1980 - Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis died at home in Macclesfield, England, at the age of 23. Curtis had the Iggy Pop album 'The Idiot', playing on his stereo and left a note that said, 'At this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can't cope anymore.'
Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style, and songwriting. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Curtis's death resulted in the band's dissolution and the subsequent formation of New Order.
1985 - Simple Minds were at No. 1 with "Don't You Forget About Me." A year later, the track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club.
Simple Minds wrote their own songs, but made an exception in this case. It was written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, who first pitched it to Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol, who both turned it down.
In the beginning the band politely turned down the song but Forsey was undeterred. Simple Minds finally gave it a go in the studio, reworking it a bit and putting their own stamp on it. In an interview with The Guardian, Kerr says, “I added the big ‘la, la-la-la-la’ ending because I didn’t have any lyrics. I said I’d write some, but Keith said: ‘Over my dead body. We’re keeping that.’”
1991 - R.E.M.'s seventh studio album, Out Of Time, hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Where previous R.E.M. records captured a stripped-down, live sound, Out of Time was lush with sonic detail, featuring string sections, keyboards, mandolins, and cameos from everyone from rapper KRS-One to the B-52's' Kate Pierson.
Birthdays:
Big Joe Turner was born on this day in 1911. Best know for "Shake, rattle, and Roll." According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, with the Hall lauding him as "the brawny voiced 'Boss of the Blues'"
Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond ("It Never Rains In Southern California" and father of the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.) is 78.
Legendary British Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who played with Yes and David Bowie) is 73.
Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo is 72. A prolific composer of TV and film music, his work can be heard in Rugrats, Tiger King, and the Hotel Transylvania franchise.
Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden) is 68.
Jack Johnson is 47. Before becoming a full time musician, he was a surfer. His father was well known surfer, Jeffery Johnson.. At 17, Jack became the youngest invitee to make the finals of the Pipeline Masters, one of surfing's most prestigious events, on Oahu's North Shore. One week later, however, his stint as a professional surfer ended when he suffered a surfing accident at the Pipeline that put more than 100 stitches in his forehead and removed a few of his teeth. Singing is a lot less dangerous.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Allmusic, American Songwriter, Song Facts and Wikipedia.