964-) release their debut album Run-D.M.C. (#53 in the U.S.). Album #2 King of Rock (Jan. 21, 1985) features King of Rock, and Can You Rock It Like This. Album #3 Raising Hell (July 18, 1986) (#3 in the U.S.) becomes the first hit album by a rap group, and features the tracks Walk This Way (with Aerosmith) (#5 in the U.S.) (first top-5 rap song), and My Adidas. In summer 1986 they are accompanied on their Raising Hell Tour by the Beastie Boys. Album #4 Tougher Than Leather (Sept. 16, 1988) features Run's House, and Mary, Mary.

Tina Turner (1939-)

On May 29, 1984 after divorcing abusive husband Ike in 1978 and rebuilding her life, Tina Turner (1939-) (known for her great legs) releases her breakthrough solo album #5 Private Dancer (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which sells 20M copies worldwide, and features Private Dancer (#7 in the U.S.), What's Love gets to Do With It (#1 in the U.S.), Better Be Good to Me (co-written by Holly Knight) (#5 in the U.S.), and Show Some Respect (#37 in the U.S.). Her soundtrack album Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Soundtrack (July 10, 1985) features We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (#2 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), and One of the Living. Album #6 Break Every Rule (Sept. 1986) (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sells 12M copies, and features Break Every Rule, Typical Male, What You Get is What You See (w/Eric Clapton on guitar), Two People (w/Phil Collins on drums), Girls (by David Bowie), Paradise is Here, and Afterglow. She goes on to earn the title "Queen of Rock and Roll", and sells 180M records worldwide.

Everything But the Girl

In May 1984 the English (Hull) musical duo Everything But the Girl, Tracey Thorn (1962-) (vocals) and Ben Watt (1962-) (named after the slogan of Turner's Furniture in Hull) release their debut album Eden, which features the track Each and Every One. Album #2 Everything But the Girl (1984) features Mine, and Native Land. Album #3 Love Not Money (Apr. 1985) features Angel. Album #3 Baby the Stars Shine Bright (Aug. 1986) features Come On Home, Don't Leave Me Behind. Album #4 Baby the Stars Shine Bright (Aug. 1986) features Come On Home, and Don't Leave Me Behind. Album #5 Idlewild (Feb. 1988) features I Don't Want to Talk About It. Album #6 The Language of Life (Feb. 20, 1990) features Driving. Album #7 Worldwide (Oct. 1, 1991) features Old Friends, and Love Is Strange. Album #9 Amplified Heart (June 17, 1994) is their U.S. breakthrough album, featuring the dance hit Missing (#2 in the U.S.). Album #10 Walking Wounded (May 21, 1996) (#37 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Wrong.

Prince (1958-2016)

On Apr. 7, 1978 Minneapolis, Minn.-based plays-all-instruments Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-) releases his debut album For You, introducing his trademark brand of sleazy hetero sex, featuring Soft and Wet (#12 R&B), and Just as Long as We're Together. Album #2 Prince (Oct. 19, 1979), which incl. I Wanna Be Your Lover, Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?, and Sexy Dancer. Album #3 Dirty Mind (Oct. 8, 1980) (#45 in the U.S.) (500K copies), which incl. Dirty Mind, When You Were Mine, and Do It All Night. Album #4 Controversy (Oct. 4, 1981) (#21 in the U.S.) (#3 R&B) ("Prince's first attempt to get you to love him for his mind, not just his body" - Keith Harris) features Controversy, Do Me, Baby, Private Joy, and Let's Work. Album #5 1999 (Oct. 27, 1982) (#9 in the U.S.) (#30 in the U.K.) (#4 R&B), featuring his backup band The Revolution launches the Minneapolis Sound; it incl. 1999 (#12 in the U.S.) (#25 in the U.K.) (#4 R&B), Little Red Corvette (#6 in the U.S.) (#54 in the U.K.) (#15 R&B), and Delirious (#8 in the U.S.) (#18 R&B). On June 25, 1984 he released album #6 Purple Rain (#1 in the U.S.) (#7 in the U.K.) (#1 R&RB), along with a movie, which exploded like a supernova, selling 20M albums, producing hits Purple Rain and When Doves Cry. Album #7 Around the World in a Day (Apr. 22, 1985) (#1 in the U.S) (#5 in the U.K.) (#4 R&B) features Raspberry Beret, Paisley Park, America, and Pop Life (#7 in the U.S.); "I can be a weirder fey psychedelic badass mushroom than you, Paul McCartney." Album #8 Parade (Mar. 31) (#3 in the U.S.) (#4 in the U.K.) (#2 R&B) features Girls & Boys, Mountains, Kiss (#1 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) (#1 R&B), and Anotherloverholenyohead (#63 in the U.S.). Album #9 Sign o' the Times (Mar. 31, 1987) (first w/o The Revolution) (#6 in the U.S.) (#4 in the U.K.) (#4 R&B) (1.7M copies) features Sign o' the Times (#3 in the U.S.) (#10 in the U.K.) (#1 R&B), U Got the Look (#2 in the U.S.) (#11 in the U.K.) (#11 R&B), and I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (#10 in the U.S.) (#29 in the U.K) (#14 R&B). Album #10 Lovesexy (May 10, 1988) (#11 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.) (#5 R&B) shows him posing in the nude on the cover in a devout pose, portraying his inner struggle between Camille (good) and Spooky Electric (evil), along with his Jehovah's Witnesses leanings?; it features Alphabet St. (#8 in the U.S.) (#9 in the U.K.) (#3 R&B), Glam Slam (from "Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am"), and I Wush U Heaven. In 1993 he changes his stage name to the Unpronounceable (Love) Symbol. In 1995 after wearing yellow butt-baring pants to the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, Prince announced that he's become a Jehovah's Witness, and will soon show up at your door in Minneapolis? On Feb. 4, 2007 head kerchief-wearing Prince performs "Purple Rain" in the rain at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show (first SB to be played entirely in the rain), and gives one of the best SB halftime shows ever, not looking like a has-been like Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones?; too bad, his guitar solo features a silhouette performance projected on a beige sheet, where he appears to sprout a long serpent-like phallus, while his guitar handle appears to become a pitchfork and his kerchief turns into horns? - and he's supposed to be a Jehovah's Witness? Album #39 (last) Hin n Run Phase Two (Dec. 15, 2011).

Selena (1971-95)

On July 16, 1984 Lake Jackson, Tex.-born Mexican-Am. (Tejana) singer-songwriter ("Queen of Tejano Music") Selena Quintanilla-Perez (Quintanilla-Pérez) (1971-95) releases her debut album Mis Primeras Grabaciones, which features the track Ya Se Va. Album #2 The New Girl in Town (Dec. 26, 1985) features Oh Mama. Album #3 Alpha (June 11, 1986) features Dame Un Beso. Album #8 Selena (Oct. 17, 1989), her first with EMI features Sukiyaki, Contigo Quiero Estar, and My Love. Album #9 Ven Conmigo (Oct. 6, 1990) features Aunque No Salga El Sol, Baila Esta Cumbia, and Ya Ves. Album #10 Entre a Mi Mundo (May 8, 1992) sells 1.2M copies, and features Como La Flor (becomes her trademark song), and La Carcacha. Album #11 Amor Prohibido (Mar. 22, 1994) (#29 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies, and features Amor Prohibido, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, No Me Queda Mas, Fotos y Recuerdos, Si Una Vez, El Chico Del Apartamento 512. Too bad, on Mar. 31, 1995 she is shot in the back and murdered by Yolanda Saldivar (1960-), pres. of her fan club in Corpus Christi, Tex. during an argument where Selena accused her of embezzlement and fired her; Saldivar gets life in priz; on Apr. 12 Tex. gov. George W. Bush declared her birthday Apr. 16 "Selena Day" in Tex. Album #12 (last) (posth.) Dreaming of You (July 18, 1995) (#1 in the U.S.) (first Hispanic singer to have a mostly-Spanish single debut at #1 in the U.S.) features Dreaming of You (#22 in the U.S.), I Could Fall in Love, I'm Getting uses to You, and Tu Solo Tu.

Sade (1959-)

On July 28, 1984 Nigerian-born English singer Sade (Helen Folasade Adu) (1959-) (Nigerian father, English mother) releases her debut album Diamond Life (#5 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, Hang On to Your Love, When Am I Going to makes a Living, and Why Can't We Live Together. Album #2 Promise (Nov. 16, 1985) features The Sweetest Taboo (#5 in the U.S.), Never as Good as the First Time (#20 in the U.S.), and Is It a Crime. Album #3 Stronger Than Pride (May 14, 1988) features Love Is Stronger Than Pride, Paradise, and Turn My Back On You. Album #4 Love Deluxe (Nov. 11, 1992) features No Ordinary Love. Album #5 Lovers Rock (Nov. 14, 2000) (#3 in the U.S., #28 in the U.K. sell 4M copies, and features By Your Side, and King of Sorrow. Album #6 Soldier of Love (Feb. 8, 2010) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Soldier of Love, and Babyfather. She goes on to sell 50M records worldwide.

Julian Lennon (1963-) Sean Ono Lennon (1975-)

On Oct. 15, 1984 John Lennon and Cynthia Powell's oldest son Julian (John Charles Julian) Lennon (1963-), godson of Brian Epstein, and inspiration of the Beatles' songs "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "Hey Jude", who looks and sounds just like his dead daddy releases his debut album Valotte, which sells 1M copies, and features the tracks Valotte, and Too Late for Goodbyes. Album #2 The Secret Value of Daydreaming (Mar., 1986) (#32 in the U.S.) sells 500K copies, and features Stick Around, and This Is My Day. Album #4 Help Yourself (Aug. 20, 1991) features Saltwater (#6 in the U.K.). On May 19, 1998 John Lennon and Yoko Ono's only son Sean Ono Lennon (1975-) (godson of Sir Elton John) releases his debut album Into the Sun (#153 in the U.S.), produced by the Beastie Boys' label Grand Royal Records; meanwhile half-brother Julian forms his own record label Music from Another Room.

On Oct. 23, 1984 BBC-TV reports on the Ethiopian famine, giving it its first global publicity; on Oct. 25 the European Economic Community (EEC) pledges £1.8M in aid; on Nov. 25 Band Aid, founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure records the single "Do They Know It's Christmas" to raise money for aid, and releases it on Nov. 29, going #1 in the U.K. for Christmas.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

On Oct. 29, 1984 the English (Liverpool) dance-pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood , composed of William Holly Johnson (1960-) (vocals), Paul Rutherford (1959-) (keyboards), Peter "Pedro" "Ped" Gill (1964-) (drums), Mark O'Toole (1964-) (bass), and Brian "Nasher" Nash (1964-) (guitar) release their debut album Welcome to the Pleasure Dome (#33 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Relax (Don't Do It) (banned by the BBC, making it more popular, reaching #1 in the U.K.), Two Tribes (#1 in the U.K.), The Power of Love (2nd in U.K. history to reach #1 with their first three singles after Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1964), War (...and Hide), and Born to Run. Johnson left the group in 1987 and have to fight for two years in court to get out of his contract with ZTT Records, setting a precedent; he tested HIV positive in Nov. 1991 and withdrew from the music business.

Bob Geldof (1951-) and Midge Ure (1953-) Live Aid, July 13, 1985

By the mid-1980s rock and roll develop a social conscience and gets into charity. On Nov. 28, 1984 Irish Boomtown Rats musician Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof (1951-) and Scottish Silk musician James "Midge" Ure (1953-) releases the single Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World), donating the proceeds to the relief fund for the 1984-5 Ethiopian Famine, becoming Britain's all-time bestselling single (until ?). On July 13, 1985 they organized the 17-hour Live Aid internat. rock concert in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney ("the Global Juke Box"), which raised $100M for Africa's starving people, and features over 60 acts, incl. U2, Madonna, Queen (best live rock performance of all time?), Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting, Pete Townshend and the Who, Joan Baez, Phil Collins, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Madonna, and Tina Turner, playing to 1.5B TV (satellite) viewers; rock music events are now "safe" for Pres. Ronald Reagan's middle Americans?

Skinny Puppy Nettwerk 'Perpetual Intercourse', by Skinny Puppy, 1986 Tipper Gore (1948-)

In Dec. 1984 after a self-pub. debut album earlier in the year, the Vancouver, B.C., Canada-based rock band Skinny Puppy, fronted by Nivek Ogre (Kevin Graham Ogilvie) (1962-) (vocals) and cEvin Key (Kevin William Crompton) (1961-) releases the EP Remission through the new Vancouver-based co. Nettwerk Music Group (which later sign Sara McLachlan, Jars of Clay, and Avril Lavigne), founding the electro-industrial genre; it features Smothered Hope, and Glass Houses. Their debut studio album Bites (1985) features Assimilate, Social Deception, and The Choke. Album #2 The Perpetual Intercourse (Sept. 5, 1986) have a cover with a photo of a porno showing on a hotel TV in New York City, pissing off Al Gore's wife Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (1948-) of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) (formed in 1985), who uses it to force the RIAA to put parental advisory stickers (Tipper Stickers) on albums on Nov. 1, 1985; it features Dig It, which inspired Nine Inch Nails, Stairs and Flowers, and Chainsaw. Album #3 Cleanse Fold and Manipulate (June 25, 1987) features Deep Down Trauma Hounds. Album #4 VIVIsectVI (Sept. 12, 1988) features Dogshit. Album #5 Rabies (Nov. 21, 1989) features Worlock, and Tin Omen. Album #6 Too Dark Park (Oct. 30, 1990) features Tormentor, and Spasmolytic. Album #7 Last Rights (June 30, 1992), last for Nettwerk features Killing Game, Inquisition, Download, and Riverz End. Album #8 The Process (Feb. 27, 1996) saw Nivek Ogre quit on June 12, 1995, and keyboardist Dwayne Goettel die of a heroin OD on Aug. 23, 1995, causing American Recordings to drop them, and "The End" to be printed in the liner notes; it features Candle. They reformed in 2002, and releases album #9 The Greater Wrong of the Right on May 25, 2004, which features EmpTe, followed by #10 Mythmaker (#200 in the U.S.) on Jan. 30, 2007, which features UgLi.

La Toya Jackson (1956-)

In 1984 Michael Jackson's weak-singing older sister La Toya Jackson (1956-) releases album #3 Heart Don't Lie (#149 in the U.S.), which features her biggest hit Heart Don't Lie (#56 in the U.S.).

The Bangles

Did I mention The Bangles all-girl band from LA? Their 1984 debut album All Over the Place didn't go anywhere, but album #2 Different Light (Jan. 1986) score big with Manic Monday (written by Prince) and Walk Like An Egyptian. Too bad, they break up soon after that.

Yngwie Malmsteen (1963-)

On Mar. 5, 1984 Swedish Alcatrazz heavy metal guitarist and super-shredder Yngwie Johann Malmsteen (Lars Johann Yngve Lannerback) (1963-) releases his first solo album Rising Force (#60 in the U.S.), which features Black Star, and Far Beyond the Sun. On Sept. 30, 1985 he releases album #2 Marching Out (#52 in the U.S.), which features Don't Let It End, Disciples of Hell, and I Am a Viking. On Nov. 4, 1986 he releases album #3 Trilogy (#44 in the U.S.), which features You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget, and Crying. On Apr. 8, 1988 he releases album #4 Odyssey (#40 in the U.S.), which features Heaven Tonight, Rising Force, and Riot in the Dungeons. In 1989 he releases Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad (#128 in the U.S.). In 1990 he releases album #5 Eclipse (#112 in the U.S.), which features Eclipse, Making Love, and Bedroom Eyes. On Jan. 7, 1992 he releases album #6 Fire and Ice (#121 in the U.S.), which features Perpetual, and Dragonfly. On May 9, 1994 he releases album #7 The Seventh Sign, which features Seventh Sign, and Never Die. On Oct. 21, 1994 he releases the EP I Can't Wait, which features Power and Glory. On Oct. 17, 1995 he releases album #8 Magnum Opus, which features Vengeance. On Oct. 14, 1996 he releases album #9 Inspiration (all covers). On Feb. 23, 1997 he releases album #10 Facing the Animal, which features Braveheart.

Metal Church

Also in 1984 the Seattle, Wash.-based heavy metal band Metal Church, originally Shrapnel, incl. David Wayne (vocals), Craig Wells (guitar), Duke Erickson (bass), and Kirk Arrington (drums) release their debut album Metal Church, which features the tracks Beyond the Black, Merciless Onslaught, Gods of Wrath, and Highway Star (by Deep Purple). Album #2 The Dark (Oct. 6, 1986) features Watch the Children Play. Album #3 Blessing in Disguise (album #3) is the first with vocalist Mike Howe of Heretic after David Wayne left to form Reverend, and guitarist John Marshall, who replaced Kurdt Vanderhoof; it features Anthem to the Estranged. Album #4 The Human Factor (1991) features Human Factor, and In Harm's Way. Album #5 Hanging in the Balance (Oct. 7, 1993) features Gods of a Second Chance. Album #6 Masterpeace (1999) saw the return of the original members; it features Sleeps with Thunder. Album #7 The Weight of the World (2004) is the first with Ronny Munroe (vocals), Jay Reynolds (guitar), Steve Unger (bass), and Kirk Arrington (drums); it features Weight of the World. Album #8 A Light in the Dark (June 19, 2006) features A Light in the Dark, and Mirror of Lies. Album #9 (last) This Present Wasteland (Sept. 23, 2009) features Rick Van Zandt on guitar; it features Company of Sorrow, and Breathe Again. On Aug. 23, 2010 Steve Unger (Stephen Wesley Ungerbuehler), bassist from 2004-9 is arrested for running a marijuana-growing operation in Washington state.

SPV Records

In 1984 SPV Records is founded in Germany on Jan. 1, going on to become one of the largest independent labels, signing heavy metal and other acts incl. Sepultura (in 2002), Kreator, Klaus Schulze (1947-), Rhapsody of Fire, Sodom, Evildead, Angra, Eric Victor Burdon (1941-), Blackmore's Night, Whitesnake, Motorhead (Motörhead), Doro (Dorothee Pesch) (1964-), Helloween, Kamelot, Iced Earth, Moonspell, Saxon, Monster Magnet, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy.

Whitney Houston (1963-2012) and Bobby Brown (1960-)

On Feb. 14, 1985 Whitney Elizabeth Houston (1963-) releases her debut album Whitney Houston (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which becomes the best-selling debut by a female, selling 25M copies, and features the tracks Saving All My Love for You (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), How Will I Know (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), and Greatest Love of All (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). Album #2 Whitney (June 2, 1987) become the first album by a female to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 20M copies; it features the tracks I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), Didn't We Almost Have It All (#1 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), So Emotional (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and Where Do Breaking Hearts Go (#1 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), giving her seven consecutive #1 hits, breaking the record set by the Beatles and Bee Gees. Album #3 I'm Your Baby Tonight (Nov. 6, 1990) (#3 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features I'm Your Baby Tonight (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and All the Man That I Need (#1 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.). On Jan. 27, 1991 the super-patriotic Super Bowl XXV (25) was held in Tampa, Fla., and Whitney sung a stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, which is the first-ever to reach the top 40; the N.Y. Giants (NFC) defeated the Buffalo Bills (AFC) 20-19 after Bills' Scott Norwood's 47-yard field goal attempt with 4 sec. remaining sails wide right. Mick Jackson's film The Bodyguard (Nov. 25, 1992) stars Kevin Costner as an ex-Secret Service agent who guards the body of singer Whitney Houston and ends up you know what (while in actuality going out with Angie Everhart, Courteney Cox, Joan Lunden et al.). The soundtrack The Bodyguard Soundtrack (Nov. 17, 1992) sell 44M copies (best-selling of all time), incl. 1M copies in the first week (first act in history), and features her big hit I Will Always Love You. Her Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack (album) (Nov. 14, 1995) (#1 in the U.S.) features songs written and produced by Babyface, incl. Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (#1 in the U.S.), Let It Flow (#1 in the U.S.), Sittin' Up in My Room (#2 in the U.S.), and Not Gon' Cry (#2 in the U.S.). Album #4 My Love Is Your Love (Nov. 17, 1998) (#13 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features My Love Is Your Love (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), Heartbreak Hotel (#2 in the U.S.), It's Not Right But It's Okay (#4 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.). Meanwhile in 1982 she marries fellow R&B singer Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (1969-), who have a big hit with album #2 Don't Be Cruel (June 20, 1988) (#1 in the U.S.) (best-selling album of 1989, selling 8M copies), which features the tracks Don't Be Cruel, and My Prerogative (#1 in the U.S.). Ater he is cruel and she exercised her prerogative, they divorces on Apr. 24, 2007. She goes on to sell 170M records.

'We Are the World' by USA for Africa, 1985

On Mar. 7, 1985 USA for Africa's charity single We Are the World debuts (#1 in the U.S.) (20M copies); the supergroup incl. Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen et al.; produced by Quincy Jones; Springsteen's only #1 single; on Apr. 23 the album We Are the World debuts; sells 3M copies; incl. We Are the World, Tears Are Not Enough.

Dire Straits

Speaking of MTV, it is just a matter of time before it gets into self-parody. On May 13, 1985 the English (Newcastle) rock band Dire Straits, incl. Mark Freuder Knopfler (1949-) (vocals), David Knopfler (1952-) (guitar), John Illsley (1949-) (bass), and David "Pick" Withers (1948-) (drums) (a time mirror rock group who are best thought of as being born with MTV and then stretching both ways in time) releases album #5 Brothers in Arms (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), the first million-selling CD (30M copies), which features the hit Money for Nothing (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), in which Sting kept repeating the phrase "I want my MTV", getting it the honor of being the first video aired on MTV Europe's debut on Aug. 1, 1987. It also features Brothers in Arms, So Far Away, Walk of Life, Your Latest Trick, and Ride Across the River. Their debut album Dire Straits (Oct. 7, 1978) sell 6M copies (2M in the U.S.), and features Sultans of Swing (#5 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.). Album #2 Communique (Communiqué) (June 15, 1979) (#11 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) (first to enter the German charts at #1) sell 7M copies (3.6M in the U.S.), and features Communique, Lady Writer, and Once Upon a Time in the West. Album #3 Making Movies (Oct. 7. 1980) (#19 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 6M copies, and features Tunnel of Love (#54 in the U.K.), Romeo and Juliet (#8 in the U.K.), Skateaway (#58 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.), and Solid Rock. Album #4 Love Over Gold (Sept. 20, 1982) sells 5M copies, and features Private Investigations (#2 in the U.K.), and Industrial Disease (#75 in the U.S.); the song "Private Dancer" is given to Tina Turner after they decided it needs a female voice. The EP ExtendedancEPlay (Jan. 10, 1983), first with new drummer Terence "Terry Williams (1949-) features Twisting By the Pool. Album #6 (last) On Every Street (Sept. 10, 1991) (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies (1M in the U.S.), and features Calling Elvis, Heavy Fuel, On Every Street, and The Bug. After a world tour in 1992 they disbands in 1995, after which on Mar. 26, 1996 Mark Knopfler releases his solo debut album Golden Heart, which features the tracks Darling Pretty, Cannibals, Rudiger (Rüdiger), and Don't You Get It.

a-ha

On June 1, 1985 the Norwegian New Wave band a-ha, composed of Morten Harket (1959-) (vocals), Magne "Mags" Furuholmen (1962-) (keyboards), and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (Pal Waaktaar Gamst) (1961-) (guitar) release their debut album Hunting High and Low (#15 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K., #1 in 36 countries), which sells 10M copies worldwide, and features the tracks The Sun Always Shines on TV (#1 in the U.K., #20 in the U.S.), Train of Thought (#8 in the U.K.), Hunting High and Low (#5 in the U.K.), and Take on Me (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) (the video is inspired by the animated film "Commuter" by Michael Patterson, plus the film "Altered States", and starts out with actress Buny Bailey reading a comic book about motorcycle racing in a London cafe, after which Harket reaches his B&W cartoon hand through her comic book and pulls her into an animated fantasy world). Album #2 Scoundrel Days (Oct. 6, 1986) (#74 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features I've Been Losing You (#8 in the U.K.), Cry Wolf (#50 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and Manhattan Skyline (#13 in the U.K.). Album #4 East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Oct. 22, 1990) sell 3M copies worldwide, and features the track Crying in the Rain, which by this time wasn't even charting in the U.S., causing them to stop releasing albums there, while remaining popular in Europe. After releasing album #9 in 2009, they disbands in 2010.

The Dead Milkmen The Dead Milkmen Logo 'Big Lizard in My Backyard' by The Dead Milkmen, 1985 'Punk Rock Girl' by The Dead Milkmen, 1988

In June 1985 the Philly-based punk rock band The Dead Milkmen, incl. Anthony Joseph "Joe" Genaro (AKA Joe Jack Talcum) (1962-) (vocals), Rodney Linderman (Anonymous) (keyboards), Dave Schulthise (Blood) (1956-2004)/Dan Stevens (bass), and Dean "Clean" Sabatino (drums) release their debut album Big Lizard in My Backyard, which features the tracks Big Lizard in My Backyard, and V.F.W. (Veterans of a Fucked-Up World). Album #2 Eat Your Paisley (1986) features The Thing That Only Eats Hippies, Beach Party Vietnam, and KKSuck2. Album #3 Bucky Fellini (1987) features Big Time Operator, Instant Club Hit (You'll Dance to Anything), and Watching Scotty Die. Album #4 Beelzebubba (1987) features their biggest hit Punk Rock Girl. Album #5 Metaphysical Graffiti (1990) features Methodist Coloring Book. Album #6 Soul Rotation (1992), first with Hollywood Records features Silly Dreams. Album #7 Not Richard, But Dick (Oct. 12, 1993) features I Dream of Jesus. Album #8 (last) Stoney's Extra Stout (Pig) (Oct. 24, 1995) features Crystalline. After breaking up in 1995, they reformed in 2008 and releases album #9 The King in Yellow on Mar. 19, 2011, which features Meaningless Upbeat Happy Song, and Fauxhemia,

On Sept. 22, 1985 top rock and country performers incl. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp appear in the 14-hour Farm Aid in Champaign, Ill.

Mike + the Mechanics

On Oct. 5, 1985 the English pop-rock supergroup Mike + the Mechanics, incl. Paul Carrack (1951-) (vocals) (of Ace), Michael John Cleote Crawford "Mike" Rutherford (1950-) (bass) (of Genesis), Paul Young (1947-2000) (vocals) (of Sad Cafe), Adrian Lee (1957-) (keyboards), and Peter "Pete" Van Hooke (1950-) (drums) release their debut album Mike + the Mechanics (#26 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Silent Running (#6 in the U.S.), All I Need Is A Miracle (#5 in the U.S.), and Taken In (#32 in the U.S.). Album #2 Living Years (Nov. 1988) (#13 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Living Years (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and Nobody's Perfect (#63 in the U.S.). Album #3 Word of Mouth (Apr. 2, 1991) (#11 in the U.K.) features Word of Mouth (#78 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.). Album #4 Beggar On a Beach of Gold (Mar. 7, 1995) features Over My Shoulder (#12 in the U.K.), and Another Cup of Coffee. Album #7 The Road (Apr. 18, 2011), the first without Paul Carrack features The Road.

Falco (1957-98)

On Oct. 15, 1985 Vienna-born Austrian singer Falco (Johann "Hans" Hölzel) (1957-98) releases album #3 Falco 3 (#3 in the U.S.), which features Vienna Calling (#18 in the U.S.), and the 1-hit wonder Rock Me Amadeus (#1 in the U.S.) (first/only German language song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Mar. 29, 1986). He goes on to sell 20M albums and 40M singles, becoming the #1 Austrian singer in history (until ?).

LL Cool J (1968-)

On Nov. 19, 1985 St. Albans, Queens, N.Y. rapper LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) (James Todd Smith III) (1968-) releases his debut album Radio (#46 in the U.S.), which goes platinum, along with all succeeding albums until 1993; it features the tracks I Can't Live Without My Radio, I Can Give You More, and Rock the Bells. Album #2 Bigger and Deffer (July 22, 1987) (#3 in the U.S.) features I'm Bad (#84 in the U.S.), I Need Love (#14 in the U.S.), and Go Cut Creator Go. Album #3 Walking with a Panther (June 9, 1989) features Goin Back to Cali, I'm That Type of Guy, Jingling Baby, and Big Ole Butt.

Fine Young Cannibals

On Dec. 10, 1985 the English (Birmingham) group Fine Young Cannibals, (named after the 1960 Robert Wagner-Natalie Wood film "All the Fine Young Cannibals") fronted by Roland Lee Gift (1961-), along with Andrew "Andy" Cox (1956-) (guitar), and David "Shuffle" Steele (1960-) (bass, keyboards, drums) (from The English Beat) release their debut album Fine Young Cannibals, containing the tracks Johnny Come Home, and Suspicious Minds. On Feb. 20, 1989 they release their 2nd and last album The Raw & the Cooked (#1 in the U.S.), named after a book by French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, which sold 2M copies, and incl. the hit tracks She Drives Me Crazy (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), Good Thing (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), Don't Look Back, I'm Not Satisfied, and Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) (by the Buzzcocks) - a fine ending for the 1980s, trying to sound 1963 Baltimore with English multiracial punk attitude.

In 1985 WMMQ-AM in Charlotte, Mich. becomes the first classic rock station, spawning a ton of copycats.

Faith No More

In 1985 the San Francisco, Calif.-based alternative rock band Faith No More, incl. Michael Morris/ Courtney Love/ Chuck Mosley (vocals), Mark Bowen/ Jim Martin, Billy Gould (bass), Wade Worthington/Roddy Bottum (keyboards), and Mike Bordin (drums) release their debut album We Care A Lot (album) (debut), pioneering alternative metal, and influencing nu metal. Album #2 Introduce Yourself (Apr. 1987) features We Care A Lot, and Annie's Song. Album #3 The Real Thing (album #3) (June 20) (#11 in the U.S.); incl. From Out of Nowhere (#23 in the U.K.) (makes fun of glam bands), Epic (#9 in the U.S.), Surprise! You're Dead!, Falling to Pieces (#92 in the U.S.). Album #4 Angel Dust (June 8, 1992) (#10 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features Easy (#58 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), Midlife Crisis (#10 in the U.K.), A Small Victory (#29 in the U.K.), and Everything's Ruined (#28 in the U.K.). Album #5 King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime (Mar. 28, 1995) (#8 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), first without Jim Martin features Digging the Grave (#16 in the U.K.), Ricochet (#27 in the U.K.), and Evidence (#32 in the U.K.). Album #6 (last) Album of the Year (June 3, 1997) (#41 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and is the first with Jon Hudson, after which they break up in Apr. 1998; it features Ashes to Ashes (#23 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), Last Cup of Sorrow (#14 in the U.S., #51 in the U.K.), and Stripsearch. Meanwhile there is a nasty Faith No More vs. Red Hot Chili Peppers fan war, in parallel with a nasty Megadeth vs. Metallica fan war, we care a lot.

Katrina and the Waves

In 1985 the English (Cambridge) pop rock band Katrina and the Waves, incl. Katrina Leskanich (1960-) (vocals), Kimberley Rew (1951-) (guitar), Vince de la Cruz (bass), and Alex Cooper (drums) releases album #3 Katrina and the Waves (#28 in the U.K.), which features their 1-hit wonder Walking on Sunshine (#9 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), along with Do You Want Crying (#37 in the U.S.). After sinking off the charts, they makes a surprise comeback with another 1-hit wonder in the U.K. in 1997 Love Shine a Light (#3 in the U.K.). Don't even think of mentioning Hurricane Katrina to them.

Natalie Merchant (1963-) 10,000 Maniacs

In 1985 10,000 Maniacs of Jamestown, N.Y., fronted by Natalie Anne O'Shea Merchant (1963-), and incl. Dennis Drew (1957-) (keyboards), Steve Gustafson (1957-) (bass), Chet Cardinale (drums), Robert N. "Rob" Buck (1958-) (guitar), and Terry Newhouse (vocals) release their debut album The Wishing Chair, which didn't do to well. Album #3 In My Tribe (July 27, 1987) (#37 in the U.S.) features Like the Weather (#37 in the U.S.), What's the Matter Here? (#80), and Hey Jack Kerouac. Album #4 Blind Man's Zoo (May 16, 1989) (#13 in the U.S.) features Eat for Two (#12), and Trouble Me (#20). Album #6 MTV Unplugged (Oct. 26, 1993) (#13 in the U.S.) is the last with Natalie Merchant, who is replaced by Mary Ramsey (1963-); it features the track Because the Night (by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen) (#7 in the U.S.). On June 20, 1995 Natalie Anne O'Shea Merchant (1963-) releases her debut album Tigerlily (#13 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Carnival (#10), Wonder (#20), and Jealousy. Album #2 Ophelia (May 19, 1998) (#8 in the U.S.) features Kind and Generous, King of May (tribute to Allen Ginsberg), and My Skin.

The Dream Academy

In 1985 the English (London) folk rock band The Dream Academy, incl. Nick Laird-Clowes (1957-), Katherine Elinor Margaret "Kate" St. John (1957-), and Gilbert Alexander Gabriel (1956-) release their 1-hit wonder Life in a Northern Town (#7 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.).

'Til Tuesday

In 1985 the Boston, Mass.-based New Wave band 'Til Tuesday, incl. ratted-bleached Aimee Mann (1960-) (vocals, bass), Robert Holmes (guitar), Joey Pesce (keyboards), and Michael Hausman (drums) release their debut album Voices Carry (#19 in the U.S.), which features Voices Carry (#8 in the U.S.), and Love in a Vacuum. In 1986 they release album #2 Welcome Home (#49 in the U.S.), which features What About Love (#26 in the U.S.). In 1988 they release album #3 (last) Everything's Different Now, which features J for Jules.

Rock am Ring

In 1985 the first Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals are held in Nurburgring and Nuremberg, Germany, respectively, becoming the largest music festivals in Germany, with 150K attendance in 2007.

Pet Shop Boys

On Mar. 24, 1986 the English electronic dance music duo The Pet Shop Boys, of crypto-gay buds Chris Sean Lowe (1959-) and Neil Francis Tennant (1954-) (who came out in 1994) release their debut album Please (title chosen so that customers could ask the record shop employee "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album Please") which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks West End Girls, Opportunities (Let's makes Lots of Money), Suburbia, and Love Comes Quickly. Album #3 Actually (Sept. 7, 1987) sell 4M copies, and features It's a Sin, and Heart. Album #4 Introspective (Oct. 11, 1988) sold 4.5M copies, and features Always On My Mind. Album #5 Very (Sept. 27, 1993) sold 5M copies, and features Can You Forgive Her?, Liberation, and Yesterday, When I is Mad. Album #10 Bilingual (Sept. 2, 1996) sells 1M copies, and features Single Bilingual. They go on to sell 100M albums.

New Kids on the Block

On Apr. 1, 1986 the bubblegum rock boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) release their debut album New Kids on the Block (#25 in the U.S.), which features the track Be My Girl. From Boston, Mass., they are forms by producer Maurice "the General" Starr (1953-), and incl. Jordan Knight (1970-) and his brother Jonathan Knight (1968-), Joseph Mulrey "Joey" McIntyre (1972-), Donald Edmond "Donnie" Wahlberg Jr. (1969-), andDaniel William "Danny" Wood Jr. (1969-). They go on to sell 70M albums before disbanding in 1994, then reunited in 2007, despite not being so new anymore.

Nu Shooz

On May 5, 1986 Portland, Ore.-based Nu Shooz, fronted by John Smith and Valerie Day releases album #3 Poolside (#27 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.), which sells 500K copies, and features the hit singles I Can't Wait (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and Point of No Return (#28 in the U.S., #48 in the U.K.).

Europe

On May 26, 1986 the Swedish hard rock band Europe, original name Force, fronted by Joey Tempest (Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson) (1963-) (vocals), along with John Norum (1964-) (guitar), Peter Olsson (bass), and Tony Reno (Niemisto) (1963-) (drums) releases album #3 The Final Countdown (#8 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks The Final Countdown, Love Chaser, Rock the Night, Carrie, and Cherokee. Album #4 Out of This World (Aug. 9, 1988) (#19 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Superstitious, Open Your Heart, Let the Good Times Rock, Tomorrow, More Than Meets the Eye, and Sign of the Times. They go on to sell 20M albums worldwide.

Cinderella

On Aug. 2, 1986 the Philadelphia, Penn.-based glam rock band Cinderella, incl. Carl Thomas "Tom" Keifer (1961-) (vocals), Eric Brittingham (1960-) (bass), Jeffrey Philip "Jeff" LaBar (1963-) (guitar), and Fred Coury (1966-) (drums) release their debut album Night Songs (#3 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks Nobody's Fool (#13 in the U.S.), and Somebody Save Me (#66 in the U.S.), helped by having an opening slot on Bon Jovi's tour since they shared the same record label Mercury Records. Album #2 Long Cold Winter (May 21, 1988) (#10 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features Don't Know What You gets (Till It's Gone) (#12 in the U.S.), The Last Mile (#36 in the U.S.), Coming Home (#20 in the U.S.), and Gypsy Road (#51 in the U.S.). Album #3 Heartbreak Station (Nov. 20, 1990) sells 1M copies, and features Heartbreak Station (#44 in the U.S.), Shelter Me (#36 in the U.S.), and The More Things Change. Album #4 (last) Still Climbing (Nov. 8, 1994) (#178 in the U.S.) is kills by grunge, which pulled the ladder out from under them, making the covert art of a ladder to heaven highly ironic; it features Bad Attitude Shuffle, Hard to Find the Words, and Hot and Bothered (from the 1992 film Wayne's World).

Bon Jovi

On Aug. 18, 1986 the rock band Bon Jovi, from Sayreville, N.J., fronted by Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi Jr.) (1962-) releases album #3 Slippery When Wet, which features the tracks You Give Love a Bad Name, Livin' on a Prayer, and Wanted Dead or Alive. Album #4 New Jersey (Sept. 19, 1988) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Bad Medicine, Lay Your Hands on Me, I'll Be There for You, Born to Be My Baby, and Living in Sin. In 1990 Jon Bon Jovi releases Blaze of Glory, from the film "Young Guns II". Album #5 Keep the Faith (Nov. 3, 1992) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Keep the Faith, Bed of Roses, In These Arms, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, and I Believe. Album #7 Crush (June 13, 2000) (#9 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 11M copies worldwide), and features It's My Life, Say It Isn't So, and Thank You for Loving Me. Album #8 Bounce (Oct. 8, 2002) (#2 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Bounce, Everyday, Misunderstood, and All About Lovin' You. Album #9 Have A Nice Day (Sept. 20, 2005) (#2 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sells 1.5M copies in the U.S., and features Have A Nice Day, and Who Says You Can't Go Home. They sells 130M albums.

Roxette

On Oct. 31, 1986 the Swedish singing duo Roxette, Marie (Gun-Marie) Fredriksson (1958-) and Per Hakan Gessle (1959-) release their debut album Pearls of Passion. Album #2 Look Sharp! (Oct. 19, 1988) (#23 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 9M copies), making them into internat. stars; it features the tracks The Look, Chances, Dressed for Success, Listen to Your Heart, and Dangerous. Album #3 Joyride (Mar. 28, 1991) (#12 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sells 11M copies worldwide, and features Joyride (#1 in the U.S.), Fading Like a Flower, The Big L, Spending My Time, and Church of Your Heart.

Q Magazine

In Oct. 1986 Q music mag. is founded in the U.K. by Mark Ellen and David Hepworth (1950-).

They Might Be Giants "

On Nov. 4, 1986 Brooklyn, N.Y.-based alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, incl. John Conant "Flansy" Flansburgh (1960-) and John Sidney Linnell (1959-) releases its debut album They Might Be Giants (The Pink Album) , which features the tracks Don't Let's Start, and (She is A) Hotel Detective. Album #2 (Sept. 25, 1988) Lincoln (named after their hometown of Lincoln, Mass.) features Ana Ng, They'll Need a Crane, and Purple Toupee. Album #3 (Jan. 15, 1990) Flood (#75 in the U.S.) (#14 in the U.K.) (1.M copies) (first on Elektra Records) features Birdhouse in Your Soul (#3 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Istanbul (Not Constantinople), and Twisting. In 2002 they release the single Boss of Me (#21 in the U.K.), the theme song for the TV series "Malcolm in the Middle". They go on to release 17 studio albums and sell 4M records.

Sepultura

On Nov. 10, 1986 the Brazilian (Belo Horizonte) thrash metal band Sepultura, fronted by Max and Igor Cavalera release their debut album Morbid Visions, which features the tracks Bestial Devastation, and Antichrist. Album #2 Schizophrenia (Oct. 30, 1987) is the first with lead guitarist Andreas Rudolf Kisser (1968-), and features RIP (Rest In Pain). Album #3 Beneath the Remains (Sept. 5, 1989) features Beneath the Remains. Album #4 Arise (Mar. 20, 1991) (#119 in the U.S.) features Arise, Dead Embryonic Cells, Under Siege (Regnum Irae), and Orgasmatron. Album #5 Chaos A.D. (Sept. 2, 1993) (#32 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) helped found the groove metal genre, and features Refuse/Resist, Territory, and Slave New World. Album #6 Roots (album #6) (Feb. 20, 1996) (#27 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) is the last with Max Cavalera, introducing vocalists Jonathan Davis and Mike Patton; it features Roots Bloody Roots, Attitude, and Ratamahatta. Album #7 Against (Oct. 6, 1998) (#82 in the U.S.) introduced front man Cleveland, Ohio-born Derrick Leon Green (1971-), and features Against, Choke, and Tribus. Album #8 Nation (Mar. 20, 2001) (#134 in the U.S.) features Vox Populi. Album #9 Roorback (May 27, 2003) features Mind War, and Leech. Album #10 Dante XXI (Mar. 13, 2006), based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy features Convicted in Life. Album #11 A-Lex (Jan. 23, 2009) features We've Lost You. Album #12 Kairos (June 24, 2011) features Kairos. They sell 20M records worldwide, incl. 3M in the U.S.

The Beastie Boys

On Nov. 15, 1986 the New York City hop hop trio The Beastie Boys, Michael "Mike D" Diamond (1966-), Adam Nathanial "MCA" Yauch (1964-), and Adam Keefe "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (1966-) (all upper-class Jews) release their debut album Licensed to Ill (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 9M copies and becomes the best-selling rap/hip-hop album of the decade, and the first to go #1 on Billboard. They are one of the first groups to call themselves "gangsters" and focus on the fun things like violence, empty sex and drug abuse. Hit tracks incl. (You Gottta) Fight for Your Right (to Party), and Girls. In 1993 they begin publishing Grand Royal Mag.. The 1995 issue contained an article on the mullet for their song Mullet Head ("Number one on the side and don't touch the back/Number six on the top and don't cut it wack."), becoming the first pub. use of the term; the mag. also give the British band Sneaker Pimps their name. Album #4 Ill Communication (May 24, 1994) (#1 in the U.S.) features the tracks Sabotage, Get It Together (w/Q-tip), Sure Shot, and Mullet Head. They go on to sell 40M albums worldwide.

Fishbone

On Nov. 30, 1986 the LA-based all-black soul-funk-ska alternative rock band Fishbone (formed in 1979), incl. Angelo Moore (sax, vocals), Walter A. Kibby II (trumpet, vocals), Kendall Jones (guitar), Chris Dowd (keyboards), John Norwood Fisher (bass), and Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums) release their debut album In Your Face, which features the track When Problems Arise. Album #2 Truth and Soul (Sept. 13, 1988) (#153 in the U.S.) features Freddie's Dead by Curtis Mayfield. The single Lyin' Ass Bitch (Jan. 24, 1989) was played during the exit of Republican pres. candidate Michele Bachmann (1956-) on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Nov. 21, 2011, pissing her off. Album #3 The Reality of My Surroundings (Apr. 23, 1991) (#49 in the U.S.) features Sunless Saturday, and Everyday Sunshine. Album #4 Give A Monkey A Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe (May 25, 1993) (#99 in the U.S.) (title is a quote from "Principia Discordia"), a switch to heavy metal, and features Swim. Album #5 Chim Chim's Badass Revente (May 21, 1996), first without Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd features Chim Chim's Badass Revenge, Riot, and Psychologically Overcast. The album Still Stuck In Your Throat (Oct. 16, 2006), first with Rocky George (guitar), Dre Gipson (keyboard, vocals), and Curtis Storey (trumpet, vocals) features Let Dem Ho's Fight.

Salt-N-Pepa

On Dec. 8, 1986 the female rap duo Salt-N-Pepa, from Queens, N.Y., consisting of Cheryl "Salt" James (Wray) (1964-) (the shorter one) and Sandra "Pepa" Denton (1964-), plus DJ Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper (AKA Spinderella) (1971-) release their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious, which features their big hit track Push It (#19 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), along with My Mic Sound Nice, and Tramp. Album #2 A Salt With a Deadly Pepa (Aug. 2, 1988) (#38 in the U.S.) features Shake Your Thang, Everybody Get Up, and Twist And Shout (by Phil Medley and Bert Russell) (#4 in the U.K.). Album #3 Blacks' Magic (Mar. 19, 1990) (#38 in the U.S.) features Let's Talk About Sex (#13 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), You Showed Me (#47 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), Expression (#26 in the U.S, #23 in the U.K.), and Do You Want Me. Album #4 Very Necessary (Oct. 12, 1993) (#34 in the U.S.) sell 7M copies (5M in the U.S.), becoming the first female rape, er, rap act to go multi-platinum; it features Shoop (#4 in the U.S.), Whatta Man (w/En Vogue) (#3 in the U.S.), and None of Your Business.

Debbie Gibson (1970-)

In Dec. 1986 Brooklyn, N.Y.-born singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson (1970-) releases her debut single Only in My Dreams (Dec.) (debut). Her debut album Out of the Blue (Aug. 18, 1988) (#7 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies (3M in the U.S.), and features the tracks Foolish Beat (#1 in the U.S.) (youngest female to write, record and perform a Billboard #1 single until ?), Shake Your Love (#4 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), Only in My Dreams, Out of the Blue, Staying Together, and Red Hot. Album #2 Electric Youth (Jan. 24, 1989) (#1 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Lost in Your Eyes (#1 in the U.S.), Electric Youth (#11 in the U.S.), No More Rhyme (#17 in the U.S.), and We Could Be Together (#71 in the U.S.).

Joe Satriani (1956-)

In 1986 Westbury, N.Y.-born rock guitarist Joseph "Joe" Satriani (1956-) (teacher of Steve Vai) releases his debut album Not Of This Earth, which features the track Rubina. Album #2 Surfing With the Alien (Oct. 1987) (#29 in the U.S.) features Surfing with the Alien, Satch Boogie, and Always With Me, Always With You. Album #3 Flying in a Blue Dream (Oct. 30, 1989) features Flying in A Blue Dream, and The Crush of Love. Album #4 The Extremist (July 21, 1992) features Summer Song, and War.

The Smithereens

In 1986 the Carteret, N.J.-based rock band The Smithereens, incl. Pat DiNizio (1955-) (vocals), Jim Babjak (1957-) (guitar), Mike Mesaros (bass), and Dennis Diken (1957-) (drums), all from the 1975 class of Carteret High School in N.J., known for their "Beatles meets AC/DC" sound release their first studio album Especially for You, which features the track Blood and Roses, used in the 1986 film "Dangerously Close" and the 1997 film "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion". Album #2 Green Thoughts (Mar. 16, 1988) features Only A Memory. Album #3 11 (album #3) (Oct. 18, 1989) is named for the film "Ocean's Eleven", and the quote "This one goes to 11" by Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel) in the 1984 film "This is Spinal Tap"; it features A Girl Like You.

