Historic events this week from The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, U2, Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen

APRIL 23, 1971: ROLLING STONES RELEASE STICKY FINGERS

Sticky Fingers was the Stones’ first US #1 album since 1965’s Out Of Our Heads.

The classic album features “Brown Sugar”, “Bitch”, “Wild Horses” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”.

Sticky Fingers was the first of 8 straight US #1 albums for the band.

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APRIL 24, 1989: TOM PETTY’S SOLO DEBUT

After 7 LPs with The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty decided it was time for a solo project.

Retaining Mike Campbell on lead guitar & enlisting Jeff Lynne as producer/co-writer, Full Moon Fever was arguably his best album since Hard Promises.

“Runnin’ Down a Dream”, “I Won’t Back Down” and “Free Fallin'” all went to #1

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APRIL 25, 1987: U2’s THE JOSHUA TREE IS #1
The Joshua Tree was U2’s first of eight straight #1 albums in the US.

On the strength of US #1 singles “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, The Joshua Tree spent nine-straight weeks at #1, on its way to eventually selling 25 million copies worldwide.

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APRIL 26, 1986: VAN HALEN’S 5150 IS #1

There were several firsts for Van Halen with the release of their seventh album, 5150.

5150 was the first album with new lead singer, Sammy Hagar.

One month after its release, 5150 was the first Van Halen album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200.

Every studio album Van Halen did with Sammy Hagar went to #1, making 5150 the first of four straight #1 albums for the band.

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APRIL 29, 1976: SPRINGSTEEN INVADES GRACELAND

After performing a show in Memphis, Springsteen decides to take a cab to Graceland to meet Elvis Presley.

He climbed over the fence and ran to the front door, but was intercepted by security before he could knock on the door.

Riding high on fame and confidence, Bruce pleads to meet Elvis and points out his own recent appearances on the covers of Newsweek and Time.

The Boss is escorted off the premises after being informed The King was out of town.