Category: Milestones

Milestones: Björk is 45 today; watch The Sugarcubes play ‘Motorcrash’ in 1987

Milestones: Björk is 45 today; watch The Sugarcubes play ‘Motorcrash’ in 1987

]The ever-enigmatic Björk turns 45 today, and to mark the occasion, we go back to the beginning: Here’s a clip of her late-’80s/early-’90s band The Sugarcubes performing ‘Motorcrash’ at London’s Town & Country Club in 1987.

Milestones: Mani is 48 today; watch The Stone Roses get ‘Adored’ at the Hacienda in 1989

Milestones: Mani is 48 today; watch The Stone Roses get ‘Adored’ at the Hacienda in 1989

Today’s the birthday of The Stone Roses’ Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, and to mark the occasion, we present this Snub TV broadcast of the Roses playing ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ — featuring what’s arguably Mani’s single greatest bassline — and ‘Sugar Spun Sister’ at Manchester’s infamous Hacienda in 1989.

Milestones: Andy Partridge is 57 today; watch XTC perform 3 songs live on MTV in 1989

To commemorate XTC frontman Andy Partridge’s 57th birthday today, we present this three-song live session — recorded May 16, 1989, at MTV in New York — that finds the rarely touring trio playing two songs off the just-released ‘Oranges & Lemons,’ plus “Blue Beret,” a then-unreleased outtake.

Milestones: The Cure’s Porl Thompson is 53 today; watch ‘Edge of the Deep Green Sea’

Milestones: The Cure’s Porl Thompson is 53 today; watch ‘Edge of the Deep Green Sea’

Today is the 53rd birthday of Porl Thompson of The Cure, and to mark the occasion, we present what’s arguably his signature guitar solo, the freak-out at the end of ‘Wish’ standout and concert favorite ‘From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea,’ shown here in the version included on the 1993 concert film ‘Show.’

Milestones: Johnny Marr is 47 today; watch The Smiths’ full May 18, 1985, concert

Milestones: Johnny Marr is 47 today; watch The Smiths’ full May 18, 1985, concert

Today marks the 47th birthday of one of the signature guitarists of his generation: Johnny Marr of The Smiths. In honor of this peerless player, here’s a full ‘Meat is Murder’-era Smiths show, filmed for Spanish television on May 18, 1985, in Madrid.

Milestones: Jesus and Mary Chain’s William Reid is 52 today; watch ‘Just Like Honey’

Milestones: Jesus and Mary Chain’s William Reid is 52 today; watch ‘Just Like Honey’

The Jesus and Mary Chain’s William Reid is 52 today, and to mark the occasion, we present this clip of Reid and his younger brother Jim bringing the noise on British television in 1985, performing ‘Just Like Honey’ and ‘Inside Me’ off of their debut ‘Psychocandy.’

Milestones: Simon Le Bon is 52 today; watch Duran Duran play ‘Notorious’ in 1987

Milestones: Simon Le Bon is 52 today; watch Duran Duran play ‘Notorious’ in 1987

Today is Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon’s 52nd birthday, and to mark the occasion — and with a tip of the hat to the current batch of reissues — we present this fabulous clip of DD playing its single ‘Notorious’ on an Italian television show in 1987. I

Milestones: Bob Mould is 50 today; watch Sugar play ‘Helpless’ on BBC’s ‘Late Show’

Milestones: Bob Mould is 50 today; watch Sugar play ‘Helpless’ on BBC’s ‘Late Show’

Bob Mould’s turning 50 today, so to celebrate, here’s a clip of Sugar — whose debut, ‘Copper Blue,’ is arguably the former Husker Du leader’s finest moment — playing ‘Helpless’ on the BBC in 1993.

Milestones: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ ‘Rattlesnakes’ released 26 years ago today

Milestones: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ ‘Rattlesnakes’ released 26 years ago today

Twenty-six years ago today, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions released their debut album ‘Rattlesnakes,’ a 10-track indie-pop masterpiece. In this recently filmed Portuguese clip, Cole offers his thoughts on the 1984 album.

Milestones: The Smithereens’ Pat DiNizio is 55 today; watch ‘Blood and Roses’ from 1987

Milestones: The Smithereens’ Pat DiNizio is 55 today; watch ‘Blood and Roses’ from 1987

To mark Pat DiNizio’s 55th birthday today, here’s a 1987 clip of The Smithereens performing their breakthrough single ‘Blood and Roses’ on UK television.

Milestones: Sinead O’Connor tore up pope’s photo on ‘SNL’ 18 years ago today

Milestones: Sinead O’Connor tore up pope’s photo on ‘SNL’ 18 years ago today

Eighteen years ago tonight, Sinead O’Connor largely derailed what had been a promising career when she appeared on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ sang Bob Marley’s ‘War’ and tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II while urging viewers to ‘fight the real enemy.’ Watch the whole performance here.

Milestones: Johnette Napolitano is 53 today; watch Concrete Blonde play ‘Mexican Moon’

Milestones: Johnette Napolitano is 53 today; watch Concrete Blonde play ‘Mexican Moon’

Today we celebrate Concrete Blonde frontwoman Johnette Napolitano’s 53rd birthday by forgoing some of the more obvious cuts from the late ’80s or the band’s breakthrough album ‘Bloodletting,’ and instead digging up this early 1994 performance of ‘Mexican Moon’ on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman.’

Milestones: Steve Kilbey is 56 today; watch The Church live on Italian TV in 1988

Milestones: Steve Kilbey is 56 today; watch The Church live on Italian TV in 1988

Today we mark the 56th birthday of Steve Kilbey — writer, artist, solo musician and, of course, lead singer and bassist for Australian rock act The Church for the past three decades. To commemorate the occasion, we present these vintage clips of The Church playing live on Italian TV in 1988.