Timbuk3 'Head of the Class', 1986-91

In 1986 the post-punk band Timbuk3, from Madison, Wisc., consisting of marries team Pat MacDonald (1952-) and Barbara K. MacDonald (1958-) plus a beat box release their debut album Greetings from Timbuk 3, which features the track Life Is Hard, and their 1-hit wonder The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades) (#19 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.) ("I started nuclear science, I love my classes, I gets a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses.") The song gets a boost from the ABC-TV series Head of the Class, which ran from Sept. 17, 1986 to June 25, 1991. They later divorces, and Barbara K. pursued a solo career in Austin, Tex.

Uptown Records

In 1986 Uptown Records is founded by Andre Harrell, going on to sign hip hop and R&B acts incl. Heavy D (Dwight Myers) (1967-), The Boyz, and Mary Jane Blige (1971-).

Public Enemy

On Jan. 26, 1987 the Roosevelt, N.Y.-based hip hop group Public Enemy, incl. Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) (1960-), Flavor Flav (William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) (1959-), Professor Griff, and DJ Lord release their debut album Yo! Bum Rush the Show (#125 in the U.S.), which features the track You're Gonna Get Yours. Album #2 It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Apr. 14, 1988) (#42 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) becomes very influential; it features Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads, Bring the Noise, and Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos. Album #3 Fear of a Black Planet (Apr. 10, 1990) (#10 in the U.S.) features Fear of a Black Planet ("Man you ain't gotta worry 'bout a thing 'bout your daughter, nah she ain't my type. But supposin' she said she loved me, are you afraid of the mix of black and white, we're living in a land where the law say the mixing of race makes the blood impure. She's a woman I'm a man but by the look on your face see ya can't stand it... Excuse us for the news, I question those accused, why is this fear of black from white influence who you choose?"), Fight the Power, Anti-Nigger Machine ("Instead of peace the police just wanna wreck and flex on the kid. What I did is try to be the best so they fingered the trigger, figured I is a bigger nigger, and started to search"), 911 Is a Joke, and Burn, Hollywood, Burn (w/Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane). Album #4 Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Back (Oct. 3, 1991) (#4 in the U.S.) features Bring the Noise (w/Anthrax). After this they begin to tank.

Suzanne Vega (1959-)

On Apr. 1, 1987 Santa Monica, Calif.-born, Upper West Side, New York City-raised Greenwich Village singer Suzanne Nadine Vega (1959-) releases album #2 Solitude Standing (#11 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Luka (#3 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.), Solitude Standing (#94 in the U.S.), and Tom's Diner. Album #4 99.9 Degrees Fahrenheit (Sept. 8, 1992) (#86 in the U.S.) features Blood Makes Noise (#1 in the U.S.).

Testament

Speaking of grabbing by the Old Testament. On Apr. 21, 1987 the Berkeley, Calif.-based thrash metal band Testament, originally Legacy, incl. Chuck Billy (1962-) (vocals), Alexander Nathan "Alex" Skolnick (1968-) (guitar), Eric Peterson (1964-) (guitar), Greg Christian (1966-) (bass), and Louie Clemente (1965-) (drums) release their debut album The Legacy, which features the track The Haunting. Album #2 The New Order (May 10, 1988) features Trial by Fire, and The Preacher. Album #3 Practice What You Preach (Aug. 8, 1989) features Practice What You Preach, and The Ballad. Album #4 Souls of Black (Oct. 9, 1990) features Souls of Black. Album #5 The Ritual (May 12, 1992) (#55 in the U.S.), last with Louie Clemente and Alex Skolnick features Electric Crown. Album #6 Low (Oct. 4, 1994), last with Greg Christian, and first with James Franklin Murphy (1967-) (guitar) and John Tempesta (1964-) (drums) features Urotsukidoji. Album #7 Demonic (June 24, 1997) features John Doe, and Nostrovia. Album #8 The Gathering (June 8, 1999) features Riding the Snake, and Fall of Sipledome. Album #9 The Formation of Damnation (Apr. 28, 20089) (#59 in the U.S.) features original guitarist Alex Skolnick and bassist Greg Christian, along with drummer Paul Bostaph (1964-); it features The Formation of Damnation.

In June 1987 Billy Joel tours the Soviet Union, becoming one of the first U.S. rock acts to play there, ending up losing $1M. On July 4 promoter Bill Graham takes Santana, the not-really-brothers Doobie Brothers, and Bonnie Raitt to Moscow for a U.S.-Soviet Interdependence Peace Concert. In Dec. Uriah Heep becomes the first Western rock group to play in the Soviet Union, followed by the Scorpions next year.

Faster Pussycat

On July 7, 1987 the LA-based glam sleaze rock band Faster Pussycat, incl. Taime Downe (Gustave Molvik) (1964-) (vocals), Greg Steele (guitar), Brent Muscat (1967-) (guitar), Kelly Nickels (1962-) (bass), and Mark Michals (drums) release their debut album Faster Pussycat (#97 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Don't Change That Song, Bathroom Wall, and Babylon. Album #2 Wake Me When It's Over (Sept. 6, 1989) (#48 in the U.S.) is the debut of Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali (1951-) after Mark Michals is fired for heroin possession; it features House of Pain (#28 in the U.S.), Poison Ivy, and Slip of the Tongue. Album #3 Whipped (Aug. 4, 1992) features Nonstop to Nowhere.

Eric B. & Rakim

On July 7, 1987 New York City-based hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, DJ Eric Barrier (1965-) and MC Rakim (William Michael Griffin Jr.) release their debut album Paid in Full (#58 in the U.S.), which is a landmark in hip hop, selling 1M copies; it features the tracks Paid in Full, Eric B. Is President, I Ain't No Joke, and I Know You gets Soul. Album #2 Follow the Leader (July 25, 1988) (#22 in the U.S.) sells 500K copies in the U.S., and features Follow the Leader, and Microphone Fiend. Album #3 Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (May 25, 1990) features Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em, and In the Ghetto. Album #4 (last) Don't Sweat the Technique (June 23, 1992) (#22 in the U.S.) features Don't Sweat the Technique, Casualties of War, and Juice (Know the Ledge).

Guns N' Roses

On July 21, 1987 the Hollywood, Calif.-based rock group Guns N' Roses, composed of Axl Rose (1962-) (anagram for oral sex) (vocals), Slash (Saul Hudson) (1965-) (guitar), Daren Jay Ashba (1972-), and Steven "Steve" Adler (1965-) (drums) release their debut album Appetite for Destruction, becoming the best-selling debut album in history (#2 is Boston's debut album), going on to sell 28M copies. It features hit tracks Welcome to the Jungle, It's So Easy, Sweet Child o' Mine, Paradise City, and Nightrain. The EP Live from the Jungle (1988) contained the track Knockin' on Heaven's Door (by Bob Dylan). On Aug. 20, 1988 the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England sees the crowd of 107K mob Guns N' Roses, causing two fans to be trampled to death, gaining the band the title of "world's most dangerous band". Album #2 Guns N' R Lies (Nov. 29, 1988) sell 21M copies, and features the track Mama Kin (by Aerosmith), Patience, and One in a Million. On July 2, 1991 a Guns N' Roses concert at Riverport Amphitheater in Maryland Heights (outside St. Louis), Mo. gets violent after lead singer Axl Rose dives off the stage to confront a fan, causing an hour-long melee injuring 60 and causing $200K damage, and getting Axl charged with inciting (later drops); the album cover of "Use Your Illusion" later contains a hidden message "Fuck You, St. Louis!" Album #3 Use Your Illusion I (Sept. 17, 1991) (#2 in the U.S.) features the tracks Don't Cry, Live and Let Die (by Paul and Linda McCartney), and November Rain. Album #4 Use Your Illusion II (Sept. 17, 1991) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), their last with original material sell 25M copies, and features the tracks You Could Be Mine, Yesterdays, Civil War, and Estranged.

Rick Astley (1966-)

On July 27, 1987 English singer Richard Paul "Rick" Astley (1966-) releases his big worldwide #1 hit Never Gonna Give You Up, followed on Nov. 16, 1987 by his debut album Whenever You Need Somebody (#7 in the U.K.), which sells 15M copies worldwide. He retired in 1993 after selling 40M records worldwide. In 2007 the Internet phenomenon of Rickrolling, disguising hyperlinks to the "Never Gonna Give You Up" song in order to bait them to it began.

Kylie Minogue (1968-)

On July 28, 1987 Australian singer-actress Kylie Ann Minogue (1968-) releases her debut single The Locomotion by Gerry Goffin and Carole King (#3 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K., #1 in Australia), which becomes the highest-selling single of the 1980s in Australia. Her debut album Kylie (July 4, 1988) (#53 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and features the tracks I Should Be So Lucky, Got To Be Certain, Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi, It's No Secret, and Turn It Into Love. Album #2 Enjoy Yourself (Oct. 9, 1989) (#1 in the U.K.) (1M copies) features Hand on Your Heart (#1 in the U.K.), Wouldn't Change a Thing (#2 in the U.K.), Never Too Late (#4 in the U.K.), and Tears on My Pillow (#2 in the U.S.). Album #3 Rhythm of Love (Nov. 12, 1990) (#9 in the U.K.) features Better the Devil You Know, Step Back in Time, What Do I Have to Do?, and Shocked. Album #4 Let's Get To It (Oct. 14, 1991) (#15 in the U.K.) features Word Is Out, If You are With me Now (w/Keith Washington), Give Me Just a Little More Time, and Finer Feelings. Album #4 Kylie Minogue (Sept. 19, 1994) (#4 in the U.K.) features Confide in Me, Put Yourself in My Place, and Where Is the Feeling? Album #6 Impossible Princess (Nov. 1, 1997) (#10 in the U.K.) features Some Kind of Bliss, Breathe, and Cowboy Style. Album #7 Light Years (Sept. 25, 2000) (#2 in the U.K., #1 in Australia) features Spinning Around, On a Night Like This, Please Stay, and Your Disco Needs You. Album #8 Fever (Oct. 1, 2001) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K., #1 in Australia) features Can't Get You Out of My Head (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), In Your Eyes (#3 in the U.K.), Love At First Sight (#23 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), and Come Into My World (#91 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.). Album #9 Body Language (Nov. 20, 2003) ($2 in the U.K., #6 in the U.K.) features Slow, Red Blooded Woman, and Chocolate. Album #10 X (Nov. 21, 2007) (#4 in the U.K., #1 in Australia) features 2 Hearts, In My Arms, Wow, All I See, and The One. Album #11 Aphrodite (June 30, 2010) (#19 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features All the Lovers, Get Outta My Way, Better Than Today, and Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love).

Great White 'Once Bitten' by Great White, 1987

Speaking of great white sharks. In July 1987 the LA hard rock band Great White, originally Dante Fox, fronted by Jack Russell (1960-), and featuring guitarist Mark Kendall (known for his naturally white-blonde hair, and for dressing all in white, complete with white Fender Telecaster guitar and white Capezio shoes), Michael Lardie (keyboards), Lorne Black (bass), and Audie Desbrow/Gary Holland (1958-) (drums) releases album #3 Once Bitten... (#23 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies, and features the tracks Rock Me (#60 in the U.S.), and Save Your Love (#57 in the U.S.). Album #4 ...Twice Shy (Apr. 12, 1989) (#9 in the U.S.) features Once Bitten, Twice Shy (#5 in the U.S.), The Angel Song (#30 in the U.S.), Mista Bone (#27 in the U.S.), and House of Broken Love (#83 in the U.S.). Album #5 Hooked (Feb. 26, 1992) (#18 in the U.S.) features Call It Rock n' Roll, Heartbreaker, and The Original Queen of Sheba. On Feb. 20, 2003 a 100-fatality nightclub fire in The Station in West Warwick, R.I. is sets off by pyrotechnics igniting flammable soundproofing foagrem as the heavy metal band Great White begins their sets and a TV cameraman is filming footage for a story on safety in public places; the nightclub had no sprinklers because state laws don't require any for Class C venues (with a capacity of less than 300 people), but lead vocalist Jack Russell refused to play unless there is a guarantee of 500?; Great White guitarist Ty Longley dies in the blaze; on Dec. 9 Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of the nightclub and Daniel Biechele (26), the tour manager of Great White are indicted; in Feb. 2006 Biechele pleads guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, and on May 10, 2006 is sentenced to a light four years, stirring outrage from victims' families; on Sept. 29, 2006 owner Michael Derderian (1961-) receives four years, and his brother Jeffrey Derderian (1967-) gets no time from Judge Frances Darigan, all without a trial, causing outrage by victims' relatives. They are still going in 2009, releasing album #11 Rising (Mar. 13, 2009), which features I Don't Mind.

Tiffany (1971-)

On Sept. 15, 1987 16-y.-o. Norwalk, Calif.-raised redheaded singer Tiffany (Tiffany Renee Darwish)(1971-) releases her debut album Tiffany (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 4.1M copies in the U.S. afer she promoted it on a shopping mall tour around the U.S.; it features a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' I Think We're Alone Now (#1 in the U.S.), Could've Been (#1 in the U.S.), and I Saw Him Standing There (by the Beatles). Album #2 Hold An Old Friend's Hand (Nov. 1988) (#17 in the U.S.) features All This Time (#10 in the U.S.). After that she drops off the charts in the Grunge era, while growing up and continuing to release albums.

The Pixies

On Sept. 28, 1987 the Boston, Mass.-based alternative rock band Pixies, incl. Black Francis (Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) (1965-), Kimberley Ann "Kim" Deal (1961-) (bass), David "Dave" Lovering (1961-) (drums), and Joseph Alberto "Joey" Santiago (1965-) (guitar) release their debut album Come on Pilgrim, which features Caribou, and Isla De Encanta. On Mar. 21, 1988 they release album #2 Surfer Rosa on the British label 4AD, which sells 500K copies and helped spawn grunge bands; it features Break My Body, Broken Face, Gigantic, Where Is My Mind? (used in the 1999 film "Fight Club"), and Cactus. On Apr. 18, 1989 they release album #3 Doolittle (#8 in the U.K.), which features Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, and Debaser. On Aug. 13, 1990 they release album #4 Bossanova (#70 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which features Velouria (#4 in the U.S.), Allison, and Dig for Fire (#11 in the U.S.). On Sept. 23, 1991 they release album #5 (last) Trompe le Monde (Fr. "fool the world"), which features Trompe le Monde, Planet of Sound, Alec Eiffel, Head On, and Letter to Memphis. They disbands in 1993, and reuinited in 2004, playing to sold-out world tours. On June 14, 2013 Kim Deal quit the band to work with her band The Breeders, forms with sister Kelly Deal in 1990.

On Oct. 9, 1987 Taylor Hackford's Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll debuts, a tribute to Chuck Berry filmed on his 60th birthday; a pet project of Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who is pissed-off at Mick Jagger's touring solo?

INXS, featuring Michael Hutchence (1960-97) Patti Smith (1946-)

On Oct. 19, 1987 the Australian rock group INXS (pr. "in excess"), fronted by Jim Morrison clone Michael Kelland John Hutchence (1960-97), whose 1980 debut album didn't go anywhere finally hit it big with album #6 Kick, which features the hit tracks Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, New Sensation, and (Never) Tear Us Apart. Album #7 X (Sept. 25, 1990) features Suicide Blonde and Disappear. Too bad, Hutchence committed suicide in his Sydney hotel room on Nov. 22, 1997. At age 15 he was originally turned onto starting his own band by Horses (Nov. 1975) the debut album of New York City punk rock singer ("Godmother of Punk") Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith (1946-); a typical track is Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, with the lyric "Jesus dies for somebody's sins, but not mine" - pshrink that one into your Stipe and smoke it. Her biggest hit is Because the Night (#13 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), co-written with Bruce Springsteen, from the album Easter (Mar. 3, 1978), which also features the tracks Ghost Dance, Rock N Roll Nigger (tribute to Jimi Hendrix?), Privilege (Set Me Free), and Babelogue ("In heart I am a Moslem, in heart I am an American").

Sinéad O'Connor (1966-)

On Nov. 4, 1987 shaved-head Qabala-loving Irish singer Sinead (Sinéad) Marie Bernadette O'Connor (1966-) releases her debut album The Lion and the Cobra (#36 in the U.S.) (#27 in the U.K.), which sells 2.5M copies, and features the tracks Mandinka, I Want Your (Hands on Me), Jerusalem, and Troy. Album #2 I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Mar. 1990) (#1 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.) sells 7M copies, and features the hit track Nothing Compares 2 U (by Prince). Album #3 Am I Not Your Girl? (Sept. 22, 1992) (#27 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) sells 1.5M copies, dedicated to the homeless of New York City and limited to old songs written in 1936-78, with an intro. blasting sex and emotional abuse and addiction, asking "Ou est le roi perdu?" (Where is the lost king. If you're out there I want to see you); it features Why Don't You Do Right?; she goes on to promote the album on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on Oct. 3, 1992, tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II, losing much of her audience. In the late 1990s she is ordained as a Roman Catholic priest by renegade Irish Catholic bishop Michael Cox, changing her name to Mother Bernadette Mary and going on to beg Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis to excommunicate her. In 2017 she changes her name to Magda Davitt to be "free of the patriarchal slave names [and] parental curses." In Oct. 2018, no surprise, she converts to Islam, changing her name to Shuhada' Davitt and donning a hijab.

Taylor Dayne (1962-)

On Nov. 6, 1987 Baldwin, N.Y.-born singer Taylor Dayne (Leslie Wunderman) (1962-) releases her debut single Tell It To My Heart (#7 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), followed on Jan. 19, 1988 by her debut album Tell It to My Heart, which features the tracks Tell It to My Heart (#7 in the U.S.), I'll Always Love You (#3 in the U.S.), Don't Rush Me (#2 in the U.S.), and Prove Your Love (#7 in the U.S.). Album #2 Can't Fight Fate (Oct. 7, 1989) (#25 in the U.S.) features Love Will Lead You Back (#1 in the U.S.), I'll Be Your Shelter (#4 in the U.S.), With Every Beat of My Heart (#5 in the U.S.), and Heart of Stone (#12 in the U.S.). She goes on to score 17 U.S. top-10s, incl. seven straight.

White Zombie Rob Zombie (1965-)

Every heavy metal rocker wants to be a zombie. In Nov. 1987 the New York City-based noise rock band White Zombie, fronted by Haverhill, Mass.-born Rob Zombie (Robert Bartleh Cummings) (1965-), along with Tom Five (Guay) (guitar), Rob Straker (vocals), Sean Yseult (Shauna Reynolds) (1966-) (bass), and Ivan de Prume (drums) release their debut album Soul-Crusher, which features the tracks Ratmouth, and Shack of Hate. Album #2 Make Them Die Slowly (Mar. 22, 1989), named after the 1981 film "Cannibal Ferox" features Murderworld. In Oct. 1989 they release the EP God of Thunder, which features the track God of Thunder. Album #3 La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 (Mar. 17, 1992), their major label debut and breakthrough album features Thunder Kiss '65, and Black Sunshine. Album #4 Astro Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (Apr. 11, 1995) (#6 in the U.S.) features More Human than Human, Super-Charger Heaven, Electric Head, Pt. 1 (The Agony), and Electric Head Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy). On Aug. 25, 1998 Rob Zombie releases his solo debut album Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside The Spookshow International, which sells 3M copies, and features Dragula ("Dig through the ditches, burn through the witches, I slam in the back of my Dragula... Devil on your back, I can never die"), Living Dead Girl, and Superbeast. He goes on to become a successful horror film director.

Tracy Chapman (1964-)

On Apr. 5, 1988 Cleveland, Ohio-born African-American singer Tracy Chapman (1964-) (a lesbian who later dated Alice Walker) releases her debut album Tracy Chapman (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), whose success helped launch a 1990s female singer wave incl. Toris Amos and Sarah McLachlan; it features the hit tracks Fast Car (#6 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), Baby Can I Hold You (#48 in the U.S.), and Talkin' Bout a Revolution (#78). Album #2 Crossroads (Oct. 3, 1989) (#9 in the U.S.) features Crossroads (#90). Album #4 New Beginning (Nov. 4, 1995) (#4 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features the hit track Give Me One Reason (#3 in the U.S.). Album #8 Our Bright Future (Nov. 11, 2008) (#57 in the U.S., #75 in the U.K.) features Sing for You.

Björk (1965-)

In Apr. 1988 the Iceland-based group The Sugarcubes, fronted by singer-songwriter Bjork (Björk Gudmundsdóttir) (1965-) release their debut album Life's Too Good, which features the track Birthday (Ammaeli). Album #3 (last) Stick Around For Joy (Feb. 18, 1992) (#95 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) features Hit (#17 in the U.K.). Her solo debut album (actually, solo album #2, since she releases the 1st in 1977) Debut (July 5, 1993) features Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy, Play Dead, Big Time Sensuality, and Violently Happy. Album #3 Post (June 13, 1995) (#32 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Army of Me, Isobel, It's Oh So Quiet, Hyperballad, Possibly Maybe, and I Miss You. Album #4 Homogenic (Sept. 22, 1997) (#28 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Joga, Bachelorette (#21 in the U.K.), Hunter (#44 in the U.K.), Alarm Call (#33 in the U.K.), and All Is Full of Love (#24 in the U.K.). Album #5 Vespertine (album) (Aug. 27, 2001) shows her on the cover wearing the swan dress design by Marjan Pejoski that she wore at the 2001 Academy Awards; it features Hidden Place, Cocoon, and Pagan Poetry. Album #6 Medulla (Aug. 30, 2004) (#14 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), original title "Ink", contra U.S. racism and patriotism generated by 9/11 features Where Is the Line, Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right, Oceania, and Ancestors. Album #7 Volta (May 2, 2007) features Declare Independence, The Dull Flame of Desire (w/Antony Hegarty), and Innocence.

Melissa Etheridge (1961-)

On May 2, 1988 Kansas-born singer Melissa Lou Etheridge (1961-) releases her debut album Melissa Etheridge, which features the tracks Bring Me Some Water, Like the Way I Do, and Chrome-Plated Heart. Album #2 Brave and Crazy (Sept. 11, 1989) features No Souvenirs. Album #4 Yes I Am (Sept. 21, 1993) (#15 in the U.S.) is the first after coming out as a lesbian, and features I'm the Only One (#8 in the U.S.), Come to My Window (#13 in the U.S.), All-American Girl (#24 in the U.S.), and If I Wanted To (#17 in the U.S.). She goes on to sell 27M albums worldwide.

Paula Abdul (1962-)

On June 13, 1988 former Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader Paula Julie Abdul (1962-) releases her debut album Forever Your Girl, which goes #1 in the U.S. after taking a record 64 weeks, then sells 12M copies, and features the tracks Forever Your Girl (#1 in the U.S.), Straight Up (#1 in the U.S.), Cold Hearted (Snake) (#1 in the U.S.), and Opposites Attract (#1 in the U.S.), a record for #1 songs in a debut album; The Way That You Love Me reaches #3. The album Shut Up and Dance (May 8, 1990), consisting of dance remixes hit #7 in the U.S. and sells 5M copies. Album #2 Spellbound (May 14, 1991) becomes her last #1 U.S. album, selling 8.5M copies; it features the tracks Rush Rush and The Promise of a New Day.

Winger

On Aug. 10, 1988 the New York City hard rock band Winger (originally Sahara), incl. Charles Frederick Kip Winger (1961-) (formerly with the Alice Cooper Band), Richard Earl "Reb" Beach Jr. (1963-), Paul Taylor (keyboards), and John Roth release their debut album Winger (#21 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Headed for a Heartbreak (#19 in the U.S.), and Seventeen (#26 in the U.S.). Album #2 In the Heart of the Young (July 24, 1990) (#15 in the U.S.) features Can't Get Enuff, Easy Come Easy Go, and Miles Away. Album #3 Pull (May 18, 1993) (#83 in the U.S.) features Down Incognito, and Junkyard Dog (Tears on Stone).

Jane's Addiction 'Nothings Shocking' by Jane's Addiction, 1998 'Ritual de lo Habitual' by Jane's Addiction, 1990

On Aug. 23, 1988 the LA-based alternative rock band Jane's Addiction (formed in 1985), incl. Perry Farrell (Peretz Bernstein) (1959-) (vocals), David Michael "Dave" Navarro (1967-) (guitar), Eric Adam Avery (1965-) (bass), and Stephen Andrew "Steve" Perkins (1967-) (drums) release their debut studio album Nothing's Shocking (#103 in the U.S.), whose cover shows a sculpture of a pair of nude female conjoins twins sitting sideways on a rocking chair with their heads on fire, and features the tracks Jane Says, and Mountain Song. Album #2 (last) Ritual de lo Habitual (Aug. 21, 1990) (#19 in the U.S.) have two covers, a clean one and one with nudity, and features Been Caught Stealing, Stop!, Three Days, and Classic Girl. They break up in 1991 after Perry Farrell launches the annual Lollapolooza Music Festival for alternative rock bands (featuring The Banshees) with their farewell tour, then reunite and release album #3 Strays (July 22, 2003) (#4 in the U.S.), featuring new bassist Chris Chaney, which features Just Because, and True Nature. Album #4 The Great Escape Artist (Oct. 18, 2011) (#12 in the U.S.), first with bassist Dave Sitek features Irresistible Force.

MC Hammer (1962-)

On Sept. 28, 1988 after his 1987 debut album Feel My Power sold 60K copies via his 100-employee car trunk distribution network and led to Capitol Records signing him, black rapper MC Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell (1962-), a former batboy with the Oakland A's who borrowed money from the players to start his own label, and gets his nickname from Reggie Jackson for his resemblance to Hammerin' Hank Aaron releases album #2 Let's Get It Started, (#30 in the U.S.), which goes double platinum, and features the tracks Let's Get It Started, and Pump It Up. On Feb. 12, 1990 after his friend Arsenio Hall invited him to appear on his TV show, he releases album #3 Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 10M copies and becomes the first diamond hip-hop album; it features the hit track U Can't Touch This. After dropping the "MC" from his name, album #4 Too Legit to Quit (Oct. 29, 1991) (#5 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features the tracks Too Legit to Quit, This Is the Way We Roll, Do Not Pass Me By, Addams Groove (#7 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.). Album #5 The Funky Headhunter (Mar. 1, 1994) (#12 in the U.S.) features It's All Good (#46 in the U.S., #52 in the U.K.), and features the track Pumps and a Bump, with a video showing him in a speedo with an erection, causing MTV to ban it until he films another one fully clothed. Album #6 Inside Out (Dec. 9, 1995) (#119 in the U.S.) is a flop, after which he declares bankruptcy in Apr. 1996 with $13M in debts, a victim of the crabs in the bucket syndrome.

Soundgarden Jason Everman (1967-)

On Oct. 31, 1988 after signing with the Seattle, Wash. label Sub Pop (formed in 1986), then becoming the first grunge band to sign with a major record label (A&M Records), the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden (formed in 1984), composed of Chris Cornell (Christopher John Boyle) (1964-2017) (vocals), Kim Thayil (1960-) (guitar), Hiro Yamamoto (1961-)/Hunter Benedict "Ben" Shepherd (1968-) (bass), and Matthew David "Matt" Cameron (1962-) (bass) release their debut album Ultramega OK, which features the track Flower. Album #2 Louder Than Love (Sept. 5, 1989) (#108 in the U.S.) features Loud Love, and Hands All Over. Album #3 Badmotorfinger (Oct. 8, 1991) (#39 in the U.S., #39 in the U.K.) sells 1.5M copies, and features Outshined, Jesus Christ Pose, and Rusty Cage. Album #4 Superunknown (#1 in the U.S.), which features the singles Black Hole Sun, and Spoonman. Album #5 Down on the Upside (May 21, 1996) (#2 in the U.S.) features Pretty Noose, Burden in My Hand, Blow Up the Outside World, and Ty Cobb. They break up in Apr. 1997. In Sept. 1994 after being kicked out of Nirvana and Soundgarden, guitarist Jason Mark Everman (1967-) joins the U.S. Army Rangers, going on to become a top soldier. On Oct. 25, 2014 Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder perform Hunger Strike at the Bridge School.

Milli Vanilli

Speaking of not born in the U.S.A., in Nov. 1988 the black German pop duo Milli Vanilli (Turkish for "positive energy"), consisting of break dancers Fabrice "Fab" Morvan (1966-) (French) and Robert "Rob" Pilatus (1965-98) release their debut album All or Nothing, containing the hit tracks All or Nothing, and Girl You Know It's True. Album #2 Girl You Know It's True (Mar. 7, 1989) contained the hit track Blame It on the Rain. Vanilli Gate? On Nov. 15, 1990 Frank Farian, the German producer of the rock group Milli Vanilli confirms rumors that the dreadlocked duo of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan had not done any of the singing on their debut album Girl You Know It's True (released on Mar. 7, 1989), but only lip-synched; on Nov. 19 they are stripped of their 1989 Grammy Award for best new artist, which they won on Feb. 12; they counter with the claim that Arista chief Clive Davis had been aware of the hoax; their former mgr. Todd Headlee says "They may not have deserved the Grammy... but they sure as hell did deserve an Oscar."

Q Lazzarus (1954-)

In 1988 African-American female singer with a husky contralto voice Q Lazzarus (1954-) releases her 1-hit wonder Goodbye Horses, which is uses in the films "marries to the Mob" (1988), Silence of the Lambs (1991) (causing it to become known as the Buffalo Bill Song), and "Clerks II" (2006).

L7

In 1988 the LA girl band L7, incl. Donita Sparks (vocals), Suzi Gardner (vocals), Jennifer Finch (bass), and Demetra "Dee" Plakas (drums) (L7 is 50s slang for square and can mean sexual 69, although the word lesbian starts with l and has 7 letters) release their debut album L7. Album #2 Smell the Magic (Sept. 1, 1990) features the track Shove. Album #3 Bricks Are Heavy (Apr. 14, 1992) (#160 in the U.S.) is their breakthrough album, making them the "Poster Girls of Grunge"; it features Pretend We're Dead; too bad, Donita Sparks stunk the band up by throwing her uses tampon at the crowd at the 1992 Reading Festival, then exposed herself on the late-night show "The Word"; in 2000 they topped this by offering a 1-night stand with Dee Plakas as a raffle prize. Album #4 Hungry for Stink (July 12, 1994) features Andres, and Stuck Here Again. Album #5 The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum (Feb. 25, 1997), the last with Jennifer Finch features The Beauty Process. Album #6 (last) Slap-Happy (Aug. 24, 1999) features On My Rockin' Machine, Freeway, and Mantra Down.

Bobby McFerrin (1950-)

Also in 1988 Robert "Bobby" McFerrin Jr. (1950-) releases his 1-hit wonder Don't Worry, Be Happy (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), the first a cappella song to hit #1 in the U.S. The title is taken from a quote by Meher Baba. It is first uses in the 1988 film "Cocktail", and becomes a hit on rerelease; the video features Robin Williams and Bill Irwin.

Classic Rock and Roll Honour Awards

In 1988 the British magazine Classic Rock is founded by Future Publishing, which also founds Metal Hammer in 1986. It later establishes the vetty British Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.

Tone Loc (1966-)

On Jan. 23, 1989 LA-born 1-hit wonder rapper Tone Loc (Anthony Terrell Smith) (1966-) releases his debut album Loc-ed After Dark (#1 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Wild Thing, Funky Cold Medina, and I gets It Goin' On.

Skid Row

On Jan. 24, 1989 the Toms River, N.J.-based heavy metal band Skid Row, incl. Sebastian Bach (Sebastian Philip Bierk) (1968-) (vocals), Dave Michael "The Snake" Sabo (1964-) (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass) (1966-), and Robert James "Rob" Affuso (1963-) (drums) release their debut album Skid Row (#6 in the U.S.), which sells 5M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks 18 and Life, I Remember You, and Youth Gone Wild. Album #2 Slave to the Grind (June 11, 1991) (#1 in the U.S.) (first heavy album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200) features Slave to the Grind, Monkey Business, In A Darkened Room, Wasted Time, and Get the Fuck Out. Album #3 Subhuman Race (Mar. 28, 1995) (#35 in the U.S.), last with Sebastian Bach and Rob Affuso sells 1M copies, and features My Enemy, and Into Another. Album #4 Thickskin (Aug. 5, 2003) features Thick Is the Skin, New Generation, and Ghost. Album #5 Revolutions Per Minute (Oct. 24, 2006), first with drummer Dave Gara features Shut Up Baby, I Love You. They sell 20M albums worldwide.

Warrant

On Jan. 31, 1989 the Hollywood-based glam rock band Warrant, incl. Jani Lane (John Kennedy Oswald) (1964-) (vocals), Joey Allen (guitar), Erik Turner (guitar), Jerry Dixon (bass), and Steven "Sweet" Chamberlain (drums) release their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (#10 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Heaven (#2 in the U.S.), Down Boys (#27 in the U.S.), and Sometimes She Cries (#20 in the U.S.). Album #2 Cherry Pie (Sept. 11, 1990) (#7 in the U.S.) features Cherry Pie (#19 in the U.S.), I Saw Red (#14 in the U.S.), Uncle Tom's Cabin (#19 in the U.S.), and Blind Faith (#39 in the U.S.). Album #3 (end of the Glam Rock Era as the Grunge Era took over?) Dog Eat Dog (Aug. 25, 1992) (#25 in the U.S.) is the last with the five original members, and sold 500K copies; it features Machine Gun, Hole in My Wall, April 2031, and Bitter Pill (w/Moron Fish & Tackle Choir - janitors et al. from the recording studio). Album #8 Rockaholic (May 17, 2011) is the first with lead singer Robert Mason; it features Life's A Song. They sells 10M albums.

2 Live Crew

On Feb. 7, 1989 the black Miami rap group 2 Live Crew releases album #3 As Nasty As They Wanna Be, which features the obscene tracks Me So Horny, The Fuck Shop, and Dick Almighty, pissing off the authorities of Dade County, who gets it prosecuted for obscenity, making it the first album in history to be deemed legally obscene until the 11th U.S. Circuit Court overturned the conviction.

'Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure, 1989

On Feb. 17, 1989 Stephen Herek's film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure debut, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as teenagers Ted Logan and Bill S. Preston, Esq., who travel through time to avoid flunking history, meeting Napoleon (Terry Camilleri), Billy the Kid (Dan Shor), Socrates (Tony Steedman), Sigmund Freud (Rod Loomis), Genghis Khan (Al Leong), Joan of Arc (Jane Wiedlin), Abraham Lincoln (Robert V. Barron), and Ludwig van Beethovan (Clifford David). The soundtrack album features tracks by Extreme, Tora Tora, Shark Island, and Big Pig.

Indigo Girls

Speaking of dick almighty. On Feb. 28, 1989 lesbian folk music duo Indigo Girls, originally the B-Band, Amy Elizabeth Ray (1964-) and Emily Saliers (1963-) from Decatur, Ga. release their debut album Indigo Girls (#22 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Closer to Fine (#52 in the U.S.), and Land of Canaan. Album #3 Nomads Indians Saints (Sept. 21, 1990) features Hammer and a Nail (#12 in the U.S.). Album #4 Rites of Passage (May 12, 1992) features Galileo (#10 in the U.S.).

Extreme

On Mar. 14, 1989 the Boston, Mass.-based "funky metal" rock band Extreme, fronted by Gary Francis Caine Cherone (1961-) and Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt (1966-) release their debut album Extreme, which features the tracks Play With Me, and Kid Ego. Album #2 Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale) (Aug. 7, 1990) (#10 in the U.S.) features More Than Words, Hole Hearted, Decadence Dance, and Get the Funk Out. Album #3 III Sides to Every Story (Sept. 22, 1992) features Rest in Peace. Album #4 (last) Waiting for the Punchline (Jan. 19, 1995), an attempt to go grunge flopped, and they disbands in 1996, with Gary Cherone joining Van Halen as their vocalist until 1999; it features Cynical, and Hip Today. On Aug. 12, 2008 they reunited to release album #5 Saudades de Rock, which features the track Comfortably Dumb.

The Stone Roses

In Apr. 1989 the English (Manchester) rock band The Stone Roses, incl. Ian Brown (vocals), John Squire (guitar) (the new Jimi Hendrix?), Gary "Mani" Mounfield (bass), and Alan "Reni" Wren (drums) release their debut album The Stone Roses, which is voted the best British album of all time, making them the leaders of the Manchester Movement (Britpop); it features I Am the Resurrection, I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drums, Made of Stone, Elephant Stone, and Waterfall. After a long legal battle over switching to bigger better Geffen Records, album #2 Second Coming (Dec. 5, 1994) (1M copies) features Love Spreads, Ten Story Love Song, and Begging You. Too bad, they break up in 1995, and reunite in 2011.

The Offspring

On June 15, 1989 the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based punk rock band The Offspring, incl. Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland (1965-) (vocals, guitar), Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman (1963-) (guitar), Gregory David "Greg K." Kriesel (1965-) (bass), and Ronald "Ron" Welty (1971-) (drums) release their debut album The Offspring, which features the tracks Blackball, and I'll Be Waiting. Only 1K are made, in 12 in. vinyl format, and it took 2.5 years to sell them all. Album #2 Ignition (Oct. 16, 1992) features Kick Him When He's Down. Album #3 Smash (Apr. 8, 1994) sold 14M copies, becoming the best selling indie album of all time; it features Come Out and Play (Keep 'em Separated), Self Esteeem, and Gotta Get Away. Album #4 Ixnay on the Hombre (Feb. 4, 1997) sell 4M copies, and features All I Want, Gone Away, Cool to Hate, The Meaning of Life, and I Choose. Album #5 Americana (Nov. 17, 1998) (#2 in the U.S.) sells 12M copies; Calvert DeForest (Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman) says "Hey, that's something everyone can enjoy" between the tracks "Why Don't You Get a Job?" and "Americana"; it features Pretty Fly (for a White Guy), Why Don't You Get a Job?, The Kids Aren't Alright, and She's gets Issues. Album #7 Splinter (Dec. 9, 2003) sells 1.8M copies, and is the first without Ron Welty; it features Splinter, Hit That, and (Can't Get My) Head Around You. Album #8 Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (June 17, 2008) features Half-Truism, You're Gonna Go Far, Kid, Hammerhead, and Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? They have sell over 35M albums worldwide, that's a lot of offspring.

Toad the Wet Sprocket

On July 26, 1989 the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket, named after the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes", incl. Glen Phillips (1970-) (vocals), Todd Nichols (guitar), Dean Dinning (bass), and Randy Guss (drums) release their debut album Bread & Circus, which features the tracks Way Away, and One Little Girl. Album #3 Fear (Aug. 27, 1991) (#49 in the U.S.) features All I Want (#15 in the U.S.), and Walk on the Ocean (#18 in the U.S.). Album #4 Dulcinea (May 24, 1994) features Fall Down, and Something's Always Wrong. Album #5 (last) Coil (May 20, 1997) features Come Down, Crazy Life, and Whatever I Fear. They disbands in 1998.

On Aug. 1, 1989 Eric Holmberg's Christian documentary Hells Bells: The Dangers of Rock 'N' Roll came out, bang your heads Alice Cooper, go to Hell.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

On Aug. 16, 1989 after regrouping with a new lineup, the LA band Red Hot Chili Peppers (forms 1983), composed of Anthony Kiedis (1962-) (vocals), Hillel Slovak (1962-88) and John Frusciante (1970-) (guitar), Michael "Flea" Balzary (1962-) (bass), Jack Irons (1961-), and Chad Smith (1961-) (drums) releases album #4 Mother's Milk, which features the tracks Knock Me Down, and Higher Ground (by Stevie Wonder); the album sell 25K copies before they gained fame, then sell 275K more. Album #5 Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Sept. 24, 1991) (#3 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.) sells 13M copies worldwide, making them into internat. superstars; it features Under the Bridge (#2 in the U.S.), Breaking the Girl (#15 in the U.S.), Suck My Kiss (#15 in the U.S.), and Sir Psycho Sexy. Album #6 One Hot Minute (Sept. 12, 1995) sells 5M copies, and features My Friends (#1 in the U.S.), Warped, and Aeroplane. Album #7 Californication (June 8, 1999) (#3 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) is their first album after a 6-year heroin hiatus, selling 15M copies; it features Californication (#69 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), Scar Tissue (#9 in the U.S., #15 in the U.S.), Otherside (#14 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.), and Around the World (#35 in the U.K.). Album #8 By the Way (July 9, 2002) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features By the Way (#34 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), The Zephyr Song (#49 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.), and Can't Stop (#57 in the U.S., #15 in the U.S.). Album #9 Stadium Arcadium (May 5, 2006) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 7M copies, and is the last with John Frusciante; it features Dani California, Tell Me Baby, Snow (Hey Oh), Desecration Smile, and Hump de Bump.

Young M.C. (1967-)

On Sept. 5, 1989 English-born New York City rapper Young M.C. (Marvin Young) (1967-) releases his debut album Stone Cold Rhymin', which features his 1-hit wonder track Bust a Move (#7 in the U.S., #73 in the U.K.), along with Principal's Office (#33 in the U.S.). His albums then fizzed, ending with album #3 What's the Flavor? (June 7, 1993), which features the surprisingly good Bob Your Head.

Nine Inch Nails

On Oct. 20, 1989 Cleveland, Ohio industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, fronted by Michael Trent Reznor (1965-) release their debut album Pretty Hate Machine, which features the tracks Head Like a Hole, Terrible Lie, and Down In It. Album #2 (best?) The Downward Spiral (Mar. 8, 1994) sells 5M copies (4M in the U.S.), and features March of the Pigs, Closer (super-provocative video helped sales), Piggy, and Hurt. In 1994-6 the Self-Destruct Tour cemented their popularity. Album #3 The Fragile (Sept. 21, 1999) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features The Day the World goes Away, We're in This Together, Into the Void, and Starfuckers Inc. Album #4 With Teeth (May 3, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features The Hand That Feeds (#1 in the U.S.), Only (#1 in the U.S.), and Every Day Is Exactly the Same (#1 in the U.S.). Album #5 Year Zero (Apr. 17, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), a dystopian vision of the U.S. govt. in the year 2022 features Survivalism, and Capital G. Album #6 Ghosts I-IV (Mar. 2, 2008) (#14 in the U.S., #60 in the U.K.) is released under a Creative Commons license, with various points up to $300. Album #7 The Slip (July 22, 2008) is released free, with the comment "This one's on me", and incl. Discipline. They go on to sell 20M albums worldwide, incl. 10.5M in the U.S.

Jesus Jones

In Oct. 1989 the English (Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire) rock band Jesus Jones, incl. Mike Edwards, Jerry De Borg, Al Doughty, Iain Baker, and Gen release their debut album Liquidizer, which features the track Info Freako. Album #2 Doubt (Jan. 29, 1990) (#25 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features their 1-hit wonder Right Here, Right Now (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (about the fast finish to the Cold War) (used in K-Mart ads), and Real Real Real.

Warp Records

In 1989 Warp Records is founded in Sheffield, England, by Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell, going on to sign Nightmares on Wax, Tricky Disco (Greater Than One), Gravenhurst, !!! (pr. "chk chk chk"), Battles, and Maximo Park.

Die Kassierer

In 1989 the German punk rock band Die Kassierer (founded 1985) releases its debut album Sanfte Strukturen. In 1993 they release album #2 Der Heilige Geist Greift An. In 1996 they release album #3 Habe Brille. In 1999 they release album #4 Musik fur Beide Ohren. In 2003 they release album #5 Manner, Bomben, Satelliten. In 2010 they release album #6 Physik, which features Blumenkohl am Pillemann.

In 1989 Bruce Cherry founds the London Rock Tour.

1990s

In the 1990s Cool Britannia (pun on "Rule, Britannia") sees British pop music acts resurrect the 1960s British Invasion, with acts incl. the Spice Girls, Blur, Oasis, and Pulp.

Bill Gates (1955-) Nirvana Courtney Love (1964-)

The 1990s sees the rise of Generation X (Gen-X) ("most selfish generation ever"), born in 1965-80, who start it off with the Seattle, Wash.-based Grunge Music scene, led by Nirvana (formed in 1987) ("Flagship Band of Gen-X") and their heroin-addicted lead singer Kurt Donald Cobain (1967-94), and other members Krist Anthony Novoselic II (1965-) (bass), and David Eric "Dave" Grohl (1969-) (drums). Maybe it is no coincidence that Seattle becomes the home of grunge, because it is also the home of nerd empire Microsoft and nerd king William Henry "Bill" Gates III (1955-), one look at that mug and I'd start taking smack and go grunge too. Nirvana's debut album Bleach (June 15, 1989), releases on the Sub Pop label sell only 30K copies until they gets popular, then 4M copies. It features the tracks Blew, About a Girl, Love Buzz, and Sliver. Album #2 Nevermind (Sept. 24, 1991) (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) sells 30M copies, and peaks at #1 on Jan. 11, 1992, replacing Michael Jackson's "Dangerous", taking grunge mainstream; it features the hit singles Smells Like Teen Spirit (#6 in the U.S.), Lithium, Come As You Are, and In Bloom. Album #3 (last) In Utero (Sept. 13, 1993) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features the tracks Heart-Shaped Box, All Apologies, and Rape Me. On Sept. 17, 1991 Cobain's teenage ho, er, babe Courtney Michelle Love (1964-) releases her debut album Pretty on the Inside, which sells 400K copies, and features the Yoko Ono-worthy tracks Teenage Whore, and Garbage Man. On Nov. 15 the New York Times pub. the article Grunge: A Success Story, about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, claiming that grungers have their own lexicon incl. "wack slacks" for jeans, and "swingin' on the flippity-flop" for hanging out; too bad, interviewee Megan Jasper makes it up to zing them. On Apr. 8, 1994 Cobain is found dead in home on Lake Washington in Seattle with a shotgun pointing at his chin and a high concentration of heroin in his body, welcome to Da Nineties, Gen-Xers.

Mother Love Bone Pearl Jam

Another Seattle grunge group is Mother Love Bone (founded 1988), fronted by "Father of Grunge" Andrew Patrick Wood (1966-90), who release their debut EP Shine on Mar. 20, 1989, which features Chloe Dancer/ Crown of Thorns, after which Wood dies of a heroin OD on Mar. 19, 1990, days before the scheduled release of their debut album Apple (July 19, 1990), which features the tracks Stardog Champion, Crown of Thorns, and This Is Shangrila, after which its members forms Pearl Jam, fronted by Eddie Vedder (Edward Louis Severson III) (1964-), who release their debut album Ten on Aug. 27, 1991, which sells 10M copies, and features the hits Alive, Even Flow, and Jeremy. Album #2 Vs. (Oct. 19, 1993) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features the tracks Go, Animal, Daughter, Glorified G, and Dissident. Album #3 Vitalogy (Dec. 6, 1994) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Spin the Black Circle (#18 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), Not for You, and Tremor Christ. Album #4 No Code (album #4) (Aug. 27, 1996) (#1 in the U.S.) features Who You Are (#31 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), Hail, Hail, Red Mosquito, and Off He Goes. Album #5 Yield (Feb. 3, 1998) (#2 in the U.S., #7 in the U.S.) features Given to Fly (#21 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), and Wishlist (#47 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.). Album #6 Binaural (May 16, 2000) (#2 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Nothing As It Seems (#49 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.). Album #7 Riot Act (Nov. 12, 2002) (#5 in the U.S., #34 in the U.S.) is last on Epic Records, and features I Am Mine (#43 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.). Album #8 Pearl Jam (album #8) (May 2) (#2 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features World Wide Suicide. Album #9 Backspacer (Sept. 20, 2009) (#1 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features The Fixer (#56 in the U.S., #93 in the U.K.). Afterwards the general perception is that Pearl Jam ruined grunge. In 2013 they release Mind Your Manners.

