MAR 17-23: Historic events this week from Van Halen, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Iron Maiden, ZZ Top and John Fogerty.

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MARCH 17, 1984: VAN HALEN’S 1984 PEAKS AT #2
Propelled by the singles “Jump”, “I’ll Wait”, “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher”, Van Halen’s 1984 spent 5 weeks at #2. It was kept from going #1 by Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

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MARCH 18, 1976: MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH PREMIERES IN LONDON

David Bowie appeared in more than 20 feature films, but his first leading role was in 1976’s cult classic The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Bowie’s role earned him the Saturn Award for Best Actor from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.

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MARCH 21, 1994: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WINS AN OSCAR

Two months after winning a Golden Globe, Springsteen won the big one.

He took home the Oscar for “Streets of Philadelphia” which was written for the Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington drama, Philadelphia.

The song would also win 4 Grammys for Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Vocal Performance and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture.

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MARCH 22, 1974: EAGLES RELEASE ON THE BORDER

Eagles’ third studio album, On the Border, has sold over 2 million copies in the US featured “Already Gone” and their first #1 single “Best of My Love.”

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MARCH 22, 1982: IRON MAIDEN’S THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
Influential English heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, released a classic with their third album.

The Number of the Beast was the first to feature the now-iconic Bruce Dickinson on lead vocals.

Containing one of their most well-known songs (“Run to the Hills”) the controversial album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

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MARCH 23, 1983: ZZ TOP RELEASE ELIMINATOR

Expanded use of synthesizers on ZZ Top’s Eliminator brought a New Wave sound that appealed to a wider audience.

Eliminator has gone 10x Platinum in the US thanks to the hits “Gimme All Your Lovin'”, “Got Me Under Pressure”, “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man.”

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MARCH 23, 1985: JOHN FOGERTY’S CENTERFIELD IS #1
John Fogerty’s Centerfield was his first solo album of all-original songs.

Arriving 10 years after his second solo album, Centerfield would spend at week at #1.

Containing “Rock and Roll Girls” (#5), “Centerfield” (#4) and “The Old Man Down the Road” (#1), Centerfield went on to sell over 2 million copies in the US.