Historic events this week from Nirvana, Paul Westerberg, David Bowie, The Police, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young and The Beatles
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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.
JUNE 15, 1993: PAUL WESTERBERG’S SOLO DEBUT
Paul Westerberg’s 1993 album 14 Songs marked his official solo debut after the dissolution of The Replacements, delivering a collection that balanced his signature blend of raw rock and roll with more introspective, melodic moments.
The album features a mix of energetic tracks and poignant ballads, showcasing his enduring talent for wry lyrics and heartfelt songwriting.
JUNE 16, 1972: THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
With nearly 8 million sold worldwide, David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars remains his second best-selling album behind 1983’s Let’s Dance.
In 2017, the Library of Congress deemed the album “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
JUNE 17, 1983: THE POLICE’S SYNCHRONICITY
Synchronicity was The Police’s final and biggest studio album. The album contained the hits “King of Pain”, “Wrapped Around Your Finger” and “Every Breath You Take”.
“Every Breath You Take” would spend eight-straight weeks at #1, and was the best-selling single of 1983.
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.”
JUNE 20, 1975: NEIL YOUNG’S TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT
Neil Young’s sixth album, Tonight’s the Night, is a dark album about loss and grief.
Young’s guitarist, Danny Whitten, and roadie Bruce Berry both died of overdoses within several months of one another.
Early releases of the deeply cathartic album contained liner notes from Neil Young: “I’m sorry. You don’t know these people. This means nothing to you.”
JUNE 21, 1966: THE BEATLES RECORD ‘SHE SAID, SHE SAID’ WITHOUT PAUL McCARTNEY
The Beatles’ “She Said, She Said” was inspired by Peter Fonda’s LSD-fueled “I know what it’s like to be dead,” during a trip where John Lennon and George Harrison felt alienated from Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.
Ringo later tried LSD with them, but Paul refused and ultimately didn’t perform on the song after an arrangement dispute.
