Historic events this week from INXS, Pink Floyd, John Lennon and David Bowie
SEPTEMBER 7, 1984: INXS PLAYS GUAM
After finishing a North American tour behind their fourth album, The Swing, INXS headed to Guam for two dates to perform for US troops stationed there.
They are the first international band ever to perform in Guam.
SEPTEMBER 7, 1987: A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON BY PINK FLOYD
A Momentary Lapse of Reason was the 13th studio album from Pink Floyd.
Containing the songs “Learning to Fly” and “On the Turning Away”, it is the band’s first album without founding member Roger Waters.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1971: IMAGINE
John Lennon‘s Imagine contained much socio-political vitriol with songs like “Gimme Some Truth”, “I Don’t Want to Be a Solider, Mama” and “Imagine”, which he summed up as “anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it’s sugar-coated, it’s accepted”.
The very personal album contains the vitriolic “How Do You Sleep”, about Paul McCartney dissolving the Lennon/McCartney partnership. Paul McCartney is the only former Beatle to not appear on the classic album.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1975: PINK FLOYD RELEASES WISH YOU WERE HERE
The release of Wish You Were Here gave Pink Floyd their second straight US #1 album. The album contains criticism of the music industry (“Have a Cigar”), self-reflection (“Wish You Were Here”) and a lengthy tribute to Syd Barrett (“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”). With 6 million copies sold in the US, it is their third biggest selling album behind The Dark Side of The Moon and The Wall.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1980: DAVID BOWIE’S SUPER MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS)
David Bowie‘s Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) was a pivotal album that achieved #1 in the UK and a strong #12 in the US, successfully merging his experimental inclinations with a more direct sound. Notably, the album’s title was inspired by a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes packet offering “scary monsters and superheroes” toys. It also features a reprisal of his iconic Major Tom character in the hit single “Ashes to Ashes,” and marks his final studio collaboration with long-time producer Tony Visconti for over two decades.
