DEC 22-28: Historic events this week from Poison, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, John Lennon and more
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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.
DECEMBER 24, 1988: “EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN” IS #1
Poison’s only #1 song reached the top spot on Christmas Eve.
It remained at #1 for three weeks before being unseated by Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.”
DECEMBER 26, 1968: LED ZEPPELIN’S FIRST US TOUR
Thanks to a cancellation by the Jeff Beck Group, Led Zeppelin began their first North American tour in Denver, as the opening act for Vanilla Fudge.
DECEMBER 26, 1981: AC/DC’S FIRST US #1 ALBUM
Believe it or not, AC/DC’s Back In Black, didn’t make it to #1 in the US. It peaked at #4.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) unseated Foreigner’s 4 for three weeks, before 4 regained the top spot.
For Those About to Rock would remain their only US #1 album until Black Ice in 2008 and Power Up in 2020.
DECEMBER 27, 1980: “(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER” IS #1
Lennon had his first US #1 single when “Whatever Gets You thru the Night” topped the charts for one week.
Three weeks after his murder, the last single released in his lifetime sat atop the Billboard Hot 100.
“(Just Like) Starting Over” would spend 5 consecutive weeks at #1.
DECEMBER 28, 1983: DENNIS WILSON DIES
With a BAC of 0.26, the Beach Boy dove from his yacht into the marina and began retrieving his ex-wife’s items he’d thrown overboard 3 years prior.
After several dives, he experienced shallow water blackout, and never resurfaced.
He was 39.
