August 1

• 1942: Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead is born Jerome John Garcia

• 1981: MTV is seen in 2.1 million homes during its first day on the air

August 3

• 1972: The Eagles perform at the Denver Coliseum.

August 4

• 1958: Billboard magazine debuts its “Hot 100” record list

August 8

• 1992: Metallica’s James Hetfield is seriously burned onstage by a pyrotechnics machine

August 9

• 1966: John Lennon apologizes for his statement that “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus”