This Week In Classic Rock History

Apr 26-May 2: Historic events this week from Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Ronson and Pink Floyd

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APRIL 26, 1986: VAN HALEN\’S 5150 IS #1

There were several firsts for Van Halen with the release of their seventh album, 5150.

5150 was the first album with new lead singer, Sammy Hagar.

One month after its release, 5150 was the first Van Halen album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200.

Every studio album Van Halen did with Sammy Hagar went to #1, making 5150 the first of four straight #1 albums for the band.

• • •

APRIL 29, 1976: SPRINGSTEEN INVADES GRACELAND

After performing a show in Memphis, Springsteen decides to take a cab to Graceland to meet Elvis Presley.

He climbed over the fence and ran to the front door, but was intercepted by security before he could knock on the door.

Riding high on fame and confidence, Bruce pleads to meet Elvis and points out his own recent appearances on the covers of Newsweek and Time.

The Boss is escorted off the premises after being informed The King was out of town.

• • •

APRIL 29, 1993: MICK RONSON DIES

Mick Ronson is best known as Bowie\’s guitarist for The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Aladdin Sane and Pin Ups.

A sought after session/touring guitarist, Ronson contributed production, guitar and string arrangements to Lou Reed\’s Transformer, as well as guitar/vocals on Mellencamp\’s #1 hit, \”Jack & Diane\”.

After his health began failing in the late 80s, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He died in April 1993 at age 46.

• • •

MAY 2, 1995: THE WALL GOES DIAMOND

Pink Floyd\’s epic rock opera, The Wall, spent 15 straight week\’s at #1.

Helped along by the hits \”Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2\” and \”Comfortably Numb\”, the album quickly went Gold.

In May 1995, The Wall was certified Diamond with over 10 million sold in the US.

With each new generation discovering the album, it has sold over 23 million copies in the US alone.

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