Category: Milestones

Milestones: House of Love’s Terry Bickers is 45 today; watch ‘Destroy the Heart’ from 1989

Milestones: House of Love’s Terry Bickers is 45 today; watch ‘Destroy the Heart’ from 1989

In honor of House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers’ 45th birthday today, we share this ‘Snub TV’ clip from 1989 that features a ripping take on fourth single ‘Destroy the Heart’ and a gentle ‘Man to Child,’ off the band’s 1988 self-titled debut, with an interview with frontman Guy Chadwick sandwiched in between.

Milestones: US Festival kicked off 28 years ago today; watch Ramones’ full set — and more

Milestones: US Festival kicked off 28 years ago today; watch Ramones’ full set — and more

Twenty eight years ago today, the first of what would turn out to be two multi-day US Festivals — envisioned by their organizer, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, as ‘Woodstock West’ — opened in blistering 110-degree heat at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernadino County, Calif.

Milestones: Robert Smith’s ‘Cure FM’ pirate radio broadcast was 20 years ago tonight

Milestones: Robert Smith’s ‘Cure FM’ pirate radio broadcast was 20 years ago tonight

Twenty years ago tonight, Robert Smith and the rest of The Cure — aided by a pair of American DJs and shadowed by MTV and the music press — set up a pirate radio station at the headquarters of Fiction Records with plans to illicitly premiere their soon-to-released remix album ‘Mixed Up’ over the London airwaves.

Milestones: Elizabeth Fraser is 47 today; see 1985 TV report on ‘Cocteau Twins fever’

Milestones: Elizabeth Fraser is 47 today; see 1985 TV report on ‘Cocteau Twins fever’

Elizabeth Fraser — the incomparable voice of the Cocteau Twins — turns 47 today, and to mark the occasion, we present what has to be one of the odder moments in the dreampop group’s history: a pair of TV news reports from WBNS in Columbus, Ohio, about the so-called ‘Cocteau Fever’ surrounding the band’s Sept. 19, 1985, concert in that city.

Milestones: Elvis Costello is 56 today; watch BBC special about ‘Spike’ from 1989

That once-angry young man, Elvis Costello, turns 59 today, and to commemorate the occasion, we cast our spotlight not on the rocker’s brilliantly prolific early period, but, rather, his late-’80s, post-Attractions comeback following a nearly three-year break: the 1989 album ‘Spike,’ a personal favorite.

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

College-rock fixture-to-be R.E.M. released its landmark debut EP, ‘Chronic Town,’ 28 years ago today, and to commemorate the anniversary, we present alternate versions of three of the record’s five songs: a faster version of ‘Wolves, Lower’; ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ with different vocals and no fadeout; and ‘Shaking Through,’ featuring an organ in the mix.

Milestones: Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder is 48 today; watch vintage ‘Step On’ performance

Milestones: Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder is 48 today; watch vintage ‘Step On’ performance

Shaun Ryder — leader of Factory Records troublemakers Happy Mondays — celebrates his 48th birthday today, and to mark the occasion, here’s a vintage live performance of the band’s biggest hit: ‘Step On,’ their cover of John Kongos’ 1971 single ‘He’s Gonna Step On You Again.’

Milestones: Tears For Fears’ Roland Orzabal is 49 today; watch ‘Head Over Heels’ live in ’83

Milestones: Tears For Fears’ Roland Orzabal is 49 today; watch ‘Head Over Heels’ live in ’83

Today we commemorate Tears For Fears co-founder Roland Orzabal’s 49th birthday with this choice 1983 clip of the band performing ‘Head Over Heels’ sandwiched between two halves of ‘Broken’ (the latter of which, at that point, had been released as ‘We Are Broken’ on the B-side of ‘Pale Shelter’).

Milestones: Daniel Ash is 53 today; watch Love and Rockets’ ‘Mirror People’ live in 1987

In honor of Daniel Ash — he of the ’80s trifecta of Bauhaus, Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets — who turns 53 today, we dug up one of the only vintage Love and Rockets live clips we could find on YouTube, this admittedly grainy, but certainly rare, footage of the band performing ‘Mirror People’ at London’s Town & Country Club in 1987.

Milestones: Kate Bush is 52 today; watch ‘Running Up That Hill’ with David Gilmour

Milestones: Kate Bush is 52 today; watch ‘Running Up That Hill’ with David Gilmour

Today we commemorate the 52nd birthday of the incomparable Kate Bush with what’s arguably her most indelible song: ‘Running Up That Hill,’ performed with David Gilmour at 1987’s ‘Secret Policeman’s Third Ball.’

Milestones: Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore is 52 today; here’s a dose of ‘Teen Age Riot’

Milestones: Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore is 52 today; here’s a dose of ‘Teen Age Riot’

Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore turns 52 today, and to commemorate, we offer this clips of the band tearing through its iconic 1988 single “Teen Age Riot” last year on the U.K. talk show ‘Later… With Jools Holland.’

Milestones: Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore is 49 today; watch him sing ‘Enjoy the Silence’

Milestones: Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore is 49 today; watch him sing ‘Enjoy the Silence’

To commemorate Depeche Mode songwriter Martin L. Gore’s birthday — he turns 49 today — we present this rare solo performance of one of his best-loved songs, ‘Enjoy the Silence.’

Milestones: U2 at Live Aid 25 years ago today

Milestones: U2 at Live Aid 25 years ago today

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Live Aid, the Bob Geldof-organized African famine relief concert that remains one of the cultural signposts of the ’80s. For readers of this site, the event is perhaps best remembered as the tipping point in U2’s ascent from college-rock upstarts to global superstars.