Alice in Chains

Another Seattle grunge band is Alice in Chains, led by harmonizing vocalists Layne Thomas Staley (1967-2002) (known for going from a snarl to a scream) and Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. (1966-), which goes beyond grunge into heavy metal and acoustic and sell 40M albums worldwide, incl. 16M in the U.S. Jar of Flies (Jan. 25, 1994), written and recorded in one week is the first EP to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, and features No Excuses, I Stay Away, and Don't Follow. Album #3 Alice in Chains (Nov. 7, 1995) (#1 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.) is last with heroin addict Layne Staley, and features Grind (#7 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.), Again (#8 in the U.S.), Over Now (#4 in the U.S.), and Heaven Beside You (#3 in the U.S.). On Apr. 10, 1996 they performs their first concert in 2.5 years for MTV Unplugged, which aired on May 28, after which the album MTV Unplugged is released on July 30, 1996, and features Over Now, and Killer is Me. Too bad, Layne Staley's fiance died, causing the group to virtually disband until his Apr. 5, 2002 death by OD (same day of the year as Kurt Cobain).

Sunny Day Real Estate

Another Seattle grunge band (on the emo side) is Sunny Day Real Esate, incl. Dan Hoerner (guitar, vocals), Nate Mendel (bass), and William Goldsmith (bass), whose debut album Diary (May 10, 1994) features the tracks Seven, 47, and Song About An Angel. Album #2 Sunny Day Real Estate (Nov. 7, 1995) (all-pink cover) features Theo B, Red Elephant, and 5/4. Album #3 How It Feels To Be Something On (Sept. 8, 1998) features Every Shining Time You Arrive, and The Shark's Own Private Fuck. Album #4 The Rising Tide (June 20, 2000) features Rain Song.

Foo Fighters

Speaking of Cobain, after Nirvana dissolved, drummer Dave Eric Grohl (1969-) forms Foo Fighters with Nate Mendel and William Goldsmith from Sunny Day Real Estate, along with Taylor Hawkins, and Chris Shiflett. Their debut album Foo Fighters (July 4, 1995) features the tracks This Is A Call, I'll Stick Around, For All the Cows, and their big hit Big Me, a parody of an ad campaign for Mentos, which backfires as fans begins throwing them at them in concerts.

The Grunge Music movement causes the Britpop reaction in the U.K., groups incl. Suede, Blur, and the Boo Radleys. This time there is no British Invasion, it is just a reaction.

Sleater-Kinney

In the 1990s the underground feminist punk Riot grrrl music movement in the Pacific Northwest flourished, featuring groups incl. Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Excuse 17, Heavens to Betsy, Fifth Column, and Sleater-Kinney. Speaking of Sleater-Kinney of Portland, Ore., named after I-5 off-ramp #108 in Lacey, Wash., consisting of vocalists-guitarists Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker, and Janet Weiss (drums), album #2 Call the Doctor (Mar. 25, 1996) features Call the Doctor. Album #3 Dig Me Out (Apr. 8, 1997) features the track One More Hour. Album #4 The Hot Rock (Feb. 23, 1999) is an attempt to "save" rock, it's like my grandmother, I think she's reclining; it features the tracks Hot Rock, Get Up, and The Size of Our Love. Album #5 All Hands on the Bad One (May 2, 2000) features All Hands on the Bad One. Album #6 One Beat (Aug. 20, 2002) (#107 in the U.S.) features One Beat, Light Rail Coyote, and Step Aside. Album #7 (last) The Woods (May 24, 2005) features Jumpers, and Modern Girl.

Black Crowes

The 1990s saw a murder of crows in rock. In Jan. 1990 the Atlanta, Ga.-based Southern blues-rock band The Black Crowes, led by brothers Christopher Mark "Chris" Robinson (1966-) and Rich Robinson (1969-) release their debut album Shake Your Money Maker (#4 in the U.S.), which sells 5M copies, and features the hit tracks Hard to Handle, She Talks to Angels, Jealous Again, and Twice As Hard. Album #2 The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (May 12, 1991) sell 2M copies, and is the first album with four #1 hits since Tom Petty's three in 1989, namely, Remedy, Thorn in My Pride, Hotel Illness, and Sting Me. Album #3 Amorica (Nov. 1, 1994) has a cover showing a woman's pubic hair peeking out of a U.S. flag bikini, causing controversy and a new more modest cover, but not helping sales (500K copies). It features the tracks A Conspiracy, and Wiser Time. They go on to sell 30M albums.

The KLF

In Feb. 1990 the British acid house band KLF (Kallisti Liberation Front, Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, Timelords etc.), fronted by King Boy D (Bill Drummond) and Rockman Rock (Jimmy Cauty) release their album Chill Out, which features What Time Is Love? (Live at Transcentral), about a mythical night journey up the U.S. Gulf Coast from Tex. to La. In Mar. 1991 they release the album The White Room, which features Church of the KLF, 3 A.M. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.), Last Train to Transcentral (Live from the Lost Continent), and Justified and Ancient (Stand by The JAMs) (with Tammy Wynette). They never releases a sequel album titled The Black Room.

'Vogue' by Madonna (1958-), 1990 Vanilla Ice (1967-) Candlebox Maverick Records

On Mar. 20, 1990 Madonna announced that she reinvented herself again with her hit single Vogue, which sells 6M copies worldwide. It is a track from her soundtrack album I'm Breathless: Music from and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy (May 22, 1990), which sells 7M copies. She follow it with The Immaculate Collection (Nov. 9, 1990) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), her first greatest hits album, which sells 30M copies, and features new tracks Justify My Love, and Rescue Me. In Aug. 1990 Dallas, Tex.-born white rapper Vanilla Ice (Robert Matthew Van Winkle) (1967-) releases his only hit Ice Ice Baby (#1 in the U.S.), the first #1 hip hop single, then hooks up with Madonna; too bad, it rips off the base line from Queen's hit "Under Pressure", causing years of litigation. On Oct. 20, 1992 Madonna does it again and releases album #5 Erotica (#2 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 5M copies worldwide, and is accompanies by the Oct. 21 pub. of her book Sex, a coffee table book with nude photos of her in suggestive scenes with both genders, incl. her beau Vanilla Ice, helping to makes female bisexuality acceptable in the U.S. On July 20, 1993 the Seattle post-grunge band Candlebox (formerly Uncle Duke), consisting of Kevin Martin (1969-) (vocals), Peter Klett, and Scott Mercado (drums) (name comes from the Midnight Oil song "Beds Are Burning") releases its debut album Candlebox (#7 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Change, You (#78 in the U.S.), Far Behind (#18 in the U.S.), Blossom, and Cover Me. It is the first hit for Madonna's Maverick Records (founded 1992), which sign Alanis Morissette, The Prodigy, and Deftones. Predictably (for her), she then releases compilation album Something to Remember (Nov. 7, 1995) (#6 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) (3M copies), which toned down her image, and features new tracks I Want You, You'll See, and One More Chance. On Nov. 12, 1996 she releases her Evita - The Motion Picture Soundtrack (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks Don't Cry for Me Argentina, You Must Love Me, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall. Album #7 Ray of Light (Mar. 3, 1998) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 20M copies, and features Ray of Light, Frozen, Drowned World (Substitute for Love), The Power of Good-Bye, and Nothing Really Matters.

Humpty Hump (Shock G) (Gregory E. Jacobs) (1963-)

On Mar. 26, 1990 the Oakland, Calif. alternative hip hop group Digital Underground, fronted by rapper Gregory E. "Shock G" Jacobs (1963-) release their debut album Sex Packets, which features their 1-hit wonder The Humpty Dance (#11 in the U.S.); "Oh yes, ladies, I'm really being' sincere/ 'Cause in a 69 my humpty nose will tickle ya rear"; "Black people, do the Humpty Hump, do the Humpty Hump/ White people, do the Humpty Hump, do the Humpty Hump".

Celine Dion (1968-)

On Apr. 9, 1990 French Canadian singer Celine Marie Claudette Dion (1968-) releases Unison, her first English language album after 14 French language ones. Album #3 The Colour Of My Love (Nov. 9, 1993) is about her mgr. Rene Angelil, whom she marries in Dec. 1994, and features The Power of Love. Album #5 Let's Talk About Love (Nov. 18, 1997) sell 30M+ copies, and features the megahit My Heart Will Go On, from the James Cameron film Titanic. She goes on to sell 200M+ albums.

Green Day

On Apr. 13, 1990 the 1990s started out er, punkily when American punk rock band Green Day, from East Bay, Calif., composed of Billie Joe Armstrong (1972-) (vocals), Mike Dirnt (Michael Ryan Pritchard) (1973-) (bass), and Tre (Tré) Cool (Frank Edwin Wright III) (1972-) (drums) release their debut album 39/Smooth, which features the tracks Green Day, and At the Library. Album #2 Kerplunk (Jan. 17, 1992) sells 1M copies, and features Welcome to Paradise, Who Wrote Holden Caulfield? Album #3 Dookie (Feb. 1, 1994) (#2 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.) sells 16M copies, making punk bands claim they sell out to the mainstream; it features Longview, Basket Case, When I Come Around, and She. On Aug. 12-14, 1994 Woodstock '94, "A Day in the Garden" is staged on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival on Max Yasgur's farm near Bethel, N.Y., complete with mud as it rained while lead-off singer Stevie Nicks performs, along with 29 other acts incl. Aerosmith, Peter Gabriel, Blind Melon, Metallica, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; mud-covered Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt is almost ejected by security guards. Album #4 Insomniac (album #4) (Oct. 10, 1995) (#2 in the U.S.) (original title "Jesus Christ Supermarket") sold 8M copies, and features the tracks Geek Stink Breath, Stuck with Me, Brain Stew/Jaded, and Walking Contradiction. Album #5 Nimrod (Oct. 14, 1997) (#10 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features Hitchin' a Ride, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), Redundant, and Nice Guys Finish Last. Album #6 Warning (Oct. 3, 2000) (#4 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features Minority, Warning, Waiting, and Macy's Day Parade. Album #7 American Idiot Sept. 21, 2004) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), a rock opera about Jesus of Suburbia sell 15M copies, and features American Idiot, Boulevard of breakn Dreams, Holiday, Wake Me Up When September Ends, and Jesus of Suburbia. Album #8 21st Century Breakdown (May 15, 2009) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 3.5M copies, and features Know Your Enemy (#28 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), and 21 Guns (#22 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.). Their label Lookout! Records folded in early 2012 after failing to makes a living with bands incl. Screeching Weasel, Bratmobile, Operation Ivy, Crimpshrine, The Queers, Avail, The Donnas, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, and Spitboy.

Babes in Toyland

On Apr. 16, 1990 after kicking bass player Courtney Love out in 1987 (after which she forms Hole in 1989), Minneapolis, Minn.-based punk rock band Babes in Toyland, composed of Katherine "Kat" Bjelland (1963-) (vocals, guitar), Michelle Leon (bass), and Lori Barbero (1961-) (drums) release their debut album Spanking Machine, which features the tracks Swamp Pussy, and Dust Cake Boy. Album #2 Fontanelle (Apr. 11, 1992) is their first release on Reprise Records, and first with bassist Maureen Herman; it features the tracks Handsome and Gretel, and Bruise Violet (which disses Kat Bjelland's former bandmate Courtney Love). Album #3 (last) Nemesisters (May 9, 1995) features Sweet '69, All By Myself (by Eric Carmen), and We Are Family (by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards).

Wilson Phillips

On May 8, 1990 the LA band Wilson Phillips, consisting of Carnie Wilson (1968-) and Wendy Wilson (1969-) (daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys), and Gilliam Chynna Phillips (1968-) (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas), release their debut album Wilson Phillips (#2 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), which sells 5M copies in the U.S. and 10M copies worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time in front of the Supremes. It features the tracks Hold On, Release Me, You're in Love, and Impulsive. Album #2 Shadows and Light (June 2, 1992) (#4 in the U.S.) has disappointing sales after what they were used to; it features the track You Won't See Me Cry (#20 in the U.S.).

Kid Rock (1971-)

On May 11, 1990 Romeo, Mich.-born white American rapper Kid Rock (Robert James "Bob" Ritchie) (1971-) (known for playing every instrument for his backing band Twisted Brown Trucker) releases his debut album Grit Sandwiches for Breakfast, which features the track Yo-Da-Lin in the Valley. After a decade of trying, album #4 Devil Without A Cause (Aug. 18, 1998) is a big hit; it features the tracks Bawitdaba (#4 in the U.S.) ("Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy"), Cowboy ("Well I'm packing up my game and I'm a head out west, where real women come equipped with scripts and fake breasts/ Find a neat in the hills chill like Flynt, buy an old droptop find a spot to pimp, and I'm a Kid Rock it up and down your block/ With a bottle of scotch and watch lots of crotch"), Only God Knows Why, and I Am the Bullgod (#31 in the U.S.). Album #7 Rock n Roll Jesus (Oct. 9, 2007) (#1 in the U.S.) (5M copies) features So Hott, Amen, and All Summer Long (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), a mashup of Warrem Zevon's "Werewolves of London" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama", plus Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"; becomes the official theme song of WWE's Backlash 2008, and the 2009 World Cup. He goes on to release 11 albums, selling 11M copies.

Mariah Carey (1970-)

On June 12, 1990 Huntington, N.Y.-born 5-octave range R&B-pop singer-songwriter Mariah Carey (1970-), whose mother is Irish-American and father is African-American-Venezuelan releases her debut album Mariah Carey (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 12M copies, and features the tracks Vision of Love, There's gets to Be a Way, I Don't Wanna Cry, Love Takes Time, and Someday. Album #2 Emotions (album #2) (Sept. 17, 1991) (#4 in the U.S.) sell 3.5M copies, and features Emotions, Can't Let Go, Make It Happen, If It's Over, and Till the End of Time. Album #3 Music Box (Aug. 31, 1993) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 32M copies; it features Dreamlover, Without You, Hero, Anytime You Need a Friend, and Never Forget You. Album #4 Merry Christmas (Nov. 1, 1994) sells 11M copies, becoming the best-selling Xmas album until ?. Album #5 Daydream (Oct. 3, 1995) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 25M copies, and features Fantasy (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), One Sweet Day (w/Boyz II Men) (#1 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), Open Arms (#4 in the U.K.), and Always Be My Baby (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.). Album #6 Butterfly (Sept. 16, 1997) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Honey (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), My All (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), and Butterfly (#22 in the U.K.). Album #7 Rainbow (Nov. 2, 1999) (#2 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) (#28 in the U.S.), Against All Odds (#1 in the U.K.), Heartbreaker (w/Jay-Z) (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), and Crybaby (w/Snoop Dogg). Album #10 The Emancipation of Mimi (her old nickname) (Apr. 4, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, becoming the highest-selling album of 2005; it features We Belong Together, It's Like That (w/Fatman Scoop, Jermaine Drupri), Shake It Off, Mine Again, Say Somethin' (w/Snoop Dogg), and Get Your Number (w/ Jermaine Dupri). Album #11 E=MC^2 (Emancipation = Mariah Carey) (Apr. 15, 2008) (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) sells 2.5M copies, and features Touch My Body (#1 in the U.S.) (helps her pass Elvis Presley for the most #1 solo pop singles, 18), Bye Bye, I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time (w/T.l.), and I Stay in Love. She goes on to sell 63M albums in the U.S. alone.

Maná

On July 2, 1990 Latin-Am. Mexican rock band Mana (Maná), consisting of Jose Fernando "Fher" Olvera (vocals), Cesar "Vampiro" Lopez (guitar), Juan Calleros (bass), Ivan Gonzalez (keyboards), Alex Gonzalez (drums) release their debut studio album Falta Amor, featuring Rayando El Sol. On Oct. 27, 1992 they release Donde Jugaran Los Ninos? (Where Will the Children Play?), which sells 3M copies (best-selling Spanish language rock album until ?), and features Vivir Sin Aire, Oye Mi Amor, and Como Te Deseo. On Dec. 13, 1994 they release their first live album Mana en Vivo. On Apr. 25, 1995 they release album #4 Cuando los Angeles Lloran (When the Angels Cry). On Oct. 14, 1997 they release album #5 Suenos Liquidos (Liquid Dreams), which sells 1M copies. They perform for Obama's 2nd inauguration ball on Jan. 21, 2013.

Pantera

On July 24, 1990 after dumping their glam rock sound to pioneer groove metal, Arlington, Tex.-based band Pantera, incl. Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo (1968-) (vocals), Dimebag (Diamond) Darrell Lance Abbott (1966-2004) (guitar), Rex Brown (bass), and Vinnie Paul (drums) releases breakthrough album #5 Cowboys from Hell, which features the tracks Cowboys from Hell, Psycho Holiday, and Cemetery Gates. Album #6 Vulgar Display of Power (Feb. 25, 1992) (#44 in the U.S.) took its title from the 1973 film "The Exorcist", and features Walk (#35 in the U.K.), Fucking Hostile, Mouth for War, and This Love. Album #7 Far Beyond Driven (Mar. 22, 1994) (#1 in the U.S.) (first to credit Darrell Abbott as Dimebag Darrell) features Becoming, 5 Minutes Alone, I'm breakn, and Planet Caravan (by Black Sabbath). Album #8 The Great Southern Trendkill (May 7, 1994) (#4 in the U.S.) features Floods, 10's, War Nerve, and Drag the Waters. Album #9 (last) Reinventing the Steel (Mar. 14, 2000) (#4 in the U.S.) features Revolution Is My Name (#28 in the U.S.), Goddamn Electric, and I'll Cast a Shadow. Too bad, on Dec. 8, 2004 Abbott is gunned down and murdered onstage in Columbus, Ohio by a crazed fan. They go on to sell 20M albums.

The Posies

In Aug. 1990 the Seattle (Bellingham), Wash. alternative rock/power pop band The Posies (formed in 1987), incl. Jonathan P. "Jon" Auer (1969-) (vocals), Kenneth Stuart "Ken" "Power Pop" Stringfellow (1968-) (vocals), Rick Roberts (bass), and Mike Musberger (drums) releases its major label debut album Dear 23, which features the tracks Golden Blunders, and Suddenly Mary. Album #3 Frosting On the Beater (Apr. 27, 1993) (title refers to masturbation) features Dream All Day, Solar Sister, Definite Door, Flavor of the Month (disses Seattle grunge bands), and Coming Right Along (used in the 1995 film "The Basketball Diaries"). After releasing album #5 Success in 1998, they break up, then reform for album #6 Every Kind of Light (June 28, 2005), which features Second Time Around.

Paris (Oscar Jackson Jr.) (1967-)

On Oct. 9, 1990 San Francisco, Calif.-born militant Black nationalist rapper Paris (Oscar Jackson Jr.) (1967-), known for being into the Black Panthers, Nation of Islam etc. releases his debut album The Devil makes Me Do It, which sells 300K copies, and features the track The Devil makes Me Do It, which is banned by MTV, making it more popular? Album #2 Sleeping with the Enemy (1992) features an insert showing him hiding behind a tree with a Tec 9 as the U.S. pres. waves to the crowd, causing Tommy Boy Records to drop him, after which he founds Scarface Records; it features Bush Killa, and Coffee, Donuts & Death ("a cop-killing tirade"). Album #3 Guerrilla Funk (1994) features Guerrilla Funk. Album #5 Sonic Jihad (Oct. 7, 2003) features Sheep to the Slaughter, Field Nigga Boogie, and AWOL.

The Goo Goo Dolls

On Oct. 16, 1990 the Buffalo, N.Y.-based alternative rock band The Goo Goo Dolls, originally the Sex Maggots, fronted by John Joseph Theodore "Johnny" Rzeznik (Polish for butcher) (1965-) and Robert Carl "Robby" Takac Jr. (1964-) releases album #3 Hold Me Up, their first non-garage album, which features the track There You Are. Album #5 A Boy Named Goo (Mar. 14, 1995) features Name, Long Way Down, Naked, Flat Top, and Only One. Album #6 Dizzy Up the Girl (Sept. 22, 1998) sell 3M copies, and features Iris (from the film "City of Angels") (#1 in the U.S.), Slide (#8 in the U.S.), Broadway (#24 in the U.S.), Black Balloon (#16), and Dizzy (#108 in the U.S.). Album #7 Gutterflower (Apr. 9, 2002) (#4 in the U.S.) features Here Is Gone (#3 in the U.S.), Big Machine, and Sympathy. Album #8 Let Love In (Apr. 25, 2006) (#9 in the U.S.) features Better Days (#3 in the U.S.), Let Love In (#9 in the U.S.), and Stay With You (#6 in the U.S.). Album #9 Something for the Rest of Us (Aug. 28, 2010) features Home, and Notbroken. They go on to sell over 10M albums.

Wacken Open Air Jerry Faye Hall (1956-) A.E. Hotchner (1920-)

In 1990 the first Wacken Open Air summer heavy music festival is held in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, N Germany, becoming the #1 Euro heavy metal festival, drawing up to 80K attendance. Also in 1990 Aaron Edward Hotchner (1920-) (friend of Ernest Hemingway, and co-founder with Paul Newman of Newman's Own Co.) pub. the book Blown Away: The Rolling Stones and the Death of the Sixties. Like Mark Twain, the news of their death is greatly exaggerated? On Nov. 21, 1990 Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger unofficially marries 6' Tex.-born supermodel Jerry Faye Hall (1956-) in Bali; annulled in 1999 after having kids Elizabeth in 1984, James in 1985, Georgia May in 1992, and Gabriel in 1997. On July 11, 1994 the 50-something Rolling Stones releases album #22/#20 Voodoo Lounge (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), their first without Bill Wyman, which features Love Is Strong (#91 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), You gets Me Rocking (#23 in the U.K.), Out of Tears (#60 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.), Sparks Will Fly, and I Go Wild (#29 in the U.K.). On Sept. 23, 1997 the Rolling Stones releases album #23/#21 Bridges to Babylon (#3 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), which sells a weak 1.1M copies in the U.S., and features Anybody Seen My Baby? (#22 in the U.K.), Flip the Switch, Saint of Me (#94 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.), and Out of Control (#51 in the U.K.). It is their last studio album until 2005.

EMF

In 1990 English (Cinderford, Gloucesteshire) indie dance band EMF (Epsom Mad Funkers), incl. James Saul Atkin (1969-) (vocals), Ian Dench (1964-) (guitar) , Derry Brownson (1970-) (keyboard), and Mark Decloedt (1969-) (drums) release their 1-hit wonder debut single Unbelievable (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which samples American comedian Andrew Dice Clay.

Hollywood Records Mammoth Records

In 1990 Hollywood Records is founded by the Walt Disney Co., which sign the defunct band Queen's catalog, then sign and destroyed The Dead Milkmen in 1995, then in 1998 acquired top indie label Mammoth Records, which is founds in 1989 in Carrboro, N.C. by Jay Faires. In 2003 they finally get a hit act with Hilary Duff, after which they begin rolling out hit acts incl. The Cheetah Girls, Vanessa Hudgens, Raven-Symone (Raven-Symoné), Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and The Scene, and the Jonas Brothers.

Interscope Records Gerardo (1965-) Death Row Records Suge Knight (1965-) Dr. Dre (1965-)

In 1990 Interscope Records is founded Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Their first release on Jan. 29, 1991 is Mo' Ritmo (#36 in the U.S.), the debut album of Ecuadorian rapper ("the Latin Elvis") ("the Latin Frank Sinatra") Gerardo Mejia (1965-), containing his 1-hit wonder Rico Suave (#7 in the U.S). They go on to sign Helmet, Tupac Shakur, Primus, Nine Inch Nails, and No Doubt. In 1991 they financially assist Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. (1965-) and Andre Romelle "Dr. Dre" Young (1965-) in forming Death Row Records, which signs Snoop Dogg.

Helmet

In 1990 the New York City-based alternative rock band (highly into drop D tuning) Helmet, fronted by Page Hamilton (1960-) releases its debut album Strap It On, which features the tracks Repetition, and Sinatra, which causes Interscope to sign them and rerelease it in Nov. 1991. Album #2 Meantime (June 23, 1992) (#68 in the U.S.) features Unsung, Give It, and In the Meantime. Album #3 Betty (album #3) (June 21, 1994) (#45 in the U.S., #38 in the U.K.) features Milquetoast. Album #4 Aftertaste (Mar. 18, 1997) (#47 in the U.S.) features Exactly What You Wanted, and Driving Nowhere. They break up in 1998, then reform in 2004 and release album #5 Size Matters (Oct. 5, 2004) (#12 in the U.S.), which features See You Dead.

In 1991 vinyl records left the mainstream, but continued to be manufactured for audophiles, DJs (who like the turntable fun), and diehards until ?.

In 1991 hardcore rock & roll burns out with a blaze of glory with the albums "The Black Album" by Metallica, "Use Your Illusion I & II" by Guns N'Roses, Soundgarden's "Badmotorfinger", and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" before Nirvana's "Nevermind" causes record producers to dump them for grunge bands.

On Jan. 18, 1991 three teenagers are trampled and kills during an AC/DC concert at the Salt Palace (built 1969) in Salt Lake City, Utah, causing "festival seating" to be discontinued; the palace is demolished in 1994. On Jan. 30 four Cuban refugees, a doctor and his wife, plus a U. of Havana prof. and his wife wash up in wetsuits at the dock of laid-back singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett in Key West, Fla.; he gives them coffee and calls immigration on them. On Mar. 20 4-y.-o. Conor Clapton (b. 1986), son of guitarist Eric Clapton and Italian actress Lori Del Santo falls to his death in New York City; he is buried on Mar. 28 in Ripley, England.

Manic Street Preachers

On Jan. 21, 1991 the Blackwood, Wales-based alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, incl. James Dean Bradfield (1969-) (vocals), Nicky Wire (Nicholas Allen Jones) (1969-) (bass), Sean Anthony Moore (1968-) (drums), and Richard James "Richey" Edwards (1967-95) (guitar) release the single Motown Junk ("I laughed when Lennon gets shot"). On Feb. 10, 1992 after proclaiming that it would be the "greatest rock album" and sell 16M copies "from Bangkok to Senegar", they release their debut album Generation Terrorists, which features Stay Beautiful, Love's Sweet Exile/Repeat, You Love Us, Slash 'n' Burn, Motorcycle Emptiness, and Little Baby Nothing. Album #2 Gold Against the Soul (June 14, 1993) features From Despair to Where, La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh), Roles in the Hospital, and Life Becoming a Landslide. Album #3 The Holy Bible (Aug. 29, 1994) (#6 in the U.K.) features Faster/P.C.P., Revol, She Is Suffering, and IfwhiteAmericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart ("Conservative say: there ain't no black in the union jack/ Democrat say: there ain't enough white in the stars and stripes"). On Feb. 1, 1995 Edwards disappear - how great for sales? Album #4 Everything Must Go (originally Sounds in the Grass) (May 20, 1996) features A Design for Life, Everything Must Go, Kevin Carter, Further Away, and Australia. Album #5 This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (Sept. 14, 1998) (#1 in the U.K.) features If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (#1 in the U.K.), The Everlasting, You Stole the Sun from My Heart, and Tsunami. On Jan. 10, 2000 they release the single The Masses Against the Classes (#1 in the U.K.). Album #6 Know Your Enemy (Mar. 19, 2001) (#2 in the U.K.) features Found That Soul, So Why So Sad, Ocean Spray, Let Robeson Sing. Album #7 Lifeblood (Nov. 1, 2004) (#2 in the U.K.) features The Love of Richard Nixon, and Empty Souls. Album #8 Send Away the Tigers (May 7, 2007) (#2 in the U.K.) features Underdogs, Your Love Alone is Not Enough, Autumnsong, and Indian Summer. Album #9 Journal for Plague Lovers (May 18, 2009) (#3 in the U.K.) features lyrics by disappeared (since Feb. 1, 1995) Richey Edwards, incl. Peeled Apples. Album #10 Postcards from a Young Man (Sept. 20, 2010) (#3 in the U.K.) features Postcards from a Young Man, (It's Not War) Just the End of Love, and Some Kind of Nothingness. Album #11 Rewind the Film (Sept. 16, 2013) features Show Me the Wonder, and Anthem for a Lost Cause.

The Divinyls

Speaking of vinyls. On Jan. 29, 1991 the Australian band Divinyls, fronted by vocalist Christine Joy "Chrissy" Amphlett (1959-) and guitarist Mark McEntee (1961-) releases album #4 Divinyls (#15 in the U.S.), containing their 1-hit wonder I Touch Myself (#4 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.); it is recorded at Jackson Browne's Groove Masters Studio in Santa Monica, Calif., with backing band incl. Randy Jackson (bass), Benmont Tench (keyboards), and Charley Drayton (drums); the video is filmed in a nunnery in Pasadena.

On Mar. 1, 1991 the Nielsen SoundScan system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett begins tracking sales data for the May 25 issue of the Billboard mag., which features the first Hot 100 chart; the previous ratings were subject to er, fraud.

Lisa Marie Presley (1968-) and Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Michael Jackson (1958-2009), Debbie Rowe (1958-), and Prince Michael Jackson I (1997-)

In Mar. 1991 Michael Jackson signa a 15-year $175M contract with Sony; in Nov. 1991 he splits with longtime producer Quincy Jones and releases album #8 Dangerous (Nov. 26, 1991) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 32M copies (most outside the U.S. and U.K.) (most successful New Jack Swing album of all time), and features the track Black or White (by Bill Bottrell), which becomes the fastest rising single since the Beatles' "Get Back" in 1969; he gives the video to MTV and Fox on the condition that they refer to him as "the King of Pop". It also features the tracks Remember the Time, In the Closet, Jam, Who Is It, and Heal the World. On Nov. 15, 1992 ABC-TV debut the 5-hour miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, about Michael's childhood, becoming the highest-rated TV movie of the 1992-3 season. In Aug. 1993 Michael is accused of child sexual abuse, without being criminally charged, causing him to begin taking painkillers Valium, Xanax, and Ativan to deal with the stress. On Aug. 1, 1994 did I mention that superstar black pop singer Michael Jackson (b. 1958) and singer Elvis Presley's white daughter Lisa Marie Presley (1968-) announce that they exchanged wedding vows on May 26 "in a private ceremony outside the U.S." (the Dominican Repub.; she files for divorce in Jan. 1996); Presley marries Jackson 20 days after divorcing fellow Scientologist, musician hubby (since Oct. 3, 1988) Daniel "Danny" Keough (1964-); Jackson's lawyers settle a civil case in Jan. 1994 for $20M involving Aug. 1993 allegations of sexual molestation of 13-y.-o. white Jordan "Jordy" Chandler (1980-) at his Calif. Neverland estate; too bad, his Beverly Hills plastic surgeon dad Evan Chandler (1944-2009) has his life ruined by rabid Jacko fans, and ends up committing suicide on Nov. 5, 2009. On Sept. 8, 1994 the 11th Annual MTV Music Awards at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City are opened by newlyweds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, who suck face on stage, exciting fans with the prospect of ebony-ivory super pop star kids - alas, it wasn't to be. Album #9 HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I (double album) (June 16, 1995) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 20M copies, and is his first release since his Aug. 1993 accusations of child sexual abuse; Sony places giant statues of him throughout Europe to promote the album; tracks incl. You Are Not Alone (written by R. Kelly) (first pop music single to enter the Billboard chart at #1), They Don't Care About Us (contains alleged anti-Semitic lyrics for which Jackson apologizes after Steven Spielberg breaks ranks with him), Scream/Childhood, Earth Song, and Stranger in Moscow. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (May 20, 1997) sells 6M copies, becoming the best-selling remix album ever. On Nov. 14, 1996 Michael marries his dermatologist's straight white nurse Deborah Jeanne "Debbie" Rowe (1958-) in Sydney, Australia; they go on to have son Prince Michael Jackson I (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.) (Feb. 13, 1997), and daughter Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (Apr. 3, 1998); London's News of the World tabloid claimes that they use artificial insemination and that Rowe was paid $528K, which Michael denies; in May 1997 he sells photos of his baby to Britain's OK! mag. for $2M; they divorce on Oct. 8, 1999, with Rowe receiving $8M and a house in Beverly Hills, and giving up custody of the children, after which in 2004 after Michael is finally charged with 10 counts of child abuse she unsuccessfully tries to get full custody, having converted from Roman Catholicism to Judaism and freaking about the children being exposed to the teachings of the Nation of Islam. In May 1997 the Jackson Five are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, where Michael Jackson's near-white skin contrasted sharply with that of his brothers and Motown mogul Berry Gordy. In Dec. 2003 Am. pop star Michael Jackson converts to the Nation of Islam, pissing-off his Jewish ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who next Mar. demands he distance himself from them and threatens to take him to court over custody of their two children.

Massive Attack

On Apr. 8, 1991 the English (Bristol) group Massive Attack, incl. Robert "3D" Del Naja (1966-), Grantley Even "Grant" "Daddy G" Marshall (1959-), and Andrew Lee Isaac "Andy" "Mushroom" Vowles (1967-) release their debut album Blue Lines (#13 in the U.K.), the first trip hop (too slow to dance to) album, which features the tracks Unfinished Sympathy, and Daydreaming. Album #2 Protection (Sept. 26, 1994) features Protection, and Karmacoma. Album #3 Mezzanine (Apr. 20, 1998) (#60 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Teardrop, which is uses as the theme Fox's 2004 hit show "House, MD", sparking a sales resurgence.

On May 12, 1991 300M watch The Simple Truth, a satellite broadcast charity concert to benefit Kurdish refugees in London's Wembley Arena, starring Rod Stewart, Sting, Sinead O'Connor, et al.

Heidi Klum (1973-) and Seal (1963-) Seal Logo

In May 1991 London-born Nigerian Brazilian singer Seal (Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel) (1963-) releases his debut album Seal (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Killer (w/Adamski) (#8 in the U.K.), Crazy (#2 in the U.K.), and Future Love Paradise (#12 in the U.K.). In July 1994 he releases the single Kiss from a Rose (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), which appeasr on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Batman Forever. Album #3 Human Being (Nov. 16, 1998) is a tribute to Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. On May 10, 2005 he marries German white blonde supermodel Heidi Klum (1933-) ("the Body") in Costa Careyes, Mexico, then have son Henry Gunther Ademola Dashtu Samuel on Sept. 12, followed by Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel next Nov. 22; she also has a daughter Helene "Leni" Klum (2004-) by Italian Renault Formula One team dir. Flavio Briatore (1950-); a German newspaper calls them a "patchwork family"; they divorce in 2014. Album #6 Soul (Nov. 1, 2008) features a cover of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come.

Type O Negative

On June 16, 1991 the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Gothic metal band Type O Negative, AKA The Drab Four, fronted by 6'8" bass-baritone bassist Peter Steele (Petrus Thomas Ratajczyk) (1962-2010) releases its debut album Slow, Deep and Hard (original title "None More Negative"), which features the tracks Unsuccessfully Coping with the Natural Beauty of Infidelity, Der Untermensch, and Prelude to Agony. Album #2 The Origin of the Feces has a closeup photo of Steele's anal sphincter on the cover, and features I Know You're Fucking Someone Else. Album #3 Bloody Kisses (Aug. 17, 1993) (first Roadrunner Records album to go platinum) features Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All), Christian Woman, and Summer Breeze (by Seals and Crofts). Album #4 October Rust (Aug. 20, 1996) features Love You to Death, My Girlfriend's Girlfriend, and Cinnamon Girl (by Neil Young). Album #5 World Coming Down (Sept. 21, 1999) features Everyone I Love Is Dead, Creepy Green Light, and Everything Dies. Album #6 Life Is Killing Me (June 17, 2003) (original title "The Dream Is Dead") features Life Is Killing Me, Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things), and Angry Inch (by Stephen Trask). Album #7 (last) Dead Again (Mar. 13, 2007) sports Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin on the cover, and features the tracks Dead Again, and September Sun. Too bad, on Apr. 14, 2010 after years of drug abuse Peter Steele dies of heart failure.

Right Said Fred

On July 15, 1991 the English (London) band Right Said Fred, led by brothers Richard Peter John Fairbrass (1953-) (vocals - sounds Australian?) and Fred Fairbrass releases its 1-hit wonder I'm Too Sexy (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.); "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt/ So sexy it hurts/ And I'm too sexy for Milan, too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan/ And I'm too sexy for your party/ Too sexy for your party/ No way I'm disco dancing."

Marky Mark (1971-)

On July 23, 1991 future actor and no-hit wonder Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (1971-) releases his debut album (as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch) Music for the People, which features Good Vibrations (no connection to the Beach Boys song), and Wildside (by Lou Reed). On Sept. 15, 1992 he releases his 2nd and last album You Gotta Believe, which features You Gotta Believe.

Naughty by Nature

On Sept. 3, 1991 the East Orange, N.J.-based hip hop group Naughty by Nature, incl. Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee releases album #2 Naughty by Nature (#16 in the U.S.), which features the crossover hit track O.P.P., along with Everything's Gonna Be Alright, and Uptown Anthem. Album #3 19 Naughty III (Feb. 23, 1993) (#3 in the U.S.) features Hip Hop Hooray, It's On, and Written on Ya Kitten. Album #4 Poverty's Paradise (May 2, 1995) (#3 in the U.S.) is the winner of the first-ever best rap album at the 1996 Grammys; it features Feel Me Flow, Craziest, and Clap Yo Hands. Album #5 Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury (Apr. 27, 1999) (#22 in the U.S.) features Jamboree. Album #6 IIcons (Mar. 5, 2002) (#15 in the U.S) features Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing).

Primal Scream

On Sept. 23, 1991 the Scottish (Glasgow) alternative rock band Primal Scream (formed in 1982), consisting of Robert "Bobby" Gillespie (1962-) (vocals) and Jim Beattie, whose first (1987) single is called Sonic Sister Love finally break into commercial success with album #3 Screamadelica (#8 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Slip Inside This House, and Loaded. In Mar. 1994 they release the hit single Rocks (#7 in the U.K.).

On Sept. 28, 1991 after the Soviet Union crumbles, 150K-500K attend the free Monsters of Rock concert at Moscow's Tushino Airfield, featuring AC/DC, Metallica, the Black Crowes, and Pantera. On Nov. 3, 1991 the Grateful Dead, Santana et al. perform before a crowd of 300K at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in honor of rock concert promoter Bill Graham (b. 1930), who dies in a heli crash on Oct. 25.

Ricky Martin (1971-) William Hung (1983)

On Nov. 6, 1991 Puerto Rican singer (formerly of Menudo) Ricky Martin (Enrique Martin Morales) (1971-) releases his debut solo album Ricky Martin, which sells 500K copies worldwide. Album #4 Vuelve (Come Back) (Feb. 10, 1998) (#40 in the U.S.) sell 8M copies, and features Vuelve. Album #5 Ricky Martin (May 11, 1999) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sells 20M copies; it features Livin' la Vida Loca (#1 in the U.S.), and Be Careful (w/Madonna). Album #6 Sound Loaded (Nov. 14, 2000) sells 8M copies, and features the tracks Nobody Wants to Be Lonely, and She Bangs; Chinese-Am. college student William Hung (1983-) performs it off-key on American Idol's 3rd season in early 2004, and is so bad he is good, becoming a cult hero. After years of not commenting amid endless rumors, on Mar. 29, 2010 Martin came out as gay. He goes on to sell 60M albums worldwide.

Tupac Shakur (1971-96)

On Nov. 12, 1991 East Harlem, N.Y.-born rapper Tupac (2Pac) Amaru Shakur (Lesane Parish Crooks) (1971-96), known for frequent trouble with the law releases his debut album 2Pacalypse Now, which features the tracks Young Black Male, and Trapped (w/Shock G). In 1992 a teenager who was listening to the album kills a Texas state trooper, pissing-off U.S. vice-pres. Dan Quayle, who tried unsuccessfully to get stores to remove it from their shelves, only making it more popular? Album #2 Stricly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (Feb. 16, 1993) (#24 in the U.S.) (original title "Troublesome 21") features Keep Ya Head Up, and I Get Around. Album #3 Me Against the World (Mar. 15, 1995) (#1 in the U.S.) features Dear Mama, So Many Tears, and Temptations. Album #4 All Eyez on Me (Feb. 3, 1996) (#1 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.) sell 4.5M copies, and features the tracks How Do U Want It (#1 in the U.S.), and California Love (#1 in the U.S.). Too bad, he is shot in Las Vegas, Nev. on Sept. 7, 1996 in a drive-by shooting after watching the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand, and dies on Sept. 13. Album #5 (last) Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (Nov. 5, 1996) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 3.5M copies, and features Toss It Up (w/Danny Boy, KC & JoJo), To Live & Die in L.A., and Hail Mary. He goes on to sell 75M albums worldwide.

Tom Cochrane (1953-)

In 1991 Canadian 1-hit wonder (in the U.S.) Tom Cochrane (1953-) releases his debut album Mad Mad World, with his big hit Life is a Highway (#6 in the U.S.).

2 Unlimited

In 1991 Belgian-Dutch dance group 2 Unlimited, fronted by rapper Ray Slijngaard (1971-) and singer Anita Danielle Doth (1971-) release their debut single Get Ready for This (#8 in the U.S.), which becomes the opening song for major sports teams incl. the Green Bay Packers, Orlando Magic, and San Antonio Spurs. Their debut album Get Ready! (Feb. 24, 1992) (#197 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.) features the hit single Twilight Zone. Album #2 No Limits! (May 10, 1993) (#1 in the U.K.) features No Limit (#21 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (2.8M copies), and Tribal Dance (#4 in the U.K.). Album #3 Real Things (June 6, 1994) features The Real Thing, and Here I Go. Album #4 (last) II (May 25, 1998) features new vocalists Romy and Marion, along with the track Wanna Get Up.

Tori Amos (1963-)

On Jan. 13, 1992 Baltimore, Md.-based piano-playing singer Myra Ellen "Tori" Amos (1963-) releases her debut album Little Earthquakes (#54 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Winter, China, Silent All These Years, and Crucify. Album #2 Under the Pink (Jan. 31, 1994) (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Cornflake Girl (#1 in the U.K.), and God (#44 in the U.S.). Album #3 Boys for Pele (Jan. 22, 1996) (#2 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Caught a Lite Sneeze, Talula, Professional Widow, Hey Jupiter, In the Springtime of His Voodoo, and Father Lucifer. Album #4 From the Choirgirl Hotel (May 5, 1998) (#5 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) features Cruel/Raspberry Swirl (#38 in the U.S.), Spark (#32 in the U.S.), and Jackie's Strength (#54 in the U.S.). Album #5 To Venus and Back (Sept. 21, 1999) (#12 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.) features Bliss (#91 in the U.S.), 1000 Oceans (#22 in the U.S.), Glory of the 80s (#46 in the U.K.), and Concertina (#48 in the U.S.). Album #6 Strange Little Girls (Sept. 18, 2001) (#4 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) features Strange Little Girl, 97 Bonnie and Clyde (by Eminem), Happiness is a Warm Gun (by the Beatles) (#4 in the U.S.). Album #7 Scarlet's Walk (Oct. 28, 2002) (#7 in the U.S., #26 in the U.K.) features A Sorta Fairytale (#11 in the U.S., #41 in the U.K.). Album #8 The Beekeeper (Feb. 20, 2005) (#5 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features Sleeps with Butterflies, and Sweet the Sting. Album #9 American Doll Posse (Apr. 26, 2007) (#5 in the U.S.) features Big Wheel, and Bouncing Off Clouds. Album #10 Abnormally Attracted to Sin (album #10) (May 18) (#9 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.) features Welcome to England. She goes on to sell 12M albums worldwide.

R. Kelly (1967-)

On Jan. 14, 1992 Chicago-born R&B singer-songwriter R. (Robert Sylvester) Kelly (1967-) and the Public Announcement release their debut album Born into the '90s, which features the tracks Honey Love, Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ), and Dedicated. His solo debut album 12 Play (Nov. 9, 1993) (#2 in the U.S.) features Bump N' Grind (#1 in the U.S.), Your Body's Calling Me (#13 in the U.S.), and Sex Me, Pts. 1 & 2 (#20 in the U.S.). Album #2 R. Kelly (Nov. 14, 1995) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 5M copies, and features You Remind Me of Something, Down Low (Nobody Has to Know), and I Can't Sleep (Baby If I). In 1996 he releases the hit single I Believe I Can Fly, uses in the 1996 film "Space Jam". Double album #3 R (Nov. 10, 1998) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 8M copies, and features I'm Your Angel (w/Celine Dion) (#1 in the U.S.), If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time, When a Woman's Fed Up, and Home Alone. Album #4 TP-2.com (Nov. 7, 2000) (#1 in the U.S.) features The Greatest Sex, Strip for You, I Wish, Fiesta (w/Jay-Z), and Feelin' On Your Booty. Album #5 Chocolate Factory (Feb. 18, 2003) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features Step in the Name of Love, Snake, and Ignition (Remix). Double album #6 Happy People/U Saved Me (Aug. 24, 2004) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features Happy People (#19 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), and U Saved Me (#52 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.). Album #7 TP-3: Reloaded (July 5, 2005) (#1 in the U.S.) features Trapped in the Closet, Ch. 1-Ch. 5. Album #8 Double Up (May 29, 2007) (#1 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, and features I'm a Flirt Remix (w/T.l. and T-Pain). Album #9 Untitled Nov. 30, 2009) (#4 in the U.S.) features Number One (w/Keri Hilson), Echo, and Religious. Album #10 Love Letter (Dec. 14, 2010) (#6 in the U.S.) features Love Letter, and When a Woman Loves.

Sir Mix-a-Lot (1963-)

On Feb. 4, 1992 Seattle, Wash.-born Sir Mix-a-Lot (Anthony Ray) (1963-) releases album #3 Mack Daddy, which features his 1-hit wonder Baby gets Back (#1 in the U.S.) ("I like big butts and I cannot lie").

Wayne's World, 1992

On Feb. 14, 1992 Penelope Spheeris' film Wayne's World debut, based on the Saturday Night Live comedy sketch by Mike Myers (as Wayne Campbell) and Dana Carvey (as Garth Algar), who host a public access TV show in Aurora, Ill. and try to go commercial and grovel before Alice Cooper; on Feb. 18 the Wayne's World Soundtrack album is released, featuring Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", which they grooved on in their Mirthmobile, a baby blue 1976 AMC Pacer with flames and non-matching wheels. It is follow on Dec. 10, 1993 by Wayne's World 2, which sees them go to an Aerosmith concert, have a dream about Jim Morrison and a "weird naked Indian" (Larry Sellers) commanding them to stage Waynestock, and rock with the Village People while Wayne's babe Cassandra (Tia Carrere) flirts with producer Bobby Cahn (Christopher Walken), causing Wayne to go after Honey Hornee (Kim Basinger).

Cracker

On Mar. 10, 1992 Calif.-based alternative rock band Cracker, incl. David Lowery (vocals) and Johnny Hickman (guitar) release their debut album Cracker (200K copies), which features Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now), and Happy Birthday to Me. Album #2 Kerosene Hat (Aug. 24, 1993) (#59 in the U.S.) features Kerosene Hat, and Low. Album #3 The Golden Age (Apr. 2, 1996) features I Hate My Generation, and Nothing to Believe In. Album #4 Gentleman's Blues (Aug. 25, 1998) (#182 in the U.S.) features My Life is Totally Boring Without You. Album #5 Garage d'Or (Apr. 4, 2000) features Euro-Trash Girl. Album #6 Forever (Jan. 29, 2002) features Shine. Album #7 Countrysides (Oct. 7, 2003) features Ain't Gonna Suck Itself.

