thebuzzr Independent Music Coverage

August 12, 2008

Metallica release “The Day That Never Comes,” the lead single from their ninth studio album, Death Magnetic.

August 13, 1977 

Bachman-Turner Overdrive announce that the group is splitting up. They reunite five years later.

August 14, 1985 

Three years after their duet “The Girl Is Mine,” Paul McCartney advises Michael Jackson to invest in publishing. Jackson makes a winning bid of $47.5 million for the rights to over 250 Lennon-McCartney Beatles songs owned by ATV publishing, which turns out to be a great investment, but kills their friendship.

August 15, 1965 

The Beatles play Shea Stadium in New York – home of The Mets – marking the first time a rock band headlines a stadium in America. With Beatlemania in full force, the screaming girls drown out the band in a less-than-intimate, but very memorable performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 56,000.

August 16, 1977 

The King is dead. Elvis Presley dies at his home in Graceland as a result of an overdose from prescription drugs.

August 17, 1977 

It’s the day after Elvis Presley is found dead, and throngs of fans come to Graceland to mourn. President Jimmy Carter releases a statement saying, in part, “Elvis Presley’s death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable.”

August 18, 1969

Jimi Hendrix closes out Woodstock with an early morning performance of “Hey Joe.” The festival headliner, he was supposed to play the previous night, but when it ran long, he ended up taking the stage on a Monday morning. His set includes a scorching rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

August 19, 1972 

The Midnight Special debuts on NBC. At first just a one-off special presentation, the next year it is launched as a regular show, with Wolfman Jack serving as announcer. The first performance is “Slippin’ Into Darkness” by War.