Historic events this week from AC/DC, REO Speedwagon, Toto, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen
FEBRUARY 19, 1980: BON SCOTT DIES
Bon Scott’s cause of death has been debated for 40 years.
Whether it was “pulmonary aspiration” or “acute alcohol poisoning”, the 33 year old singer’s cause of death is classified as “death by misadventure”.
Scott’s family encouraged AC/DC to continue on. Five months later, they released the classic Back In Black, with Brian Johnson on lead vocals.
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FEBRUARY 21, 1981: REO SPEEDWAGON’S HI INFIDELITY IS #1
REO Speedwagon’s 9th album, Hi Infidelity, ended the 8-week reign of John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy.
Hi Infidelity would go on to spend 15 non-consecutive weeks at #1 in 1981, trading places twice with Styx’s Paradise Theater.
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FEBRUARY 23, 1983: TOTO WINS BIG AT GRAMMYS
Toto’s fourth album, Toto IV, was a big one for the Los Angeles band.
In addition to selling 4 million copies and scoring major platinum hits with “Rosanna” and “Africa”; Toto won five Grammys.
Best Engineered Recording, Album of the Year and three for “Rosanna”, including Record of the Year.
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FEBRUARY 24, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN RELEASE PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti was a big one. It’s their second biggest selling album behind their untitled fourth album (aka Led Zeppelin IV).
Despite only releasing “Trampled Under Foot” as a single, “Houses of the Holy”, “Kashmir” and “The Wanton Song” have all received significant radio air play.
The album has sold over 16 Million copies in the US alone.
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FEBRUARY 25, 1984: VAN HALEN’S “JUMP” IS #1
“Jump” was the first single from Van Halen’s classic sixth album, 1984. The track spent 5 straight weeks at #1.
“Jump” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal, but ultimately lost to Prince & the Revolution’s “Purple Rain”.
