Category: Milestones

Milestones: Peter Murphy is 54 today; watch Bauhaus’ 1984 film ‘Shadow of Light’

Milestones: Peter Murphy is 54 today; watch Bauhaus’ 1984 film ‘Shadow of Light’

Today we commemorate the birthday of Peter Murphy — he’s 54 — by turning the clock back to the Bauhaus era and presenting “Shadow of Light,” a 40-minute film released on VHS in 1984 that includes live performances mixed in with music videos.

Milestones: Neil Tennant is 57 today; watch Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Highlights’ concert film

Milestones: Neil Tennant is 57 today; watch Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Highlights’ concert film

Today marks the birthday of Neil Tennant — he’s 57 — and we celebrate by presenting the Pet Shop Boys’ earliest concert film, ‘Highlights.’ Released on VHS in 1990, this short film — which has yet to be released on DVD — features eight songs performed at London’s Wembley Arena in July 1989 during the duo’s MCMLXXXIX Tour.

Stream: The Replacements played their final concert 20 years ago today in Chicago

Stream: The Replacements played their final concert 20 years ago today in Chicago

The Fourth of July isn’t just the anniversary of this nation’s birth, it’s also the day now recognized as marking the break-up of perhaps the greatest of all the ’80s college-rock acts: The Replacements, who performed their final concert exactly 20 years ago today in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Milestones: Mick Jones is 56 today; watch full ‘London Calling’-era concert by The Clash

Milestones: Mick Jones is 56 today; watch full ‘London Calling’-era concert by The Clash

Today we mark the 56th birthday of punk legend Mick Jones — leader of the newly reactivated Big Audio Dynamite — with a look back at that other band he was in, with a full 1980 concert by The Clash. Watch it here.

Milestones: The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ single released exactly 30 years ago today

Milestones: The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ single released exactly 30 years ago today

Thirty years ago today, 2 Tone ska kings The Specials released their landmark single ‘Ghost Town,’ a haunting soundtrack to England’s early-’80s economic despair and civil unrest. Check out several video version of the unforgettable U.K. No. 1 hit.

The Smiths’ ‘Queen is Dead’ released 25 years ago today; watch 1986 ‘Rank’ concert

The Smiths’ ‘Queen is Dead’ released 25 years ago today; watch 1986 ‘Rank’ concert

Twenty-five years ago today, The Smiths released their third — and, arguably, best — album, ‘The Queen is Dead,’ a note-perfect marriage of Johnny Marr’s peerless pop songcraft and Morrissey’s pointed political commentary, lovesick laments and wicked humor.

Milestones: Siouxsie Sioux is 54 today; watch the Banshees’ 1983 ‘Nocturne’ concert

Milestones: Siouxsie Sioux is 54 today; watch the Banshees’ 1983 ‘Nocturne’ concert

Today we mark another milestone as goth high priestess Siouxsie Sioux turns 54; to celebrate her birthday, we present the 12-song concert portion from the DVD release of The Banshees’ classic ‘Nocturne’ home video, filmed in 1983.

Milestones: Wayne Hussey is 53 today; watch The Mission live in Dusseldorf in 1990

Milestones: Wayne Hussey is 53 today; watch The Mission live in Dusseldorf in 1990

It’s Wayne Hussey’s birthday today — he’s 53 — and to honor the co-founder of goth-rock luminaries The Mission, we present this 1990 concert filmed in Dusseldorf during the ‘Carved in Sand’ tour and broadcast on German television.

Milestones: Morrissey is 52 today; watch a complete ‘Kill Uncle’ concert from 1991

Milestones: Morrissey is 52 today; watch a complete ‘Kill Uncle’ concert from 1991

It’s Morrissey’s birthday today — he’s 52 — and to celebrate, here’s a full, 20-song ‘Kill Uncle’-era concert filmed at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on Oct. 4, 1991, and later broadcast on Japanese TV — hence the subtitles.

Milestones: Kevin Shields is 48 today; watch My Bloody Valentine concert from 1989

Milestones: Kevin Shields is 48 today; watch My Bloody Valentine concert from 1989

We interrupt our ongoing MBV Watch feature to mark the birthday of Kevin Shields — he’s 48 today — by presenting this full 14-song, 53-minute ‘Isn’t Anything’-era My Bloody Valentine concert filmed at the University of London Union on Feb. 16, 1989.

Milestones: Trent Reznor is 46 today; watch a Nine Inch Nails performance from 1989

Milestones: Trent Reznor is 46 today; watch a Nine Inch Nails performance from 1989

It’s Trent Reznor’s birthday today — he’s turning 46 — and to mark the occasion, we offer up this 11-song performance by Nine Inch Nails captured on grainy VHS during the young band’s December 1989 tour in support of ‘Pretty Hate Machine.’

Milestones: Bob Marley died 30 years ago; hear Joe Strummer sing ‘Redemption Song’

Milestones: Bob Marley died 30 years ago; hear Joe Strummer sing ‘Redemption Song’

Thirty years ago today, Bob Marley succumbed to cancer at the age of 36. To honor this anniversary, here’s Joe Strummer’s performance of ‘Redemption Song.’ It’s a touching tribute from one musical revolutionary to another, both gone too soon.

Milestones: Dave Gahan is 49 today; watch full Depeche Mode ‘World Violation’ concert

Milestones: Dave Gahan is 49 today; watch full Depeche Mode ‘World Violation’ concert

It’s Dave Gahan’s birthday today — he’s turning 49 — so to properly mark the occasion, we present this complete 1-hour, 44-minute Depeche Mode concert filmed during the World Violation Tour stop in Frankfurt, Germany, on Oct. 8, 1990.