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (1967-)

On Apr. 21, 1992 Manhattan, N.Y.-born bi singer-songwriter Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (1967-) releases her debut album Tongues and Tails (#51 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.); the title is from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" (2.1.214); it features the track Damn I Wish I is Your Lover, about another woman. Album #2 Whaler (Oct. 18, 1994) (#65 in the U.S.) features Right Beside You, and As I Lay Me Down.

P.J. Harvey (1969-)

On June 30, 1992 Dorset-born English alternative rock singer-songwriter P.J. (Polly Jean) Harvey (1969-) releases her debut album Dry, which is a hit with critics, incl. Kurt Cobain, and features the tracks Sheela-Na-Gig, and Dress. Album #2 Rid of Me (May 4, 1993) features 50ft Queenie, and Highway '61 Revisits (by Bob Dylan). Album #3 To Bring You My Love (Feb. 27, 1995) (#40 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), her breakthrough album features C'mon Billy (#29 in the U.K.), Send His Love to Me (#34 in the U.K.), Down by the Water (#38 in the U.K.), and To Bring You My Love. Album #5 Is This Desire? (Sept. 28, 1998) (#54 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.) features A Perfect Day Elise (#25 in the U.K.), and The Wind (#29 in the U.K.). Album #6 Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (Oct. 23, 2000) (#42 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.) features This Is Love, Good Fortune, This Mess We're In (w/Thom Yorke), A Place Called Home, One Line, and Beautiful Feeling. Album #7 Uh Huh Her (May 31, 2004) (#29 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) features The Letter (#28 in the U.K.), You Come Through, and Shame. Album #10 Let England Shake (Feb. 11, 2011) (#32 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features The Words That Maketh Murder, and The Glorious Land.

Sublime

In June 1992 the Long Beach, Calif.-based ska punk band Sublime, incl. Bradley James "Brad" Nowell (1968-96) (vocals), Eric John Wilson (1970-) (bass), and Floyd I. "Bud" Gaugh IV (1967-) (drums) release their debut album 40oz. to Freedom, which started slow but sell 2M copies in the U.S.; it features the tracks Badfish, Smoke Two Joints, We're Only Gonna Die from Our Own Arrogance, 5446 That's My Number, and Scarlet Begonias. Album #2 Robbin' the Hood (Oct. 1994) features Saw Red, with guest vocals by Gwen Stefani of not-yet-famous No Doubt. Album #3 (last) Sublime (original title "Killin' It") (July 30, 1996) (#13 in the U.S.) sell 6M copies, and features Santeria, What I Got, Wrong Way, Doin' Time, and April 29, 1992 (Miami). Too bad, on May 25, 1996 Bradley Nowell dies of a heroin OD, and the band break up. They sells 17M albums.

David Ippolito

In summer 1992 New York City musician David Ippolito gave an impromptu concert in Central Park in New York City, gaining the attention of Jack Rosenthal of the New York Times, causing him to become popular and begin holding weekend conferences all summer every year (until ?), becoming known as "That Guitar Man from Central Park".

Barenaked Ladies

On July 28, 1992 the Canadian (Scarborough, Ont.) alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies, incl. Lloyd Edward Elwyn "Ed" Robertson (1970-), Steven Jay Page (1970-), James Raymond "Jim" Creeggan (1970-), Andrew Burnett "Andy" Creeggan (1971-), Kevin Neil Hearn (1969-) (keyboards), and Tyler Joseph Stewart (1967-) (drums) release their debut album Gordon (#1 in Canada), which features the tracks Enid, Brian Wilson, Be My Yoko Ono, What A Good Boy, and If I have $1000000. Album #2 Maybe You Should Drive (Aug. 16, 1994) (#3 in Canada, #175 in the U.S.) features Jane, Alternative Girlfriend, These Apples, and Life, in a Nutshell. Album #3 Born on a Pirate Ship (Mar. 19, 1996), the first sans Andy Creeggan features The Old Apartment, Shoe Box, When I Fall, and Break Your Heart. Album #4 Stunt (July 7, 1998) (#3 in the U.S.) sell 4M copies, and is the first with Kevin Hearn; it features One Week (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) (sold 5M copies), It's All Been Done (#44 in the U.S.), Alcohol, and Call and Answer. Album #5 Maroon (Sept. 12, 2000) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in Canada) features Pinch Me (#15 in the U.S.), Too Little Too Late (#86 in the U.S.), Falling for the First Time. Album #6 Everything to Everyone (Oct. 21, 2003) (#10 in the U.S., #6 in Canada) features Another Postcard (#82 in the U.S.), Testing 1, 2, 3, For You, Celebrity, and Maybe Katie. Album #9 All in Good Time (Mar. 23, 2010) (#23 in the U.S., #20 in Canada), the first sans Steven Page features You Run Away.

Mary J. Blige (1971-)

On July 28, 1992 R&B/soul singer Mary Jane Blige (1971-) releases her debut album What's the 411? (#6 in the U.S.), which founds the new genre of hip-hop soul, and features the tracks You Remind Me, Real Love, and Reminisce. Album #2 My Life (Nov. 28, 1994) (#7 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features My Life, Be Happy, and I'm Goin' Down. Album #3 Share My World (Apr. 22, 1997) (#1 in the U.S.); incl. Love Is All We Need, I Can Love You (w/Lil Kim), Everything, Seven Days (w/George Benson), Missing You. Album #4 Mary (Aug. 17, 1999) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies, and features All That I Can Say, Deep Inside, Your Child, Give Me You; As (w/George Michael). Album #5 No More Drama (Aug. 28, 2001) (#2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 6.5M copies (3.2M in the U.S.), and features No More Drama (#15 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), Family Affair (#1 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), and Rainy Dayz (w/Ja Rule) (#12 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.). Album #6 Love & Life (Aug. 26, 2003) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies, and features Love @ 1st Sight (w/Method Man), Ooh!, Not Today (w/Eve), and It's a Wrap. Album #7 The Breakthrough (Dec. 20, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features Be Without You, Enough Cryin' (w/Brook Lynn), Take Me As I Am, and One (w/U2). Album #8 Growing Pains (Oct. 31, 2007) (#1 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) features Just Fine, Work That, Hurt Again, and Stay Down. Album #9 Stronger With Each Tear (Dec. 21, 2009) (#2 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.) features The One, Each Tear (w/Jay Sean), We gets Hood Love (w/Trey Songz), Stronger, and I Am. She goes on to sell over 50M albums and 15M singles.

The Wallflowers

On Aug. 25, 1992 the LA-based rock band The Wallflowers, originally The Apples, incl. Jakob Luke Dylan (1969-) (son of Bob Dylan) (vocals), Tobi Miller (guitar), Barrie Maguire (bass), Peter Yanowitz (drums), and Rami Jaffee (1969-) (keyboards) release their debut album The Wallflowers, which features the track Shy of the Moon. Album #2 Bringing Down the Horse (May 21, 1996) (#4 in the U.S.) features 6th Avenue Heartache, One Headlight, The Difference, and Three Marlenas. In 1998 they release a cover of the David Bowie hit Heroes. Album #5 Rebel, Sweetheart (May 24, 2005) features The Beautiful Side of Somewhere.

Dada

On Sept. 8, 1992 the LA-based alternative rock band Dada, incl. Michael Gurley (guitar, vocals), Joie Calio (bass, vocals), and Phil Leavitt (drums) release their debut album Puzzle, which features their 1-hit wonder Dizz Knee Land, which sells 500K copies.

Stone Temple Pilots 'Purple' by Stone Temple Pilots, 1994

On Sept. 29, 1992 the San Diego, Calif.-based band Stone Temple Pilots, composed of Scott Weiland (Scott Richard Kline) (1967-) (vocals), Robert DeLeo (1966-) (bass), Dean DeLeo (guitar), and Eric Kretz (1966-) (drums) release their debut album Core (#3 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Plush, Sex Type Thing, and Creep. Album #2 Purple (June 7, 1994) (#1 in the U.S.) features Big Empty, Vasoline, Interstate Love Song, Pretty Penny, Unglued. Album #3 Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (album #3) (Mar. 26, 1996) (#4 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.) features Big Bang Baby, Lady Picture Show, Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart. Album #4 No. 4 (Oct. 26, 1999) (#6 in the U.S.) features Down, and Sour Girl (#78 in the U.S.). They go on to have 16 top-10 singles, incl. eight #1s, and sell 40M records before breaking up in 2003.

Radiohead

Also in Sept. 1992 the English (Abingdon, Oxfordshire) alternative rock band Radiohead (named for the Jerky Boys prank call skit "Pablo, honey? Please come to Florida"), incl. Thom Yorke (1968-) (vocals), Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood (1971-) (guitar), Edward John "Ed" O'Brien (1968-) (guitar, vocals), Colin Charles Greenwood (1969-) (bass), and Philip James "Phil" Selway (1967-) (drums) release their debut single Creep, which didn't do well until they release their debut album Pablo Honey (#22 in the U.K.) on Feb. 22, 1993. Creep is written in the men's toilets at the Exeter U. student club, and becomes a hit first on KROQ in S Calif., branding them as a 1-hit wonder, which they prove false later. Album #2 The Bends (Mar. 13, 1995) (#88 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features My Iron Lung. Album #3 OK Computer (June 16, 1997) (#21 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Paranoid Android, Karma Police, and No Surprises. Album #4 Kid A (album #4) (Oct. 2, 2000) features Everything in Its Right Place, The National Anthem, Optimistic, and Idioteque. Album #5 Amnesiac (June, 2001) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Pyramid Song, I Might Be Wrong, and Knives Out. Album #6 Hail to the Thief (June 9, 2003) features There There, Go to Sleep, and 2 + 2 = 5. On May 3, 2016 they release Burn the Witch.

Insane Clown Posse

On Oct. 18, 1992 the American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse from Detroit, Mich., consisting of Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce (1972-) AKA Violent J, and Joseph William "Joey" Utsler (1974-) AKA Shaggy 2 Dope (their fans are called Juggalos, after the song The Juggla, and are initiated by dousing with 2 liters of Faygo) release their debut album Carnival of Carnage. Album #2 Ringmaster (Jan. 28, 1994) features Chicken Huntin'. Album #3 Riddle Box (album #3) (Oct. 10, 1995) features Riddle Box. They go on to sell 6.5M records.

Rage Against the Machine

On Nov. 8, 1992 LA rap metal band Rage Against the Machine release their debut album Rage Against the Machine, which features the tracks Killing in the Name, Bullet in the Head, Bombtrack, Freedom, and Wake Up, which was uses in the 1999 film The Matrix. Album #2 Evil Empire (Apr. 16, 1996) (#1 in the U.S.) features the tracks Bulls on Parade, People of the Sun, and Tire Me. Album #3 The Battle of Los Angeles (Nov. 2, 1999) (#1 in the U.S.) features the tracks Testify, and Sleep Now in the Fire.

Luscious Jackson

In 1992 the Manhattan, N.Y.-based all-girl alternative rock band Luscious Jackson, named after the basketball player, incl. Jill Cunniff (vocals, bass), Gabby Glaser (vocals, guitar), Vivian Trimble (keyboards), and Kate Schellenbach (drums) release their debut album In Search of Manny, which features the track Daughters of the Kaos. Album #2 Natural Ingredients (Aug. 23, 1994) features Citysong, Deep Shag, and Here. Album #3 Fever In Fever Out (Oct. 29, 1996) features their only top-40 charter Naked Eye. Album #4 (last) Electric Honey (June 29, 1999) features Ladyfingers.

Spiderbait

In 1992 the Australian (Finley, N.S.W.) rock band Spiderbait, incl. Kram (Mark Maher) (drums/vocals), Damien "Whitt" Whitty (guitar), and Janet English (bass/vocals) release their debut album Shashavaglava (Croation for "dickhead"), which features the tracks Old Man Sam, and Scenester. Album #2 The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake (1995) features Monty, and Sam Gribbles. Album #3 Ivy and the Big Apples (Oct. 1996) features Buy Me a Pony, and Calypso. Album #4 Grand Slam (1999) features Glockenpop. Album #5 The Flight of Wally Funk (Oct. 1, 2001) features Four on the Floor, and Outta My Head. Album #6 Tonight Alright (Aug. 17, 2004) features Black Betty, Fucken Awesome, and Tonite. Did I mention their single Ghost Riders in the Sky from the 2007 Nicolas Cage film Ghost Rider.

'Open Your Mind' by U.S.U.R.A., 1992

In 1992 Italian electronic dance group U.S.U.R.A., incl. Giacomo Maiolini (his mommy's name is Ursula), Walter Cremonini, and Alessandro Gilardi release their 1-hit wonder Open Your Mind (#7), which incl. a sample from the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger film "Total Recall", if I have to be a 1-hit wonder I'd choose this one. In 1993 they release Sweat, and Tear It Up.

Whigfield (1970-)

In 1992 high-pitched Danish eurodance singer Whigfield (Sannie Charlotte "Naan" Carlson) (1970-) releases her debut single Saturday Night (#19 in the U.S.), which zoomed to #1 in the U.K. in summer 1994, making her the first non-U.K. and non-U.S. artist to debut with a #1 single in the U.K.. The Saturday Night (Whigfield) Dance started a dance craze. Her debut album Whigfield features the tracks Think of You, Another Day, Big Time, Close to You, and Sexy Eyes. She goes on to release three more albums through 2002, selling more records in 1994-7 than Oasis and Blur combined, although she never makes a dent in the U.S. since they already have Dolly Parton.

Amit Saigal (1965-2012)

In Jan. 1993 Indian musician Amit "Papa Rock" Saigal (1965-2012) founds Rock Street Journal (RSJ), in Allahabad, India in Jan., becoming the first rock music mag. in India.

On Jan. 8, 1993 (his 58th birthday) the U.S. Post Office issues an Elvis Presley stamp (29 cents), and prints 50M copies, becoming the first rocker so honored.

311

On Feb. 9, 1993 the Omaha, Neb.-based alternative rock band 311 (named after the local police code for indecent exposure), incl. Nicholas Lofton "Nick" Hexum (1970-) (vocals), Jim Watson/Tim Mahoney (guitar), Aaron Charles "P-Nut" Wills (1974-) (bass), Douglas Vincent "Doug" "SA" Martinez (1969-) (vocals, turntables), and Chad Ronald Saxton (drums) (1970-) release their debut album Music, which sells 500K copies and features the tracks Do You Right, and Freak Out. Album #2 Grassroots (July 12, 1994) sells 500K copies, and features Nutysymtom, and Offbeat Bare-Ass. Album #3 311 (The Blue Album) (July 25, 1995) (#12 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features Don't Stay Home, All Mixed Up, and Down. Album #4 Transistor (Aug. 5, 1997) (#4 in the U.S.) features Transistor, Beautiful Disaster, and Prisoner. Album #5 Soundsystem (Oct. 12, 1999) (#9 in the U.S.) features Come Original, and Flowing. Album #6 From Chaos (June 19, 2001) (#10 in the U.S.) features You Wouldn't Believe, I'll Be Here Awhile, and Amber. Album #7 Evolver (July 22, 2003) (#7 in the U.S.) features Beyond the Gray Sky, and Creatures (For a While). Album #8 Don't Tread On Me (Aug. 16, 2005) (#5 in the U.S.) features Don't Tread On Me (#93 in the U.S.), Speak Easy, and Frolic Room. Album #9 Uplifter (June 2, 2009) (#3 in the U.S.) features Hey You, and It's Alright. Album #10 Universal Pulse (July 19, 2011) features Sunset in July.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

On Feb. 23, 1993 the Boulder, Colo.-based rock band Big Head Todd and the Monsters, incl. Todd Park Mohr (1965-) (vocals, guitar), Rob Squires (vocals, bass), and Brian Nevin (drums) releases album #3 Sister Sweetly, which features the tracks Broken-Hearted Saviour, Bittersweet, and Circle.

The Cranberries

On Mar. 1, 1993 the Irish rock band The Cranberries (originally The Cranberry Saw Us), consisting of Delores Riordan (1971-2018) (vocals), Noel Anthony Hogan, Michael Gerard Hogan, and Fergal Patrick Lawler (drums) release their debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, which sells 5M copies, and features the tracks Linger, and Dreams. Album #2 No Need to Argue (Oct. 3, 1994) sells 16.7M copies, and features the tracks Zombie (about the 1993 IRA bombers that kills two children) ("It's the same only thing since 1916/ In your head, in your head they're still fighting,/ With their tanks and their bombs,/ And their bombs and their guns,/ In your head they are dying.../ Hey hey, what's in your head, Tommy, er Zombie?"), No Need to Argue, Ode to My Family, and Ridiculous Thoughts (video features Elijah Wood). Album #3 To the Faithful Departed (Apr. 30, 1996) sell 6M copies, and features the tracks Salvation, Electric Blue, Free to Decide, and I Just Shot John Lennon. Album #4 Bury the Hatchet (Apr. 19, 1996) features Promises (her misgivings about Irish divorces). Album #5 Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (Oct. 22, 2001) features Analyse.

Suede

On Mar. 29, 1993 the British alternative rock band Suede, incl. Brett Lewis Anderson (1967-) (singer) and Bernard Joseph Butler (1970-) (guitar) release their debut album Suede, which becomes the fastest-selling debut album in British history (until ?), launching the Britpop Movement; it features the tracks So Young, Animal Nitrate, The Drowners, and Metal Mickey. Album #2 Dog Man Star (Oct. 10, 1994) features We Are the Pigs, The Wild Ones, and New Generation. Album #3 Coming Up (Sept. 2, 1996), the first with Richard Oakes replacing Bernard Butler features Trash, The Beautiful Ones, Saturday Night, Lazy, and Filmstar. Album #4 Head Music (May 3, 1999) features Electricity, She's in Fashion, Everything Will Flow, and Can't Get Enough. Album #5 (last) A New Morning (Sept. 30, 2002) features Positivity, and Obsessions (#29 in the U.K.).

Tool Tool Logo

On Apr. 6, 1993 LA-based alternative metal band Tool (named after the male organ), incl. Maynard James (James Herbert) Keenan (1964-) (vocals), Adam Thomas Jones (1965-) (guitar), Paul D'Amour/Justin Gunnar Walter Chancellor (1971-) (bass), and Daniel Erwin "Danny" Carey (1961-) (drums) release their debut album Undertow, which features the tracks Prison Sex, Sober, and Disgustipated. Album #2 Aenima (Sept. 17, 1996) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 3.4M copies in the U.S., and features Aenema, Stinkfist, H., and Forty Six & 2. Album #3 Lateralus (May 15, 2001) (#1 in the U.S.) features Lateralus, Schism, and Parabola. Album #4 10,000 Days (Apr. 28, 2006) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies worldwide, and features Vicarious, The Pot, and Jambi.

Haddaway (1965-)

On May 8, 1993 Trinidad-born singer-dancer Nestor Alexander Haddaway (1965-) releases the 1-hit wonder single What Is Love (#11 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) (2.6M copies), followed by Life (Nov. 5). On Nov. 23, 1993 he releases his debut album Haddaway. On June 26, 1995 he releases album #2 The Drive, which features Fly Away, and Catch a Fire.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

On May 28, 1993 the Cleveland, Ohio-based hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, incl. Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, and Bizzy Bone release their debut album Faces of Death, which features the track Flow Motion. Their first EP Creepin on ah Come Up (June 21, 1994) (#12 in the U.S.) features Thuggish Ruggish Bone, and Foe tha Love of $. Album #2 E. 1999 Eternal (July 25, 1995) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 10M copies worldwide (6M in the U.S.), and features 1st Of Tha Month, East 1999, and Tha Crossroads. Album #3 The Art of War (July 29, 1997) (#1 in the U.S.) features Look Into My Eyes, and If I Could Teach the World. Album #4 BTNHResurrection (album #4) (Feb. 29, 2000) features Resurrection (Paper, Paper), and Change the World. Album #5 Thug World Order (Oct. 29, 2002) features Get Up & Get It, Money, Money, and Home (w/Phil Collins).

Collective Soul

On June 22, 1993 the Stockbridge, Ga.-based alternative rock band Collective Soul, incl. Edgar Eugene "Ed" Roland III (1963-) (vocals), Dean Roland (guitar), Will Turpin (bass), Ross Childress/ Joel Sefton Kosche (1969-) (guitar), and Shane Evans/Ryan Hoyle (drums) release their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid (#15 in the U.S.), whose title is taken from Paul Simon's 1986 single "You Can Call Me Al"; it features the track Shine (#11 in the U.S.). Album #2 Collective Soul (The Blue Album) (Mar. 14, 1995) (#23 in the U.S.) features The World I Know (#19 in the U.S.), December (#20 in the U.S.), Where the River Flows, Gel, and Smashing Young Man. Album #3 Disciplined Breakdown (Mar. 11, 1997) (#16 in the U.S.) features Precious Declaration (#65 in the U.S.), Listen (#72 in the U.S.), and Blame. Album #4 Dosage (Feb. 9, 1999) (#21 in the U.S.) features Heavy, Tremble for My Beloved (used in the opening sequence of the 2008 film "Twilight"), and Run. Album #5 Blender (Oct. 10, 2000) (#22 in the U.S.), their last with Atlantic Records features Why, Pt. 2. Album #6 Youth (Nov. 16, 2004) (#66 in the U.S.), first on their own label EI Music Group features Better Now, Counting the Days, and How Do You Love? Album #8 Collective Soul (Rabbit) (Aug. 25, 2009) (#24 in the U.S.), releases by Atlantic Records features Staring Down, Welcome All Again, and You.

Smashing Pumpkins

On July 27, 1993 the Chicago-based alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, consisting of William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. (1967-) (vocals), James Yoshiobu Iha (1968-) (guitar), D'arcy Wretzky (1968-) (bass), and Jimmy Chamberlin (1964-) (drums) releases album #2 Siamese Dream, which makes them stars, selling 6M copies worldwide. Tracks incl. Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm, and Rocket. Album #3 Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Oct. 24, 1995) (double album) sells 18M copies. Hit tracks incl.: Bullet with Butterfly Wings, 1979, Zero, and Tonight, Tonight.

Sheryl Crow (1962-)

On Aug. 3, 1993 Kennett, Mo.-born Sheryl Suzanne Crow (1962-) releases her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club (#3 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), which sells 5.3M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks Leaving Las Vegas (#60 in the U.S.), All I Wanna Do (#2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), Strong Enough (#5 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.), and Can't Cry Anymore (#36 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.), which starts out slow until "All I Wanna Do" becomes an unexpected hit next spring; she stole lyrics from an old poetry book by Wyn Cooper, then later tracked him down and paid him royalties. Album #2 Sheryl Crow (Sept. 24, 1996) (#6 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) sell over 3M copies, and features If It Makes You Happy (#10 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.), Everyday Is A Winding Road (#11 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), A Change Would Do You Good (#16 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Hard To makes a Stand (#22 in the U.K.), Home (#25 in the U.K.), and Love Is A Good Thing. The album is banned by Wal-Mart for lyrics in "Love Is A Good Thing" suggesting that guns they sell fall into the hands of kids. Album #3 The Globe Sessions (Sept. 21, 1998) (#5 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies, and features the track My Favorite Mistake (about ex-beau Eric Clapton?). She goes on to sell 35M albums.

Counting Crows

On Sept. 14, 1993 the San Francisco rock band Counting Crows (name taken from the 1989 John David Coles film Signs of Life), fronted by Adam Fredric Duritz (1964-) (vocals) (of Russian Jewish descent, who likes to impersonate an African Jamaican, and sing about a paradise planet where everybody is colorblind or just impersonating it?), and incl. Dave Bryson (guitar), Matt Malley (bass), Charley Gillingham (keyboards), and Ben Mize/Steven Bowman (drums) release their debut album August and Everything After (#4 in the U.S., #16 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Mr. Jones (#2 in the U.S., #28 in the U.K.), Rain King (#4 in the U.S.), Einstein on the Beach (For an Eggman), Round Here (#10 in the U.S.), and A Murder of One (#17 in the U.S.); "Well I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow/ Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there, counting crows/ One for sorrow, two for joy/ Three for girls and four for boys/ Five for silver, six for gold/ Seven for a secret never to be told." Album #2 Recovering the Satellites (Oct. 14, 1996) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) is the first with 2nd guitarist Dan Vickrey, and with drummer Steve Bowman replacing Ben Mize, and features the tracks Angels of the Silences (#3 in the U.S.), A Long December (#5 in the U.S.), Daylight Fading (#26 in the U.S.), and Have You Seen Me Lately? (#34 in the U.S.). Album #3 This Desert Life (Nov. 1, 1998) (#8 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.) have cover art by Dave McKean, and features Colorblind, Hanginaround (#5 in the U.S.), and Mrs. Potter's Lullaby (#40 in the U.S.). Album #4 Hard Candy (June 7, 2002) (#5 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Hard Candy, and American Girls (#24 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.), along with the hidden track Big Yellow Taxi (w/Vanessa Carlton) (by Joni Mitchell) (#16 in the U.K.). Album #5 Saturday Nights and Morning Songs (Mar. 25, 2008) (#3 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) features 1492, Washington Square, You Can't Count on Me (#80 in the U.S.), and When I Dream of Michelangelo (#7 in the U.S.). They sell a total of 20M albums.

Mojo Magazine, 1993-

On Oct. 15, 1993 MOJO mag. debut, devoted to classic rock, with the debut cover featuring Bob Dylan and John Lennon.

Crash Test Dummies

On Oct. 26, 1993 the Canadian (Winnipeg) folk rock group Crash Test Dummies, consisting of Bradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts (1964-), Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, Mitch Dorge, and Benjamin Darvill releases album #2 God Shuffled His Feet (#9 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which features their 1-hit wonder Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, which later makes everybody's most annoying song and bad song lists.

On Nov. 5, 1993 the first unofficial Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. is held before 25K fans, featuring Pearl Jam; the first official festival is held on Oct. 9-10, 1999, featuring Beck; Madonna performed in the 2006 festival, Prince in 2008, and Paul McCartney in 2009.

Better Than Ezra

On Nov. 16, 1993 the New Orleans, La. alternative rock band Better Than Ezra (formed in 1988), consisting of Kevin Griffin (1968-) (vocals), Tom Melville Drummond (1969-) (bass), and Cary Bonnecaze/Travis McNabb/Michael Jerome (drums) releases its first nationally-distributed album Deluxe, which caught the attention of Elektra Records, who sign them in 1995 and rereleases it, after which the track Good went #1 in the U.S. Album #3 Friction, Baby (Aug. 13, 1996) features King of New Orleans. The 1998 album The X-Files: The Album features One More Murder. Album #4 How Does Your Garden Grow (Aug. 25, 1998) (#128 in the U.S.) is a flop; it features At the Stars, and Live Again.

Wu-Tang Clan

On Nov. 9, 1993 the hardcore New York City (Staten Island) hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, incl. RZA (Prince Rakeem) (Robert Diggs), GZA (Gary Grice), Ol' Dirty Bastard (Russell Jones), Method Man (Clifford Smith), Ghostface Killah (Dennis Coles), Raekwon (Corey Woods) (1970-), U-God (Lamont Hawkins), Inspectah Deck (Jason Hunter), and Masta Killa (Elgin Turner) release their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (#41 in the U.S.) (named after the 1978 film "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), which sells 1M copies, and features the tracks Protect Ya Neck, Can It Be All So Simple, C.R.E.A.M., and Method Man. Album #2 Wu-Tang Forever (June 3, 1997) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 8M copies, and features Triumph, It's Yourz, and Reunited. Album #3 The W (Nov. 21, 2000) (#5 in the U.S.) features Gravel Pit. Album #5 (last) 8 Diagrams (Dec. 11, 2007) (#25 in the U.S.) features The Heart Gently Weeps.

Snoop Dogg (1971-)

On Nov. 23, 1993 Long Beach, Calif.-born rapper Snoop (Doggy) Dogg (Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) (1971-) releases his debut album Doggystyle (album) (debut) (#1 in the U.S.), introducing the G-funk hip hop style and West Coast hip hop to the mainstream; it features the tracks Who Am I (What's My Name)?, Gin and Juice, and Doggy Dogg World. Album #2 The Doggfather (Nov. 12, 1993) (#1 in the U.S.) features Doggfather, Snoop's Upside Ya Head, and Vapors. Album #4 No Limit Top Dogg (May 11, 1999) (#2 in the U.S.) features Bitch Please. Album #6 Paid the Cost to Be da Boss (Nov. 26, 2002) sells 1.3M copies), and features From the Chuuuch to da Palace (w/Pharrell), and Beautiful (w/Pharrell). Album #7 R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (Nov. 16, 2004) sells 1.7M copies, and features Let's Get Blown (w/Pharrell Williams). Album #8 The Blue Carpet Treatment (Nov. 21, 2006) (#5 in the U.S.) features I Wanna Fuck You (w/Akon).

Cake

In 1993 the Sacramento, Calif. alternative rock band Cake, incl. John McCrea (1965-) (vocals) (known for half-talking half-singing), Greg Brown (guitar), Vince DiFiore (trumpet), Sean McFessel (bass), and Frank French (drums) release their debut single Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle. Album #2 Fashion Nugger (Sept. 17, 1996) sells 1M copies, and features the tracks The Distance, and I Will Survive. Album #3 Prolonging the Magic (Oct. 6, 1998) (#33 in the U.S.) (first without Greg Brown) sells 1M copies, and features Never There. Album #4 Comfort Eagle (July 21, 2001) (#13 in the U.S.), sells 500K copies, and features Short Skirt/Long Jacket ("I want a girl with a mind like a diamond/ I want a girl who knows what's best/ I want a girl with shoes that cut and eyes that burn like cigarettes/ I want a girl with the right allocation, who's fast, and thorough, and sharp as a tack"). Album #5 Pressure Chief (Oct. 5, 2004) (#17 in the U.S.) features No Phone (#13 in the U.S.), Carbon Monoxide, The Guitar Man. Album #6 Showroom of Compassion (Jan. 11, 2011) (#1 in the U.S.) features Sick of You, Long Time.

Juno Reactor

In 1993 the English (London) electronic goa trance group Juno Reactor, a changing ensemble of musicians from around the world led by Ben Watkins release their debut single Laughing Gas, followed by their debut album Transmissions. Album #2 Luciana (1994) is one 61 min. 20 sec. track. Album #3 Beyond the Infinite (Oct. 1, 1995) features Mars. Album #4 Bible of Dreams (June 18, 1997) features God Is God. Album #5 Shango (Oct. 9, 2000) features Pistolero, and Masters of the Universe. In 2003 they release Mona Lisa Overdrive for the film The Matrix Reloaded, and Navras for the film The Matrix: Revolutions. Album #6 Labyrinth (Oct. 26, 2004) features Angels and Men, and Zwara. Album #7 Gods & Monsters (Apr. 22, 2008) features Immaculate Crucifixion, and City of the Sinful.

Sean Combs (1969-) Bad Boy Records Craig Mack (1971-)

In 1993 after losing his job at Uptown Records, Harlem, N.Y.-born Sean John "P. Diddy" "Puffy Daddy" Combs (1969-) founds Bad Boy Records along with school chum Mark Pitts, going on to sign Craig Mack (1971-), who on Oct. 31, 1994 release their first hit single Flava in Ya Ear (#9 in the U.S.), which is remixed by their next signee, The Notorious B.I.G., who becomes a bigger star, with the soundbyte about Mack "Nah, fuck that dude." Too bad, B.I.G.'s success on the East Coast makes Death Row Records on the West Coast jealous, starting a war, which ended up with Tupac Shakur murdered on Sept. 7, 1996 after he sign up with Death Row Records, followed by The Notorious B.I.G. on Mar. 9, 1997 - the police never solved either case. Combs' debut album No Way Out (July 22, 1997) (#1 in the U.S.), original title "Hell Up in Harlem", pub. under the group name Puffy Daddy and the Family features Can't Nobody Hold Me Down (#1 in the U.S.), and I'll Be Missing You (#1 in the U.S.). Album #2 Forever (Aug. 24, 1999) (#2 in the U.S.) features Satisfy You (w/R. Kelly). Album #3 The Saga Continues... (July 10, 2001) (#2 in the U.S.) features The Saga Continues. Album #4 Press Play (Oct. 17, 2006) (#1 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) features Come to Me (w/Jimmy Page), Last Night. Album #5 Last Train to Paris (Dec. 13, 2010) (#7 in the U.S.) features Angels, Hello Good Morning (w/T.l., Rick Ross), and Loving You No More. After he launched two clothing lines, a movie produciton company and other smart business investments, by 2011 his net worth is estimated at $475M.

The Flaming Lips

In 1993 the Oklahoma City, Okla.-based alternative rock band The Flaming Lips (formed in 1983), incl. Wayne Coyne (1961-) (vocals), Jonathan Daniel Donahue (1966-) (guitar), Michael Lee Ivins (bass) (1963-), and Richard English/Nathan Roberts (drums).release their 1-hit wonder She Don't Use Jelly (#55 in the U.S.), which is features on the MTV show "Beavis and Butt-head".

4 Non Blondes

In 1993 the San Francisco rock band 4 Non Blondes, incl. Linda Perry (1965-) (vocals), Christa Hillhouse (bass), Shaunna Hall (guitar), and Wanda Day (drums) release their 1-hit wonder What's Up.

Indian Ocean

In 1993 the New Delhi, India-based fusion rock band Indian Ocean, incl. Susmit Sen (guitar), Asheem Chakravarty (-2009) (drums), Rahul Ram (bass), and Amit Kilam (drums) release their debut album Indian Ocean. In 1997 they release album #2 Desert Rain, the first live album by an Indian band, which features Desert Rain. In Mar. 2000 they release album #3 Kandisa, their breakthrough album, which features Kandisa, Khajuraho, and Kaun. In 2003 they release album #4 Jhini, which features Jhini. In Jan. 2005 they release Black Friday Soundtrack. On Aug. 30, 2012 they release album #5 16/330 Khajoor Road, named after the 100-y.-o. bungalow where they rehearse. In 2013 Susmit Sen left the band, and is replaced by Nikhil Rao.

Blink-182

On Feb. 17, 1994 the Poway, Calif.-based punk rock band Blink-182, incl. Mark Allan Hoppus (1972-) (bass, vocals), Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge Jr. (1975-) (guitar), and Scott William Raynor Jr. (1978-) (drums) release their debut album Cheshire Cat, which features the tracks M+M's, and Wasting Time. Album #2 Dude Ranch (June 17, 1992) features Dammit, Apple Shampoo, Dick Lips, and Josie. Album #3 Enema of the State (June 1, 1999) (#9 in the U.S.), first with drummer Travis Landon Barker (1975-) sold 15M copies; the cover features porn star Janine Lindemulder in a nurse uniform; it features What's My Age Again? (#58 in the U.S.), All the Small Things (#6 in the U.S.), and Adam's Song (#101 in the U.S.). Album #4 Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (June 12, 2001) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sell 4.5M copies, and features The Rock Show (#71 in the U.S.), Stay Together for the Kids, First Date, and Anthem Part Two. Album #5 Blink-182 (Nov. 18, 2003) (#3 in the U.S., #22 in U.K.) features Feeling This, and I Miss You. They go on to sell 23M albums worldwide.

Coolio (1963-)

On Mar. 8, 1994 Monessen, Penn.-born rapper Coolio (Artis Leon Ivey Jr.) (1963-) releases his debut single Fantastic Voyage (#3 in the U.S.), followed on July 19 by his debut album It Takes a Thief. Album #2 Gangsta's Paradise (Nov. 21, 1995) (#14 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.) features the tracks Gangsta's Paradise (#1 in the U.S.), 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) (#5 in the U.S.), and Too Hot (#24 in the U.S.). James Brown is once lured into performing at the same show with him, and later expressed regrets about his profanity, saying he thought he is supposed to perform with "family-friendly" Julio Iglesias. Album #3 My Soul (album #2) (Aug. 26, 1997) (#39 in the U.S.) features C U When U Get There (#12 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.).

Outkast

On Apr. 26, 1994 the hip hop duo Outkast, from East Point, Ga., Andre Lauren "Andre 3000" Benjamin (1975-) and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton (1975-) release their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (album), which features the track Player's Ball. They go on to sell 25M albums.

Weezer

On May 10, 1994 the LA-based alternative rock band Weezer, incl. Rivers Cuomo (1970-) (vocals), Patrick Wilson (1969-) (drums), Matthew Kelly "Matt" Sharp (1969-)/Mikey Welsh (197-)/Scott G. Shriner (1965-) (bass), and Jason Cropper (1971-)/Brian Bell (1968-) release their debut album Weezer (Blue Album) (#16 in the U.S.),. which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks Buddy Holly, Undone (The Sweater Song), and Say It Ain't So. Album #2 Pinkerton (Sept. 24, 1996) (#19 in the U.S.), named after B.F. Pinkerton in Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly" features El Scorcho, The Good Life, and Pink Triangle. Album #3 Weezer (Green Album) (May 15, 2001) (#4 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.) features Hash Pipe (#21 in the U.K.), Island in the Sun (#31 in the U.K.), and Photograph. Album #4 Maladroit (May 14, 2003) (#3 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), the first with bassist Scott G. Shiner (1965-) replacing Mikey Welsh features Dope Nose, Keep Fishin, and Slob. Album #5 Make Believe (May 10, 2005) (#2 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) features Beverly Hills, Perfect Situation, We Are All on Drugs, and This Is Such A Pity. Album #6 Weezer (Red Album) (June 3, 2008) (#4 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.) features Pork and Beans, The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn), Troublemaker, and Dreamin'. Album #7 Raditude (Nov. 3, 2009) (#7 in the U.S.) features (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, and I'm Your Daddy. Album #8 Hurley (Sept. 10, 2010) (#6 in the U.S., #49 in the U.K.) has a cover featuring Jorge Garcia, who played Hugo "Hurley" Reyes on the TV series "Lost" from 2004-10; it features Memories, and Hang On.

Aaliyah (1979-2001)

On June 13, 1994 Detroit, Mich.-raised R&B singer Aaliyah (Aaliyah Dana Haughton) (1979-2001) releases her debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number (#18 in the U.S.), with songs written by R. Kelly, which sells 3M copies, and features the tracks Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, Back and Forth, and At Your Best (You Are Love). Album #2 One in a Million (Aug. 27, 1996) (#18 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies, and features One in a Million, If Your Girl Only Knew, Got to Give It Up, 4 Page Letter, Hot Like Fire, and The One I give My Heart To. Album #3 (last) Aaliyah (July 17, 2001) (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) is released a month before she dies on Aug. 25 in a plane crash in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas, boosting sales to 13M copies; it features We Need a Resolution (w/Timbaland), Rock the Boat, More Than a Woman, I Refuse, and I Care 4 U.

Marilyn Manson

On July 10, 1994 the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based shock rock metal band Marilyn Manson (originally the Spooky Kids), fronted by Marilyn Manson (Brian Hugh Warner) (1969-), along with Twiggy Ramirez (Jeordie Osbourne White) (1971-) (bass), Ginger Fish (Kenneth Robert Wilson) (1966-) (drums), Chris Vrenna (1967-) (keyboards), and Andy Gerold (1978-) (bass) (each member's first name is a sex symbol and last name is a mass murderer) release their debut album Portrait of an American Family, co-produced by Trent Reznor (first 3 albums), which features the tracks Lunchbox, Dope Hat, and Get Your Gunn. Album #2 Antichrist Superstar (Oct. 8, 1996) (#3 in the U.S.) sell 7.5M copies, and features the tracks The Beautiful People, Tourniquet, Cryptorchid ("Each time I makes my mother cry an angel dies and falls from Heaven"), Antichrist Superstar, Man That You Fear. On Feb. 14, 1998 he releases his autobio. The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, which complemented his Nov. 11, 1997 single Long Hard Road Out of Hell. Album #3 Mechanical Animals (Sept. 14, 1998) (#1 in the U.S.) gets mileage because Wal-Mart boycotted it, making it more popular, plus it is 1999, the Antichrist Millennium minus one, plus because of the freaky Apr. 20, 1999 Columbine High School Massacre in Littleton, Colo., which he falsely gets blamed for; it features the tracks The Dope Show, I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me), Rock Is Dead, and Coma White. Album #4 Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (Nov. 14, 2000) flopped initially because it is meant as a reply to being blamed for the you know what, then goes on to sell 9M copies; it features the tracks Disposable Teens, The Fight Song, and The Nobodies. They go on to sell 50M albums.

Toadies

On Aug. 23, 1994 the 1-hit wonder post-grunge Toadies from Ft. Worth, Tex., incl. Vaden Danger Todd Lewis (1965-) (vocals), Mark Reznicek (drums), Lisa Umbarger (bass), and Darrel Herbert (guitar) release their album Rubberneck, containing their hit track Possum Kingdom, about Possum Kingdom Lake near Ft. Worth, with the video showing a body bag dragged up from the lake containing a block of ice with a woman inside, causing vampire fans to flock to their concerts.

Oasis, with Noel Gallagher (1967-) and Liam Gallagher (1972-)

On Aug. 30, 1994 the English (Manchester) rock band Oasis, formerly The Rain, incl. Noel Thomas David Gallagher (1967-) (vocals), William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher (1972-) (guitar, vocals), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (1965-) (guitar), Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan (1971-) (bass), and Anthony "Tony" McCarroll (1971-) (drums) release their debut album Definitely Maybe (#1 in the U.K., #58 in the U.S.), which sells 12M copies (1M in the U.S.), becoming the fastest-selling debut album in the U.K. until the Arctic Monkeys in 2006; it features the tracks Supersonic, Shakermaker, Live Forever, and Cigarettes & Alcohol. Album #2 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (Oct. 2, 1995) (#1 in the U.K., #4 in the U.S.) sell 14M copies (4M in the U.S.), becoming the 3rd best-selling album in U.K. history after Queen's "Greatest Hits" and the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"; it features Wonderwall, Morning Glory, Roll with It, Some Might Say, Don't Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova. Album #3 Be Here Now (Aug. 21, 1997) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), last with Arthurs and McGuigan sells 8M copies, and features D'You Know What I Mean?, Stand By Me, All Around the World, and Don't Go Away. Album #4 Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (Feb. 28, 2000) (#1 in the U.K.) features Go Let It Out, Who Feels Love?, Sunday Morning Call, Where Did It All Go Wrong?, and Fuckin' in the Bushes. Album #5 Heathen Chemistry (July 1, 2002) (#1 in the U.K., #23 in the U.S.) is the last with Alan White; it features The Hindu Times, Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Little By Little/ She Is Love, and Songbird. Album #6 Don't Believe the Truth (May 30, 2005) (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Lyla, The Importance of Being Idle, and Let There Be Love. Album #7 Dig Out Your Soul (Oct. 6, 2008) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies, and features The Shock of the Lightning, I'm Outta Time, and Falling Down. After a record 22 straight top-10 U.K. hits, spending 765 weeks in the top-75 from 1995-2005, they sell 70M records worldwide, and after Noel Gallagher left in Aug. 2009 they changes their name to Beady Eye.

Blues Traveler

On Sept. 13, 1994 the Am. rock band Blues Traveler (formed in 1987 in Princeton, N.J.), consisting of obese lead singer John Popper (vocals, harmonica), Chan Kinchla (guitar), Boby Sheehan/Tad Kinchla (bass), Ben Wilson (keyboards), and Brendan Hill (drums) releases their 1-hit wonder album #4 Four (#8 in the U.S.) (6M copies), which features Run-Around (#8 in the U.S.) and Hook (#23 in the U.S.).

The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) (1972-97)

On Sept. 13, 1994 Brooklyn, N.Y.-born rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) (Christopher George Latore Wallace) (1972-97) releases his debut album Ready to Die (#15 in the U.S.), which revitalized the East Coast hip hop scene; it features the tracks Juicy (#27 in the U.S.), Big Poppa (#6 in the U.S.), and One More Chance (#2 in the U.S.). On Mar. 9, 1997 he is gunned down in Los Angeles, Calif. after a music industry party; the case remains unsolved because real bro's don't rat to the pigs? Album #2 (double album) Life After Death (Mar. 25, 1997) (#1 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.) features Hypnotize (#1 in the U.S.), Mo Money Mo Problems (#1 in the U.S.), Going Back to Cali (#26 in the U.S.), and Sky's the Limit. Album #3 Born Again (Dec. 7, 1999) (#1 in the U.S.) features Dead Wrong (#39 in the U.S.). Album #4 Duets: The Final Chapter (Dec. 20, 2005) (#3 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.) features Nasty Girl (w/Diddy, Nelly, and Jagged Edge) (#45 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), and Spit Your Game (w/Twista and Krayzie Bone).

Korn (KoRn)

On Oct. 11, 1994 the nu metal band Korn (often spelled KoRn or with a backwards r), cornrowed musicians from Bakersfield, Calif., incl. Jonathan Houseman Davis (1971-) (lead vocals), Brian "Head" Welch (1970-) (guitar), David Randall Silveria (1972-) (drums), James "Munky" Shaffer (1970-) (guitar), and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu (bass) release their debut album Korn (#72 in the U.S.), the first-ever nu metal album, which features the tracks Blind, Faget, Daddy, Clown, and Shoots and Ladders (featuring Scottish bagpipes). Album #2 Life Is Peachy (#3 in the U.S., #32 in the U.K.) (Oct. 15, 1996) features No Place to Hide, A.D.I.D.A.S (All Day I Dream About Sex), and Good God; success allowed them to launch their own record label called Elementree Records in 1997. Album #3 Follow the Leader (Aug. 18, 1998) (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) (starts on track 13) brought nu metal to the mainstream, selling 9M copies; it features the tracks All in the Family (w/Fred Durst), Got the Life (#15 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.), Children of the Korn (w/Ice Cube), Cameltosis (w/Tre Hardson), and Freak on a Leash (#106 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.). Album #4 Issues (Nov. 14, 1999) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 11M copies, and features the tracks Falling Away from Me ("Beating me down/ Beating me, beating me/ Down, down/ Into the ground"), Make Me Bad, and Somebody Someone.

Bush

On Dec. 6, 1994 the British (London) Nirvana clone grunge rock band Bush, incl. Gavin Rossdale (vocals), Nigel Pulsford (guitar), Dave Parsons (bass), and Robin Goodridge (drums) release their debut album Sixteen Stone (#4 in the U.S.), which sells 10M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks Comedown, Glycerine, Machinehead, Little Things, and Everything Zen. Album #2 Razorblade Suitcase (working title "Ghost Medicine") (Nov. 19, 1996) (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Swallowed, Greedy Fly, and Bonedriven. Album #3 The Science of Things (Oct. 26, 1999) (#11 in the U.S.) features The Chemicals Between Us, Warm Machine, and Letting the Cables Sleep. Album #4 Golden State (Oct. 23, 2001), last with Nigel Pulsford and Dave Parsons features The People That We Love, Headful of Ghosts, and Inflatable. Album #5 The Sea of Memories (Sept. 13, 2001) (#18 in the U.S.), first with Chris Traynor and Corey Britz features The Sound of Winter.

Apollo 440

In 1994 the English (Liverpool) band Apollo 440, named after the Greek god and the Studio 440 sampler/sequencer, incl. Trevor Gray, Howard Gray, Noko Gardner, and James Gardner release their debu album Millennium Fever. Album #2 Electro Glide in Blue (Mar. 3, 1997) features Electro Glide in Blue, and Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub (#7 in the U.K.). On Sept. 9, 1999 they release album #3 Gettin' High on Your Own Supply, which features Stop the Rock (#10 in the U.K.), which is uses in the 2000 film "Gone in Sixty Seconds". Album #4 Dude Descending a Staircase (July 22, 2003) features Disco Sucks.

