Today in rock history: on this date in 1960, Michael Stipe was born in Decatur, Georgia. Best known as the enigmatic, extraordinary front man of American college rock giants R.E.M., Stipe served as the band’s lead singer from the time it started out in 1980 through its breakup in 2011. Stipe is also known for his acting, production and artistic talents besides being the charismatic frontman for one of the most influential bands of all time. Stipe and R.E.M. were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, the very first year the band and he were eligible to be voted in.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1986, Phil Lynott, Irish singer and songwriter who fronted the enormously respected rock and roll band Thin Lizzy, passed away at the age of 36. The talented singer and performer who led Lizzy to many hit records and successful concert tours is probably best remembered for the band’s rock radio staples “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back In Town” as well as for Thin Lizzy's live concert record, Live and Dangerous which is often cited as one of the all-time best concert albums ever released.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1967, California-based four piece psychedelic rock band The Doors released its very first album. The self-titled release was an instant success and served as the world’s introduction to poet, singer, writer and mesmerizing front man, the hypnotic Jim Morrison. The record featured the band’s breakthrough single “Light My Fire” which was a massive hit for the band along with “Break On Through (To The Other Side)” which was also released as a single. On a darker note, the record delved deeper into Morrison’s endless talents and also featured “The End,” the band’s epic 12-minute psych masterpiece. The album climbed as high as No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 sales chart and sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone and it has been hailed as one of the most important and significant albums in the psychedelic rock genre.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1983, artsy new wave duo Eurythmics released its second studio album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). The band’s first album, 1981’s In The Garden made little impact but the opposite is true of its follow up. Sweet Dreams introduced the world to British multi-instrumentalist Dave Stewart and the Scottish singer with an angelic yet soulful voice, Annie Lennox. Lennox’s close-cropped orange hair and her androgynous look were enough to land the duo on heavy rotation on music video channel MTV, but it was the music contained on the grooves of this spectacular record that was the real story. The pair’s unique, inspired brand of new wave landed a gold album award and two major hit singles: “Love Is A Stranger” and the title track which reached No. 1 on singles charts all around the world (including the United States) upon its release.
This article appears in Jan 4-11, 2018.