DEC 19-25: Historic events this week from John Lennon, George Harrison, Joe Strummer and the Rolling Stones

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DECEMBER 20, 1980: JOHN LENNON’S FIRST UK #1
“(Just Like) Starting Over” was John Lennon’s latest single when he died.

The song had fallen from #8 to #21 on the UK charts.

Eight days after Lennon’s death, the song topped the charts, giving him his first UK #1 as a solo artist.

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DECEMBER 20, 1971: THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH ALBUM
The concert featured Harrison, Clapton, Dylan, Badfinger, Leon Russell and more coming together to raise money for the starving and homeless people of Bengal.

The concert album beat Don McLean’s American Pie & Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson to win the Album of the Year Grammy

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DECEMBER 20, 1971: THE ROLLING STONES RELEASE HOT ROCKS 1964–1971
The Rolling Stones’ Hot Rocks 1964-1971 compilation remains their biggest selling set.

The compilation has been certified 12x Platinum and peaked at #7 in the US.

The 2 LP set contains thirteen Top 20 singles including seven #1’s.

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DECEMBER 22, 2002: JOE STRUMMER DIES
The Clash leader died of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.

He was 50 years old.

The Clash would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame one year later.