La Bouche

In 1994 the German Eurodance duo La Bouche (French for The Mouth), Melanie Thornton (1967-2001), and Lane McCray (1962-) release their debut single Sweet Dreams, followed in 1996 by Be My Lover (#6 in the U.S., #25 in the U.K.) (6M copies), and in 1998 by You Won't Forget Me.

Jimmy Eat World

In 1994 the Mesa, Ariz.-based alternative rock emocore band Jimmy Eat World, incl. Jim Adkins (vocals), Tom Linton (guitar), Rick Burch (bass), and Zach Lind (drums) (named after Tom Linton's younger brothers Jim and Ed, and a drawing by Ed showing Jim shoving the Earth into his mouth) release their debut album Jimmy Eat World, which features Splat Out of Luck, followed by album #2 Static Prevails (July 23, 1996), which features Rockstar. Album #3 Clarity (Feb. 23, 1999) helps found emo rock, and features Clarity, Blister, and Lucky Denver Mint (used in the Drew Barrymore comedy film "Never Been Kissed"). Album #4 Bleed American (July 18, 2001) becomes their breakthrough album (bad timing, causing them to change the title to Jimmy Eat World, and the title track to "Salt Sweat Sugar" after 9/11); it features Bleed American, The Middle, Sweetness, and A Praise Chorus. Album #5 Futures (Oct. 19, 2004) features Pain, Work, and Futures. Album #6 Chase This Light (Oct. 16, 2007) (#5 in the U.S.) features Big Casino, and Always Be. Album #7 Invented (Sept. 28, 2010) (#11 in the U.S.) features My Best Theory.

Seven Mary Three

In 1994 the Williamsburg, Va.-based post-grunge band Seven Mary Three (7M3), incl. Jason Ross, Jason Pollock, Casey Daniel (bass), and Giti Khalsa (drums) release their debut album Churn, which features the tracks Cumbersome (#39 in the U.S.), and Water's Edge. Album #2 American Standard (Sept. 5, 1995) (#24 in the U.S.) features My My, and Roderigo (based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude"). Album #3 RockCrown (June 3, 1997) (#75 in the U.S.) features RockCrown, and Lucky. Album #4 Orange Ave. (July 14, 1998) (#121 in the U.S.) features Over Your Shoulder. Album #5 The Economy of Sound (June 5, 2001) (#178 in the U.S.) features Wait, and Sleepwalking. Album #6 Dis/Location (May 11, 2004) features Without You Feels. Album #7 Day & Nightdriving (Feb. 19, 2008) features Last Kiss.

In 1995 the outdoor Warped Tour, sponsored by skateboard shoe manufacturer Vans et al. showcases U.S. punk rock music.

The Presidents of the United States of America

In Mar. 1995 the Seattle, Wash.-based alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America, incl. Christopher "Chris" Ballew (1965-) (vocals, guitar), Dave Dederer (1964-) (guitar, vocals), and Jason Finn (1967-) (drums, vocals), known for playing guitbasses and basitars release their debut album The Presidents of the United States of America (#6 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Lump (#15 in the U.K.), Peaches (#29 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.), Kitty, and Dune Buggy. Album #2 The Presidents of the United States of America II (Nov. 5, 1996) (#31 in the U.S.) is released on U.S. pres. election day, and features Mach 5, Supersonics, Volcano, and Tiki God. Album #3 Freaked Out and Small (Sept. 12, 2000) features Jupiter, Tiny Explosions, and Last Girl on Earth. Album #5 These Are the Good Times People (Mar. 11, 2008), the first with Andrew McKeag instead of Dave Dederer features Rot in the Sun.

Strapping Young Lad

On Apr. 4, 1995 Vancouver, Canada-based extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad, fronted by Devin Garret Townsend (1972-) (former vocalist for Steve Vai) release their debut album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, which Andy Stout called "one of the most disturbing albums you'll hear for a very long time"; it features Satan's Ice Cream Truck. Album #2 (Feb. 11, 1997) City made them metal stars; it features Oh My Fucking God. Album #3 (Feb. 11, 2003) Strapping Young Lad (#97 in the U.S.) features Relentless, and Rape Song. Album #4 (Mar. 22, 2005) Alien (#32 in the U.S.) features Love? Album #5 (last) (July 11, 2006) The New Black (#200 in the U.S.) features Wrong Side.

Filter

On May 8, 1995 Cleveland, Ohio-based industrial rock band Filter, incl. Richard Patrick (vocals) (formerly with Nine Inch Nails), Brian Liesegang (guitar), Geno Lenardo (guitar), Frank Cavanaugh (bass), and Matt Walker (drums) release their debut album Short Bus (#59 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies in the U.S., and features the track Hey Man Nice Shot (#76 in the U.S.). Album #2 Title of Record (Aug. 24, 1999) sells 1M copies, and features Take a Picture, Welcome to the Fold, and The Best Things. Album #3 The Amalgamut (July 30, 2002) features Where Do We Go From Here, and The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way). Album #4 Anthems for the Damned (May 13, 2008) (#60 in the U.S.) features Soldiers of Misfortune. Album #5 The Trouble with Angels (Aug. 17, 2010) (#64 in the U.S.) features The Inevitable Relapse. Album #6 The Sun Comes Out Tonight (June 4, 2013) (original title Gurney and the Burning Books) features What Do You Say.

Alanis Morissette (1974-)

On June 13, 1995 Canadian-born singer Alanis Nadine Morissette (19874-) releases album #3 Jagged Little Pill (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 33M copies, a record for a female artist, opening up the biz for others; lyrics in her purse are almost stolen by an L.A. mugger? It features the hit tracks You Learn, Ironic, Hand in My Pocket, Head Over Feet, All I Really Want, and You Oughta Know. She goes on to sell 60M albums.

Bloodhound Gang

On July 18, 1995 the Collegeville, Penn.-based comedy alternative rock band Bloodhound Gang, incl. Jimmy Pop, Daddy Long Legs, Evil Jared Hasselhoff (bass), Spanky G Guthier (drums), and DJ Q-Ball (turntables) release their debut album Use Your Fingers, which features the tracks Mama Say (by Duran Duran), Kids in America, and K.I.D.S. Incorporated. Album #2 One Fierce Beer Coaster (Dec. 3, 1996) (#57 in the U.S.), first on Geffen Records features Fire Water Burn, Why's Everybody Always Pickin' On Me?, I Wish I is Queer So I Could Get Chicks, and Your Only Friends Are makes Believe. Album #3 Hooray for Boobies (Oct. 4, 1999) (#14 in the U.S., #37 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, and features The Bad Touch (#52 in the U.S.), Along Comes Mary (by The Association), The Ballad of Chasey Lain, and The Inevitable Return of the Great White Dope. Album #4 Hefty Fine (Sept. 27, 2005) (#24 in the U.S., #109 in the U.K.) features Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo, Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss, and No Hard Feelings ("It ain't my job to fuck you on your birthday").

Garbage

On Aug. 15, 1995 Madison, Wisc.-based alternative rock band Garbage, incl. Shirley Manson (1966-) (vocals), Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig release their debut album Garbage (#20 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.), which sells 4M copies; it features Vow, Stupid Girl, and Only Happy When it Rains. They go on to sell 17M albums worldwide.

Six Feet Under

On Sept. 26, 1995 the Tampa, Fla.-based death metal band Six Feet Under, incl. Chris Barnes (from Cannibal Corpse) (vocals), Allen West (from Obituary) (guitar), Terry Butler (formerly with Massacre and Death) (bass), and Greg Gall (drums) release their debut album Haunted, which features the track Haunted. Album #2 Warpath (Sept. 9, 1997) features Death or Glory (by Holocaust). Album #3 Maximum Violence (July 13, 1999), first with guitarist Steve Swanson features Short Cut to Hell. The all-covers album Graveyard Classics (Oct. 24, 2000) features TNT (by AC/DC). Album #4 True Carnage (Aug. 7, 2001) features The Day the Dead Walked, One Bullet Left, and Sick and Twisted. Album #5 Bringer of Blood (Sept. 23, 2003) features Amerika the Brutal, Murdered in the Basement, When Skin Turns Blue, and Bringer of Blood. Album #6 13 (Mar. 21, 2005) features Decomposition of the Human Race, Shadow of the Reaper, and The Art of Headhunting. Album #7 Commandment (Apr. 17, 2007) features Ghosts of the Undead, and Doomsday. Album #8 Death Rituals (Nov. 11, 2008) features Shot in the Head, and Seed of Filth.

Rammstein

On Sept. 29, 1995 the German industrial metal band Rammstein (Ramming Stone), named after the Aug. 28, 1988 Ramstein AFB Airshow Disaster, incl. Till Lindemann (1963-) (vocals), Richard Zven Kruspe (1967-) (guitar), Paul H. Landers (1964-) (guitar), Olivier "Ollie" Riedel (1971-) (bass), Christoph "Doom" Schneider (1966-) (drums), and Christian "Flake" "Doktor" Lorenz (1966-) (keyboards) releases their debut album Herzeleid (Hearbreak), with a cover showing them sans shirts and looking like poster boys for the Hitler Youth; it features the tracks Rammstein (in commemoration of the Ramstein AFB tragedy), Du Riechst So Gut (You Smell So Good), Weisses Fleisch (White Flesh), and Seemann (Seaman). Album #2 Sehnsucht (Longing) (Aug. 25, 1997) (only RIAA-certified platinum album in German in the U.S.) features Sehnsucht, Du Hast (You Have and/or You Hate and/or You Hate Me to Say), Engel (Angel), Tier (Animal), Bestrafe Mich (Punish Me), Buch Dich (Bend Over), and Spiel Mit Mir (Play With Me). In 1997 they also releases the single Kokain (Cocaine). On Sept. 27, 2004 they release album #4 Reise, Reise (Arise, Arise), which sells 1.5M copies, and features Mein Teil (My Part) (about the German cannibals Armin Meiwes and Bernd Jurgen Armando Brandes, who ate Brandes' penis together and goes from there), Amerika, Ohne Dich (Without You), and Keine Lust (No Desire). They have sells 15M records.

Deftones

On Oct. 3, 1995 the Sacramento, Calif.-based alternative metal band Deftones, incl. Chino Moreno (vocals, guitar), Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Frank Delgado (keyboards), Chi Cheng/Sergio Vega (bass), and Abe Cunningham (drums) release their debut album Adrenaline, which flops at first but finally sells 220K copies; it features 7 Words, and Bored. Album #2 Around the Fur (#29 in the U.S.) (Oct. 28, 1997) features My Own Summer, and Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away). Album #3 White Pony (June 20, 2000) (best-selling), first with Frank Delgado features Digital Bath, Elite, and Change (in the House of Flies). Album #4 Deftones (May 20, 2003) (#2 in the U.S) (500K copies) features Minerva, and Hexagram. Album #5 Saturday Night Wrist (Oct. 31, 2006) (#10 in the U.S.) (last with Chi Cheng) ("Straight evil music" - Moreno) features Hole in the Earth (#19 in the U.S., #69 in the U.K.), and Mein (w/Serj Tankian) (#40 in the U.S.). Album #6 Diamond Eyes (May 4, 2010) (#6 in the U.S.) (original title "Eros") (first with Sergio Vega) features Diamond Eyes, Rocket Skates, You've Seen the Butcher, and Sextape. Album #7 Koi No Yokan (Nov. 12, 2012) (#11 in the U.S.) (180K copies) features Swerve City, Leathers, and Tempest.

No Doubt

On Oct. 10, 1995 Anaheim, Calif.-based third wave ska band No Doubt, fronted by Gwen Renee Stefani (1969-), incl. Tony Ashwin Kanal (1970-) (bass), Thomas Martin "Tom" Dumont (1968-) (guitar), Eric Stefani (keyboards), and Adrian Samuel Young (1969-) (drums) releases album #3 Tragic Kingdom, which no doubt makes them stars, and features the tracks Just a Girl, Spiderwebs, and Don't Speak. They go on to sell 28M albums.

Incubus

On Nov. 1, 1995 the Calabasas, Calif.-based rock band Incubus, incl. Brandon Charles Boyd (1976-) (Happy Knappy) (vocals), Fabio (Mike Einziger) (guitar), Dirk Lance (Alex Katunich) (bass), and Jose Pasillas II (drums) release their debut album Fungus Amongus, whose cover features an Amanita muscaria mushroom; it features Take Me to Your Leader. Album #2 S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Sept. 13, 1997) features A Certain Shade of Green, and New Skin. Album #3 Make Yourself (Oct. 26, 1999) (#47 in the U.S.) (3.1M copies) (their breakthrough album) features Drive (#1 in the U.S.), Stellar (#2 in the U.S.), and Pardon Me (#3 in the U.S.). Album #4 Morning View (Oct. 23, 2001) (#2 in the U.S.) (3.6M copies) features Wish You are Here (#2 in the U.S.), Warning (#3 in the U.S.), Nice to Know You (#9 in the U.S.), and Circles (#31 in the U.S.). Album #5 A Crow Left of the Murder... (Feb. 3, 2004) (#2 in the U.S.) (#6 in the U.K.) (600K copies), first with Ben Kenney replacing Dirk Lance features Megalomaniac (#1 in the U.S.), and Talk Shows on Mute (#3 in the U.S.). Album #6 Light Grenades (Nov. 28, 2006) (#1 in the U.S.) features Love Hurts, Anna Molly (#66 in the U.S.), Dig (#94 in the U.S.), and Oil and Water. Album #7 If Not Now, When? (July 12, 2011) (#2 in the U.S.), named after the Primo Levi novel features Adolescents, and Promises. On July 6, 2010 Boyd releases his debut solo album The Wild Trapeze, which features Runaway Train.

In Nov. 1995 the TV documentary The Beatles Anthology debut, followed by an 8-vol. 10 hr. sets of videos, three double albums, and a book, becoming the #1 music video in the U.S. makes with the cooperation of the three remaining Beatles, who also releases Free As a Bird, the closest that the Beatles come to reuniting, as they record music to add to John Lennon's unfinished song.

30 Odd Foot of Grunts

In 1995 the Australian rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (named after a direction makes to him to take up vacant space on a film with pointless fighting, nothing to do with an exceptionally long bowel movement?), fronted by Kiwi-Australian actor Russell Ira Crowe (1964-) releases its debut EP The Photograph Kills, followed by their debut album Gaslight (1998), which features the track You Treat Me Like Chocolate. Album #2 Bastard Life or Clarity (Sept. 18, 2001) features Sail Those Same Oceans, and Things Have gets to Change. Album #3 (last) Other Ways of Speaking (Apr. 8, 2003) features Never Be Alone Again (w/Chrissie Hynde), Painted Veil, Full Length of the River, and Afraid. He then "evolved" the band into The Ordinary Fear of God.

Peaches (1966-)

In 1995 Canadian-born electronic musician (in Berlin, Germany) Peaches (Merrill Beth Nisker) (1966-) releases her debut album Fancypants Hoodlum, which features the tracks High School Confidential, and Kung Fu Fighting. Album #2 The Teaches of Peaches (Sept. 5, 2000) incl. vocals from her roommate Feist, and features the tracks Fuck the Pain Away, Rock Show, Set It Off, and Lovertits. Album #3 Fatherfucker (Sept. 23, 2003) features Kick It (w/Iggy Pop), and Shake Yer Dix (w/Mignon). Album #4 Impeach My Bush (July 11, 2006) features Tent in Your Pants, Slippery Dick, Boys Wanna Be Her, and Downtown. Album #5 I Feel Cream (May 4, 2009) features I Feel Cream, Talk to Me, Lose You, and More.

Roc-A-Fella Records

In 1996 Roc-A-Fella Records is founded by Shawn Corey "Jay-Z" Carter (1969-), Damon "Dame" Dash (1971-), and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, which goes on to sign The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) (Christopher George Latore Wallace) (1972-97), Memphis Bleek (Malik Thuston Cox) (1978-), Beanie Sigel (Dwight Grant) (1974-), DJ Clue? (Ernesto Shaw) (1975-), Cam'ron (Cameron Ezike Giles) (1976-), The Diplomats (Dipset), M.O.P. (Mash Out Posse), and Ol' Dirty Bastard (Russell Tyrone Jones) (1968-2004).

In 1996-2009 Generation Z (Zog) people are born, who grew up on Harry Potter, Justin Bieber, and Disney stars like the Jonas Brothers, while surfing YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook as soon as they gets old enough to walk.

On Mar. 21, 1996 the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. is founded so that artists like the Light Crust Doughboys and Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers won't be forgotten.

Busta Rhymes (1972-)

On Mar. 26, 1996 Brooklyn, N.Y.-born super-fast rapper (claims to be a Muslim) Busta Rhymes (Travor Tahiem Smith Jr.) (1972-) releases his debut album The Coming (#6 in the U.S.), which features the track Woo Hah! gets You All in Check (#8 in the U.S.). Album #2 When Disaster Strikes (Sept. 23, 1997) (#3 in the U.S.) features Dangerous (#9 in the U.S.), Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See (#11 in the U.S.), and Fire It Up (#10 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.). Album #3 E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front (Dec. 15, 1998) (#12 in the U.S.) features What's It Gonna Be? (#3 in the U.S.). Album #4 Anarchy (June 20, 2000) features Fire, and Get Out! Album #5 Genesis (Nov. 27, 2001) (#11 in the U.S.) features Break Ya Neck. Album #7 The Big Bang (June 13, 2006) (#1 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.) features Touch It (#16 in the U.S.), and I Love My Chick (w/will.ia.am, Kelis). Album #8 Back on My B.S. (May 19, 2009) (#5 in the U.S.) features Arab Money, Hustler's Anthem '09 (w/T-Pain), Respect My Conglomerate, and World Go Round.

Superdrag

On Mar. 26, 1996 the Knoxville, Tenn.-based alternative rock band Superdrag, incl. Brandon Fisher (guitar), Tom Pappas (bass), John Davis, and Don Coffey Jr. (drums); release their major label debut album Regretfully Yours, which features their 1-hit wonder Sucked Out, dissing the major label music industry.

Modest Mouse

On Apr. 16, 1996 the Portland, Ore.-based indie rock band Modest Mouse (name from a Virginia Woolf short story), originally from Issaquah, Wash., incl. Isaac Brock (1975-) (vocals, guitar), Eric Scott Judy (1974-) (bass), and Jeremiah Martin Green (1977-) (drums) release their debut album This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About, which features the tracks Lounge, Beach Side Property, and She Ionizes & Atomizes. The EP Interstate 8 (Aug. 6, 1996) features Interstate 8, Broke, All Night Diner, and Sleepwalking. Album #2 The Lonesome Crowded West (Nov. 18, 1997) features Heart Cooks Brain, Lounge (Closing Time), and Teeth Like God's Shoeshine. Album #3 The Moon & Antarctica (June 13, 2000) (#120 in the U.S.) took its title from the film "Blade Runner", and features Third Planet, Gravity Rides Everything, and Dark Center of the Universe. Album #4 Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Apr. 6, 2004) (#18 in the U.S., #40 in the U.K.) features Float On (#68 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.), Ocean Breathes Salty (#96 in the U.K.). Album #5 We are Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Mar. 20, 2007) (#1 in the U.S., #47 in the U.K.) sold 500K copies, and is the first with Johnny Marr; it features Dashboard (#59 in the U.S., #111 in the U.K.), and Missed the Boat. The EP No One's First, and You're Next (Aug. 4, 2009) features Satellite Skin, Autumn Beds, Perpetual Motion Machine.

Amon Amarth

In Apr. 1996 the Swedish (Tumba) death metal band (definitely into the blonde bearded Norse bare-chested pagan Viking look) Amon Amarth (founded in 1992), named after Mt. Doom in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, incl. Johan Hegg (vocals), Olavi Mikkonen (guitar), Johan Soderberg (guitar), Ted Lundstrom (bass), and Fredrik Andersson (drums) release their debut EP Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds, which features the track Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds. Their debut album Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998) features the tracks The Dragons' Flight Across the Waves, and Siegreicher Marsch (Victorious March). Album #2 The Avenger (Sept. 2, 1999) features Bleed for Ancient Gods, and Metalwrath. Album #3 The Crusher (May 8, 2001) features A Fury Divine, and The Sound of Eight Hooves. Album #4 Versus the World (Nov. 18, 2002) features Versus the World, Across the Rainbow Bridge, and Thousand Years of Oppression. Album #5 Fate of Norns (Sept. 6, 2004) features Fate of Norns. Album #6 With Oden on Our Side (Sept. 22, 2006) is their first album to enter the Billboard Charts, and features With Oden on Our Side, and Under the Northern Star. Album #7 Twilight of the Thunder God (Sept. 17, 2008) (#50 in the U.S.) features Twilight of the Thunder God, and Guardians of Asgaard (w/Lars Goran Petrov). Album #8 Surtur Rising (June 27, 2011) (#34 in the U.S.) features War of the Gods, and Destroyer of the Universe.

Nickelback

On May 1, 1996 the Canadian (Hanna, Alberta) hard rock band Nickelback, composed of Chad Robert Kroeger (Turton) (1974-), Mike Kroeger (1973-), Ryan Peake, and Brandon Kroeger (drums) releases its debut album Curb, which features the track Fly. Album #2 The State (Mar. 7, 2000) sells 1M copies, and features Leader of Men, Old Enough, Breathe, and Worthy to Say. Album #3 Silver Side Up (Sept. 11, 2001) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features How You Remind Me (#1 in the U.S.), Too Bad, Never Again, and Woke Up This Morning. Album #4 The Long Road (Sept. 23, 2003) (#6 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies, and features Someday, Figured You Out, See You at the Show, and Feelin' Way Too Damn Good, Because of You. Album #5 All the Right Reasons (Oct. 4, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) (first drummer Daniel Adair) sells 11M copies, and features Rockstar, Photograph, Animals, Savin' Me, Far Away, If Everyone Cared, and Side of a Bullet. Album #6 Dark Horse (Nov. 17, 2008) (#2 in the U.K., #4 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies, and features Gotta Be Somebody, Something in Your Mouth, If Today is Your Last Day, I'd Come for You, Burn It to the Ground, Never Gonna Be Alone, Shakin' Hands, and This Afternoon. The announcement that they would perform during halftime at the Nov. 24, 2011 Packers-Lions Thanksgiving Day game causes a controversy as many thought they are too mediocre, and wanted their nickel back. In early Jan. 2012 Patrick Carney of The Black Keys announced that rock music is dying because of Nickelback.

The Backstreet Boys

On May 6, 1996 the The Backstreet Boys, from Orlando, Fla., incl. A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, and Kevin Richardson release their debut album Backstreet Boys, which sells 6M copies worldwide, and features the tracks We've gets It Goin' On, I'll Never Break Your Heart, Get Down (You're the One for Me), Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), and Anywhere for You. Album #2 Backstreet Boys (Aug. 12, 1997) (#4 in the U.S.) sell 32M copies, and features Everybody (Backstreet's Back), As Long As You Love Me, All I Have to Give. Album #3 Millennium (May 18, 1999) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sell 40M copies, and features I Want It That Way, Larger Than Life, and Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely. Album #4 Black & Blue (Nov. 21, 2000) (#1 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.) sell 9M copies, and features Shape of My Heart, The Call, More Than That. Album #5 Never Gone (album #5) (June 14, 2005) (#3 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.), their first with a rock sound sold 2M copies, and features Incomplete, and Just Want You to Know. Album #9 This Is Us (Sept. 30, 2009) (#9 in the U.S., #39 in the U.K.) makes them the first group since Sade to have their first seven albums reach the Billboard top-10, and features Straight Through My Heart.

Apocalyptica

On June 13, 1996 Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica, incl. cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lotjonen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, plus drummer Mikko Siren release their debut album Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos. Album #2 Inquisition Symphony (Sept. 22, 1998) features Harmageddon. Album #3 Cult (Sept. 28, 2000) features Path, Romance, and Pray! Album #4 Reflections (Feb. 10, 2003) features Faraway. Album #5 Apocalyptica (Jan. 24, 2005) features Life Burns!, and Bittersweet. Album #6 Worlds Collide (Sept. 14, 2007) (#59 in the U.S.) features I'm Not Jesus (w/Corey Taylor), S.O.S. (Anything But Love) (w/Cristina Scabbia), and I Don't Care (w/Adam Gontier). Album #7 7th Symphony (Aug. 20, 2010) features End of Me (w/Gavin Rossdale). They have sell 4M albums.

Nada Surf

On June 18, 1996 the New York City-based alternative rock band Nada Surf, incl. Matthew Caws (1967-) (vocals), Daniel Lorca (bass), and Ira Sebastian Elliot (1963-) (drums) release their debut album High/Low (#63 in the U.S.), which features the track Popular (#11 in the U.S.). Album #2 The Proximity Effect (Sept. 22, 1998) features Hyperspace, and Amateur. Album #3 Let's Go (Sept. 17, 2002) (#31 in the U.S.) features Inside of Love (#73 in the U.K.), Neither Heaven Nor Space, and Blonde on Blonde. Album #5 Lucky (Feb. 4, 2008) (#82 in the U.S.) features Weightless, See These Bones, and Beautiful Beat.

Jay-Z (1969-)

On June 25, 1996 Bedfort Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, N.Y.-born rapper Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter) (1969-) releases his debut album Reasonable Doubt, which features the tracks Ain't No Nigga (w/ Foxy Brown), and Can't Knock the Hustle. He goes on to hit #1 in the U.S. four times with singles, and 11 times with albums, beating Elvis Presley's record, selling 50M albums. After successful investments, incl. Def Jam Recordings, Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and the New Jersey Jets, by 2011 he have a net worth of $450M.

Placebo

On July 16, 1996 the androgynous English (London) alternative rock band Placebo (a glam version of Nirvana?), incl. Brian Molko (1972-) (vocals, guitar), Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal (1974-) (bass), and Robert Schultzberg/Steve Hewitt (drums) release their debut album Placebo, which features the tracks Nancy Boy, Come Home, 36 Degrees, and Teenage Angst. Album #2 Without You I'm Nothing (Oct. 12, 1998) features Without You I'm Nothing, Pure Morning, You Don't Care About Us, and Every You Every Me. Album #3 Black Market Music (Oct. 9, 2000) features Taste in Men, Slave to the Wage, Special K, Black-Eyed, and Blue American. Album #4 Sleeping with Ghosts (Apr. 1, 2003) (#11 in the U.K.) features Sleeping with Ghosts, The Bitter End, and Special Needs. Covers (Sept. 22, 2003) features Running Up That Hill (by Kate Bush) (#66 in the U.K.). Album #5 Meds (Mar. 13, 2006) features Meds, Because I Want You, Song to Say Goodbye, and Infra-Red. Album #6 Battle for the Sun (June 8, 2009) features For What It's Worth, The Never-Ending Why, Ashtray Heart, and Bright Lights.

Fiona Apple (1977-)

On July 23, 1996 Manhattan, N.Y.-born singer Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart (1977-) releases her debut album Tidal (#15 in the U.S.), which sells 2.7M copies, and features the tracks Shadowboxer (#32 in the U.S.), Sleep to Dream (#28 in the U.S.), and Criminal (#17 in the U.S.). Album #2 When the Pawn... (Nov. 9, 1996) features Fast As You Can (#20 in the U.S., #40 in the U.K.), Limp, and Paper Bag. Album #3 Extraordinary Machine (Oct. 4, 2005) (#7 in the U.S.) features Parting Gift, and Not About Love.

The Cardigans

On Sept. 17, 1996 the Swedish band The Cardigans, from Jonkoping, Sweden, incl. Nina Persson (vocals), Peter Svensson, Magnus Sveningsson, Lars-Olof Johannson (keyboards), and Bengt Lagerberg (drums) releases album #3 First Band on the Moon (album #3) (Sept. 17), which features their 1-hit wonder Lovefool (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.).

Fatboy Slim (1963-)

On Sept. 23, 1996 English DJ Fatboy Slim (Quentin Leo "Norman" Cook) (1963-), hoping to straddle both ends of the Big Bad Millennium releases his 2nd debut album Better Living Through Chemistry, which features the tracks Everybody Needs a 303, and Going Out of My Head. Album #2 You've Come a Long Way, Baby (Oct. 19, 1998) (#34 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features The Rockafeller Skank, Gangster Trippin', Praise You, Right Here Right Now, Build It Up - Tear It Down, and Fucking in Heaven (uses the word "fucking" 108 times). Album #3 Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars (Nov. 6, 2000 (title from the Oscar Wilde quote "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" by Lady Darlington in "Lady Windemere's Fan") features the hit Weapon of Choice (video stars Christopher Walken), along with Talking 'bout My Baby, Star 69 ("They know what is what, but they don't know what is what, they just strut, what the fuck?"), Sunset (Bird of Prey), and Ya Mama. Album #4 Palokaville (Oct. 4, 2004) features Don't Let the Man Get You Down, and Slash Dot Slash. On Apr. 6, 2009 he releases an album with David Byrne of Talking Heads titled Here Lies Love, about Imelda Marcos.

Matchbox Twenty

On Oct. 1, 1996 the Orlando, Fla. rock band Matchbox Twenty, incl. Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas (1972-) (vocals), Brian Joseph Yale (1968-), (bass), Paul John Doucette (1972-) (guitar/drums), and Adam Gaynor (guitar) release their debut album Yourself or Someone Like You (#5 in the U.S., #50 in the U.K.), which sells 15M copies, and features the tracks Long Day, Push, 3 A.M., Real World, and Back 2 Good. Album #2 Mad Season (May 23, 2000) (#3 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.) features Bent (#1 in the U.S.). Album #3 More Than You Think You Are (Nov. 19, 2002) (#6 in the U.S., #31 in the U.K.) features Unwell (#3 in the U.S.), Bright Lights (#15 in the U.S.), and Disease (#21 in the U.S.). Album #4 Exile on Mainstream (Oct. 2, 2007) (#3 in the U.S., #53 in the U.K.) features How Far We've Come (#14 in the U.S.).

Elysian Fields

On Oct. 8, 1996 Brooklyn, N.Y.-based art noir rock band Elysian Fields, fronted by Jennifer Charles (1968-) (vocals) and Oren Bloedow (1965-) (guitar) releases their debut album Bleed Your Cedar, which features the tracks Lady in the Lake, Star, Fountains on Fire, Jack in the Box, and Mermaid, going on to develop a cult following. Album #4 Bum Raps and Love Taps (2005) features Duel with Cudgels. Album #6 Last Night on Earth (June 14, 2011) features Red Riding Hood.

Spice Girls

On Nov. 4, 1996 the English girl group Spice Girls release their debut album Spice, which sells 23M copies. A multiracial group forms via ads in "The Stage" reading "RU 18-23 with the ability to sing/dance", its members are Victoria Caroline Beckham (nee Adams) (Posh Spice) (1974-), Melanie Janine Brown (1975-) (Scary Spice), Emma Lee Bunton (1976-) (Baby Spice), Melanie Jayne Chisholm (1974-) (Sporty Spice), and Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (1972-) (Ginger Spice). Hit tracks incl. Wannabe (debut single, which hit #1 in 31 countries, rocketing the karate-kicking babes to the top), Say You'll Be There, 2 Become 1, and Naked (which they perform naked sitting on backwards chairs). Album #2 Spiceworld (Nov. 3, 1997) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 20M copies, and features Spice Up Your Life, Too Much, Stop, and Viva Forever. Album #3 (last) Forever (Nov. 6, 2000) (#2 in the U.K.) started slow but sells 5M copies; it features Goodbye (#1 in the U.K.), and Holler (#1 in the U.S.).

Staind

On Nov. 29, 1996 the Springfield, Mass.-based rock band Staind, incl. Aaron Lewis (1972-) vocals), Mike Mushok (guitar), Johnny April (bass), and Jon Wysocki (drums) release their debut album Tormented, whose cover features a bloody Barbie doll on a crucifix, and a knife impaling a Bible; it features the tracks Painful, and Mudshuvel. Album #2 Dysfunction (Apr. 13, 1999) sells 1M copies worldwide, and features Mudshovel, Just Go, and Home. Album #3 Break the Cycle (May 22, 2001) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features Fade, Outside, It's Been Awhile, and For You. Album #4 14 Shades of Grey (May 20, 20093) (#1 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and features Price to Play, So Far Away, and How About You. Album #5 Chapter V (Aug. 9, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #112 in the U.K.) sells 1.5M copies, and features Right Here, Falling, Everything Changes, and King of All Excuses. Album #6 The Illusion of Progress (Aug. 19, 2008) (#3 in the U.S., #73 in the U.K.) features Believe, All I Want, The Way I Am, and This Is It. Album #7 Stained (Seven) (Sept. 13, 2011) features Not Again, The Bottom (used in the 2011 film "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"), and Eyes Wide Open. They have sell over 15M records worldwide.

Secret Garden

In 1996 the Irish-Norwegian New Instrumental Music duo Secret Garden, Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry (1963-) and Norwegian pianist Rolf Lovland (Løvland) (1955-) release their first album Songs from a Secret Garden, which features the tracks Song from a Secret Garden, and Nocturne. Album #3 Dawn of a New Century (Apr. 20, 1999) features Dawn of a New Century. Album #5 Once in a Red Moon (Mar. 26, 2002) features Awakening, and You Raise Me Up (w/Brian Kennedy), which ended up getting covered 100+ times. They go on to sell 3M albums.

Beth Hart (1972-)

In 1996 LA-born Janis Joplin-like singer Beth Hart (1972-) releases her debut album Immortal, which features the track Run. In 1999 she releases album #2 Screamin' for My Supper (#143 in the U.S.), which features her 1-hit wonder LA Song (Out of This Town), which is later features in the final season of "Beverly Hills, 90210".

Jennifer Lopez (Jay-Lo) (1969-) Jennifer Lopez (1969-) and Marc Antony (1968-)

On Mar. 21, 1997 the film Selena debut, launching the career of Bronx, N.Y.-born Puerto Rican-American singer-actress Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-), AKA J.Lo, J-Lo, or Jay-Lo. On June 1, 1999 she releases her debut album On the 6 (#8 in the U.S.), which sells 7M copies); the title refers to Subway Line No. 6, which she commuted on from Manhattan to the Bronx; it features the tracks If You have My Love, Waiting for Tonight, Feelin' So Good, and No Me Ames (w/Marc Anthony). Album #2 J.Lo (Jan. 23, 2001) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 8M copies, and features Love Don't Cost a Thing (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Play, Ain't It Funny (w/Ja Rule), and I'm Real (w/Ja Rule). Album #3 This Is Me... Then (Nov. 19, 2002) (#6 in the U.S.) sell 6M copies, and features Jenny from the Block (w/Styles P and Jadakiss), All I Have (w/LL Cool J) (#1 in the U.S.), I'm Glad, and Baby I Love U!. Album #4 Rebirth (Mar. 1, 2005) (#2 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Get Right (#12 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Album #7 Love? (Apr. 28, 2011) (#5 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) features On the Floor (w/Pitbull), and I'm Into You (w/Lil Wayne). On June 5, 2004 she marries hubby #3 tropical salsa singer Marc Anthony (Marco Antonio Muniz) (1968-) in a surprise ceremony while wearing $7M of Neil Lane jewelry; they separated on July 15, 2011.

On Mar. 21, 1997 the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. is founded so that artists like the Light Crust Doughboys and Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers won't be forgotten.

*NSYNC Lou Pearlman (1954-) Justin Timberlake (1981-) Feb. 1, 2004 Wardrobe Malfunction

On Mar. 26, 1997 the American boy band 'N Synch (*NSYNC), formed in 1995 by impresario Louis Jay "Lou" Pearlman (1954-) (1st cousin of Art Garfunkel) of Backstreet Boys fame, and consisting of Justin Randall Timberlake (1981-), Chris Kirkpatrick (1971-), Joey Fatone (1977-), Joshua Scott "JC" Chasez (1976-), and Lance Bass (1979-) (name supposedly makes up out of letters from their names "justiN chriS joeY jasoN jC", then "lansteN" for Lance Bass after he replaced Chasez) releases its debut album *NSYNC, which didn't do too well until their 1998 Summer Disney Concert, after which it sells 10M copies in the U.S.; it features the tracks I Want You Back, and Tearin' Up My Heart. Album #2 No Strings Attached (Mar. 21, 2000) (#1 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.) sell a record 1.1M copies in its first day and 2.41M copies in its 1st week, and goes on to sell over 100K copies a week for 26 straight weeks, causing Rolling Stone to call them "the biggest band in the world" in 2001; it features the tracks Bye Bye Bye, It's Gonna Be Me, and This I Promise You. Album #3 (last) Celebrity (July 24, 2001) (#1 in the U.S.) is #2 in 1st week sales (1,879,955 copies) after their 1st album, and sells 10M copies worldwide; it features the tracks Pop, Girlfriend, and Gone. Too bad, on Dec. 27, 2006 Pearlman is indicted in Fla. for the largest Ponzi scheme in history ($500M), and on June 27, 2007 he is indicted by a federal grand jury for bank, mail and wire fraud, then convicted in 2008 and sentenced to up to 25 years - are the charges in sync? On Nov. 5, 2002 Justin Timberlake releases his debut album Justified (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 10M copies, and features the tracks Like I Love You, Cry Me a River (aobut his breakup with Britney Spears), Rock Your Body, and Senorita. Album #2 Future Sex/ LoveSounds (Sept. 12, 2006) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 4M copies in the U.S. and 14M copies worldwide, and spawned six Top 20 hits for the 1st time since Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" (1991); it features the tracks SexyBack, My Love, What Goes Around Comes Around, Summer Love, LoveStoned, and Until the End of Time. On Feb. 1, 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) was held in Houston, Tex., and the New England Patriots (AFC) defeated the Carolina Panthers (NFC) 32-29 as MVP (for the 2nd time) Patriots QB Tom Brady dueled Carolina's QB Jake Delhomme, the two QBs passing for 677 yards and six TDs; Jake Delhomme makes a SB record 85-yard pass completion to Muhsin Muhammad; Carolina was the first #3 seed to reach the SB; too bad, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson's breast during the halftime show, and she later claimed a "wardrobe malfunction", triggering the Nipplegate controversy; at the Grammys, Timberlake commented "What occurred is unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys are offended"; a record $550K FCC fine resulted in mass self-censorship at radio and TV stations all the rest of the year, and Howard Stern fled to unregulated satellite radio, debuting on Sirius Satellite Radio (launched on July 1, 2002) in Jan. 2006. On Mar. 15, 2003 Timberlake releases album #3 The 20/20 Experience (#1 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which features Suit & Tie ("I be on my suit and tie, shit tie, shit tie"), Mirrors, and Tunnel Vision.

Within Temptation

On Apr. 6, 1997 the Dutch symphonic metal rock band Within Temptation, incl. Sharon Janny den Adel (1974-) (vocals) and Robert Westerholt (1975-) (guitar and growls) release their debut album Enter, which features the tracks Enter, and Restless. Album #2 Mother Earth (Dec. 4, 2000) features Mother Earth, Our Farewell, Ice Queen, and Never-Ending Story. Album #3 The Silent Force (Nov. 15, 2004), first with Ruud Jolie and Martijn Spierenburg features Stand My Ground, Memories, Angels, Jillian (I'd Give My Heart). Album #4 The Heart of Everything (Mar. 12, 2007) (#106 in the U.S., #38 in the U.K.) features All I Need, Forgiven, The Howling, What Have You Done, and Frozen. Album #5 The Unforgiving (Mar. 25, 2011) (#50 in the U.S., #23 in the U.K.) features Faster, Sinead, and Shot in the Dark.

Third Eye Blind

On Apr. 8, 1997 after signing Elektra Records' biggest new band deal yet, the San Francisco, Calif.-based alternative rock band Third Eye Blind (3eb), incl. Stephan Jenkins (vocals, guitar), Kevin Cadogan (lead guitar), Arion Salazar (bass), and Brad Hargreaves (drums) release their debut album Third Eye Blind (#25 in the U.S.) (500K copies), which features Semi-Charmed Life, Graduate, How's It Going to Be, Losing a Whole Year, and Jumper. Album #2 Blue (Nov. 23, 1999) (#40 in the U.S.) (1.25M copies) features Anything, Never Let You Go, Ten Days Late, and Deep Inside of You. Too bad, on Jan. 25, 2000 Cadogan is fired. Album #3 Out of the Vein (May 13, 2003) (500K copies), first with guitarist Tony Fredianelli features Blinded (When I See You), after which Elektra Records is absorbed by Atlantic Records. Album #4 Ursa Major (Aug. 18, 2009) (#3 in the U.S.), first on their own Mega Collider label features Sharp Knife.

Meredith Brooks (1958-)

On May 5, 1997 Oregon City, Ore.-born singer-songwriter Meredith Ann Brooks releases her debut album Blurring the Edges (#22 in the U.S.), which features her 1-hit wonder Bitch (#2 in the U.S.), and What Would Happen (#46 in the U.S.).

Smash Mouth

On July 8, 1997 the San Jose, Calif. rock band Smash Mouth, incl. Steven Scott "Steve" Harwell (1967-) (vocals), Gregory Dean "Greg' Camp (1967-) (guitar), Paul De Lisle (bass), and Kevin Coleman (drums) release their debut album Fush Yu Mang, which features the track Walkin' on the Sun (#2 in the U.S.). Album #2 Astro Lounge (June 8, 1999) features All Star (#4 in the U.S.) (used in the 2001 film "Shrek"). Album #3 Smash Mouth (Nov. 27, 2001), first with new drummer Michael Urbano (1960-) features Holiday In My Head, and Pacific Coast Party. Album #4 Get the Picture? (Aug. 5, 2003) features You Are My Number One, and Hang On (used in "The Cat in the Hat"). Album #5 Summer Girl (Sept. 19, 2006), first with Jason Sutter in the place of Michael Urbano features So Insane, and Story of My Life.

98 Degrees Nick Lachey (1973-) and Jessica Simpson (1980-) Ashlee Simpson (1984-)

On July 29, 1997 the LA-based boy band 98 Degrees, incl. Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey (1973), Andrew John "Drew" Lachey (1976-), Justin Jeffre (1973-), and Jeffrey Brandon "Jeff" Timmons (1973-) release their debut album 98 Degrees (#145 in the U.S.), which features the track Invisible Man. Album #2 98 Degrees and Rising (Oct. 20, 1998) (#14 in the U.S.) features Because of You, and The Hardest Thing. Album #3 (last) Revelation (Sept. 26, 2000) (#2 in the U.S.) features Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche). They sells 10M albums. On Oct. 26, 2002 Nick Lachey marries fellow midlevel singer Jessica Ann Simpson (1980-) (born in Abilene Tex., whose Baptist minister-psychologist father Joe Simpson utters the soundbyte "If you put her in a T-shirt or you put her in a bustier, she's sexy in both - she's gets double Ds"), starring together in the reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica (41 episodes) from Aug. 19, 2003 - Mar. 30, 2005, which turned them into superstars as it chronicled their lives in a new Calif. home, and showing dippy-blonde Simpson confusing Chicken of the Sea brand tuna with, er, chicken, and refusing Buffalo wings because "I don't eat buffalo"; they announce their separation on Nov. 23, 2005 right after the Dec.-Jan. issue of Teen People, in which they deny breakup rumors, and the Oct. 17 issue of US Weekly, which carries the headline "Split!", with the soundbyte "This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other." They divorces on Dec. 16, 2005, after which Nick goes solo. On July 15, 2011 Nick marries TV host Vanessa Joy Minnillo (1980-). Jessica Simpson's debut album Sweet Kisses (Nov. 23, 1999) (#25 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.) sell 4M copies worldwide (2M in the U.S.), and features the tracks I Wanna Love You Forever, and Where You Are (w/Nick Lachey). Album #2 Irresistible (May 25, 2001) (#6 in the U.S., #103 in the U.K.) ("Mariah Carey meets Britney Spears" - Simpson) features Irresistible, and A Little Bit. Album #3 In This Skin (Aug. 19, 2003) (#2 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features Sweetest Sin, With You, Take My Breath Away, and Angels. Album #5 A Public Affair (Aug. 26, 2006) (#5 in the U.S., #65 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, after which she switched to country; it features A Public Affair, I Belong to Me, and You Spin Me Round (Like A Record). Meanwhile on July 20, 2004 Jessica's sister Ashlee Nicole Simpson (1984-) releases her debut album Autobiography (#1 in the U.S.), the biggest debut album so far by female artist; it features the tracks Autobiography, La La, and Pieces of Me, which she performs Oct. 23 on Saturday Night Live (hosted by Jude Law), getting criticized for using a pre-recorded vocal track and getting caught when the wrong song is played. Her reality TV show The Ashlee Simpson Show aired on MTV for 18 episodes from June 16, 2004 - Mar. 30, 2005. Album #2 I Am Me (Oct. 18, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #50 in the U.K.) features Boyfriend, and L.O.V.E.. Album #3 Bittersweet World (album #3) (Apr. 22, 2008) (#4 in the U.S., #57 in the U.K.) features Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya), and Little Miss Obsessive.

Creed

On Aug. 26, 1997 the Tallahassee, Fla.-based post-grunge rock band Creed, incl. Scott Alan Stapp (1973-) (Anthony Scott Flippen) (vocals), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass), and Scott Phillips (drums) releases its debut album My Own Prison (#22 in the U.S.) (6M copies), which features My Own Prison, What's This Life For, and One. Album #2 Human Clay (Sept. 28, 1999) (#1 in the U.S., #29 in the U.K.) (12M copies) features Higher, What If, With Arms Wide Open, and Are You Ready?. Album #3 Weathered (Nov. 20, 2001) ((#22 in the U.S.) (6M copies) (first with bassist Mark Tremonti) features Weathered, My Sacrifice, Bullets, One Last Breath, Hide, and Don't Stop Dancing. The band disbands in 2004-2009. Album #4 Full Circle (Oct. 27, 2009) (#2 in the U.S.) features Overcome, Rain, and A Thousand Faces. On Nov. 22, 2005 Stapp releases his debut solo album The Great Divide, followed on Nov. 5, 2013 by album #2 Proof of Life.

Usher (1978-)

On Sept. 16, 1997 Dallas, Tex.-born R&B singer Usher (Usher Raymond IV) (1978-), who was discovered at a talent show in Atlanta, Ga. in 1993 releases album #2 My Way (#4 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.) (8M copies), which features the tracks My Way, and Nice and Slow (#1 in the U.S.). Album #3 8701 (Aug. 7, 2001) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies, and features Pop Ya Collar, U Remind Me, U gets It Bad, U Don't Have to Call, and U-Turn. Album #4 Confessions (album #4) (Mar. 23, 2004) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies in the U.S. and 20M copies worldwide (#2 of the decade), incl. 1.1M copies in week #1, a record for an R&B artist, and features the tracks Confessions, Confessions Part II, Yeah! (w/Lil Jon and Ludacris), Burn, My Boo (w/Alicia Keys), and Caught Up. He goes on to sell 65M records worldwide.

Chumbawamba

On Sept. 23, 1997 the far left political English (Burnley) alternative rock band Chumbawamba (founded in 1982 from the band Chimp Eats Banana), incl. Allan "Boff" Whalley, Danbert Nobacon (Nigel Hunter), Midge, Tomi, and Lou Watts release their album Tubthumper, which sells 3M copies in the U.S., and features their 1-hit wonder Tubthumping, and Amnesia; ironically, commercial success turned off a bunch of their far left friends. Their 1986 debut album Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records, a criticism of Live Aid starts out with the sound of Danbert Nobacon vomiting into a toilet; it features How to Get Your Band on Television.

