Historic events this week from Rush, Billy Joel, Nirvana, David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac

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JUNE 12, 2012: RUSH’S CLOCKWORK ANGELS

Rush’s concept album, Clockwork Angels, was their 19th and final studio album.

They brought back producer Nick Raskulinecz (2007’s Snakes & Arrows), who is perhaps best known for producing two Foo Fighters albums.

Peaking at #2, Clockwork Angels and 1993’s Counterparts are as the band’s highest charting albums in the US.

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JUNE 14, 1980: BILLY JOEL’S GLASS HOUSES IS #1

Glass Houses was Billy Joel’s second US #1 album in a row, after 52nd Street.

Thanks to hit singles “You May Be Right” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”, the album was #1 in the US for 6 consecutive weeks.

Glass Houses earned Joel a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1981.

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JUNE 15, 1989: NIRVANA’S DEBUT ALBUM
Before Nirvana’s Nevermind changed the landscape of rock music, they recorded their debut album, Bleach, for a modest $606.17.

Despite not containing any hits, the album’s most well known song is “About a Girl”.

The acoustic version of “About a Girl” from MTV Unplugged in New York would go to #1 in 1994.

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JUNE 16, 1972: THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
Bowie’s 5th album was a big one for him, introducing the world to his most famous and beloved stage persona, “Ziggy Stardust”.

With nearly 8 million sold worldwide, it remains Bowie’s second best-selling album behind 1983’s Let’s Dance.

In 2017, the Library of Congress deemed the album “culturally, historically, or artistically significant”.

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JUNE 18, 1982: FLEETWOOD MAC RELEASE MIRAGE

Fleetwood Mac’s Buckingham-Nicks era continued its winning streak with the 2x-Platinum Mirage.

The album became the band’s third US #1 album after 1975’s Fleetwood Mac and 1977’s Rumours.

Mirage features Stevie Nicks’ Top 5, Gold-selling single, “Gypsy”.