Music History

“Ashes to Ashes” reached number one on the UK Official Singles Chart, where it remained for two weeks. For David Bowie, it was his second UK number-one single and his first since “Space Oddity” in 1975. The song came from the album “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” and continued the story of Major Tom from “Space Oddity”. At the time of its release, it was his fastest-selling single. The video cost £250,000, making it the most expensive music video ever made at that time.

Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The B-52's, The Pretenders, Rockpile and The Rumour performed at the Heatwave Festival in Toronto, Canada. Tickets cost $30, the festival attracted 50,000 people, and the organizers suffered a loss of more than one million dollars.

Among those performing at the Heatwave Festival, known as “New Wave Woodstock”, at Mosport Park near Toronto were Elvis Costello, The B-52s, The Pretenders and Talking Heads. Talking Heads performed songs from their forthcoming album “Remain In Light” and also introduced a new touring lineup featuring keyboardist Bernie Worrell and guitarist Adrian Belew.

Queen released the single “Another One Bites the Dust”.

On the Saturday program of the Reading Festival, Broken Home, Grand Prix, Iron Maiden, Pat Travers Band, Quartz, Samson, UFO and White Spirit performed.

Roxy Music reached number one on the UK album chart with their seventh studio album “Flesh and Blood”. The album also reached number one in New Zealand and the Top 10 in five other countries.

According to Cashbox, the best-selling song in America that week was “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” by The SOS Band. The song reached number three on the Hot 100. The Atlanta, Georgia group took its name from the abbreviation Sounds Of Success and was fronted by Mary Davis.

David Bowie released the single “Ashes to Ashes”.

Tom Petersson left Cheap Trick because of burnout and personal and musical differences. He was replaced by Pete Comita. Petersson returned to the group in 1988 for the album “Lap of Luxury”, which contained their comeback hit “The Flame”.

David Desrosiers, bassist for Simple Plan, was born in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada.

Jethro Tull released the album "A", one of the albums commemorated as part of the musical anniversaries for this day.

Kiss embarked on a joint tour with the then little-known heavy metal band Iron Maiden. For the young British band, it was its first major experience of a large concert tour.

Queen performed at the Forum in Montreal.

The Grateful Dead played the first of two nights at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

UB40 released their debut album "Signing Off". The album reached No. 2 on the UK chart and became the first reggae album to reach such a high position. In 2010, to mark the band's 30th anniversary and the album's influence, the band performed the album in its entirety during a series of intimate concerts across the UK.

Television star Valerie Bertinelli attended a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, Louisiana, and got backstage to meet Eddie Van Halen, whom she found very attractive. Their relationship developed into love: they married less than a year later, and their son Wolfgang was born in 1991. They separated in 2001 and finalized their divorce in 2007.

Barclay James Harvest performed beside the Berlin Wall in a concert titled “A Concert For The People” before an audience of approximately 250,000 people.

David Bowie released “Ashes to Ashes”, which reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart. The song continued the story of the character Major Tom.

Cher made an unannounced appearance as a singer with Black Rose during a concert in Central Park, New York.

Christopher Cross’s “Sailing” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for one week. The following spring, it won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Arrangement of the Year, and also helped Cross win the award for Best New Artist. The song also reached No. 1 in Canada.

Fleetwood Mac concluded their Tusk world tour with a major concert in Los Angeles.

Karen Carpenter married 39-year-old property developer Thomas James Burris in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel. The marriage quickly deteriorated, and Carpenter later filed for divorce.

Stevie Wonder performed the first of six sold-out concerts at Wembley Arena.

Blue Öyster Cult performed at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona.

Canadian bassist, singer, songwriter and producer Jason “Cone” McCaslin was born in North York, Ontario. He became known as a longtime member of the rock band Sum 41.

Steve Peregrin Took, percussionist and singer associated with T. Rex, died.

Dan Miller of the American boy band O-Town was born in Laconia, New Hampshire. The group won the American television show Making the Band and had the number-three US single “All or Nothing” in 2001.

The new Yes lineup of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn began a record three-night sold-out run at Madison Square Garden in New York in support of the album Drama. One source states that Madison Square Garden had a capacity of 19,000.

Black Sabbath performed at the Lakeland Civic Center in Florida.

A statue of Buddy Holly was unveiled in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

David Bowie released the album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

Diana Ross remained at number one on the US R&B chart for a fourth week with “Upside Down.”

English pop singer Kevin Simm was born in Chorley. He became known as a member of Liberty X and Wet Wet Wet.

Diana Ross scored her fourth solo No. 1 in the U.S. with "Upside Down". The song spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her most successful solo hit, and also reached No. 1 in nine other countries. It also topped the Billboard Top 100 Disco Chart and Hot Soul Singles chart and reached the Top 10 in another 17 countries.

English singer and television personality Kerry Katona, who was a member of Atomic Kitten, was born. The group had the UK No. 1 hit "Whole Again" in 2000. Katona left the group in 2001 and won the third series of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" in 2004.

The Grateful Dead performed at the State Fairgrounds in Lewiston, Maine.

The Jam took their eleventh UK single, "Start!", to No. 1 on the UK singles chart. It was the group's second UK chart-topper and the lead single from their fifth album, "Sound Affects".

U2 began the first leg of their UK Boy Tour in Coventry, England. The tour consisted of 29 concerts.

Black Sabbath performed at Jai Alai Fronton Hall in Miami, Florida.

Black Sabbath performed at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago during the tour supporting the album “Heaven and Hell”. The band featured Ronnie James Dio on vocals, with Blue Öyster Cult among the supporting acts.

Marques Houston, singer and actor known in part as a member of the group Immature, was born in Los Angeles.

Bruce Springsteen performed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.

Olivia Newton-John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Stevie Nicks released her first solo album, “Bella Donna,” which contained four U.S. Top 40 hits: “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty, “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley, “Edge of Seventeen” and “After the Glitter Fades.”

Travis “Travie” McCoy, singer of Gym Class Heroes, was born in Geneva, New York.

Bruce Springsteen vystoupil v Capital Centre v Landoveru v Marylandu.