The Verve

On Sept. 29, 1997 the English (Wigan, Greater Manchester) rock band The Verve, incl. Richard Ashcroft (1971-) (vocals), Nicholas Jonathon "Nick" McCabe (1971-) (guitar), Simon Robin David Jones (1972-) (bass), Peter Anthony Salisbury (1971-) (drums), and Simon Tong (1972-) (guitar) releases album #3 Urban Hymns (#23 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Bittersweet Symphony (#12 in the U.S.) (uses a reversed looped sample from the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time", causing them to be sued), The Drugs Don't Work, Lucky Man, and Sonnet. The break up in 1999, and reformed in 2007, releasing their 4th and last album on Aug. 25, 2008, Forth, which features Love Is Noise (#4 in the U.K.).

Guano Apes

On Oct. 6, 1997 the Gottingen, Germany-based nu metal alternative rock band Guano Apes (Gapes), fronted by Sandra Nasic, incl. Henning Rümenapp (guitars, vocals), Stefan Ude (bass, vocals), and Dennis Poschwatta (drums, vocals) release their debut album Proud Like a God (200K copies), featuring Open Your Eyes, Rain, and Lords of the Boards. Album #2 Don't Give Me Names (May 2, 2000) (100K copies) features Big in Japan (by Alphaville), No Speech, Living in a Lie, and Dodel (Dödel) Up. Album #3 Walking on a Thin Line (Feb. 3, 2003) (100K copies) features You Can't Stop Me, Pretty in Scarlet, and Quietly. Album #4 Bel Air (Apr. 1, 2011) goes hard rock, and features Oh What a Night, Sunday Lover, This Time, and When the Ships Arrive.

The Steps

In 1997 the English pop group Steps, incl. Claire Ann Richards (1977-), H ("Hyperactive") (Ian Watkins) (1967-), Lisa Scott-Lee (1975-), Lee Latchford-Evans (1975-), and Faye Louise Tozer (1975-), forms by Steve Crosby, Barry Upton, and Tim Byrne by placing an ad in "The Stage" for models who could sing and dance, creating a sound that their songwriter Peter Waterman called "ABBA on speed", release their debut single 5, 6, 7, 8 (#14 in the U.K.), which came with its own printed dance steps, their trademark. They follow it with Last Thing on My Mind (by Bananarama) (Apr. 1998) (#6 in the U.K.); One for Sorrow (Aug. 1998) (#2 in the U.K.), and their debut album Step One (Sept. 14, 1998) (#2 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Tragedy (by the Bee Gees) (#1 in the U.K.) (1M copies), Heartbeat, and Better Best Forgotten (#2 in the U.K.). Album #2 Steptacular (Oct. 25, 1999) (#1 in the U.K.) features Love's gets a Hold on My Heart (#2 in the U.K.), Say You'll Be Mine (#4 in the U.K.), and Deeper Shade of Blue (#4 in the U.K.). Album #3 Buzz (Oct. 25, 2000) (#4 in the U.K.) features Stomp (#1 in the U.K.), and It's the Way You makes Me Feel (#2 in the U.K.). Album #4 Gold: Greatest Hits (Oct. 15, 2001) (#1 in the U.K.) features Chain Reaction (by Diana Ross) (#2 in the U.K.), and Words Are Not Enough (#5 in the U.K.), after which they have a famous Boxing Day (Dec. 26) Split. They go on to sell 15M records, incl. 14 consecutive top-5 U.K. singles, vs. 20 for The Beatles.

Hellcat Records Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Logo

In 1997 Hellcat Records is founded in LA as an offshoot of Epitaph Records to distribute punk, ska and hardcore records, going on to sign the Quincy, Mass.-based Irish/Celtic punk rock band Dropkick Murphys, fronted by Mike McColgan, along with Ken Casey (bass), Rick Barton (guitar), and Jeff Erna (drums), who release their debut album Do or Die on Jan. 27, 1998, which features the track Barroom Hero. Album #2 The Gang's All Here (Mar. 9, 1999), first with vocalist Al Barr features 10 Years of Service. Album #3 Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (Feb. 6, 2001), last with Rick Barton and first with James Lynch of The Ducky Boys features Rocky Road to Dublin. Album #4 Blackout (June 10, 2003) features Buried Alive, and Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced. Album #5 The Warrior's Code (June 21, 2005) features their biggest hit I'm Shipping Up to Boston. Album #6 The Meanest of Times (Sept. 18, 2007), first on their own label Born & Bred Records features The State of Massachusetts. Album #7 Going Out in Style (Mar. 1, 2011) features Going Out in Style.

Destiny's Child Beyoncé Knowles (1981-)

On Feb. 17, 1998 the Houston, Tex. girl R&B group Destiny's Child, originally called Girl's Tyme, from Houston, Tex., incl. Beyonce (Beyoncé) Giselle Knowles (1981-), Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland (1981-), and Tenitra Michelle Williams (1980-) release their debut album Destiny's Child (#67 in the U.S., #67 in the U.K.), which sells 3M copies; it features the tracks No, No, No, and With Me. Album #2 The Writing's on the Wall (July 27, 1999) (#5 in the U.S.) sells 16M copies, and features the tracks Bills, Bills, Bills, Say My Name, Jumpin, Jumpin, and Bug a Boo. It disbands in 2005. On June 22, 2003 Beyonce releases her debut solo album Dangerously in Love (#1 in the U.S. and the U.K.), which sells 11M copies, and features the tracks Crazy in Love (w/Jay-Z) (1st by a female artist to go #1 in the U.S. and U.K. simultaneously), Baby Boy (w/Sean Paul), Me, Myself and I, and Naughty Girl. Album #2 B'Day (Sept. 4, 2006) (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) sell 3.5M copies, and features the tracks Deja Vu, Beautiful Liar, and Irreplaceable. Album #3 I Am... Sasha Fierce (Nov. 18, 2008) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features If I are a Boy, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), (the video starts a dance craze), and Diva. She goes on to sell 75M records worldwide. In early Apr. 2008 she marries Jay-Z in a secret ceremony in New York City.

Train

On Feb. 24, 1998 the San Francisco, Calif.-based rock band Train, incl. Patrick "Pat" Monahan (1969-) (vocals), Jimmy Stafford (guitar), and Scott Underwood (drums) release their debut album Train, which features the tracks Free, Meet Virginia (#15 in the U.S.), and I Am. Album #2 Drops of Jupiter (Mar. 27, 2001) (#6 in the U.S.) features Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me), She's on Fire, and Something More. Album #3 My Private Nation (June 3, 2003) (#6 in the U.S.) features Calling All Angels, When I Look to the Sky, and Get to Me. Album #4 For Me, It's You (Jan. 31, 2006) (#10 in the U.S.) features Cab, Give Myself to You, and Am I Reaching You Now. Album #5 Save Me, San Francisco (Oct. 27, 2009) (#3 in the U.S., #33 in the U.K.) features Save Me, San Francisco, Hey, Soul Sister, If It's Love, and Marry Me.

Coldplay

On Mar. 25, 1998 the English (London) alternative rock band Coldplay (formed in 1996), formerly Starfish, fronted by Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin (1977-), great-great-grandson of daylight savings time inventor William Willett (1856-1915), who marries actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003, along with Guy Berryman (1977-) (bass), Jon Buckland (1977-) (guitar), and Will Champion (1978-) (drums) release their debut EP Safety. Their debut album Parachutes (July 10, 2000) sold 9M copies, and features the tracks Don't Panic, Shiver, Trouble, and Yellow. Album #2 A Rush of Blood to the Head (Aug. 26, 2002) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 13M copies, and features the tracks Clocks, God Put a Smile Upon Your Face, In My Place, and The Scientist. Album #3 X&Y (album #3) (June 6, 2005) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Fix You (written for wife Gwyneth Paltrow, whose daddy Bruce Paltrow dies in 2002), The Hardest Part, Speed of Sound, Talk, What If, and White Shadows. Album #4 Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (June 11, 2008) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features the tracks Viva La Vida (Living the Life) (title named after a Frida Kahlo painting) (Cat Stevens sues for allegedly ripping off his "Foreigner Suite"), Lost!, Lovers in Japan, and Violet Hill.

Fuel

On Mar. 31, 1998 the Brownsville, Tenn.-based rock band Fuel, originally Small the Joy, incl. Carl Bell (1967-) (guitar), Jeff Abercrombie (1969-) (bass), Brett Allen Scallions (1971-) (vocals), Erik Avakian (keyboards), and Jonathan Mover (drums) release their debut album Sunburn, which features the tracks Shimmer (#42 in the U.S.), Jesus Or A Gun, Bittersweet, and Sunburn. Album #2 Something Like Human (Sept. 19, 2000) (#17 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies, and features Hemorrhage (in My Hands) (#30 in the U.S.). Album #3 Natural Selection (Sept. 23, 2003) features Won't Back Down (from the film "Daredevil"), Falls on Me, and Million Miles. Album #4 Angels & Devils (Aug. 7, 2007) (#42 in the U.S.), last with Carl Bell and Jeff Abercrombie, and first with vocalist Toryn Green (1975-) features Wasted Time.

Eve 6

On Apr. 28, 1998 Eve 6 (originally Yakoo and Eleventeen) (name comes from an episode of "The X-Files" where Eve #6 bites a guard's eyeball) from La Crescenta, Calif., incl. James Maxwell Stuart Collins III (1978-) (lead singer/bass), Anthony Edward "Tony" Fagenson (1978-) (drums), and Matt Bair (guitar) release their debut album Eve 6 (#1 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Inside Out (#11 in the U.S.), and Leech. Album #2 Horrorscope (July 25, 2000) features Promise (#25 in the U.S.), Here's to the Night (#30 in the U.S.), and On the Roof Again. Album #4 It's All in Your Head (July 22, 2003) have poor sales, causing RCA Records to Deep 6 them.

System of a Down

On June 30, 1998 the Armenian-American alternative metal band System of a Down, incl. Serj Tankian (1967-) (vocals), Daron Vartan Malakian (1975-) (vocals), John Ohannes Dolmayan (1973-) (drums), Dave Hakopyan (bass), and Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian (1974-) (guitars) release their debut album System of a Down, which features the tracks Sugar, and Spiders. Album #2 Toxicity (Sept. 4, 2001), releases a week before 9/11, sell 6M copies, and features Chop Suey!, Toxicity, and Aerials. Album #4 Mesmerize (May 17, 2005) features B.Y.O.B., Question. Album #5 Hypnotize (Nov. 22, 2005) (#1 in the U.S.) features Hypnotize, Lonely Day, Kill Rock 'n Roll, and Victim of Obscenity.

Death Cab for Cutie

On Aug. 18, 1998 the Bellingham, Wash.-based indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, named after a song by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band in the 1967 Beatles film "Magical Mystery Tour", incl. Benjamin Gibbard (1976-) (vocals), Christopher "Chris" Walla (1975-) (guitar), Nick Harmer (1975-) (bass), and Jason McGerr (drums) release their debut album Something About Airplanes, which features the tracks Bend to Squares, and President of What? Album #2 We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (Mar. 21, 2000) features 405, and Company Calls Epilogue. Album #4 Transatlanticism (Oct. 7, 2003) (#97 in the U.S.), first with drummer Jason McGerr features The New Year, Title and Registration, and The Sound of Setting. Album #5 Plans (Aug. 30, 2005) (#4 in the U.S.) features Soul Meets Body, Crooked Teeth, and I Will Follow You Into the Dark. Album #6 Narrow Stairs (May 12, 2008) (#1 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features I Will Possess Your Heart, No Sunlight, Cath..., and Grapevine Fires. Album #11 Codes and Keys (May 31, 2011) (#3 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features You Are A Tourist.

Christina Aguilera (1980-)

On Aug. 24, 1998 American Hispanic singer (former Disney Mickey Mouse Club star) Christina Maria Aguilera (1980-) releases her debut album Christina Aguilera, which sells 8.2M copies, and features the #1 U.S. tracks Genie in a Bottle, What a Girl Wants, and Come On Over Baby (All I Want is You). Album #4 Stripped (Oct. 26, 2002) (#2 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and is criticized for being too dirty, making it more popular? features tracks incl. Impossible (w/Alicia Keys), Dirrty (w/Reggie "Redman" Noble) (#1 in the U.K.), and Beautiful (#2 in the U.S.) ("one of the best pop sings ever written" - Simon Cowell"). She goes on to sell 50M albums.

Godsmack

On Aug. 25, 1998 the goatee-and-beard-loving Lawrence, Mass.-based heavy metal band Godsmack (formed in 1995), fronted by Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna (1968-), and incl. Tony Rombola (1964-) (guitar), Robbie Merrill (1963-) (bass), and Tommy Stewart (1966-)/James Shannon Larkin (1967-) (drums) release their debut album Godsmack (#22 in the U.S.), which sells 4M copies in the U.S., and features the tracks Keep Away, Whatever, Bad Religion, Voodoo, and Time Bomb (features in the 2000 film Scream 3. Album #2 Awake (Oct. 31, 2000) (#5 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies in the U.S., and features Vampires, Greed, Sick of Life, and Awake, the last two uses by the U.S. Navy in commercials. Album #3 Faceless (Apr. 8, 2003) (#1 in the U.S., #156 in the U.K.), first with drummer Shannon Larkin from Ugly Kid Joe sells 1.5M copies in the U.S.,and features Straight Out of Line, I Stand Alone, Serenity, and Re-Align. Album #4 IV (Apr. 25, 2006) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 500K copies in the U.S., and features Speak, Shine Down, and The Enemy. Album #5 Oracle (original title "Saints & Sinners") (May 4, 2010) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 500K copies in the U.S., and features Cryin' Like a Bitch, Love-Hate-Sex-Pain, and Saints and Sinners. They sells 18M records.

Mos Def (1973-)

On Aug. 26, 1998 Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, N.Y.-born rapper Mos Def (Dante Terrell Smith) (1973-) releases his debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, along with rapper Talib Kweli Greene (1975-); the title refers to Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line; it features the tracks Definition, and Respiration (w/Common). On Oct. 12, 1999 Mos Def releases his solo debut album Black on Both Sides (#25 in the U.S.) (500K copies), which features the track Ms. Fat Booty. Album #2 The New Danger (Oct. 19, 2004) (#5 in the U.S.) features Sex, Love & Money. Album #3 True Magic (Dec. 29, 2006) is leaked on the Internet, killing sales; it features True Magic. Album #4 The Ecstatic (June 9, 2009) (#9 in the U.S.) features Life in Marvelous Times, Quiet Dog Bite Hard, Casa Bey, Supermagic, and History (w/Talib Kweli).

Queens of the Stone Age

On Sept. 22, 1998 the Palm Desert, Calif.-based hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age, originally Gamma Ray, incl. Joshua Michael "Josh" Homme (1973-) (vocals, guitar), Alfredo Hernandez (drums), and Carlo Von Sexron (AKA Joshua Homme) (bass et al.) release their debut album Queens of the Stone Age, which features the tracks If Only, and Mexicola, introducing robot rock. They picked queens since kings is "too macho... Rock should be heavy enough for the boys and sweet enough for the girls." (Homme) Album #2 Rated R (June 6, 2000) (#54 in the U.K.) features The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret (#31 in the U.K.), Feel Good Hit of the Summer, Monsters in the Parasol, and I Think I Lost My Headache (w/Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees). Album #3 Songs for the Deaf (Aug. 27, 2002) (#17 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Dave Grohl on drums, and sell 986K copies; it features Go With the Flow (#116 in the U.S., #21 in the U.K.), No One Knows (#51 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), and First It Giveth (#33 in the U.K.). Album #4 Lullabies to Paralyze (Mar. 21, 2005) (#5 in the U.S.) sell 450K copies, and features Little Sister, In My Head, Burn the Witch, and Medication. Album #5 Era Vulgaris (June 8, 2007) (#14 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) features Sick, Sick, Sick (#65 in the U.K.), 3's and 7's (#19 in the U.K.), and Make It Wit Chu.

Shakira (1977-)

On Sept. 29, 1998 bilingual Colombian singer Shakira (Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) (1977-) releases album #2 Donde Estan los Ladrones?, which sells 10M copies worldwide, making her an internat. star. Album #3 Laundry Service (Nov. 13, 2001) (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), her first bilingual album sells 13M copies worldwide, making her the #1 Colombian artist of all time; it features the tracks Underneath Your Clothes (#9 in the U.S.), Objection (Tango), and The One. Album #4 Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 (June 3, 2005) (#4 in the U.S.) sell 4M copies, and features the track La Tortura. Album #5 Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Nov. 28, 2005) (#5 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies, and features Don't Bother, Hips Don't Lie (w/Wyclef Jean), and Illegal (w/Santana). Album #6 She Wolf (Loba) (Oct. 9, 2009) features Did It Again, and Give It Up to Me. Album #7 Sale el Sol (The Sun Comes Out) (Oct. 19, 2010) (#7 in the U.S.) sell 4M copies, and features Loca (w/Dizzee Rascal), Sale el Sol, and Rabiosa.

Black Label Society

On Oct. 28, 1998 the LA-based heavy metal band Black Label Society, fronted by former Ozzy Osbourne band member Zachary Phillip "Zakk" Wylde (1967-) release their debut album Sonic Brew, which features the tracks Bored to Tears, and Born to Lose. Album #2 Stronger Than Death (Apr. 18, 2000) features Counterfeit God. Album #3 1919 Eternal (album #3) (Mar. 5, 2002) features Life, Birth, Blood, Doom, and America the Beautiful. Album #4 The Blessed Hellride (Apr. 22, 2003) features Stillborn (w/Ozzy Osbourne), and Doomsday Jesus. Album #5 Hangover Music, Vol. VI (Apr. 20, 2004) features A Whiter Shade of Pale (by Procul Harum). Album #6 Mafia (Mar. 8, 2005) (#15 in the U.S.) sell 250K copies in the U.S., and features In This River (dedicated to Dimebag Darrell), Fire It Up, and Suicide Messiah. Album #7 Shot to Hell (album #7) (Sept. 12, 2006) features Concrete Jungle.

Nonpoint

On Dec. 8, 1998 the Ft. Lauderale, Fla.-based rock band Nonpoint, incl. Elias Soriano (vocals), Kenneth "KB" MacMillan (bass), Andrew Goldman (guitar), and Robb Rivera (drums) release their debut album Separate Yourself, which features the track Mindtrip. Their third debut album Statement (Oct. 10, 2000) (#166 in the U.S.) (releases by MCA Records) features Endure, and What A Day. Album #2 Development (June 25, 2002) (#52 in the U.S.) features Circles. Album #3 Recoil (Aug. 3, 2004) (#115 in the U.S.) features Wait, and Broken Bones. Album #4 To the Pain (Nov. 8, 2005) (#147 in the U.S.) features Bullet With A Name, Alive and Kicking. Album #5 Vengeance (Nov. 6, 2007) (#129 in the U.S.) features March of War, and Wake Up World. Album #6 Miracle (May 4, 2010) (#59 in the U.S.), first with guitarist Zach Broderick features Miracle, and Frontlines.

Britney Spears (1981-)

The 2000s are a giant bleep in the history of rock and roll, as if it is dead in the water and is foundering, or goes on a hike and gets lost in the woods. As the 20th century came to a close, along with the 2nd millennium, there is a flurry of rock and roll activity, all lame compared to the 1960s-1970s. For once they seemed to need to ramp up in the year before the decade began, maybe they thought the world would end and didn't want to go out without making noise. On Jan. 12, 1999 Gen. X Madonna successor Britney Jean Spears (1981-) releases her debut album ...Baby One More Time, which features the MTV-powered hits ...Baby One More Time, and (You Drive Me) Crazy. Album #2 Oops!... I Did It Again (May 16, 2000) sells 1.3M copies in its first week, and features the hit Oops!... I Did It Again. Album #6 Circus (Nov. 28, 2008) revived her flagging career with Womanizer.

3 Doors Down

On Feb. 5, 1999 the Escatawpa, Miss.-based rock band 3 Doors Down, composed of Brad Arnold (vocals), Matt Roberts (1978-2016) (guitar), Todd Harrell (bass), Chris Henderson (guitar), and Greg Upchurch (drums) releases their first hit single Kryptonite, followed on Feb. 8 by their first album The Better Life, which sells 6M copies, and features the tracks Loser, Duck and Run, and Be Like That. Album #2 Away from the Sun (Nov. 12, 2002) sell 4M copies, and features Here Without You, When I'm Gone, Sarah Yellin'. Album #3 Seventeen Days (Feb. 8, 2005) (#1 in the U.S.) features Let Me Go, Behind Those Eyes. Album #4 3 Doors Down (May 20, 2008) (#1 in the U.S.) features It's Not My Time, Citzen/Soldier.

Eminem (1972-)

On Feb. 23, 1999 St. Joseph, Mo.-born white rapper Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) (1972-) releases his major label debut album The Slim Shady LP, which makes him an instant superstar, selling 9M copies. Tracks incl. Just Don't Give a Fuck, and My Name Is. Album #3 The Marshall Mathers LP (May 23, 2000) sells 19M copies, and features the tracks The Real Slim Shady, The Way I Am, and Stan. Album #4 The Eminem Show (May 28, 2002) sell 20M copies, and features the tracks Without Me, Cleanin' Out My Closet, Superman, Sing for the Moment, and Business. On Nov. 8, 2002 the film 8 Mile told his life story, and features the hit Lose Yourself. Album #5 Encore (Nov. 12, 2004) sells 11M copies, and features Just Lose It, Mosh, Encore, Like Toy Soldiers, Mockingbird, and Ass Like That.

Buckcherry

On Apr. 6, 1999 the LA-based hard rock band Buckcherry, fronted by Josh Todd (Joshua Todd Gruber) (1970-) (vocals) release their debut album Buckcherry (#74 in the U.S.), which sells 750K copies, and features the tracks Lit Up, For the Movies, Dead Again, and Check Your Head. Album #2 Time Bomb (Mar. 27, 2001) features Ridin'. Album #3 15 (Apr. 16, 2006) sells 1M copies, and features Crazy Bitch, Next 2 You, Sorry (#39 in the U.S.), Everything, and Broken Glass. Album #4 Black Butterfly (Sept. 12, 2008) (#8 in the U.S.) features Too Drunk, Don't Go Away, Rescue Me, and Talk to Me. Album #5 All Night Long (Aug. 3, 2010) features All Night Long, Dead, and It's a Party.

Lamb of God

On Apr. 13, 1999 the Richmond, Va.-based demonic New Wave American Heavy Metal band Lamb of God, incl. David Randall Pierre "Randy" Blythe (1971-) (vocals), Abe Spear (guitar), Mark Duane Morton (1972-) (guitar), John Steven Campbell (1972-) (bass), William M. "Willie" Adler (1976-) (guitar), and Christopher James "Chris" Adler (1972-) (drums) release their debut album Burn the Priest, which features the track Goatfish. Album #2 New American Gospel (Sept. 26, 2000) features In the Absence of the Sacred. Album #3 As the Palaces Burn (May 6, 2003) sell 250K copies, and features As the Palaces Burn, Ruin, and 11th Hour, whatever happened to the good old days of The Kingston Trio. Album #4 Ashes of the Wake (Aug. 31, 2004) (#27 in the U.S.) sell 400K copies, and features Ashes of the Wake (anti-Iraq War), Now You've gets Something to Die For, One Gun, The Faded Line, and Laid to Rest. Album #5 Sacrament (Aug. 22, 2006) (#8 in the U.S.) sell 300K copies, and features Redneck, Walk With Me in Hell, and Blacken the Cursed Sun. Album #6 Wrath (Feb. 23, 2009) (#2 in the U.S.) sell 200K copies, and features Contractor, and Set to Fail.

Moby (1956-)

On May 17, 1999 pure electrotechno nerd Moby (Richard Melville Hall) (1956-) releases album #5 Play, which sells 10M copies worldwide (best selling electronic album ever), with Rolling Stone uttering the soundbyte: "Play wasn't the first album to makes a rock star out of an insular techno nerdnik, but it is the first to makes one a pop sensation... Play makes post-modernism cuddly, slowly but surely striking a chord with critics and record-buyers alike." Hit tracks include: Honey, Run On, Bodyrock, and Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? For the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies he did an updated version of the 007 James Bond Theme.

The White Stripes, Jack White (1975-) and Meg White (1974-)

On June 15, 1999 the Detroit, Mich.-based alternative garage rock revival band The White Stripes, consisting of Jack White (John Anthony Gillis) (1975-) and Meg White (1974-) (who always wear only red, white, and black) (marries but pretend to be siblings?) release their debut album The White Stripes, which features the track The Big Three kills My Baby. Album #3 White Blood Cells (July 3, 2001), their breakthrough (500K copies) features the hits Fell in Love with a Girl, Hotel Yorba, Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, and We're Going to Be Friends. Album #4 Elephant (Apr. 1, 2003) sells 5M copies, and is Rolling Stone mag.'s #5 best album of the decade. It features Seven Nation Army (#76 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) ("Don't want to hear about it/ Every single one's gets a story to tell/ Everyone knows about it/ From the Queen of England to the hounds of Hell"), The Hardest Button to Button, There's No Home for You Here, and I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself. On June 1, 2005 Jack marries English model Karen Elson (1979-), with ex-wife Meg as maid of honor. Album #6 Icky Thump (June 15, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Icky Thump, Rag and Bone, You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told), and Conquest. They disabanded on Feb. 2, 2011.

Limp Bizkit

On June 22, 1999 Limp Bizkit (from Jacksonville, Fla.), fronted by William Frederick "Fred" Durst (1970-) releases album #2 Significant Other, whic sells 14M copies, and features the tracks Nookie, Re-Arranged, N 2 Gether Now (w/Method Man), and Break Stuff. Album #3 Chocolate Starfish and the Hog Dog Flavored Water (Oct. 15, 2000) sells 12M copies, and features My Generation, Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle), Take A Look Around (theme song of "MI:2"), Boiler, and My Way.

Mr. Scruff (1972-)

On July 14, 1999 English musician-DJ-artist Mr. Scruff (Andy Carthy) (1972-) releases his debut album Keep It Unreal, which features the 1-hit wonder Get A Move On, uses in Lincoln commercials, and kinky Shanty Town (Whalefish Song).

Feist (1976-)

On Aug. 24, 1999 Canadian singer-songwriter Feist (Leslie Feist) (1976-) of the indie rock band breakn Social Scene releases her solo debut album Monarch (Lay Your Jewelled Head Down), which features the tracks Monarch, and It's Cool to Love Your Family; it becomes an underground hit. Album #2 Let It Die (May 18, 2004) features Gatekeeper, Mushaboom, and One Evening. Album #4 The Reminder (Apr. 23, 2007) (#16 in the U.S.) sell 600K copies, and features 1234 (#8 in the U.S. and U.K.), My Moon My Man, I Feel It All, and Honey Honey.

Paul McCartney (1942-) and Heather Mills (1968-), 2002

On Oct. 4, 1999 Paul McCartney releases solo album #11 Run Devil Run (#27 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), his first after the Apr. 17, 1998 death of wife Linda McCartney from cancer; he then performs on Dec. 14 at the Cavern Club to publicize it. Album #12 Driving Rain (Nov. 12, 2001) (#26 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.) is his first after hooking up with 1-legged model and anti-mines vegetarian activist Heather Anne Mills (1968-), whom he marries on June 11, 2002, and whom reveals that he's a neat freak; it incl. From a Lover to a Friend. They separated on May 17, 2006, then divorces ugly on May 12, 2008 (she gets £24.3M plus £35K a year for a nanny and school costs for their daughter). On May 24, 2003 Paul McCartney played a 3-hour show in Russia's Red Square, featuring 30 hit songs incl. "Back in the USSR"; the Beatles have been banned from playing in Russia in the 1960s. Album #13 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Sept. 12, 2005) (#6 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.) features Fine Line, Jenny Wren, Friends to Go, Too Much Rain, and This Never Happened Before. On June 18, 2006 ex-Beatle Paul McCartney (b. 1942) reaches 64, with everybody remembering his hit song (written at age 16) When I'm Sixty-Four from the 1967 "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album ("Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?"). Meanwhile Heather Mills hired Princess Diana's atty. Anthony Julius, while Paul hired Prince Charles' atty. Fiona Shackleton to fight over his $1.5B fortune. Album #14 Memory Almost Full (June 4, 2007) (#3 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and features Dance Tonight (video features Natalie Portman), and 222 (about his young daughter Beatrice). Meanwhile on Nov. 15, 1993 along with producer Youth under the name The Fireman he releases the ambient electronic music album Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, which features the tracks Transpiritual Stomp, and Celtic Stomp, followed by album #2 Rushes (Sept. 21, 1998), featuring Watercolour Guitars, and album #3 Electric Arguments (Nov. 24, 2008) (#67 in the U.S., #79 in the U.K.) (title taken from the Allen Ginsberg poem "Kansas City to St. Louis"), which features the track Sing the Changes.

Westlife

On Nov. 1, 1999 the Irish (Sligo and Dublin) boy band Westlife, incl. Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden, sign by Simon Cowell release their debut album Westlife (#2 in the U.K, #129 in the U.S.) (1K copies behind "Steptacular"), which sells 4M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Swear It Again, If I Let You Go, Flying Without Wings, I Have A Dream/ Seasons in the Sun, and Fool Again, all of which goes #1 in the U.K., along with their next two, setting a U.K. record. Album #2 Coast to Coast (Nov. 6, 2001) (#1 in the U.K.) sells 1.5M copies in the U.K., and features Against All Odds (by Phil Collins) (w/Mariah Carey) (#1 in the U.K.), My Love (#1 in the U.K.), and What Makes A Man (#2 in the U.K.). Album #3 World of Our Own (Nov. 1, 2001) features Queen of My Heart (#1 in the U.K.), World of Our Own (#1 in the U.K.), Bop Bop Baby (#5 in the U.K., and Uptown Girl (by Billy Joel). Album #5 Turnaround (Nov. 24, 2005) sell 7M copies worldwide, and features Hey Whatever (#4 in the U.K.), Mandy (by Barry Manilow) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), and Obvious #3 in the U.K.). Album #7 Face to Face (Oct. 31, 2007) (#1 in the U.K.) sell 6M copies worldwide, and features You Raise Me Up, When You Tell Me That You Love Me (w/Diana Ross) (#2 in the U.K.), and Amazing (#4 in the U.K.). Album #8 The Love Album (Nov. 20, 2006) (#1 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies worldwide, and features The Rose (by Bette Midler) (#1 in the U.K.). Album #9 Back Home (Nov. 5, 2007) (#1 in the U.K.) features Home, Us Against the World, and Something Right. Album #10 Where We Are (Nov. 27, 2009) (#2 in the U.K.) features What About Now. Album #11 Gravity (Nov. 22, 2010) (#3 in the U.K.) features Safe. They have sell 44M records worldwide, incl. 11M in the U.K., equalling Steps with 14 #1 U.K. singles while only having one U.S. hit, "Swear It Again", which reaches #20 in 2000. Did I mention that they are signed by Simon Cowell?

2000s

Disturbed

On Mar. 7, 2000 the Chicago-based rock/heavy metal band Disturbed (formerly Brawl), incl. David Michael Draiman (1973-) (vocals) (bald), Dan Donegan (1968-) (guitar), Steve "Fuzz" Kmak (1970-)/Marty O'Brien/John Moyer (bass), and Mike Wengren (1971-) (drums) release their debut album The Sickness (#29 in the U.S., #102 in the U.K.), which sells 4M copies in the U.S., and features a sales-getting Parental advisory label; it features the tracks Voices, The Game, Stupify, and Down With the Sickness. Album #2 Believe (Sept. 17, 2002) (#1 in the U.S., #41 in the U.K.) features Prayer, Remember, and Liberate. Album #3 Ten Thousand Fists (Sept. 20, 2005) (#1 in the U.S., #59 in the U.K.), first with bassist John Mayer, and dedicated to Dimebag Darrell sells 1.9M copies in the U.S., and features Ten Thousand Fists, Guarded, Stricken, Just Stop, and Land of Confusion (by Genesis). Album #4 Indestructible (June 3, 2008) (#1 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, and features Indestructible, Inside the Fire, Perfect Insanity, and The Night. Album #5 Asylum (Aug. 31, 2010) (#1 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.) (first band with four consecutive #1 U.S. albums since Dave Matthews Band and Metallica), features Another Way to Die, Asylum, The Animal, and Warrior. They sells 13M albums worldwide.

Pink (1979-)

On Apr. 4, 2000 Doylestown, Penn.-born singer Pink (P!ink) (Alecia Beth Moore) (1979-) releases her debut album Can't Take Me Home (#26 in the U.S.), which sells 5M copies and features the tracks There You Go, Most Girls, and You makes Me Sick. Album #2 M!ssundaztood (Oct. 9, 2001) (#6 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), sells 13M copies, and features the top-10 hits Get the Party Started, Don't Let Me Get Me, Just Like a Pill, and Family Portrait (#20 in the U.S.). Album #3 Try This (Nov. 11, 2003) (#9 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features Trouble, God is a DJ, and Last to Know. Album #4 I'm Not Dead (Mar. 31, 2006) (#6 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) sell 6.5M copies, and features Stupid Girls (#13 in the U.S.), Who Knew (#9 in the U.S.), U + Ur Hand (#9 in the U.S.), and Dear Mr. President. Album #5 Funhouse (Oct. 24, 2008) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, and features So What (#1 in the U.S.) ("I guess I just lost my husband, I don't know where he went, so I'm going to drink my money, I'm not going to pay his rent"), Sober, Please Don't Leave Me, I Don't Believe You, and Glitter in the Air (#20 in the U.S.).

Phoenix

On June 8, 2000 the French (Versailles) dance rock band Phoenix, incl. Thomas Mars, Deck D'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai, and Laurent Brancowitz release their debut album United, which features the track Too Young. Album #2 Alphabetical (Mar. 29, 2004) features Everything Is Everything, and Run Run Run. Album #3 It's Never Been Like That (May 15, 2006) features Long Distance Call (May 8), and Consolation Prizes. Album #4 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May 25, 2009) features 1901 (Feb. 23) (used in Cadillac commercials), and Lisztomania.

Nelly (1974-)

On June 27, 2000 Austin, Tex.-born rapper-singer Nelly (Cornell Haynes Jr.) (1974-) releases his debut album Country Grammar (album) (#3 in the U.S.), which sells 8.5M copies, and features the tracks Country Grammar (Hot Shit) (#7 in the U.S.), E.I., and Ride Wit Me (w/St. Lunatics) (#3 in the U.S.), and Batter Up (w/St. Lunatics). Album #2 Nellyville (June 25, 2002) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 6M copies, and features Hot in Herre ("It's gettin' hot in here/ So take off all your clothes"), Work It (w/ Justin Timberlake), Dilemma (w/Kelly Rowland), Air Force Ones (w/ the St. Lunatics), and Pimp Juice. Album #3 Sweat (Sept. 14, 2004) (#2 in the U.S.) features Flap Your Wings, and Heart of a Champion. Album #4 Suit (Sept. 14, 2004) (#1 in the U.S.) features My Place (w/Jaheim), Over and Over (w/Tim McGraw), and 'N' Dey Say. Album #5 Brass Knuckles (Sept. 16, 2008) (#3 in the U.S.) features Party People (w/ Fergie) (#40 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), Stepped on My J'z (w/Ciara and Jermaine Dupri) (#90 in the U.S.), and Body on Me (w/Akon and Ashanti) (#42 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.). Album #6 5.0 (Nov. 12, 2010) (#10 in the U.S.) features Just A Dream, Move That Body (w/T-Pain and Akon), and Gone (w/Kelly Rowland).

On June 30, 2000 the Roskilde Tragedy at the Roskilde Festival near Copenhagen, Denmark sees fans riot during a performance by the group Pearl Jam, killing nine and injuring 26.

Baha Men

On July 25, 2000 the Bahamanian Junkanoo group Baha Men release their 1-hit wonder Who Let the Dogs Out? (#40 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which becomes a favorite at sports events.

Finger Eleven

On July 25, 2000 the Canadian (Burlington, Ont.) rock band Finger Eleven (formerly the Rainbow Butt Monkeys), incl. Scott Anderson, Sean Anderson, James Black, Rick Jackett, and Rob Gommerman/Rich Beddoe (drums) releases album #3 The Greyest of Blue Skies, bringing them into the mainstream; it features the tracks First Time, Drag You Down, Stay and Drown, and Sick of It All. Album #4 Finger Eleven (June 17, 2003) features the hit One Thing (#16 in the U.S.). Album #5 Them vs. You vs. Me (Mar. 6, 2007) sells 500K copies, and features Paralyzer, and Falling On. Album #6 Life Turns Electric (Oct. 5, 2010) features Living in a Dream.

Lil' Zane (1982-)

On Aug. 22, 2000 Yonkers, N.Y.-born rapper Lil' Zane (Zane Copeland Jr.) (1982-) releases his debut album Young World: The Future, which features his 1-hit wonder Callin' Me (w/112).

Ludacris (1977-)

On Oct. 17, 2000 after hawking his self-produced album Incognegro from the trunk of his car, selling 50K copies and attracting the attention of Def Jam, Champaign, Ill.-born rapper Ludacris (Christopher Brian Bridges) (1977-) releases his debut studio album Back for the First Time (#4 in the U.S.), which sells 3.1M copies, and features the tracks What's Your Fantasy (w/Shawnna), and Southern Hospitality (w/Pharrell). Album #2 Word of Mouf (Nov. 27, 2001) (#3 in the U.S.) sell 3.6M copies, and features Rollout (My Business), Area Codes, Move Bitch, and Saturday (Ooh Ooh!) (w/Sleepy Brown). Album #3 Chicken-N-Beer (Oct. 7, 2003) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 2.7M copies, and features Stand Up, Splash Waterfalls, Diamond in the Back, and P-Poppin (Pussy Poppin'). Album #4 The Red Light District (Dec. 7, 2004) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 2.1M copies, and features Get Back, Number One Spot, The Potion, and Pimpin' All Over the World. In 2005 CBS-TV journalist Bernard Goldberg (1945-) pub. 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America, about "liberals [who are] snooty, snobby know-it-alls, who have gotten angrier and angrier in recent years and who think they're not only smarter, but also better than everyone else, especially everyone else who lives in a 'red state' - a population they see as hopelessly dumb and pathetically religious". It is repub. in 2006 as "110 People Who Are Screwing Up America", incl. Michael Moore (1954-), Arthur Sulzberger (1926-), Ted Kennedy (1932-), Jesse Jackson (1941-), Jimmy Carter (1924-), Al Gore (1948-), Noam Chomsky (1928-), Dan Rather (1931-), Howard Stern (1954-), Eminem (1972-), Ludacris (1977-), and Courtney Love (1964-) ("Ho"). Album #5 Release Therapy (Sept. 26, 2006) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 1.3M copies, and features Money Maker (w/Pharrell) (#1 in the U.S.), Grew Up a Screw Up (w/Young Jeezy), Runaway Love (w/Mary J. Blige) (#2 in the U.S.), Girls Gone Wild, Slap. Album #6 Theater of the Mind (Nov. 22, 2008) (#5 in the U.S.) features What Them Girls Like, One More Drink (w/T-Pain), and Nasty Girl (w/Plies). Album #7 Battle of the Sexes (Mar. 9, 2010) (#1 in the U.S.k, #58 in the U.K.) features How Low, My Chick Bad (w/Nicki Minaj), Sex Room (w/Trey Songz), and Everybody Drunk (w/Lil Scrappy).

Nelly Furtado (1978-) Timbaland (1971-)

On Oct. 24, 2000 Portuguese-Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Kim Furtado (1978-) releases her debut album Whoa, Nelly! (#24 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which sells 6M copies, and features the tracks I'm Like a Bird, Turn Off the Light, On the Radio (Remember the Days), Party's Just Begun (Again), Trynna Finda Way, and Hey, Man! Album #3 Loose (June 7, 2006) sells 10M copies (best-selling album of 2006-7), and features No Hay Igual, Promiscuous, Maneater, Te Busque, All Good Things (Come to an End), Say It Right, Do It, and In God's Hands. In 2007 Timbaland (Timothy Zachery Mosley) (1971-) and Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake releases the single Give It To Me (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.). She goes on to sell 20M albums and 18M singles worldwide.

Linkin Park

On Oct. 24, 2000 the rock band Linkin Park, from Agoura Hills, Calif., incl. Chester Charles Bennington (1976-2017) (vocals), Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda (1977-), Bradford Phillip "Brad" Delson (1977-), Joseph "Joe" "Mr." Hahn (1977-) (turntables), Rob Bourson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell, and Mark Wakefield release their debut album Hybrid Theory (#2 in the U.S.), which sells 10M copies (best-selling album of the decade), and features the tracks Crawling, One Step Closer, Paper Cut, and In the End. Album #2 Meteora (Mar. 25, 2003) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features Somewhere I Belong (#32 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), Faint (#48 in the U.S., #15 in the U.K.), Numb (#11 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), From the Inside, Breaking the Habit (#20 in the U.S., #39 in the U.K.), and Lying from You (#58 in the U.S.). Album #3 Minutes to Midnight (May 14, 2007) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 6.5M copies, and features What I've Done (#7 in the U.S., #6 in U.K.) ("In this farewell there's no blood, no alibi/ Cause I've drawn regret from the truth of a thousand lies/ So let mercy come, and wash away what I've done"), Bleed It Out (#52 in U.S., #29 in the U.K.), Shadow of the Day (#15 in the U.S., #46 in the U.K.), Given Up (#99 in the U.S.), and Leave Out All the Rest (#94 in the U.S., #90 in the U.K.). Album #4 A Thousand Suns (Sept. 14, 2010) (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features The Catalyst (#1 in the U.S., #40 in the U.K.), Waiting for the End (#42 in the U.S., #90 in the U.K.), Burning in the Skies, and Iridescent. They have sells 50M albums worldwide.

Joe Bonamassa (1977-)

On Oct. 24, 2000 after opening 20 shows for B.B. King in 1989 at age 12, New Hartford, N.Y.-born rock-blues musician Joe Bonamassa (1977-) releases his debut album A New Day Yesterday (named after the 1969 Jethro Tull classic), which features the tracks Miss You, Hate You, and Cradle Rock. Album #2 So, It's Like That (Aug. 13, 2002) features Pain and Sorrow. Album #6 You & Me (June 6, 2006) features Django. In 2009 he fulfills a childhood dream by playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with Eric Clapton playing a duet with him.

The New Pornographers

On Nov. 21, 2000 the Canadian (Victoria, B.C.) indie rock band The New Pornographers, incl. Blaine Thurier, Todd Fancey, Neko Case, Carl Newman, Kurt Dahle, Kahtryn Calder, and John Collins release their debut album Mass Romantic, which features the tracks Mass Romantic, and Letter from an Occupant. Album #2 Electric Version (May 6, 2003) features The Electric Version, and The Laws Have changes. Album #3 Twin Cinema (Aug. 23, 2005) features Twin Cinema, and The Bleeding Heart Show. Album #4 Challengers (Aug. 21, 2007) (#34 in the U.S.) features Myriad Harbour. Album #5 Together (May 4, 2010) (#18 in the U.S.) features Moves (used in T-Mobile commercials), Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk (used in Amazon Kindle ads), Crash Years, and Your Hands (Together).

Sugarbabes

On Nov. 27, 2000 the English girl singing group Sugarbabes, incl. Siobhan Emma Donaghy (1984-) (left in Aug. 2001), Mutya Buena (1985-) (left in Dec. 2005), and Keisha Kerreece Fayeanne Buchanan (1984-) (left in Sept. 2009) release their debut album One Touch (#26 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Overload (#6 in the U.K.), New Year, Run for Cover, and Soul Sound. Album #2 Angels with Dirty Faces (Aug. 26, 2002) (#2 in the U.K.) features Angels with Dirty Faces, Freak Like Me, Round Round, Stronger (#10 in the U.K.), and Shape. Eventually switching the lineup to Heidi India Range (1983-), Amelle Berrabah (1984-), and Jade Almarie Louise Ewen (1988-), They go on to score six U.K. #1 singles and 18 U.K. top-10 hits.

Guy Ritchie (1968-) and Madonna (1958-)

On Dec. 12, 2000 after dating bi porn star Tony Ward in 1990-1, followed by Vanilla Ice, Dennis Rodman, fitness trainer Carlos Leon, and Andy Bird (who tells all to the newspapers in 2000), Kabbalah-practicing Am. #1 female pop star Madonna Louise Ciccone (1958-) marries English "Sherlock Holmes", "Snatch", "Revolver" actor-writer-producer-dir. Guy Stuart Ritchie (1968-) (whose son Rocco she bore in Aug. 2000, then have baptized in a Presbyterian Church) in Skibo Castle in Dornoch, Scotland; her daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon (b. 1996) led the procession; they divorces in Dec. 2008. Meanwhile on Sept. 19, 2000 she releases album #8 Music (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), which sells 15M copies, and features the tracks Music, Don't Tell Me, and What It Feels Like for Girl. Album #9 American Life (Apr. 22, 2003) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), her lowest-selling album is a collaboration with Mirwais Ahmadzai (1960-), rejecting the values in "Material Girl"; it features American Life; "I tried to be a boy, I tried to be a girl, I tried to be a mess, I tried to be the best." In Sept. 2004 Madonna's blockbuster Re-Invention Tour wrapped up, selling out 55 of 56 perf. with an avg. nightly take of $2.23M, ringing up a total of $125M, which placed it far ahead of all tours that year; Prince's Purple Reign (Musicology) Tour drew 1.5M people and grossed $90.2M to come in 2nd, and Shania Twain came in 3rd with 950K attendance and $62.5M; Celine Dion grossed $77M at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and in a total run of four years grossed $400M, working out to $697K per show, them garage rock band days is long gone. Album #10 Confessions on a Dance Floor (Nov. 15, 2005) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 12M copies, and features Hung Up (her 38th top-10 Billboard hit, tying Elvis Presley), Sorry, Get Together, and Jump. Album #11 Hard Candy (Apr. 25, 2008) (#53 in the U.S., #36 in the U.K.), the last produced by Warner Bros. Records sold 2M copies; the cover shows her sucking on a mike; it features the tracks Candy Shop ("I'll be your one-stop candy shop... my sugar is raw"), 4 Minutes (w/ Justin Timberlake) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), Give It 2 Me (#57 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), and Miles Away (#39 in the U.K.).

Chicks on Speed

In 2000 after unofficially releasing "The Un-Releases" (2000), the German (Munich) electroclash Eurotrash group Chicks On Speed (founded in 1997), incl. Melissa Logan, Kisi Moorse, and Alex Murray-Leslie officially release their debut album Chick On Speed Will Save Us All, which features the tracks Warm Leatherette, Glamour Girl, The Floating Pyramid Over Frankfurt That The Taxi Driver Saw When He is Landing, Kaltes Klares Wasser, and Euro Trash Girl. They follow it with unofficial album "The rereleases of The Un-Releases" (2000), and album #2 99 Cents (Oct. 2003), which features the tracks We Don't Play Guitars, and Wordy Rappinghood.

Sister Fa (1982-)

Also in 2000 Senegalese hip hop singer Sister Fa (Fatou Mandiang Diatta) (1982-) debut, becoming Senegal's Queen of Hip Hop. Her tracks incl. My Name Is Sister Fa. She becomes an activist in the movement to stop female genital mutilation (FGM).

