This Week In Classic Rock History

FEB 14-20: Historic events this week from The Who, Bon Jovi, Eagles, KISS and AC/DC

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FEBRUARY 14, 1971: THE WHO’S LIFEHOUSE SESSIONS BEGIN
To follow up their rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind boy named Tommy, The Who planned a sci-fi rock opera, called Lifehouse, where each person’s existence is represented by a unique musical melody.

The project was shelved in favor of the more traditional rock of 1971’s Who’s Next.

Many of the tracks would appear on Who’s Next (`71), Odds & Sods (`74), The Who By Numbers (`75), Who Are You (`78), Hooligans (`81) and It’s Hard (`82).

In February 2000, Pete Townshend would release the Lifehouse sessions as a 6-CD boxset entitled Lifehouse Chronicles.

• • •
FEBRUARY 14, 1987: BON JOVI\’S \”LIVIN\’ ON A PRAYER\” IS #1
A month before \”You Give Love a Bad Name\” became Bon Jovi\’s first #1 single, the band released \”Livin\’ on a Prayer\” as the second single from their massive Slippery When Wet album.

\”Livin\’ on a Prayer\” held the top spot on the charts for 4 straight weeks and sold 3 million copies.

• • •
FEBRUARY 17, 1976: EAGLES RELEASE THEIR GREATEST HITS (1971-1975)
Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) from the Eagles is one of the biggest selling albums of all-time.

It features the #1 hits \”Best of My Love\” and \”One of These Nights\” as well as \”Lyin\’ Eyes\” and \”Take It Easy\”.

The collection has gone Platinum 38 times, and has sold over 42 million copies worldwide.

• • •
FEBRUARY 18, 1974: KISS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
KISS’s self-titled debut was the first of two albums they released in 1974.

The debut features such classics as “Deuce”, “Strutter” and Ace Frehley’s “Cold Gin”.

During a 2018 appearance on Good Morning America, Gene Simmons called it his favorite KISS album.

• • •
FEBRUARY 19, 1980: BON SCOTT DIES
The cause of death for AC/DC\’s Bon Scott has been debated for over 40 years.

Whether it was “pulmonary aspiration” or “acute alcohol poisoning”, the 33 year old singer’s cause of death is classified as “death by misadventure”.

Scott’s family encouraged AC/DC to continue on. Five months later, they released the classic Back In Black, with Brian Johnson on lead vocals.

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