Category: Milestones

Video: Depeche Mode, ‘A Concert for the Masses’ — rare footage from 1988’s ‘101’ concert

Video: Depeche Mode, ‘A Concert for the Masses’ — rare footage from 1988’s ‘101’ concert

Tuesday marks the 25th anniversary of Depeche Mode’s iconic “Concert For the Masses,” a daylong show at the 100,000-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., that also featured performances by Wire, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Thomas Dolby — and was, of course, filmed and recorded for ‘101.’

Milestones: U2 played historic Red Rocks gig 30 years ago today — watch ‘I Will Follow’

Milestones: U2 played historic Red Rocks gig 30 years ago today — watch ‘I Will Follow’

Thirty years ago tonight, U2 braved a cold Colorado rainstorm to perform at the fabled Red Rocks Amphitheatre just west of Denver, a concert on the band’s War tour that was filmed and released on video as “Under a Blood Red Sky,” cementing Bono and Co.’s reputation as live act.

R.E.M.’s ‘Murmur’ turns 30 today — hear a dozen demos of tracks off classic album

R.E.M.’s ‘Murmur’ turns 30 today — hear a dozen demos of tracks off classic album

It’s a nearly unparalleled landmark in the history of ’80s college rock: R.E.M.’s peerless debut album, Murmur, was released on April 12, 1983 — exactly 30 years ago today. Today we celebrate this milestone by looking back at the building blocks of the album we know and love.

Pixies’ ‘Surfer Rosa’ turns 25 today — so let’s watch the band’s full ’89 Glastonbury set

Pixies’ ‘Surfer Rosa’ turns 25 today — so let’s watch the band’s full ’89 Glastonbury set

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the Pixies’ landmark Surfer Rosa, which, if we’re to count Come On Pilgrim as an EP or “mini-LP,” was the band’s true debut album, featuring the instant classics “Bone Machine,” “Gigantic” and “Where Is My Mind?”

New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ turns 30 today — an audiovisual retrospective, 1983-2013

New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ turns 30 today — an audiovisual retrospective, 1983-2013

On March 7, 1983 — exactly 30 years ago today — New Order released its monumental single “Blue Monday,” cementing its full transition from the moody post-punk of Joy Division to club-ready synthpop. And, in the process, the band delivered the best-selling 12-inch single of all time.

Milestones: R.E.M. played sole ‘Automatic For the People’ concert 20 years ago today

Milestones: R.E.M. played sole ‘Automatic For the People’ concert 20 years ago today

R.E.M. famously didn’t tour behind its two best-selling albums — 1991’s ‘Out of Time’ and 1992’s ‘Automatic For the People’ — but the band did play a single concert in support of the latter record, a Greenpeace benefit at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga., exactly 20 years ago tonight.

Milestones: Sinead O’Connor tore up pope’s photo on ‘SNL’ 20 years ago tonight

Milestones: Sinead O’Connor tore up pope’s photo on ‘SNL’ 20 years ago tonight

Exactly 20 years ago tonight, Sinead O’Connor largely derailed what had been a promising career when she appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and, in the most infamous of her many controversial acts, tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II while urging viewers to “fight the real enemy.”

Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr reflects on 30th anniversary of ‘New Gold Dream’

Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr reflects on 30th anniversary of ‘New Gold Dream’

Thirty years ago today, Simple Minds released their fifth studio album, ‘New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84),’ considered by many to be the band’s commercial turning point after it hit No. 3 on the U.K. charts on the back of singles such as “Promised You a Miracle,” “Glittering Prize” and “Someone, Somewhere in Summertime.”

Milestones: US Festival debuted 30 years ago today — watch the Ramones’ full set

Milestones: US Festival debuted 30 years ago today — watch the Ramones’ full set

As we wait for the release of the delayed “US Generation” documentary — not to mention next week’s English Beat CD/DVD combo Live at the US Festival — it’s worth marking today’s 30th anniversary of the first of two giant multi-day US Festivals, envisioned by their organizer, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, as “Woodstock West.”

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ turns 30 today — hear an hour-long 1982 concert

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ turns 30 today — hear an hour-long 1982 concert

Today we celebrate one of the more significant milestones in the college-rock era, the 30th anniversary of the release of R.E.M.’s debut EP, ‘Chronic Town.’ the five-song record that launched the band and, in many ways, the ’80s indie scene. To commemorate this classic record we present audio of a 1982 concert.

Milestones: Today is Joey Santiago’s and Kim Deal’s birthday; watch Pixies live in 1991

Milestones: Today is Joey Santiago’s and Kim Deal’s birthday; watch Pixies live in 1991

We’ve got a rare double milestone today, as not one but two members of the Pixies — bassist Kim Deal and guitarist Joey Santiago — celebrate their birthdays (she’s 51 and he’s 47). We mark the occasion with this complete 29-song ‘Trompe le Monde’-era set filmed on June 26, 1991, in London.

Milestones: Morrissey is 53 today; watch 12 full Smiths, Moz concerts from 1983-2012

Milestones: Morrissey is 53 today; watch 12 full Smiths, Moz concerts from 1983-2012

Well, it’s once again Morrissey’s birthday — insert “Unhappy Birthday” joke here — and the perpetually glum Smiths frontman is 53 today. To celebrate, we thought we’d dig up our favorite photo of him (yes, that’s Moz and Rick Astley), and then post a dozen Smiths and Morrissey concerts for your viewing pleasure.

Haçienda at 30: Watch New Order, Smiths, Stone Roses, Chameleons at Manchester club

Haçienda at 30: Watch New Order, Smiths, Stone Roses, Chameleons at Manchester club

Thirty years ago tonight, The Haçienda — the famed Manchester nightclub opened by Factory Records, New Order and Tony Wilson — opened its doors to the public. Check out clips of New Order playing there, plus full sets from The Smiths, The Stone Roses and The Chameleons.