December 8-14: Historic events this week from John Lennon, Ace Frehley, The Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin
DECEMBER 8, 1980: JOHN LENNON IS MURDERED
Two months after turning 40, Lennon was shot and killed by one of his own fans.
John & Yoko had released their Double Fantasy album three weeks prior.
After his murder, the album went straight to #1 with a surge in record sales.
Double Fantasy would go on to win the 1981 Album of the Year Grammy.
• • •
DECEMBER 10, 1966: \”GOOD VIBRATIONS\” HITS #1
Brian Wilson took an avant-garde approach to writing/recording his \”pocket symphony to God.\”
The song was written as it was recorded, with recording sessions lasting 7 months.
\”Good Vibraitons\” made it to #1 on the charts, exactly 2 months after its release.
The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994.
• • •
DECEMBER 11, 1990: \”LED ZEPPELIN IV\” CERTIFIED DIAMOND
Led Zeppelin\’s untitled fourth album is a masterpiece and one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Featuring \”Black Dog\”, \”Misty Mountain Hop\” and \”Stairway to Heaven\”, the album was certified Diamond (10 million sold) in 1990.
It has since gone 23x Platinum in the US alone.
• • •
DECEMBER 12, 1976: ACE FREHLEY NEARLY ELECTROCUTED
During a KISS show in Florida, Frehley touched an ungrounded metal railing.
He received a shock that caused him to lose feeling in his hand for the rest of the show.
The experience resulted in the KISS classic, \”Shock Me\”.
