Historic events this week from Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones, Big Audio Dynamite, Billy Joel and more
JULY 13, 1985: LIVE AID
Taking place simultaneously in London & Philadelphia, the benefit concert for Ethiopian famine relief (Live Aid) featured major artists such as Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, U2, David Bowie, and so many more.
Featuring Phil Collins on drums, Led Zeppelin reunited for the first time since John Bonham’s death.
Queen’s 21-minute set remains one of the most memorable performances in rock history.
JULY 14, 1978: MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD BY TALKING HEADS
Hot on the heels of the buzz generated with Talking Heads: 77, the NYC band returned with More Songs About Buildings And Food.
The album was their first of three with producer Brian Eno, who would push them to experiment and expand their sound.
More Songs About Buildings And Food went Gold thanks to their hit cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River.”
JULY 15, 1978: SOME GIRLS IS #1
Some Girls is The Rolling Stones’ biggest selling album with 6 million sold in the US alone.
The album contains the classics “Beast of Burden”, “Shattered”, and the #1 hit “Miss You.”
Some Girls was nominated for the 1979 Album of the Year Grammy, but lost to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
JULY 16, 1990: JUDAS PRIEST’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE LAWSUIT
A lawsuit was brought against Judas Priest for an alleged subliminal message, which lead to the (attempted) suicides of two young fans.
Prosecutors claimed “Better by You, Better Than Me” contained the words “do it”, urging fans to end their lives.
The lawsuit was dismissed after the judge concluded the “subliminal message” was an error made while mixing the song in the studio.
JULY 16, 1991: THE GLOBE BY BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE
Big Audio Dynamite II‘s The Globe, was Mick Jones‘ sixth album after leaving The Clash. The album would go Gold in the US thanks in large part to the hit single “Rush,” which spent four consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart.
JULY 18, 2008: BILLY JOEL’S “LAST PLAY AT SHEA”
Billy Joel played the final concerts at Shea Stadium on July 16th & 18th, before the stadium was closed on September 28, 2008.
The shows were documented in the 2010 concert film The Last Play at Shea and featured guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, Roger Daltrey, Garth Brooks and Tony Bennett.
The 35-song set ended with Billy Joel & Paul McCartney performing The Beatles‘ “Let It Be.”
