This Week In Classic Rock History

Feb 2 – 8: Historic events this week from Buddy Holly, Fleetwood Mac, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and Joan Jett.

Presented by

FEBRUARY 3, 1959: DAY THE MUSIC DIED

The Winter Dance Party was a scheduled 24 day tour of MN, WI and IA featuring performances from Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens (\”La Bamba\”) and The Big Bopper (\”Chantilly Lace\”).

After a Clear Lake, IA performance, they boarded a Moorhead-bound charter plane, which tragically crashed minutes after takeoff.

Holly (22), Valens (17), Big Bopper (28) and pilot Roger Peterson (21) all died on impact.

• • •

FEBRUARY 4, 1977: FLEETWOOD MAC RELEASE RUMOURS

With over 40 million sold, Rumours is the #5 best-selling studio album of all time, and spent 31 non-consecutive weeks at #1, less than a year after its release.

• • •

FEBRUARY 6, 1998: CARL WILSON DIES

A smoker since his early teens, Beach Boy Carl Wilson was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997.

The underrated singer continued to perform while undergoing treatment.

He passed away 2½ months after his final tour, and 2 months after his own mother.

He was 51.

• • •

FEBRUARY 6, 1987: LIGHT OF DAY STARRING JOAN JETT

Joan Jett made her acting debut in 1987\’s Light of Day, starring alongside Michael J. Fox.

The title song was written by Bruce Springsteen and performed by Jett & Fox\’s The Barbusters band.

The song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April \’87.

\”Light of Day\” remains a staple of Joan Jett\’s live set.

Jett & Fox reunited at a Parkinson\’s benefit in November 2018.

Recent Posts

View All