AUG 8-14: Historic events this week from KISS, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Metallica and Lynyrd Skynyrd
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AUGUST 9, 1995: KISS UNPLUGGED
The original members of KISS reunited for the band\’s MTV Unplugged show.
It was the first time the original lineup performed without makeup; not counting Frehley\’s wedding in \’76.
Ace Frehley & Peter Criss\’ appearance on MTV Unplugged went over so well, they officially rejoined the band in \’96.
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AUGUST 10, 1993: BILLY JOEL RELEASES RIVER OF DREAMS
Billy Joel\’s 12th album went 5x Platinum and became his fourth and final US #1 album.
The album earned Joel Grammy nominations for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male.
He released an album of classical compositions in 2001, but 1993\’s River of Dreams remains his most recent rock album.
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AUGUST 11, 1964: BEATLES RELEASE A HARD DAY\’S NIGHT
With its soundtrack already enjoying its third week at #1, the Beatles released their first movie, A Hard Day\’s Night.
Released amidst Beatlemania, the comedy-musical did extremely well at the box office.
With a budget of £189,000, it grossed $1,664,617; which is equal to $14,589,347.76 in 2021.
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AUGUST 12, 1991: METALLICA\’S \”BLACK ALBUM\”
Each single from Metallica\’s self-titled fifth album is a hard rock classic:
\”Enter Sandman\”, \”The Unforgiven\”, \”Nothing Else Matters\”, \”Sad but True\” and \”Wherever I May Roam\”.
The album sold 3 million copies in less than 3 months. It remains their biggest album with 17 million sold in the US.
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AUGUST 13, 1973: (Pronounced \’Lĕh-\’nérd \’Skin-\’nérd)
Lynyrd Skynrd\’s classic, southern rock debut, (Pronounced \’Lĕh-\’nérd \’Skin-\’nérd), is a cut above the rest.
Although \”Free Bird\” was the only single to chart (#19), \”Tuesday\’s Gone\”, \”Gimme Three Steps\” and \”Simple Man\” are also celebrated classic rock radio staples.