Jack Hody Johnson (1975-)

On Feb. 1, 2001 Oahu, Hawaii-born surfer folk rock musician Jack Hody Johnson (1975-) releases his debut album Brushfire Fairytales, which sells 1M copies, and features the tracks Flake, and Drink the Water. Album #2 On and On (May 6, 2003) (#3 in the U.S.) features The Horizon Has Been Defeated, Taylor, and Rodeo Clowns. Album #3 In Between Dreams (Mar. 1, 2005) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Better Together, Good People, Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Breakdown, and Banana Pancakes. His film soundtrack album Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George (Feb. 7, 2006) (#1 in the U.S.), sell 4M copies, and features Upside Down, Talk of the Town (w/Kawika Kahiapo), We're Going to Be Friends (by Jack White), The 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and With My Own Two Hands (w/Ben Harper). Album #4 Sleep Through the Static (Feb. 5, 2008) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Sleep Through the Static, Hope, and If I have Eyes. Album #5 To the Sea (May 26, 2010) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features You and Your Heart, At Or With Me, and From the Clouds. He goes on to sell 15M albums worldwide.

India.Arie (1975-)

On Mar. 27, 2001 Denver, Colo.-born R&B singer-songwriter India.Arie (India Marie Simpson) (1975-) releases her debut album Acoustic Soul (album) (debut) (Mar. 27) (#10 in the U.S.), which sells 5M copies, and features the tracks Video, Brown Skin, Strength, Courage and Wisdom, and Ready for Love. Album #2 Voyage to India (Sept. 24, 2002) (#6 in the U.S., #82 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and features Little Things, Can I Walk With You, The Truth, and Get It Together. Album #3 Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (June 26, 2006) (#1 in the U.S., #103 in the U.K.) sold 700K copies, and features I Am Not My Hair (w/Akon), The Heart of the Matter, and There's Hope. Album #4 Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (Feb. 10, 2009) (#3 in the U.S.) sell 325K copies, and features Therapy, and Chocolate High (w/Musiq Soulchild). She goes on to sell 3.3M records in the U.S. and 10M worldwide.

Alicia Keys (1981-)

On June 5, 2001 Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, N.Y.-born R&B-soul singer-pianist Alicia Keys (Alicia Augello Cook) (1981-) (black African-American father, white Italian-Scottish-Irish descent mother) releases her debut album Songs in A Minor (#1 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.), which sells 12M copies, and features the tracks Fallin', A Woman's Worth, How Come You Don't Call Me, and Girlfriend. Album #2 The Diary of Alicia Keys (Dec. 2, 2003) (#1 in the U.S., #13 in the U.K.) sell 8M copies, and features You Don't Know My Name, If I Ain't gets You, and Diary. Album #3 As I Am (Nov. 13, 2007) (#1 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) features No One, and Like You'll Never See Me Again. Album #4 The Element of Freedom (Dec. 11, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 4M copies, and features Doesn't Mean Anything, Try Sleeping with a breakn Heart (w/Beyonce), Put It in a Love Song, Empire State of Mind (Part II) breakn Down, Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready), and Wait Til You See My Smile.

John Mayer (1977-)

On June 5/Sept. 18, 2001 Conn.-born John Clayton Mayer (1977-) releases his debut album Room for Squares (#9 in the U.S.), which sells 4.3M copies and features the tracks Your Body is a Wonderland, No Such Thing, and Why Georgia. Album #2 Heavier Things (album #2) (Sept. 9, 2003) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features the tracks Bigger Than My Body, Clarity, and Daughters. Album #3 Continuum (Sept. 9, 2006) (#2 in the U.S., #47 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features Waiting on the World to Change, Gravity, Dreaming with a breakn Heart. Album #4 Battle Studies (Nov. 17, 2009) (#1 in the U.S., #35 in the U.K.) features Who Says, Heartbreak Warfare, Half of My Heart, and Perfectly Lonely.

As I Lay Dying

On June 12, 2001 the San Diego, Calif.-based metalcore band As I Lay Dying, incl. 6'3 Tim Lambesis (1980-) (vocals) (a Christian?), Nick Hipa (guitar), Phil Sgrosso (guitar), Josh Gilbert (bass), and Jordan Mancino (drums) release their debut album Beneath the Encasing of Ashes, which features the track Beneath the Encasing of Ashes. Album #2 Frail Words Collapse (July 1, 2003) sell 250K copies, and features 94 Hours, and Forever. Album #3 Shadows Are Security (June 14, 2005) (#35 in the U.S.) sell 275K copies, and features Confined, Through Struggle, and The Darkest Nights. Album #4 An Ocean Between Us (album #4) (Aug. 21, 2007) (#8 in the U.S.) features Nothing Left, The Sound of Truth, I Never Wanted, and Within Destruction. Album #5 The Powerless Rise (May 7, 2010) (#10 in the U.S.) features The Plague.

The Strokes

On July 30, 2001 the New York City-based rock band The Strokes, incl. Julian Fernando Casablancas (1978-) (vocals), Nicholas "Nick" Valensi (1981-) (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (1980-) (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (1978-) (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (1980-) (drums) release their debut album Is This It (#33 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), (Rolling Stone mag.'s #2 album of the decade), which features the tracks Hard to Explain (#27 in the U.S., #16 in the U.K.), Last Nite (#5 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.), and Someday (#17 in the U.S., #27 in the U.K.). Album #2 Room on Fire (Oct. 28, 2003) (#4 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features 12:51 (#15 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), Reptilia (#19 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.), and The End Has No End (#35 in the U.S., #27 in the U.K.). Album #3 First Impression of Earth (Jan. 3, 2006) (#5 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Juicebox (#9 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), Heart in a Cage (#21 in the U.S., #25 in the U.K.), and You Only Live Once (#35 in the U.S.). Album #4 Angles (Mar. 18, 2011) (#4 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features Under Cover of Darkness (#28 in the U.S., #47 in the U.K.).

Michelle Branch (1983-)

On Aug. 14, 2001 Sedona, Ariz.-born singer-songwriter Michelle Branch (Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch Landau) (1983-) releases her debut album The Spirit Room (#28 in the U.S.), which sells 4M copies, and features the tracks Everywhere (#12 in the U.S.) (used in Chase Bank commercials), All You Wanted (#6 in the U.S.), Goodbye to You (#21 in the U.S.), and You Get Me (theme song for MTV reality series "Sorority Life"). Album #2 Hotel Paper (June 24, 2003) (#2 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Are You Happy Now? (#16 in the U.S.), and Breathe (#36 in the U.S.). Album #3 Everything Comes and Goes (Aug. 27, 2010) features Sooner or Later (#46 in the U.S.).

Puddle of Mudd

On Aug. 28, 2001 the Kansas City, Mo.-based rock band Puddle of Mudd, incl. Wesley Reid Scantlin (vocals), Paul James Phillips (guitar), Douglas John Ardito (bass), and Greg David Upchurch (drums) release their debut album Come Clean, which is produced by Fred Durst, and sells 5M copies, and features the tracks Control, Blurry, Drift and Die, and She Hates Me. Album #2 Life on Display (Nov. 25, 2003) (#20 in the U.S.), which sells 700K copies, and features Away from Me (#1 in the U.S.), Spin You Around, and Heel Over Head, after which Greg and Paul left the band. Album #3 Famous (Oct. 9, 2007) (#27 in the U.S.), sell 360K copies, and features Famous, and Psycho. Album #4 Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate (Dec. 8, 2009) (#95 in the U.S.) features Spaceship, Stoned, and Keep It Together. They have sell over 7M copies.

Michael Jackson's Kids Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Michael Jackson SUV Dance, Jan. 18, 2005 Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

On Oct. 30, 2001 Michael Jackson releases album #10 (last) Invincible (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), his first original release since 1991; it is considered a failure because it only sells 13M copies; it features the tracks You Rock My World, Cry, and Butterflies. In Feb. 2002 Michael have son Prince Michael Jackson II (Michael Joseph Jackson) (AKA Blanket) via an unknown surrogate mother; on Nov. 20, 2002 he dangled him from the balcony of his 4th floor room at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin by one arm before fans, causing an outcry, for which he apologized, calling it "a terrible mistake". Meanwhile on Nov. 20, 2003 "Man in the Mirror" singer Michael Jackson is booked on suspicion of child molestation in Santa Barbara, Calif., accused of molesting a 13-y.-o. boy in 2003, causing a zillion Michael Jackson gay pedophile jokes to light up the Internet. On Jan. 18, 2005 the Michael Jackson Trial for molesting 13-y.-o. Gavin Arvizo begins as he is arraigned in Santa Maria, Calif., then goes outside and wowed fans with an electrifying dance atop his black SUV; on Jan. 31 jury selection begins; on Feb. 23 a jury is selected; on Feb. 28 opening statements are made; the trial becomes the most publicized in history. on Mar. 9 Michael's accuser takes the stand, calling him "the coolest guy in the world"; on Mar. 10 Michael goes AWOL from his trial and is nearly jailed before showing up more than an hour late in his pajama bottoms and slippers, wearing a tuxedo coat over a white t-shirt, and claiming he has just been treated at a hospital for a serious back problem (ready to go to bed with some more kids?); on Mar. 21 he again arrived at court late, claiming back problems, but is only a few minutes late and is not penalized; on Apr. 7 former Neverland ranch security guard Ralph Chacon finally uses the O word in testimony in Santa Maria, Calif., claiming that he saw Michael Jackson perform oral sex on a boy after taking a whirlpool bath with him in late 1992 or early 1993; the boy received a multimillion dollar settlement from Jackson in 1994 and refused to cooperate in a police investigation, which resulted in no charges filed; on Apr. 10 Michael's mom Katherine Jackson left the courtroom during graphic testimony, but later explained that she needed to use the restroom (to throw up?); On May 3 a forensic accountant testified that Michael spends $20 to $30M more each year than he earns; on May 4 the prosecutors rest their case; on June 1 jurors are given their instructions, and begins deliberations on June 3 (Fri.); early in the deliberations three jurors voted to convict, but on June 13 after 30 hours of deliberations over seven days they unanimously acquitted him of all 14 charges carrying nearly 20 years; on June 14 Jackson's chief atty. Thomas Arthur Mesereau Jr. (with flamboyant white hair) said that the star won't let children into his bed anymore because "it makes him vulnerable to false charges"; on Aug. 8 white jurors Ray Hultman (1943-) and Eleanor Cook (1926-) went public with regret at his acquittal on MSNBC's Rita Cosby Show, Hultman saying that the other jurors "just wouldn't take those blinders off long enough to really look at all the evidence that is there", and Cook saying that the other jurors are "the ones that let a pedophile go"; in June Cook told ABC's Good Morning America that she thought Jackson have molested other children but had to limit her decision to the 13-y.-o. boy at the trial; on Aug. 23 the mother of Jackson's accuser is charged with welfare fraud, accused of collecting nearly $19K illegally. On Aug. 17, 2005 a New Orleans judge fined Michael $10K when his atty. is a no-show in a civil case accusing him of sexually assaulting an 18-y.-o. man during the 1984 World's Fair (would you let me go down on you if my face are whiter?). On Jan. 25, 2006 "Burqa Boy" Michael Jackson is spotted in a Manama, Bahrain shopping mall disguised in a traditional black Arabic woman's veil and gown (abaya); his brother Jermaine is friends with the king's son Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who helped him convert to Islam in 1989, causing Michael to move there after his acquittal in Calif., taking residence in a sets of $1.5M boy-lined villas, which causes rumors that he converted to Islam, which has always been friendly to rich male pedophiles? On June 25, 2009 the King of Pop Michael Jackson (b. 1958) dies of an OD in his rented mansion in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, becoming another JFK moment for legions of fans worldwide, news of his death rivalling the death of JFK for shock value, causing Google, Twitter et al. to crash or bog down; he weighed 112 lb. at death, and sell 750M records; he has been preparing for a 50-concert tour to restore his wasted fortune; his doctor Conrad Murray (1943-) found him in bed not breathing and with a faint pulse, and administers CPR in vain, after which he is scrutinized for prescribing Demerol and/or OxyContin to him, which he denied; his doctor later revealed that he has been suffering from lupus; a drug stash incl. the fatal anesthetic Propofol is found in his closet; on July 7, 2009 his funeral at Staples Center in Los Angeles, attended by 18K turned into a Michael Jackson show, with Pastor Lucious Smith followed by Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, Usher, John Mayer et al., plus eulogies by Berry Gordy (who calls him "the greatest entertainer that ever lived"), Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Brooke Shields; Stevie Wonder sings "Never Dream You'd Leave Me in the Summer"; his $25K bronze Promethean casket is plated with 14-karat gold and lined with blue velvet, and he wears a single white glove on his right hand; Russian security sources allegedly told pres. Dmitri Medvedev that Jackson is assassinated by the CIA with an electromagnetic pulse; reports later surfaced that Jackson wanted to clone himself; meanwhile on June 25, 2009 Hollywood glam babe Farrah Fawcett (b. 1947) died after a long struggle with cancer, making three top U.S. celebs to go down in the same week; on June 28, 2009 the 9th BET Awards honored Jackson, and his Queen of Pop sister Janet Jackson give a speech; on June 30 Jackson's will names his mommy Katherine Jackson as the guardian of his mystery children (of whom it is rumored that he is not the biological father, and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe might not be the genetic mother of the eldest two), and cuts off his father Joe (whom he alleges beat him as a child), along with Debbie Rowe - he must have have a Marilyn complex. On Oct. 28, 2009 Kenny Ortega's This Is It is released, wasting no time in exploting the death of "Thriller" superstar Michael Jackson and his planned 50-concert sold-out This Is It Tour at the O2 Arena in London from July 2009-Mar. 2010, featuring half-Greek Australian guitarist Orianthii Pangaris. On Dec. 22, 2009 the FBI releases its Dossier on Michael Jackson, which incl. details of his pedophile problem. On Oct. 26, 2009 the double album This Is It is released, selling 4M copies in the first five weeks. On June 24, 2010 his brother Jermaine Jackson said that if Michael have converted to Islam it might have saved his life; a bust of an Egyptian woman from earlier than 1000 B.C.E. that have been on display at Chicago's Field Museum since 1988 attracted attention as a dead ringer for him.

The National

On Oct. 30, 2001 Brooklyn, N.Y.-based indie rock band The National, incl. Matt Berninger (1971-) (vocals), Aaron Dessner (piano), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass), Bryan Devendorf (drums), and Padma Newsome (keyboard) releases their debut album The National. Album #3 Alligator (Apr. 12, 2005) features Mr. November, which they later uses in supporting Barack Obama for president. Album #4 Boxer (May 22, 2007) (#68 in the U.S.) features Slow Show, Fake Empire, Mistaken for Strangers, and Racing Like a Pro. Album #5 High Violet (May 10, 2010) (#3 in the U.S.) features Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16, and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.

Hoobastank

On Nov. 20, 2001 the Agoura Hills, Calif.-based rock band Hoobastank, incl. Doug Robb (vocals), Dan Estrin (guitar), Markku Lappalainen (bass), and Chris Hesse (drums) release their debut album Hoobastank, which features the tracks Crawling in the Dark, Running Away, and Remember Me. Album #2 The Reason (Dec. 9,, 2003) sell 2.5M copies, and features The Reason, Same Direction, and Out of Control. Album #3 Every Man for Himself (May 8, 2006) features If I are You, Inside of You, and Born to Lead. Album #4 Fornever (Jan. 27, 2009) (#26 in the U.S.) features My Turn. They go on to sell 10M albums worldwide.

Beatallica

In 2001 the Milwaukee, Wisc.-based tongue-in-cheek Beatles-Metallica mash-up band Beatallica, incl. Jaymz Lennfield, Grg Hammetson, Krk Hammetson, Kliff McBurtney, and Ringo Larz release their debut EP A Garage Dayz Nite, which features the tracks A Garage Dayz Nite, Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band, and The Thing That Should Not Let It Be. EP #2 Beatallica (The Grey Album) (Apr. 1, 2004) features Blackened the USSR, Hey Dude, and I Want to Choke Your Band. Their debut album Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band (July 10, 2007) features Revol-ooh-tion, and Helvester of Skelter. The May 2008 single All You Need Is Blood came in 13 languages. Album #2 Masterful Mystery Tour (Aug. 4, 2009) features Masterful Mystery Tour, Hero of the Day Tripper, and Fuel on the Hill.

Microwave

In 2001 the Vietnamese rock band Microwave is founded. In 2006 they release their biggest hit Tim Lai.

Norah Jones (1979-)

On Feb. 26, 2002 jazz singer-songwriter Norah Jones (Geethali Norah Jones Shankar) (1979-), daughter of Ravi Shankar releases her debut album Come Away with Me (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 20M copies (#2 behind "The Beatles"), and features the tracks Don't Know Why, Feelin' the Same Way, Come Away with Me, and Turn Me On. Album #2 Feels Like Home (Feb. 9, 2004) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 14M copies, incl. 4M in the U.S., and features Sunrise, What Am I to You?, Those Sweet Words. Album #3 Not Too Late (Jan. 30, 2007) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 4M copies, and features Thinking About You. Album #4 The Fall (Nov. 17, 2009) (#3 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features Chasing Pirates, and Young Blood. That's almost 40M albums in one decade, despite many calling her Snorah Jones for the monotony of her offerings.

Biffy Clyro

On Mar. 10, 2002 the Scottish (Kilmarnock) alternative rock band Biffy Clyro, formerly Screwfish, incl. Simon Alexander Neil (1979-) (vocals), James Roberto Johnston (1980-) (bass) and twin brother Ben Hamilton Johnston (1980-) (drums) release their debut album Blackened Sky (#78 in the U.K.), which features the tracks 27, 57, Justboy, and Joy Discovery Invention. Album #2 The Vertigo of Bliss (June 16, 2003) features Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys, The Ideal Height, Questions and Answers, and Eradicate the Doubt. Album #3 Infinity Land (Oct. 4, 2004) features There's No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake, Glitter and Trauma, My Recovery Injection, and Only One Word Comes to Mind. Album #4 Puzzle (June 4, 2007) (#2 in the U.K.) sell 300K copies, and features Semi-Mental, Saturday Superhouse, Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies, Folding Stars, Machines, and Who's gets A Match? Album #5 Only Revolutions (album #5) (Nov. 9, 2009) (#3 in the U.K.), named after the novel by Mark Z. Danielewski features Mountains, The Golden Rule, The Captain, Many of Horror, Bubbles, and God and Satan.

Ashanti (1980-)

On Apr. 8, 2002 Glen Cove, N.Y.-born R&B singer Ashanti (Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas) (1980-) releases her debut album Ashanti (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which sells 6M copies, incl. 3M in the U.S., and a record 503K in its first week; it features Foolish (#1 in the U.S.), Happy (w/Ja Rule) (#8 in the U.S.), Baby (#15 in the U.S.) (first female with three top-100 Billboard Hot 100 songs), Unfoolish (w/Biggie), and Dreams. Album #2 Chapter II (July 1, 2003) (#1 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Rock Wit U (Awww Baby), Rain on Me, and Breakup 2 Makeup (w/Black Child). Album #3 Concrete Rose (Dec. 14, 2004) (#7 in the U.S., #20 in the U.K.) features Only U (#13 in the U.S.), Don't Let Them, Wonderful (w/Ja Rule, R. Kelly), and Don't Leave Me Alone. Album #4 The Declaration (June 3, 2008) (#6 in the U.S.) features The Way That I Love You, Body on Me (w/Nelly, Akon), and Good Good.

The Black Keys

On May 20, 2002 Akron, Ohio-based indie/garage blues-rock duo The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar), and Patrick Carney (drums) release their debut album The Big Come Up, which features the tracks Leavin' Trunk, She Said, She Said, and I'll Be Your Man (theme song for the HBO series "Hung"). Album #2 Thickfreakness (Apr. 8, 2003) features Thickfreakness, Set You Free (used in the 2003 film "School of Rock"), Hard Row, and Have Love, Will Travel (by Richard Berry). Album #3 Rubber Factory (Sept. 7, 2004) features When the Lights Go Out (used in the 2006 film "Black Snake Moan"), 10 A.M. Automatic (used in the 2006 film "Live Free or Die"), Till I Get My Way, and Grown So Ugly (by Robert Pete Williams) (used in the 2008 film "Cloverfield"). Album #4 Magic Potion (Sept. 15, 2006) features Your Touch, You're the One, and Just gets to Be. Album #5 Attack & Release (Apr. 1, 2008) (#14 in the U.S.) features I gets Mine, Same Old Thing, and Strange Times. On Nov. 27, 2009 they release the rap rock album Blackroc (#176 in the U.S.) in collaboration with several hip hop and R&B artists; it features Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) (w/Mos Def and Jim Jones). Album #6 Brothers (May 18, 2010) (#3 in the U.S.) features Tighten Up (their biggest hit), Next Girl, and Howlin' for You. Album #7 El Camino (Dec. 6, 2011) (#2 in the U.S., #29 in the U.K.) features Lonely Boy (#64 in the U.S.).

'American Idol', 2002- Kelly Clarkson (1982-) Ruben Studdard (1978-) Fantasia Barrino (1984-) Carrie Underwood (1983-) Bo Bice (1975-) Taylor Hicks (1976-) Kat McPhee (1984-) Chris Daughtry (1979-) Jordin Sparks (1989-) David Cook (1982-) Kris Allen (1985-) Lee DeWyze (1986-) Scotty McCreery (1993-) David James Archuleta (1990-)

On June 11, 2002 after the Internet causes massive piracy, leading to a decline in the music industry, American Idol, created by Simon Fuller (1960-) of Britain debut on Fox Network, giving everybody a chance to become a chart-topper, and becoming the most watched TV show in Nielsen ratings history. Similar shows debut in many other countries, incl. Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, Sweden, Norway, and Brazil, throw away your inhalers; of course, the producers makes a lot more money than the idols. American Idol judges Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (1956-), "mean" Simon Phillip Cowell (1959-), and Paula Julie Abdul (1962-) helped the audience pick winners, incl. Kelly Brianne Clarkson (1982-), Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard (1978-), Fantasia Barrino (1984-), Carrie Marie Underwood (1983-), Taylor Reuben "the Soul Patrol" Hicks (1976-), Jordin Brianna Sparks (1989-), David Roland Cook (1982-), Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen (1985-), Leon James "Lee" DeWyze Jr. (1986-), and Scott Cooke "Scotty" McCreery (1993-). Kelly Clarkson's debut album Thankful (Apr. 15, 2003) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features the track A Moment Like This. Album #2 Breakaway (Nov. 30, 2004) (#3 in the U.S.) sells 14M copies worldwide (6M in the U.S.), and features the hit tracks Breakaway, and Since U Been Gone, written by Max Martin and Dr. Luke Gottwald. Season 4 runner-up Harold Elwin "Bo" Bice Jr. (1975-) have a #2 U.S. hit in 2005 with Inside Your Heaven. On May 23-24, 2006 Season 5 staged its final between contestants Taylor Hicks from Birmingham, Ala. (the winner) and Katharine Hope "Kat" McPhee (1984-) from Los Angeles, Calif.; a poll by Pursuant Inc. in Washington, D.C. indicated that one in 10 U.S. adults placed a vote for a candidate this season, incl. 50M (75% female) for the second-to-last week, and 35% believed their votes counted as much or more than for U.S. pres.; the final garnered 63.4M votes, more than any U.S. pres. has received?; the 5th straight winner from the South, after Kelly Clarkson from Tex., Ruben Studdard from Ala., Fantasia Barrino from N.C., and Carrie Underwood from Okla.; on Nov. 21, 2006 Christopher Adam "Chris" Daughtry (1979-), who came in #4, releases his debut album Chris Daughtry, which sells 1M copies in five weeks, the fast-selling debut rock album in history (until ?); it features the hit track It's Not Over. On Nov. 11, 2008 Season 7 runner-up David James Archuleta (1990-) releases his debut album David Archuleta (#2 in the U.S.), which sells 900K copies worldwide, and features the track Crush.

Avril Lavigne (1984-)

On June 21, 2002 Canadian singer Avril Ramona Lavigne (1984-) releases her debut album Let Go (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 17M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Complicated, Sk8er Boi, I'm With You, and Losing Grip. Album #2 Under My Skin (May 25, 2004) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features the tracks Don't Tell Me, My Happy Ending, Nobody's Home, and He Wasn't. Album #3 The Best Damn Thing (Apr. 13, 2007) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 7M copies, and features the tracks The Best Damn Thing, Girlfriend, When You're Gone, and Hot. She goes on to sell 30M albums worldwide, incl. 10M in the U.S.

On June 21-23, 2002 the first Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was held in Manchester, Tenn.

Maroon 5

On June 25, 2002 the LA-based pop rock band Maroon 5, formerly Kara's Flowers, incl. Adam Noah Levine (1979-) (vocals), James Burgon Valentine (1978-) (guitar), Jesse Royal Carmichael (1979-) (keyboards), Michael Allen Madden (1979-) (bass), Ryan Michael Dusick (1977-)/ Matt Flynn (1970-) (drums) release their debut album Songs About Jane (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (title refers to Adam Levine's ex-girlfriend Jane Herman), which sells 2.7M copies, and features the tracks This Love, Harder to Breathe, and She Will Be Loved. Album #2 It Won't Be Soon Before Long (May 22, 2007) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features Makes Me Wonder, Wake Up Call, Won't Go Home Without You, If I Never See Your Face Again (w/Rihanna), and Goodnight Goodnight. Album #3 Good Girl Gone Bad (May 31, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.S.) sells 2.8M copies, and features Umbrella (#1 in the U.S.), Take a Bow (#1 in the U.S.), Disturbia (#1 in the U.S.), Don't Stop the Music (#1 worldwide), Hate That I Love You, Shut Up and Drive, and Rehab. Album #4 Hands All Over (Sept. 21, 2010) (#2 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K.) sells 500K copies, and features Misery, Give a Little More, and Never Gonna Leave This Bed. They have sells 15M albums worldwide (10M in the U.S.).

On June 25, 2002 Bloomington, Inc.-based Murder by Death release their debut album Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing. On Oct. 14, 2003 they release Who Will Surive, and What Will Be Left of Them?. On May 23, 2006 they release In Bocca al Lupo. On Mar. 4, 2008 they release Red of Tooth and Claw. On Apr. 8, 2010 they release Good Morning, Magpie. incl. As Long As There is Whiskey in the World. On Sept. 25, 2012 they release Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon.

My Chemical Romance

On July 23, 2002 the Jersey City, N.J.-based horror rock band (straight Goth for the emo set) My Chemical Romance, incl. Gerard Arthur Way (1977-) (vocals), Mikey Way (bass), Frank Anthony Thomas Iero Jr. (1981-) (guitar), and Ray Toro (guitar) release their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, which features the tracks I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, and Skylines and Turnstiles (response to 9/11). In Aug. 200 they release the EP Like Phantoms Forever, which features the track Vampires Will Never Hurt You. Album #2 Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (June 8, 2004) (#28 in the U.S., #34 in the U.K.) (first with Reprise Records) sells 1.7M copies, and features Helena (#33 in the U.S.), I'm Not Okay (I Promise) (#86 in the U.S.), The Ghost of You (#84 in the U.S.). Album #3 The Black Parade (Oct. 23, 2006) (#2 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) a rock opera about the Patient, who is dying of cancer features Welcome to the Black Parade, Famous Last Words, I Don't Love You, and Teenagers. Album #4 Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Nov. 19, 2010) (#8 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.) features Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), Sing, Planetary (Go!). The EP The Mad Gear and Missile Kid (Nov. 22, 2010) features F.T.W.W.W., Mastas of Ravenkroft, and Black Dragon Fighting Society.

Seether

In Aug. 2002 the South African post-grunge band Seether (originally Saron Gas), incl. Shaun Morgan, Dale Stewart, and John Humphrey releases its debut album Disclaimer, which features Fine Again, Driven Under, and Gasoline. Album #2 Disclaimer II (June 15, 2004) is a remix of the debut album, plus Broken (w/Amy Lee) (#20 in the U.S.). Album #3 Karma and Effect (May 24, 2005) (800K copies worldwide) (their masterpiece?) features Remedy, Truth, and The Gift. Album #4 Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces (Oct. 23, 2007) features Fake It, Rise Above This, Breakdown, and Careless Whisper. Album #5 Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (May 17, 2011) (#2 in the U.S.) features Country Song, Tonight, No Resolution, and Here and Now.

Just Jack (1975-)

On Sept. 30, 2002 English (London) hip hop artist Just Jack (Jack Christopher Allsopp) (1975-) releases his debut album The Outer Marker, which features the tracks Paradise (Lost & Found), and Snowflakes. Album #2 Overtones (Jan. 29, 2007) features Starz in Their Eyes (#2 in the U.K). Album #3 All Night Cinema (Aug. 31, 2009) (#22 in the U.K.) features Embers (#17 in the U.K.), and The Day I Died (#11 in the U.K.).

Hilary Duff (1987-)

On Oct. 15, 2002 Houston, Tex.-born actress-turned-singer (Disney's Lizzie McGuire) Hilary Erhard Duff (1987-) releases her debut album Santa Claus Lane (#154 in the U.S.). Album #2 Metamorphosis (Aug. 26, 2003) (#1 in the U.S., #69 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies worldwide, and features the tracks So Yesterday, Come Clean, and Little Voice. Album #3 Hilary Duff (Sept. 28, 2004) (#2 in the U.S.) ("Basically, I'm not Lizzie McGuire anymore") sell 1.8M copies in the U.S., and features Fly, and Someone's Watching Over Me. Album #4 Dignity (Mar. 26, 2007) (#3 in the U.S., #25 in the U.K.) sells 1.8M copies in the U.S., and features With Love (#24 in the U.S.), Play With Fire, and Stranger.

Audioslave

On Nov. 19, 2002 the Am. rock supergroup Audioslave release their debut album Audioslave (3M copies); it features Like a Stone, Cochise, Show Me How to Live, I Am the Highway, and What You Are. Album #2 Out of Exile (May 23, 2005) (#1 in the U.S.) features Be Yourself, Your Time Has Come, and Doesn't Remind Me. Album #3 Revelations (Sept. 4, 2006) (1M copies) (#2 in the U.S.) (#12 in the U.K.) features Original Fire, and Revelations. In Feb. 2007 after becoming the first U.S rock band to perform an open-air concert in Cuba, Cornell leaves and the group disbands. Too bad, on May 18, 2017 Chris Cornell is found dead in his hotel room in Detroit, Mich. They go on to sell 8M records worldwide.

The Caesars

In 2002 the Swedish group The Caesars (AKA Caesars Palace, Twelve Caesars), incl. Joakim Åhlund, César Vidal, David Lindquist, and Nino Keller release their 1-hit wonder Jerk It Out.

The All-American Rejects

On Jan. 17, 2003 the Stillwater, Okla.-based rock band The All-American Rejects, incl. Tyson Ritter (vocals, bass), Nick Wheeler (guitar), Mike Kennerty (guitar), and Chris Gaylor (drums) release their debut album The All-American Rejects (#25 in the U.S., #50 in the U.K.), which features the track Swing, Swing. Album #2 Move Along (July 12, 2005) (#6 in the U.S., #45 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies, and features Move Along (#15 in the U.S., #42 in the U.K.), Dirty Little Secret (#9 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), and It Ends Tonight (#8 in the U.S., #66 in the U.K.). Album #3 When the World Comes Down (Dec. 6, 2008) (#15 in the U.S., #48 in the U.K.) features Gives You Hell (#4 in the U.S., #18 in the U.K.), The Wind Blows (#113 in the U.S.), and I Wanna (#92 in the U.S., #84 in the U.K.).

Phil Spector (1939-2021) Phil Spector (1939-2021) Lana Clarkson (1962-2003) Lana Clarkson (1962-2003)

On Feb. 3, 2003 Bronx, N.Y.-born "Wall of Sound" pop music producer Phillip Harvey (Harvey Phillip) "Phil" Spector (1939-2021) is arrested for the shooting murder of B-movie actress Lana Jean Clarkson (b. 1962) in his mansion in Alhambra, Calif., uttering the soundbyte "I think I just shot her", claiming that it was an "accidental suicide", and she "kissed the gun"; on May 23 he shows up in L.A. Superior Court sporting an oversized "Dolly Parton" hairdo of frosted and teased curls; on Sept. 26, 2007 a mistrial is declared after a 10-2 hung jury; on Oct. 20, 2008 he is retried, and convicted on Apr. 13, 2009 of 2nd degree murder, receiving a 19-years-to-life prison sentence on May 29, 2009.

50 Cent (1975-)

On Feb. 4, 2003 South Jamaica, Queens, N.Y.-born rapper 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) (1975-) releases his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which sells 15M copies worldwide (8M in the U.S.), and features the tracks In Da Club, 21 Questions (w/Nate Dogg), Wanksta, and P.I.M.P. (w/Snoop Dogg). Album #2 The Massacre (Mar. 3, 2005) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 11M copies worldwide, and features Disco Inferno, Candy Shop (w/Olivia), Just a Lil Bit, and Outta Control (Remix) (w/Mobb Deep). Album #3 Curtis (Sept. 11, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Straight to the Bank, Amusement Park, I Get Money, Ayo Technology, and I'll Still Kill (w/Akon). Album #4 Before I Self Destruct (Nov. 9, 2009) (#5 in the U.S., #22 in the U.K.) features Baby by Me, and Do You Think About Me.

Mae

On Feb. 25, 2003 the Norfolk, Va.-based alternative-indie band Mae (Multi-Sensory Aesthetic Experience), incl. Dave Elkins, Zach Gehring, and Jacob Marshall (drums) (who named the group based on his course at Old Dominion U.) release their debut album Destination: Beautiful, which features the tracks Embers and Envelopes, All Deliberate Speed, and This Time Is the Last Time. Album #2 The Everglow (Mar. 29, 2005) is a concept album. Album #3 Singularity (album #3) (Aug. 14, 2007) features Sometimes I Can't makes It Alone. They follow with the three EPs Morning (Apr. 19, 2010), Afternoon (Sept. 24, 2010), and Evening (EP) (Mar. 8, 2011).

Black Lips

On Mar. 18, 2003 the Atlanta, Ga.-based flower-punk garage band Black Lips, incl. Cole Alexander (vocals), Jared Swilley (bass), Ben Eberbaugh (-2002) (guitar), Jack Hines (guitar), and Joe Bradley (drums) release their debut album Black Lips! (Mar. 18). Album #2 We Did Not Know the Forest Spirit makes the Flowers Grow (May 18, 2004) took its title from Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 film "Princess Mononoke", and features the tracks Time of the Scab, and 100 New Fears. Album #3 Let It Bloom (Nov. 22, 2005) features Boomerang, Not a Problem, Everybody's Doin' It, and Feeling Gay. Album #4 Good Bad Not Evil (Sept. 11, 2007) features Slime and Oxygen, and How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died? Album #8 200 Million Thousand (Feb. 24, 2009) features Short Fuse. Album #9 Arabia Mountain (June 7, 2011) features Spidey's Curse, Mr. Driver, Raw Meat, The Lie, Time, and Noc-A-Homa.

Fall Out Boy

On Mar. 25, 2003 Wilmette, Ill.-based Fall Out Boy, incl. Patrick Stump (vocals, guitar), Joe Trohman (guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), and Andy Hurley (drums) release their major label debut album Fall Out Boy's Evening Out With Your Girlfriend. On May 6, 2003 they release album #2 Take This to Your Grave, which sells 500K copies; it features Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy. On May 18, 2004 they release the EP My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue (#153 in the U.S.), On May 3, 2005 they release album #3 From Under the Cork Tree (#9 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies worldwide, and features Sugar, We're Goin Down, Dance, Dance, and A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More 'Touch Me'. On Feb. 5, 2007 they release album #4 Infinity on High (#1 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies, and features This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race, and Thnks fr th Mmrs (Thanks for the Memories). On Dec. 10, 2008 they release album #5 Folle a Deux (#8 in the U.S.), which sells 500K copies, and features I Don't Care. In 2009 They go on hiatus. They sell 2.5M albums in the U.S.

On May 24, 2003 Paul McCartney plays a 3-hour show in Russia's Red Square, featuring 30 hit songs incl. "Back in the USSR"; the Beatles have been banned from playing in Russia in the 1960s.

The Black Eyed Peas Fergie (1975-) and Josh Duhamel (1972-)

On June 24, 2003 the LA-based hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas (forms 1995) releases album #3 Elephunk (#14 in the U.S.), which sells 8.5M copies, and features the hit track Where Is the Love? Members incl. will.i.am (William James Adams Jr.) (1975-), apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo Jr.) (1974-), Taboo (Jaime Luis Gomez) (1975-), and Fergie (Stacy Ann Ferguson) (1975-). Album #4 Monkey Business (May 27, 2005) sells 10M copies, and features the hits Don't Phunk with My Heart, Don't Lie, My Humps, and Bebot. Album #5 The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (June 3, 2009) sell 7.5M copies, and features Imma Be, Alive, and Meet Me Halfway. They have sell 27M albums. On Jan. 10, 2009 Roman Catholic Fergie marries Roman Catholic actor Joshua David "Josh" Duhamel (1972-).

Kings of Leon

On July 7, 2003 the Mt. Juliet, Tenn.-based rock band ("the Southern Strokes") Kings of Leon, incl. brothers and kissing cousins (sons of an intinerant Pentecostal preacher) Anthony Caleb Followill (1982-) (vocals), Cameron Matthew Followill (1984-) (guitar), Michael Jared Followill (1986-) (bass), and Ivan Nathan Followill (1979-) (drums) release their debut album Youth and Young Manhood (#3 in the U.K.), which sells 940K copies worldwide, and features the tracks Red Morning Light, Wasted Time, and California Waiting. Album #2 Aha Shake Heartbreak (Nov. 1, 2004) (#55 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) sell 910K copies worldwide, and features The Bucket, King of the Rodeo, and Taper Jean Girl. Album #3 Because of the Times (Mar. 30, 2007) (#25 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features On Call, Fans, and Charmer. Album #4 Only by the Night (album #4) (Sept. 19, 2008) (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Revelry, Notion, Crawl, and Frontier. Album #5 Come Around Sundown (Oct. 15, 2010) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Radioactive, and Pyro.

Metric

On Sept. 2, 2003 the Toronto, Canada-based indie rock group Metric, incl. Emily Haines (vocals), James Shaw (guitar, vocals), Joshua Winstead (bass, vocals), and Joules Scott-Key (drums) release their debut album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, which features Combat Baby. On Sept. 27, 2005 they release album #2 Live It Out, which sells 150K copies, and features Monster Hospital, Poster of a Girl, and Empty. On June 28, 2007 they release album #3 (really #1) Grown Up and Blown Away, which features Grow Up and Blow Away. On Apr. 7, 2009 they release album #4 Fantasies (#76 in the U.S, #6 in Canada), which features Help I'm Alive, Sick Muse, Gold Guns Girls, and Gimme Sympathy.

'The School of Rock', 2003

On Oct. 3, 2003 Richard Linklater's The School of Rock debut, starring Jack Black as rocker Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of his band No Vacancy, then disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prep school to form a band out of 5th grade students to win the Battle of the Bands to pay his apt. rent.

Butterfly Boucher (1979-)

On Oct. 7, 2003 Australian singer-songwriter Butterfly Boucher (1979-) releases her debut album Flutterby, which features the tracks I Can't makes Me, and Another White Dash. Album #2 Scary Fragile (June 2, 2009) features A Bitter Song, and For the Love of Love.

'Kill Bill Vol. 1', 2003 The 5, 6, 7, 8s

On Oct. 10, 2003 Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 1, based on the 1973 Japanese film "Lady Snowblood" debut, followed on Apr. 16, 2004 by Kill Bill Volume 2, starring Uma Thurman as Kung Fu fighting "the Bride" "Black Mamba" Beatrix Kiddo, whose hubby "Snake Charmer" Bill (David Carradine) pops a cap in her crown at her wedding in El Paso, Tex., causing her to vow revenge; also stars Vivica A. Fox as "Copperhead" Vernita Green , Daryl Hannah as 1-eyed "Calif. Mountain Snake" Elle Driver, Lucy Liu as "Cottonmouth" O-Ren Ishii, Michael Madsen as Bill's brother "Sidewinder" Budd, Sonny Chiba as Samurai swordswmith Hattori Hanzo, and Chiaki Kuriyama as 17-y.-o. Kung Fu fighter Gogo Yubari, and Gordon Liu as all-white Kung Fu master Pai Mei, who knows the secret 5-Pointed Palm Exploding Heart Technique, and cool music by the Japanese (Tokyo) rock trio The 5, 6, 7, 8s (5.6.7.8's) (who clone U.S. rock music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s), who perform I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield, I'm Blue (#71 in the U.K.), and Woo Hoo (#28 in the U.K.) (used in Vonage commercials) in the House of Blue Leaves.

Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

On Oct. 20, 2003 English Jewish singer-songwriter Amy Jade Winehouse (1983-2011) (the English answer to Britney Spears?) releases her debut album Frank, which sells 900K copies in the U.K.; it features the tracks Stronger Than Me, Take the Box, In My Bed, Fuck Me Pumps. Album #2 (last) Back to Black (Oct. 4, 2006) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sells 10M copies, and features Back to Black, Rehab, You Know I'm No Good, Tears Dry on Their Own, and Love Is a Losing Game. Too bad, on July 23, 2011 she is found dead in her London apt., joining the 27 Club, incl. Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones.

Loon (1975-)

On Oct. 21, 2003 Harlem, N.Y.-born rapper Loon (Chauncey Lamont Hawkins) (1975-) releases his debut album Loon (#6 in the U.S.), which features the tracks How You Want That, and Relax Your Mind. He follows with album #2 No Friends (Aug. 29, 2006) and album #3 Wizard of Harlem (Oct. 17, 2006). Too bad, in 2009 he converted to Islam and changes his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith, and drops out of infidel music.

Franz Ferdinand

On Feb. 9, 2004 the Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, from Glasgow, Scotland, incl. Alex Kapranos (Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley) (1973-) (vocals, guitar), Robert Byron "Bob" Hardy (1980-) (bass), Nicholas John Augustine "Nick" McCarthy (1974-) (keyboards, vocals), and Paul Robert Jude Nester Thomson (1976-) (drums) releases their debut album Franz Ferdinand (Feb. 9, 2004) (#32 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which sells 3.6M copies, and features the tracks Take Me Out (#3 in the U.K.), The Dark of the Matinee, This Fire, and Michael. Album #2 You Could Have It So Much Better (Oct. 3, 2005) (#8 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Do You Want To, The Fallen/ L. Wells, Walk Away, and Eleanor Put Your Boots On. Album #3 Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Jan. 26, 2009) (#9 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Ulysses, No You Girls, Can't Stop Feeling, and What She Came For.

Kanye West (1977-)

On Feb. 10, 2004 Atlanta, Ga.-born rapper Kanye Omari West (1977-) releases his debut album The College Dropout (#2 in the U.S.), which sells 4M copies, and features the tracks Through the Wire, Slow Jamz (w/Twista and Jamie Foxx), All Falls Down (w/Syleena Johnson), Jesus Walks, and The New Workout Plan. Album #2 Late Registration (Aug. 30, 2005) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 3M copies, and features Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Gold Digger (w/Jamie Foxx), Heard 'Em Say (w/Adam Levine), Touch the Sky (w/Lupe), and Drive Slow (w/Paul Wall). Album #3 Graduation (Sept. 11, 2007) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 2M copies in the U.S., and features Can't Tell Me Nothing, Stronger, Good Life (w/T-Pain), Flashing Lights (w/Dwele), and Homecoming. Album #4 808s & Heartbreak (Nov. 24, 2008) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 1.6M copies in the U.S., and features Love Lockdown, Heartless, Amazing (w/Young Jeezy), and Paranoid (w/Mr Hudson). Album #5 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Nov. 22, 2010) (#1 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies in the U.S., and features Power, Runaway, Monster, and All of the Lights (w/Rihanna, Kid Cudi). On Aug. 8, 2011 The Throne, consisting of Kanye West and Jay-Z release their debut album Watch the Throne, featuring the tracks Otis, and H*A*M.

The Academy Is...

On Mar. 23, 2004 Chicago, Ill.-based rock band The Academy Is... (originally The Academy) from Hoffman Estates, Ill., incl. William Beckett, Mike Carden, Michael Guy Chislett, Adam T. Siska (bass), and Andy "the Butcher" Mrotek release their debut album The Academy, which features Slow Down, Checkmarks, and The Phrase That Pays. Album #2 Almost Here (Feb. 8, 2005) (#185 in the U.S.) features Checkmarks, Slow Down (Hollywood Hills), The Phrase That Pays, and Classifieds. Album #3 Santi (original title "Chop Chop") (Apr. 2, 2007) (#32 in the U.S., #94 in the U.K.) features We've gets a Big Mess on Our Hands, and Neighbors. Album #4 (last) Fast Times at Barrington High (Aug. 18, 2008) (#17 in the U.S.) features About a Girl.

The Killers

On June 7, 2004 the Las Vegas, Nev.-based rock band The Killers, incl. Brandon Richard Flowers (1981-) (vocals), David Keuning (guitar, vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass, vocals), and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums) release their debut album Hot Fuss (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done, Mr. Brightside, and Smile Like You Mean It. Album #2 Sam's Town (Oct. 2, 2006) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 4.5M copies, and features Read My Mind, When You are Young, Bones, and For Reasons Unknown. Album #3 Sawdust (Nov. 9, 2007) (#12 in the U.S.) sells 1M copies, and features Shadowplay, and Tranquilize (w/Lou Reed). The Christmas single Don't Shoot Me Santa (Dec. 1, 2007) (#34 in the U.K.) have part of the proceeds donated to AIDS charity. Album #4 Day & Age (Nov. 18, 2008) (#6 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features The World We Live In, Human, Spaceman, and A Dustland Fairytale. They have sell 6M albums in the U.S., 5M in the U.K., and 18M worldwide.

On June 19, 20, and 25, 2004 the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chicks On Speed, and James Brown headlined the top-grossing entertainment of 2004 at London's Hyde Park, grossing $17,187,324 and drawing over 258K.

Daddy Yankee (1977-)

On July 13, 2004 San Juan, Puerto Rico-born reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee (Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez) (1977-) releases album #3 Barrio Fino (#26 in the U.S.), which sells 1M copies in the U.S. (a first for a reggaeton artist), and features the track Gasolina. Album #4 El Cartel: The Big Boss (June 5, 2007) (#9 in the U.S.) features Impacto, and Ella Me Levanto.

On July 17, 2004 the first Rock the Bells hip hop festival is held in San Bernardino, Calif., featuring the reunited Wu-Tang Clan (4 mo. before the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard), Redman (Reginald "Reggie" Noble) (1970-), Dilated Peoples, Paul "Sage" Francis (1976-), MC Supernatural, Chali 2na (Charles Stewart) and DJ Nu Mark of Jurassic 5, Eyedea & Abilities (E&A) et al.; a 2nd festival is held on Nov. 13 in Anaheim, Calif., featuring MC Supernatural, Jurassic 5, A Tribe Called Quest, Xzibit (Alvin Nathaniel Joiner) (1974-), Cypress Hill, Jaylib, Little Brother, Crown City Rockers et al.; in 2006 it started going on a nat. tour.

Nouvelle Vague

On Aug. 9, 2004 French cover band Nouvelle Vague (New Wave), incl. Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux release their debut album Nouvelle Vague, which features Love Will Tear Us Apart, and Too Drunk to Fuck. Album #2 Bande a Part (2006) features Don't Go, Blue Monday, Dancing with Myself, and Heart of Glass. Album #3 3 (June 16, 2009) features Blister in the Sun.

