JAN 7-13: Historic events this week from Rush, David Bowie, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and Ozzy.
JANUARY 7, 2020: NEIL PEART DIES
Peart was diagnosed with brain cancer 3½ years before he ultimately died. Only those closest to the legendary Rush drummer knew he was ill. He was 67.
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JANUARY 8, 2016: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES BLACKSTAR
Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, was released on his 69th birthday. His biggest selling album since 1983’s Let’s Dance would go on to win 5 Grammys including Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song.
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JANUARY 9, 1984: VAN HALEN’S 1984
Van Halen’s final album with David Lee Roth before the Sammy Hagar-era, has sold over 10 million copies in the US.
The classic album features the big singles “I’ll Wait”, “Panama”, “Hot for Teacher” and their massive #1 single, “Jump.”
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JANUARY 10, 2016: DAVID BOWIE DIES
Two days after his birthday, and the release of final album Blackstar, Bowie died from liver cancer in New York City. Diagnosed 18 months prior, he never disclosed it to the public. He was 69.
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JANUARY 11, 2009: BRUCE WINS 2ND GOLDEN GLOBE
Bruce won his second Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “The Wrestler.”
His previous Golden Globe win was for “Streets of Philadelphia” in 1994. A song that also earned him an Academy Award.
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JANUARY 12, 1969: LED ZEPPELIN’S DEBUT ALBUM
Led Zeppelin’s debut album took a total of 36 hours and less than *£2,000 to record (*equivalent to $37,1000.18 in 2024).
The debut album contains the classic rock radio staple “Good Times Bad Times”, as well as “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown.”
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JANUARY 12, 1986: “SUICIDE SOLUTION” LAWSUIT
A family’s lawsuit alleges the lyrics of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Suicide Solution” lead to their son’s death by suicide.
It’s solution as in liquid, not a way out. The song’s about the dangers of alcoholism. It’s just a terrible case of misinterpretation.
Ozzy Osbourne
It was determined the fan’s suicide was not a “foreseeable result” of the song, and the case was dismissed.
