thebuzzr Independent Music Coverage

August 20, 2016

The Tragically Hip play their final concert, calling it quits at a show in lead singer Gord Downie’s hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in December 2015.

August 21, 1990

Alice in Chains release their debut album, Facelift, one of the first grunge albums to gain widespread popularity.

August 22, 1969

The Beatles participate in their final photo shoot, which is held on the lawn of John Lennon’s home at Tittenhurst Park in Sunninghill, England. Photos from the session are used on the front and back covers of their Hey Jude compilation album.

August 23, 1974

John Lennon claims to see a UFO from his New York apartment. He describes it as an archetypal flying saucer, surrounded by lights with a red one on top. In his next album, Walls and Bridges, he includes this note in the booklet: “On the 23rd August 1974 at 9 o’clock I saw a U.F.O. – J.L.”

August 24, 1994

Jeff Buckley’s first and only album, Grace, is released to critical acclaim.

August 25, 1998

Fugees member Lauryn Hill releases her solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It becomes the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

August 26, 1976

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith appears on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Annie Leibovitz took the photo, which shows the frontman haggard and bleary after just two hours sleep. Leibovitz got the shot by showing up at his hotel at 6 a.m.

August 27, 1990 

35-year-old Stevie Ray Vaughan dies in a helicopter crash near East Troy, Wisconsin, following a concert at the Alpine Valley Music Theater where earlier in the evening he appeared with Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and his older brother, Jimmie Vaughan.