Pitbull (1981-)

On Aug. 24, 2004 Miami, Fla.-based Cuban-American blue-eyed rapper Pitbull (Armando Christian Perez) (1981-) releases his debut album M.I.A.M.I. (Money Is A Major Issue) (#14 in the U.S.), which features the tracks 305 Anthem (w/Lil Jon), and Toma (w/Lil Jon). Album #2 El Mariel (Oct. 31, 2006) (#17 in the U.S.) features Miami Shit, Come See Me, and Jealouso. Album #3 The Boatlift (Nov. 27, 2007) (#50 in the U.S.) features Sticky Icky (w/Lil Jon and Jim Jones), Secret Admirer, Go Girl, The Anthem (w/Lil Jon), and Fuego Remix (w/Don Omar). Album #6 Planet Pit (June 17, 2011) (#7 in the U.S.) features Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor) (w/T-Pain) (#7 in the U.S.), Give Me Everything (w/Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer) (#1 in the U.S.), and Rain Over Me (w/Marc Anthony) (#75 in the U.S.).

Natasha Bedingfield (1981-)

On Sept. 6, 2004 after chucking her Contemporary Christian music career, Sussex-born English blue-eyed soul and pop singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield (1981-) releases her debut album Unwritten (#26 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Unwritten, Single, These Words, I Bruise Easily, and The One That gets Away. Album #2 N.B. (Apr. 27, 2007) (#3 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Love Like This, Pocketful of Sunshine, Angel, I Wanna Have Your Babies, and Soulmate. Album #3 Strip Me (Dec. 7, 2010) (#103 in the U.S.) features Touch.

Arcade Fire

On Sept. 14, 2004 the Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire (AKA Us Kids Now), from Montreal, incl. Win Butler (1980-), Regine Chassagne (1977-), and William Pierce Butler (1982-) release their debut album Funeral; title comes from band members who recently lost family members. Tracks incl. Rebellion (Lies) (#19 in the U.K.), Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #2 (Laika), Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), and Wake Up. Album #2 Neon Bible (Mar. 5, 2007) (#2 in the U.S.) features the tracks Black Mirror, Keep the Car Running, Intervention, and No Cars Go. Album #3 The Suburbs (Aug. 2, 2010) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) features The Suburbs/Month of May, We uses to Wait, and Ready to Start.

The Dollyrots

On Sept. 14, 2004 Am. pop punk band The Dollyrots, consisting of Kelly Ogden (vocals, bass) and Luis Cabezas (guitar) release their debut album Eat My Heart Out. On Mar. 17, 2007 they release album #2 Because I'm Awesome, which features Because I'm Awesome, and Watch Me Go (Kissed Me, kills Me). On Aug. 17, 2010 they release album #3 A Little Messed Up, which features California Beach Boy, and Rollercoaster. On Sept. 18, 2012 they release album #4 The Dollyrots.

Eric Prydz (1976-)

On Sept. 23, 2004 Swedish DJ-producer (in the U.K.) Eric Sheridan Prydz (1976-), AKA Pryda releases his debut single Call on Me (#1 in the U.K.), which came with a video that features hot supermodels in skin-tight workout suits, he sell me. He follows it with the singles Woz Not Woz (w/Steve Angello) (2005) (#55 in the U.K.), Proper Education (2007) (#2 in the U.K.), Pjanoo (2008) (#2 in the U.K.), and Niton (The Reason) (2011) (#45 in the U.K.).

Bonnie McKee (1984-)

On Sept. 28, 2004 Seattle, Wash.-raised singer-songwriter Bonnie Leigh McKee (1984-) releases her debut album Trouble, which features the tracks Trouble, and Somebody. Too bad, Reprise Records markets it to the 30s-40s sets rather than the teens-20s set, causing it to flop, after which she becomes a songwriter, cranking out hits for Katy Perry ("California Gurls", "Teenage Dream"), Taio Cruz ("Dynamite"), and Britney Spears ("Hold It Against Me"). On July 23, 2013 she releases American Girl.

James Blunt (1974-)

On Nov. 1, 2004 English singer James Blunt (James Hillier Blount) (1974-) releases his debut album Back to Bedlam (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 12M copies worldwide, and features his hit single You're Beautiful (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), written after spotting his ex with a new beau; the ex-military man becomes the first Brit to top the Billboard Top 100 in the U.S. since Elton John in 1997. It also features Wisemen, High, and Goodbye My Lover. Album #2 All the Lost Souls (Sept. 17, 2007) (#7 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 3.6M copies, and features the tracks 1973, Same Mistake, Carry You Home, and I Really Want You. Album #3 Some Kind of Trouble (Nov. 8, 2010) (#11 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) sells 1M copies, and features Stay the Night.

Joss Stone (1987-)

On Nov. 24, 2004 Dover, Kent-born English white soul singer-songwriter Joss Stone (Jocelyn Eve Stoker) (1987-) releases her debut album The Soul Sessions (#39 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Fell in Love with a Boy, and Super Duper Love. Album #2 Mind, Body & Soul (Sept. 27, 2004) (#11 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) (youngest female singer to top the U.K. albums chart since Avril Lavigne) features You have Me, and Spoiled. Album #3 Introducing Joss Stone (Mar. 12, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.) sells 1.3M copies, and features Tell Me 'bout It, Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now (w/Common), and Baby Baby Baby. Album #4 Colour Me Free! (Oct. 20, 2009) (#10 in the U.S., #75 in the U.K.) features Free Me.

KT Tunstall (1975-)

On Dec. 13, 2004 Scottish (St. Andrews) singer-songwriter Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (1975-) releases her debut album Eye to the Telescope (#33 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which started out slow then sell 2.6M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (#28 in the U.K.), Suddenly I See (#12 in the U.K.), Other Side of the World (#13 in the U.K.), Under the Weather (#39 in the U.K.), and Another Place to Fall (#52 in the U.K.). Her next album KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza (May 15, 2006) features Ashes. Studio album #2 Drastic Fantastic (Sept. 10, 2007) (#9 in the U.S., #72 in the U.K.) features Little Favours, If Only, Hold On, and Saving My Face. Album #3 Tiger Suit (Sept. 24, 2010) (#43 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features Fade Like A Shadow, and (Still A) Weirdo).

Truth & Soul Records

In 2004 Truth & Soul Records is founded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. by Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman, going on to sign acts incl. The Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Fabulous Three, and Lee Fields and The Expressions.

Irv Gotti Lorenzo (1970-)

On Jan. 26, 2005 hip-hop label Murder Inc. founder Irving "Irv Gotti" Lorenzo (1970-) and his brother Chris wee charged with laundering $1M+ in drug profits from Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff's multistate crack and heroin operation; the label's superstar artists Ja Rule (Jeff Atkins) and Ashanti are not charged.

The Bravery

On Mar. 29, 2005 the New York City-based rock band The Bravery, incl. San Endicott (vocals, guitar), Michael "Moose" Zakarin (guitar), John Conway (keyboards), Mike Hindert (bass), and Anthony Burulcich (drums) release their debut album The Bravery (#18 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.), which features the tracks An Honest Mistake, Fearless, Unconditional, and Swollen Summer. Album #2 The Sun and the Moon (May 22, 2007) (#24 in the U.S.) features Time Won't Let Me Go, and Believe. Album #3 Stir the Blood (Dec. 1, 2009) features Slow Poison.

In Mar. 2005 longtime rocker Eric Clapton visits Buckingham Palace, and Queen Elizabeth II asked him "Have you been playing a long time?"

Niyaz The Kominas

On Apr. 19, 2005 the East-meets-West LA-and-Iran-based Muslim musical trio Niyaz ("yearning" in Persian/Urdu), incl. Carmen Rizzo, Azam Ali (1970-) (vocals and dulcimer), and Loga Ramin Torkian (guitarviol) release their debut album Niyaz, which features the tracks Ghazal, Allahi Allah, and Dilruba. Album #2 Nine Heavens (June 24, 2008) features Tamana, Sadrang, and Allah Mazare. With all the Muslim immigration to the West, you might as well try it. Speaking of Muslims in the West, there's hope they can change. On Mar. 14, 2008 the Boston, Mass.-based American-Desi punk rock band The Kominas, incl. Pakistani-born Shahjehan Khan (vocals), Basim Usmani (bass), Imran Malik (drums), and Bengali-born Arjun Ray (guitar), who gets their start after reading Michael Muhammad Knight's 2003 Muslim punk novel "The Taqwacores" release their debut album Wild Nights in Guantanamo Bay, which features the tracks Sharia Law in the U.S.A., Blow Shit Up, and I Want a Handjob.

Pussycat Dolls

On Apr. 26, 2005 the LA burlesque girl group Pussycat Dolls, incl. Hawaiian-born Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger (1978-), Carmit Bachar, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, and Kimberly Wyatt release their debut single Don't Cha (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), followed on Sept. 12, 2005 by their debut album PCD (#5 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), which sells 9M copies, and features the tracks Stickwitu (w/Avant), Button (w/Snoop Dogg), and Beep (w/will.i.am). Album #2 Doll Domination (Sept. 19, 2008) (#4 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features When I Grow Up, Bottle Pop, Whatcha Think About That (w/Missy Elliot), and I Hate This Part. Too bad, fans gets tired of them being more burlesque act than music?

Maximo Park

On May 16, 2005 the English (Newcastle) alternative rock band Maximo Park (formed in 2000), incl. Paul Smith (1979-) (vocals), Duncan Lloyd (guitar), Archis Tiku (bass), Lukas Wooller (keyboards), and Tom English (drums) release their debut album A Certain Trigger, which features the tracks The Coast Is Always Changing, Apply Some Pressure, Graffiti, Going Missing, and I Want You to Stay. Album #2 Our Earthly Pleasures (Apr. 2, 2007) features Our Velocity, Books from Boxes, Girls Who Play Guitars, and Karaoke Plays. Album #3 Quicken the Heart (May 11, 2009) (#6 in the U.K.) features Wraithlike, The Kids Are Sick Again, and Questing, Not Coasting.

Juliette Lewis (1973-)

On May 17, 2005 Juliette and the Licks, fronted by Am. actress-turned-singer Juliette (Lewis) (1937-) release their debut album You're Speaking My Language, which features the tracks You're Speaking My Language, and Got Love to Kill. Album #2 (last) Four on the Floor (Oct. 2, 2005) features Hot Kiss, and Sticky Honey.

Paramore

On July 26, 2005 the Franklin, Tenn.-based rock band Paramore, incl. "anti-Avril Lavigne" Hayley Nichole Williams (1988-) (vocals), Joshua Neil Farro (1987-)/Taylor Benjamin York (1989-) (guitar), Jeremy Clayton Davis (1985-) (bass), and Zachary Wayne Farro (1990-) (drums) release their debut album All We Know Is Falling (#8 in the U.K.), which features the tracks All We Know, Pressure, and Emergency. Album #2 Riot! (June 12, 2007) (#15 in the U.S., #24 in the U.K.) features Misery Business, Hallelujah, Crushcrushcrush, and That's What You Get. Album #3 Brand New Eyes (Sept. 29, 2009) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Ignorance, Brick by Boring Brick, The Only Exception, Careful, and Playing God.

In July 2005 a ms. of "All You Need is Love" by Beatle John Lennon sells for $1M at auction - money can't buy me love?

Rihanna (1988-)

On Aug. 26, 2005 Barbadian singer Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) (1988-) releases her debut album Music of the Sun (#10 in the U.S.), which sells 2M copies, and features the tracks Pon de Replay, and If It's Lovin' That You Want. Album #2 A Girl Like Me (Apr. 19, 2006) (#5 in the U.S., #5 in the U.K.) features the tracks SOS (#1 in the U.S.), Break It Off (w/Sean Paul), Unfaithful, We Ride. Album #3 Good Girl Gone Bad (May 30, 2007) (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.S.) features Umbrella (#1 in the U.S.), Take a Bow (#1 in the U.S.), Disturbia (#1 in the U.S.), and Don't Stop the Music (#1 worldwide). Album #4 Rated R (Nov. 20, 2009) (#4 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Russian Roulette, Hard (w/Young Jeezy), Rude Boy, Rockstar 101, Te Amo. Album #5 Loud (Nov. 10, 2010) (#3 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Only Girl (In the World), What's My Name? (w/Drake), and S&M .

'A Bigger Bang' by the Rolling Stones, 2005

On Sept. 5, 2005 the 60-something Rolling Stones releases A Bigger Bang (#3 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which features Rough Justice, Streets of Love (#15 in the U.K.), Rain Fall Down (#33 in the U.K.), and Biggest Mistake (#51 in the U.K.). Yes, speaking of rough rainy streets of love fall down and biggest mistake, they sound tired, and look ridiculous lusting after 20-somethings, but that might be because they represent the state of rock and roll itself at this point, check back with me later after I take more guitar lessons.

The Fray

On Sept. 15, 2005 the Denver, Colo.-based rock band The Fray, incl. Isaac Edward Slade (1981-) (vocals) and Joe King (1980-) releases their debut album How to Save a Life (#14 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), which features the tracks How to Save a Life (#1 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), and Over My Head (Cable Car) (#8 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.). Album #2 The Fray (Feb. 3, 2009) (#1 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features You Found Me (#7 in the U.S., #35 in the U.K.), and Never Say Never (#32 in the U.S., #87 in the U.K.).

Panic at the Disco

On Sept. 27, 2005 the Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev.-based alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco, named after the Name Taken song "Panic", incl. Brendon Boyd Urie (1987-) (vocals), George Ryan Ross III (1986-) (guitar), Peter Wentz (bass), and Spencer James Smith (1987-) (drums) release their debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, (#13 in the U.S.), which sells 2M copies, and features the tracks I Write Sins Not Tragedies, The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off, But It's Better If You Do, Build God, Then We'll Talk. Album #2 Pretty. Odd. (Mar. 21, 2008) (#2 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) features Nine in the Afternoon, Mad as Rabbits, That Green Gentleman (Things Have changes), and Northern Downpour. Album #3 Vices & Virtues (Mar. 22, 2011) (#7 in the U.S.) features The Ballad of Mona Lisa, and Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind).

The Veronicas

On Oct. 17, 2005 the Australian (Brisbane) pop rock duo The Veronicas, consisting of twin sisters Jessica Louise Origliasso (1984-) and Lisa Marie Origliasso (1984-) release their debut album The Secret Life Of... (#133 in the U.S., #2 in Australia), which features the tracks 4ever (#90 in the U.S.), Everything I'm Not, When It All Falls Apart, Revolution, and Leave Me Alone. Album #2 Hook Me Up (Nov. 3, 2007) (#107 in the U.S., #35 in the U.K., #2 in Australia) features Hook Me Up, Untouched, This Love, Take Me on the Floor, and Popular.

Funtwo (1984-)

Also in 2005 South Korean bedroom super guitar player Funtwo (Lim Jeong-hyun) (1984-) releases Pachelbel's Canon in D Major on YouTube, and becomes an instant guitar legend, getting over 80M views and 300K viewer text comments; too bad, he decided not to go pro.

Arctic Monkeys

In 2006 the music industry, reeling from massive piracy staged a pathetic mini-British Invasion, featuring James Blunt, KT Tunstall and Corrine Bailey Rae; even The Who makes a pathetic comeback. Meanwhile on Jan. 23, 2006 the English (High Green, Sheffield) indie rock band Arctic Monkeys, incl. Alexander David "Alex" Turner (1986-) (vocals), Jamie Phillip Cook (1985-) (guitar), Nicholas "Nick" O'Malley (1985-) (bass), Matthew "Matt" Helders (1986-) (drums) release their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Jan. 23) (#24 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which thanks to the Internet becomes the fastest-selling debut album in British music history (360K copies in week #1). It features the tracks I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (#1 in the U.K.), and When the Sun Goes Down (#1 in the U.K.). Album #2 Favourite Worst Nightmare (Apr. 18, 2007) (#1 in the U.K.) features Brainstorm, Fluorescent Adolescent, and Teddy Picker. Album #3 Humbug (Aug. 19, 2009) (#15 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Crying Lightning, Cornerstone, and My Propeller. Album #4 Suck It and See (June 6, 2011) features Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've moves Your Chair.

Jacob D. Robida (1987-2006

On Feb. 1, 2006 swastika-tattoed Insane Clown Posse fan Jacob D. Robida (b. 1987) attacks customers of a gay bar in New Bedford, Mass. with a handgun and hatchet, then kills a police officer on Feb. 5 at a routine stop in Mountain Home, Ark., followed by his girlfriend Jannifer Bailey of Charleston, W. Va. before the police kill him; ICP mgr. Alex Abbiss later releases a statement "If anyone knows anything at all about ICP, then you know that they have never, ever been down or will be down with any racist or bigotry bullshit."

Gnarls Barkley

On Apr. 24, 2006 Atlanta, Ga. alternative hip hop duo Gnarls Barkley, named after NBA star Charles Barkley, and consisting of Danger Mouse (Brian Joseph Burton) (1977-) and Cee Lo Green (Thomas DeCarlo Callaway) (1974-) release their debut album St. Elsewhere (original title "Who Cares?") (#4 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 5.8M copies, and features the track Crazy (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), the first U.K. single to go #1 based solely on downloads, piracy isn't all-powerful.

Red

On June 6 (6-6-6) a remake of the 1976 horror classic The Omen, starring Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Liev Schreiber, and Julia Stiles, dir. by John Moore and with script by original screenwriter David Seltzer opens; Calif. Satanic speed metal band Slayer declares a Nat. Day of Slayer; at 6 p.m. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins sign copies of the latest installment of their "Left Behind" series at the Mardel Bookstore in Littleton, Colo.; an online oddmaker makes the world a 100K-to-1 favorite to survive. On June 6, 2006 the Nashville, Tenn.-based Christian hard rock band Red, incl. Michael Barnes (vocals), Anthony Armstrong (guitar), Randy Armstrong (bass), and Joe Rickard (drums) releases its debut album End of Silence (#194 in the U.S.), which sells 400K copies, and features the tracks Breathe Into Me, Let Go, Lost, and Break Me Down. Album #2 Innocence & Instinct (Feb. 10, 2009) (#15 in the U.S.) features Fight Inside, Never Be the Same, and Death of Me. Album #3 Until We Have Faces (Feb. 1, 2011) features Faceless, Feed the Machine, Not Alone, and Lie to Me (Denial).

Lily Allen (1985-)

On July 14, 2006 London-born British singer-songwriter Lily Allen (Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper) (1985-) releases her debut album Alright, Still (#20 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which sells 2.6M copies, and features the tracks Smile, LDN, Shame for You, Littlest Things, and Alfie. Album #2 It's Not Me, It's You (Feb. 9, 2009) (#5 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) features Not Fair, The Fear ("And I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless/ 'Cuz everyone knows that's how you get famous"), 22, Back to the Start, and Fuck You (original title "Guess Who Batman").

The Jonas Brothers

On Aug. 8, 2006 the American boy band (Disney Channel stars) Jonas Brothers, incl. brothers Paul Kevin Jonas II (1987-) (AKA K2), Joseph Adam "Joe" Jonas (1989-), and Nicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas (1992-) release their debut album It's About Time, which features the track Mandy. Album #2 Jonas Brothers (Aug. 7, 2007) features the tracks Year 3000, Hold On, SOS, and When You Look Me in the Eyes. Album #3 A Little Bit Longer (Aug. 12, 2007) (#1 in the U.S., #19 in the U.K.) features Burnin' Up, Lovebug, and Tonight. Album #4 Lines, Vines and Trying Times (June 16, 2009) (#1 in the U.S., #9 in the U.K.) features Paranoid, and Fly with Me.

Cobra Starship

On Aug. 15, 2006 the New York City-based pop rock band Cobra Starship, incl. Gabe Saporta (vocals), Ryland Blackington (guitar), Alex Suarez (bass), Victoria Asher (keyboards), and Nate Novarro (drums) release their first hit on the soundtrack album Snakes on a Plane: The Album, which features Bring It! (Snakes on a Plane). Their debut studio album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets (Oct. 10, 2006) features The Church of Hot Addiction. Album #2 Viva la Cobra! (Oct. 23, 2007) features Guilty Pleasure, The City Is At War, and Kiss My Sass. Album #3 Hot Mess (Aug. 11, 2009) (#4 in the U.S.) features Hot Mess, and Good Girls Go Bad (w/Leighton Meester). Album #4 Night Shades (Aug. 29, 2011) (#50 in the U.S.) features You makes Me Feel....

In Aug. 2006 the Internet may have been killing most musical acts, but that didn't stop Madonna from staging a mock crucifixion scene on a mirrored cross while wearing a crown of fake thorns and singing Live to Tell in Italy, Germany and elsewhere; her Confessions Tour (tour #7) (May 21, 2006 - Sept. 21, 2006) sell $194M in tickets in 60 shows (1.2M attendance), topping Cher's $192.5M from 273 shows in 2002-5 for the top-grossing tour by a solo female artist.

The Whitest Boy Alive

On Sept. 4, 2006 the Berlin, Germany-based indie pop band The Whitest Boy Alive, incl. Erland Oye of Kings of Convenience (vocals), Marcin Oz (bass), Daniel Nentwig (piano), and Sebastian Maschat (drums) release their debut album Dreams, which features the tracks Golden Cage, Inflation, Burning, and Fireworks. Album #2 Rules (Mar. 30, 2009) features 1517.

Fleet Foxes

In fall 2006 the Seattle, Wash.-based folk band Fleet Foxes, originally Pineapple, fronted by Robin Pecknold release their debut EP Fleet Foxes, which features the track She gets Dressed. EP #2 Sun Giant (Apr. 8, 2008) features Mykonos, Drops in the River, and English House. Their debut studio album Fleet Foxes (June 3, 2008) (#3 in the U.K.) features White Winter Hymnal, and He Doesn't Know Why. Album #2 Helplessness Blues (May 3, 2011) features Helplessness Blues, Grown Ocean, The Shrine/An Argument, and Montezuma.

Taylor Swift (1989-)

On Oct. 24, 2006 Wyomissing, Penn.-born singer Taylor Alison Swift (1989-) releases her debut album Taylor Swift (#5 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Tim McGraw, Teardrops on My Guitar, Picture to Burn, Should've Said No, and Our Song. Album #2 Fearless (Nov. 11, 2008) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 8.7M copies), and features Love Story, and Change. Album #3 Speak Now (album #3) (Oct. 25, 2010) (#1 in the U.S.) sell 4.8M copies, and features Mine (#3 in the U.S.), Back to December, Mean, and The Story of Us. She goes on to sell 20M albums and 33M singles worldwide.

Leona Lewis (1985-)

On Dec. 17, 2006 English singer-songwriter Leona Louise Lewis (1985-) (Guyanese father, Anglo-Welsh-Italian mother), winner of The X Factor, Series 3 releases a cover of Kelly Clarkson's #1 U.S. debut single hit A Moment Like This (#1 in the U.K.), which is downloaded a record 50K times in 30 min. Her debut album Spirit (Nov. 9, 2007) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sell 3M copies, and features the tracks Bleeding Love, Better in Time, I Will Be, The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (by Roberta Flack), and The Footprints in the Sand. Album #2 Echo (Nov. 9, 2009) (#13 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.) sell 2.6M copies, and features Happy, and I gets You.

On Apr. 21, 2007 (3rd Sat.) the first Record Store Day is held to celebrate independently owned record stores; rock star Prince is seen shopping at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, Minn. on Record Store Day (Apr. 16), 2016 five days before his death.

In Apr. 2007 Mariah Carey charts her 18th Billboard #1 pop single, "Touch My Body", more than any other solo artist, passing even the King Elvis Presley.

The Enemy

On July 9, 2007 the English (Coventry) rock band The Enemy, fronted by Birmingham-born Tom Clarke (1986-) release their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks 40 Days and 40 Nights, It's Not OK, Away From Here, Had Enough, You're Not Alone, and This Song. Album #2 Music for the People (Apr. 27, 2009) (#2 in the U.K.) features No Time for Tears, Sing When You're in Love, and Be Somebody.

New Young Pony Club

On July 9, 2007 the English (London) New Wave synth pop band New Young Pony Club, incl. Tahita Rotardier Bulmer, Andy Spence, Lou Hayter, and Sarah Jones release their debut album Fantastic Playroom (#54 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Ice Cream (Feb.), The Get Go (June 27), and The Bomb. Album #2 The Optimist (Mar. 8, 2010) features Stone, and The Optimist.

Colbie Caillat (1985-)

On July 17, 2007 Malibu, Calif.-based singer-songwriter Colbie Marie Caillat (1985-) releases her debut album Coco (#5 in the U.S.), which sells 3M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Bubbly (which becomes a #1 iTunes hit via her MySpace profile), Realize, and The Little Things. Album #2 Breakthrough (Aug. 25, 2009) (#1 in the U.S.) features Fallin' for You, and I Never Told You. Album #3 All of You (May 3, 2011) (#6 in the U.S.) features I Do, and Brighter Than the Sun.

The Heavy

On Sept. 17, 2007 the English (Bath) indie funk rock band (sounds like James Brown with a funky brass section) The Heavy, incl. Kelvin Swaby (vocals), Dan Taylor (guitar), Spencer Page (bass), and Chris Ellul (drums) release their debut album Great Vengeance and Furious Fire; the title is taken from a line spoken by Samuel L. Jackson in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction. In 2007 they release the single That Kind of Man. Album #2 The House That Dirt Built (Oct. 13, 2009) features the hit track How Do You Like Me Now?, along with Oh No! Not You Again!, Sixteen, and No Time.

The Flobots

On Oct. 16, 2007 the Denver, Colo.-based rock/hip hop band The Flobots, fronted by James "Jamie" "Jonny 5" Laurie (1977-), incl. Stephen Brackett, Mackenzie Gault, Andy Guerrero, Jesse Walker, and Kenny Ortiz release their debut album Fight With Tools, which features their 1-hit wonder Handlebars (#15 in the U.S.), and Rise. Album #2 Survival Story (Mar. 16, 2010) features White Flag Warrior (w/Tim McIlrath).

OneRepublic

On Nov. 6, 2007 after millions of downloads since early 2006 on MySpace, the Colo. Springs, Colo.-based rock band OneRepublic, fronted by Ryan Benjamin Tedder (1979-) and Zachary Douglas "Zach" Filkins (1978-) release their debut single Apologize (#3 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.), which score a record 10,394 North Am. radio plays in one week. Their debut album Dreaming Out Loud (Nov. 20, 2007) (#14 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) sell 2M copies worldwide, and features the tracks Stop and Stare, and Say (All I Need). Album #2 Waking Up (Nov. 17, 2009) (#21 in the U.S., #29 in the U.K.) sell 300K copies in the U.S., and features the tracks All the Right Moves, Secrets, Marchin On, and Good Life.

Katy Perry (1984-) Katy Perry (1984-) and Russell Brand (1975-)

On Nov. 20, 2007 former gospel singer Katy Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) (1984-) releases her debut single Ur So Gay ("You're so gay and don't even like boys"), followed on June 16, 2008 by I Kissed a Girl ("I kissed a girl and I liked it"), becoming the 1,000th #1 Billboard hit of the rock era, selling 4M+ copies. Album #2 One of the Boys (June 17, 2008) (#9 in the U.S., #11 in the U.K.) sells 5M copies. Album #3 Teenage Dream (Aug. 24, 2010) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) becomes the 9th album in Billboard history with four #1 hits (5th by a female artist), and features the tracks California Gurls (w/Snoop Dogg) ("California girls/ We're unforgettable/ Daisy dukes, bikinis on top/ Sun-kissed skin, so hot, will melt your popsicle"), Firework, E.T. (w/Kanye West), and Peacock. On Oct. 23, 2010 Katy Perry marries British playboy comedian Russell Edward Brand (1975-) in a Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan, India.

Adele (1988-)

On Jan. 28, 2008 English (Tottenham, North London) singer-songwriter Adele (Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) (1988-) releases her debut album 19 (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory, Cold Shoulder, and Make You Feel My Love. Album #2 21 (Jan. 21, 2011) (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.) sells 10M copies (biggest-selling album of the 21st cent. until ?), and features Rolling in the Deep (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), Someone Like You, and Set Fire to the Rain.

Bon Iver

On Feb. 19, 2008 the Eau Claire, Wisc.-based indie folk band Bon Iver ("bon hiver" in French means have a good winter), fronted by Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon (1981-) release their debut album For Emma, Forever Ago (#64 in the U.S., #42 in the U.K.), which features the tracks For Emma, and Skinny Love. On Jan. 20, 2009 they release the EP Blood Bank (#16 in the U.S.), which features Blood Bank. Album #2 Bon Iver (June 17, 2011) (#2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.) features Perth, and Calgary.

Saving Abel

On Mar. 11, 2008 the Corinth, Miss.-based post-grunge rock band Saving Abel, incl. Jared Weeks, Jason Null, Scott Bartlett, Eric Taylor, Blake Dixon, and Daniel Dwight release their debut album Saving Abel (#49 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Addicted, 18 Days, and Drowning (Face Down). Album #2 Miss America (June 8, 2010) (#24 in the U.S.) features Miss America, Stupid Girl (Only in Hollywood), and The Sex Is Good.

Hyper Crush

On May 1, 2008 the LA-based rock band Hyper Crush, consisting of rapper Donny Fontaine, vocalist Holly Valentine, and DJ/keyboardist Preston Moronie release their debut album The Arcade, which features The Arcade, Robo Tech, This Is My Life, and Candy Store.

On June 1, 2008 the 2008 Universal Studios Fire begins, destroying the "Back to the Future" courthouse square, a mechanical King Kong, and up to 175K master tapes belonging to the Universal Music Group (UMG), incl. recordings by artists Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Steely Dan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nirvana, R.E.M., the Roots et al.; at first they claim only 40K-50K; the real number is 500K?

Miley Cyrus (1992-)

On July 22, 2008 Nashville, Tenn.-born singer (Disney Channel star as Hannah Montana) Destiny Hope "Miley Ray" Cyrus (1992-), daughter of country music star William "Billy" Ray Cyrus (1961-) releases her first solo album Breakout (#1 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Breakout, 7 Things, See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix), and Fly on the Wall. On Aug. 28, 2009 she releases the EP The Time of Our Lives (#2 in the U.S., #17 in the U.K.), which features Party in the U.S.A. (#2 in the U.S.), and When I Look at You. Album #2 Can't Be Tamed (June 18, 2010) (#3 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Can't Be Tamed, Who Owns My Heart, and Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

Millionaires

On July 22, 2008 the Huntington Beach, Calif. explicit electropop duo Millionaires, consisting of sisters Melissa Marie and Allison Green release their debut EP Bling Bling Bling!, which features the tracks I Like Money, Alcohol, and In My Bed. EP #2 Just gets Paid, Let's Get Laid (June 23, 2009) features Just gets Paid, Let's Get Laid. EP #3 Stay the Night (July 25, 2010) features Stay the Night. EP #4 Cash Only (Sept. 7, 2010) features Party Like A Millionaire, and Microphone ("No one will ever know I wanna touch your microphone").

Lady Gaga (1986-)

On Aug. 19, 2008 incredibly slickly produced New York City-born Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) (1986-) releases her debut album The Fame (#2 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which sells 12M copies, and features hit #1 U.S. tracks Just Dance, and Poker Face (about having to not show a man she's with that she'd rather be with a woman). Her next EP The Fame Monster (Nov. 18, 2009) features Speechless, and Bad Romance. Album #2 Born This Way (May 23, 2011) features Born This Way (Feb. 11), and Judas.

Glasvegas

On Sept. 8, 2008 the Glasgow, Scotland-based indie rock band Glasvegas, incl. James Allan (vocals), Rab Allan (guitar), Paul Donoghue (bass), and Joanna Lofgren (Löfgren) (drums) release their debut album Glasvegas (#2 in the U.K.), which features the tracks It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry, Geraldine, and Daddy's Gone. Their EP A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss) (Dec. 1, 2008) features Fuck You, It's Over, Please Come Back Home, and Silent Night (Noapte De Vis). Album #2 Euphoric Heartbreak (EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\) (Apr. 4, 2011) (#10 in the U.K.) features Euphoria, Take My Hand, Whatever Hurts You Through the Night, and Stronger Than Dirt (Homosexuality Pt. 2).

Ladyhawke (1979-)

On Sept. 22, 2008 Kiwi singer-songwriter Ladyhawke (Phillipa "Pip" Brown) (1979-), knowing for wearing men's and boys' clothing incl. jeans revealing boys' underwear releases her debut album Ladyhawke (#16 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Back of the Van, Paris Is Burning, Dusk Till Dawn, My Delirium, and Magic.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

On Oct. 28, 2008 The Phenomenal Handclap Band release their debut album The Phenomenal Handclap Band, which features the tracks 15 to 20 (w/Lady Tigra), Baby, and You'll Disappear.

Kabul Dreams

In Dec. 2008 the indie rock band Kabul Dreams, the first rock and roll band in Afghanistan is forms by Liam Gallagher lookalike Sulaymon Qardash (1990-) (vocals, guitar), Siddique Ahmad (bass), and Mujtaba Habibi (drums). A million like them and the Muslim World would have a real Arab Spring. In 2010 they release Sadae Man.

I Fight Dragons

On Feb. 6, 2009 I Fight Dragons, a Nintendo Game Boy/NES band from Chicago, Ill., incl. Brian Mazzaferri, Hari Rao, Laura Green, Packy Lundholm, Chad Van Dahm, and Bill Prokowpow release their debut album Cool Is Just A Number, which features the tracks Heads Up, Hearts Down, Money, No One Likes Superman Anymore, and The Faster the Treadmill.

Justin Bieber (1994-)

On May 18, 2009 Canadian singer Justin Drew Bieber (1994-) releases his debut single One Time, followed on Nov. 17, 2009 by his debut album My World (#5 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Love Me, and Favorite Girl. Album #2 My World 2.0 (Mar. 19, 2010) (#1 in the U.S., #3 in the U.K.) features Baby (w/Ludacris), Somebody to Love (w/Usher), U Smile, and Never Let You Go.

We are Promised Jetpacks

On June 15, 2009 the Edinburgh, Scotland-based indie rock band We are Promised Jetpacks, incl. Adam Thompson, Michael Palmer, Sean Smith, and Darren Lackie release their debut album These Four Walls, which features the tracks Quiet Little Voices, It's Thunder and It's Lightning, Roll Up Your Sleeves, and Ships With Holes Will Sink. On Mar. 9, 2010 they release the EP The Last Place You'll Look, which features A Far Cry, and The Walls Are Wearing Thin.

Florence + The Machine

On July 6, 2009 Florence + The Machine, fronted by Florence Leontine Mary Welch (1986-) release their debut album Lungs (#1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Kiss with a Fist, Dog Days Are Over, Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Drumming Song, and You've gets the Love.

LMFAO

On July 7, 2009 the LA-based electro hop duo LMFAO (Laughing My Fucking Ass Off), Redfoo (Stefan Kendal Gordy) (1975-) and SkyBlu (Skyler Husten Gordy) (1986-), son and grandson of Berry Gordy release their debut album Party Rock (#33 in the U.S.), which features the tracks I'm in Miami Bitch (Trick), Shots (w/Lil Jon), Yes, and Get Crazy. Album #2 Sorry for Party Rocking (June 21, 2011) (#12 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K.) features Party Rock Anthem, and Champagne Showers.

Owl City

On July 14, 2009 after gaining a following on MySpace, 1-man electropop act Owl City, from Owatonna, Minn., featuring Adam Randal Young (1986-) releases album #2 Ocean Eyes (#8 in the U.S., #7 in the U.K.), which features the track Fireflies. Album #3 All Things Bright and Beautiful (June 14, 2010) features Alligator Sky (w/Shawn Chrystopher).

Dawes

On Aug. 18, 2009 the North Hills, Los Angeles-based country rock (Laurel Canyon Sound) band Dawes, incl. brothers Taylor Goldsmith (1985-) and Griffin Goldsmith (1991-), Wylie Gelbert (1988-), and Tay Strathairn (1981-), known for recording in analog release their debut album North Hills, which features When My Time Comes. Album #2 Nothing Is Wrong (June 7, 2011) features If I Wanted Someone, and Time Spent in Los Angeles.

Phantogram

On Sept. 14, 2009 the Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based indie pop duo Phantogram, Sarah Bartel (vocals, keyboards) and Josh Carter (vocals, guitar) release their debut album Eyelid Movies, which features When I'm Small, Mouthful of Diamonds, and Running from the Cops. On Nov. 11, 2011 they release the EP Nightlife, which features Don't Move.

Selena Gomez (1992-)

On Sept. 29, 2009 Selena Gomez (1992-) and the Scene, from Hollywood, Calif., fronted by Disney star Selena Marie Gomez (1992-), and incl. Ethan Roberts (guitar), Joey Clement (bass), Dane Forrest (keyboards), and Greg Garman (drums) release their debut album Kiss & Tell (#9 in the U.S., #12 in the U.K.), which sells 800K copies, and features the tracks Falling Down (#82 in the U.S.), and Naturally (#29 in the U.S.). Album #2 A Year Without Rain (Sept. 17, 2010) (#4 in the U.S., #14 in the U.K.) features A Year Without Rain, Round & Round, and Live Like There's No Tomorrow. Album #3 When the Sun Goes Down (June 28, 2011) features Who Says, and Bang Bang Bang.

On Dec. 31, 2009 U2 ended the year and the decade with $123M for its 360 Tour of sports stadiums in 16 cities, the only music act to top $100M; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band came in #2 at $95M, Elton John and Billy Joel's joint tour came in #3 at $88M, and Britney Spears' Circus Tour came in #4 with $83M.

2010s

Kesha (1987-)

On Jan. 1, 2010 LA-born singer Kesha (Ke$ha) Rose Sebert (1987-) releases her debut album Animal, which sells 12+M copies, and features Tik Tok. On Nov. 30, 2012 she releases album #2 Warrior, a "cock pop" record, which features C'mon. In Mar. 2013 she unreleases the song Dancing with the Devil, which causes many to claim that she's an open Satanist.

Stornoway

On May 24, 2010 the English (Oxford) band Stornoway, fronted by Brian Briggs, incl. Jon Ouin, Oli Steadman, and Rob Steadman (drums), named after a town on the Scottish Isle of Lewis (known for Harris tweed) release their debut album Beachcomber's Windowsill (#14 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Zorbing, Unfaithful, and I Saw You Blink.

Skrillex (1988-)

On June 7, 2010 LA-born post-hardcore musician Skrillex (Sonny John Moore) (1988-) releases his debut solo EP My Name is Skrillex, which features WEEKENDS!!! (w/Sirah). On Oct. 22 he releases the EP Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, which features Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites. On June 7, 2011 he releases the EP More Monsters and Sprites, which features First of the Year (Equinox).

Dev (1989-)

On Aug. 10, 2010 the #1 U.S. hit single Like a G6 is released by the LA-based electro hop quartet Far East Movement; it sampled Booty Bounce, which is uploaded to MySpace by Tracy, Calif.-born singer Dev (Devin Star Tailes) (1989-). After signing with Universal Republic, on Dec. 6, 2010 she releases her first single Bass Down Low (#94 in the U.S., #10 in the U.K.).

Bruno Mars (1985-)

On Oct. 4, 2010 Honolulu, Hawaii-born singer-songwriter Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez) (1985-) releases his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans (#3 in the U.S.), which features the tracks Just the Way You Are (#1 in the U.S.), Grenade (#1 in the U.S. and U.K.), and The Lazy Song. Album #2 Unorthodox Jukebox (Dec. 7, 2012) (#2 in the U.S.) (#1 in the U.K.), which features Locked Out of Heaven (#1 in the U.S.). Album #3 24K Magic (Nov. 18, 2016) (#2 in the U.S.) (#3 in the U.K.) (2M copies), which features That's What I Like (#1 in the U.S.), and 24K Magic (#4 in the U.S.) (#5 in the U.K.).

Tinie Tempah (1988-)

On Oct. 4, 2010 British (South London) rapper Tinie Tempah (Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu) (1988-) releases his debut album Disc-Overy (#21 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Pass Out (#1 in the U.K.), Written in the Stars (w/Eric Turner) (#1 in the U.K.), Frisky, and Miami 2 Ibiza.

On Nov. 10, 2010 the first Global Indian Music Awards (GIMA) were held in Mumbai.

Jessie J (1988-)

On Nov. 18, 2010 openly bi black-lipsticked English female singer-songwriter Jessie J (Jessica Ellen Cornish) (1988-) (a mirror image of white-skinned bi American male singer-songwriter Michael Jackson?) releases her debut single Do It Like a Dude, followed on Jan. 28, 2011 by Price Tag (#23 in the U.S., #1 in the U.K.). Her debut album Who You Are (Feb. 25, 2011) (#11 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.) also features Nobody's Perfect (#9 in the U.K.).

Nicki Minaj (1982-)

On Nov. 19, 2010 Trinidad-born New York City-based rapper Onika Tanya "Nicki" Minaj (1982-), formerly of Young Money releases her debut album Pink Friday (#1 in the U.S., #2 in the U.K.), which features the tracks Your Love, Right Thru Me, Moment 4 Life (w/Drake), Check It Out (w/will.i.am), Roman's Revenge (w/Eminem), Did It On'em, Girls Fall Like Dominoes, Super Bass, and Fly (w/Rihanna), becoming the first artist with seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.

Cults

In 2010 the New York City-based indie band Cults, incl. Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin release their debut EP, which features Go Outside (debut). On June 7, 2011 they release their debut album Cults, which features You Know What I Mean. Album #2 Static (Oct. 15, 2013) features I Can Hardly makes You Mine, and High Road.

Small Black

In 2010 the guitarless Brooklyn, N.Y.-based indie band Small Black, incl. Ryan Heyner, Josh Kolenik, Juan Pieczanski, and Jeff Curtin release their debut album New Chain, which features the track Light Curse.

'The Perfect Age of Rock n Roll', 2011

The 27 Club: how do you say money? On Aug. 5, 2011 Scott Rosenbaum's film The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll debut, starring Kevin Zegers as 27-y.-o. has-been rock star Spyder, whose debut album is a hit but 2nd album tanked, causing him to go back to his small hometown, hooking up seven years later with writer of his debut album Eric Genson (Jason Ritter), son of a punk rock guitar legend who turned music school teacher, then deciding to go on a band journey along Route 66 to reexamine their lives, sounds like action, does that sound like you.

Yoann Lemoine (1983-)

On Mar. 28, 2011 French dir.-musician Woodkid (Yoann Lemoine) (1983-) releases his debut EP, which features the track Iron.

The Kid Bombardos

On Sept. 19, 2011 the French (Bordeaux) rock band Kid Bombardos, named after a 1920s French boxer by three of his great-grandkids, incl. Vincent Martinelli (1990-) (vocals, guitar), Thomas Martinelli (1986-) (bass), David Loridan (1988-) (guitar), and Simon Martinelli (1991-) (drums) release their debut album Turnin' Wrong, which features the tracks Sundays, Goodbye Babe, and I'm Gonna Try.

Cairokee

In 2011 the Egyptian rock group Cairokee made its breakthrough with the crowds in turmoil-filled Cairo, let's hope they rock the Islamists out of Islamism. Their tracks incl. ? ft. uncovered-face Aida El Ayouby Ya El Medan.

Rita Ora (1990-)

On Aug. 27, 2012 Pristina, Yugoslavia-born British singer-songwriter Rita Sahatciu Ora (1990-) releases her debut album Ora (#1 in the U.K.), which features the #1 U.K. singles Hot Right Now, How We Do (Party), and R.I.P. (w/Tinie Tempah).

Imagine Dragons

On Sept. 4, 2012 the Las Vegas, Nev.-based alternative rock band Imagine Dragons, incl. Dan Reynolds (vocals), Wayne "Wing" Sermon (guitar), Ben McKee (bass), and Daniel Platzman (drums) release their debut album Night Visions (#2 in the U.S.) (1.9M copies), which features It's Time, Hear Me, On Top of the World, Radioactive, Demons, and Amsterdam. On Apr. 20, 2013 they release the live album Live at Independent Records, recorded Aug. 31, 2012 in Dirty Denver, Colo.

Psy (1977-)

On Dec. 21, 2012 (15:50 UTC) Gangnam Style by South Korean singer Psy (PSY) (Park Jae-sang) (1977-) becomes the first music video to reach 1B views on YouTube; on Oct. 23, 2012 he met U.N. secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon at U.N. HQ.

On Jan. 29, 2013 Boomtown Rats star Bob Geldof utters the soundbyte: "The rock and roll age is essentially over. Rock and roll needs a context in which to exist. The context is there but I'm not sure rock and roll is any longer the right vehicle for it. That's a personal point of view but I think that's true. You see the declining sales, you see less fascination, it's less central a thing to a young person's life... You can have the teeny kids, the One Direction kids which is fantastic and important. You can have The X Factor generation but that is great television, it's great entertainment, it's great TV; it's not much good for music. Certainly, great voices come out but it isn't much good for articulating the moment. And if you don't articulate the moment, how can it therefore be popular music? How can it be pop music?"

Pragaash

On Feb. 4, 2013 the all-girl Kashmiri rock band Pragaash disbands after Grand Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad issues a fatwa on Feb. 3 declaring singing un-Islamic.

On Feb. 5, 2013 the Assoc. for Electronic Music (AFEM) is forms to represent electronic musicians, who are often snubbed by rock musicians.

Robin Thicke (1977-)

On July 12, 2013 Los Angeles, Calif.-born singer Robin Charles Thicke (1977-) (son of actors Alan Thicke and Gloria Loring) releases album #6 Blurred Lines (#1 in the U.K.), which features Blurred Lines (w/T.I. and Pharrell Williams) (#1 in the U.S.), which becomes the subject of copyright infringement suit regarding Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" and Funkadelic's "Sexy Ways"; "I know you want it/ You're a good girl/ Can't let it get past me/ You're far from plastic/ Talk about getting blasted/ I hate these blurred lines."

In 2013 Compressorhead becomes the first robot rock band.

On Feb. 9, 2014 (Sun.) CBS-TV airs The Beatles: The Night That changes America - A Grammy Salute in honor of the 50th Anniv. of the Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, featuring Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Olivia and Dhani Harrison, Maroon 5, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Pharrell Williams et al.; Julian Lennon snubs it.

On Dec. 24, 2015 the 224-song back catalog of the Beatles is finally released for streaming, gaining 50M downloads in 48 hours.

On Mar. 24, 2016 Justin Bieber sets a record by becoming the first artist to reach 10B views on the music video Web site Vevo.

On Nov. 5, 2021 the (9:00 p.m.) the (Satanic?) Astroworld music festival in Houston, Tex. results in tragedy after the crowd begins pressing the stage, killing eight ages 14-27 and injuring dozens.

The 2010s revival re-releases rock & roll hits for aging Baby Boomers:

"You're So Varicose Vein" by Carly Simon

"How Can You Mend A Broken Hip?" by The Bee Gees

"The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face" by Roberta Flack

"I Can't See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

"Papa Gets A Kidney Stone" by the The Temptations

"These Boots Give Me Arthritis" by Nancy Sinatra

"You Make Me Feel Like Napping" by Leo Sayer

"Once, Twice, Three Trips to the Bathroom" by The Commodores

"A Whiter Shade of Hair" by Procol Harum

"I Get By with a Little Help from Depends" by The Beatles

"Rikki, Don't Lose Your Car Keys" by Steely Dan

"Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker" by Herman's Hermits

"Talkin' 'Bout My Medication" by The Who

"Bald Thing" by The Troggs

"You Can't Always Pee When You Want" by The Rolling Stones

"I Heard It through the Grape Nuts" by Marvin Gaye

"Bad Prune Rising" by Credence Clearwater Revival





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