This Day in Music
On this day in music, May 2, 1963, The Beatles scored their first UK No.1 hit with “From Me to You.” Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, the song’s title was inspired by the name of the NME’s Letters section. Although the single did not initially appear on the US Hot 100, it did give the band their first entry on the Billboard charts, peaking at No.116 on the Bubbling Under ranking, while a cover of the tune by Del Shannon gained traction shortly after.
In 1964, The Rolling Stones’ eponymous debut began a 12-week run at the top of the UK album chart. Recorded at Regent Sound Studios in London, the English rock band’s album was produced by then-managers Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton. While the US version was released several weeks later, it swapped out “I Need You Baby” for “Not Fade Away.” It was the Stones’ only American album that did not place within the Billboard 200’s Top 5.
In 1980, post-punk pioneers Joy Division played their final show together at Birmingham University. Formed in 1976, the English rock band recorded two albums before frontman Ian Curtis took his own life at 23 – just one day before the group was due to depart on their first North American tour. After Curtis’ death, the remaining band members regrouped as New Order.
In 1991, Nirvana began recording their sophomore album, Nevermind, at Southern California’s Sound City Studios. With producer Butch Vig at the helm and a budget of $65,000, the grunge pioneers would soon make history with their era-defining album.
In 1998, Japanese rock star Hideto “Hide” Matsumoto was found dead at age 33. Hide was the lead guitarist of X Japan and formed the rock supergroup, Zilch. His funeral was attended by over 70,000 people, requiring 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats, and helicopters to keep crowds at bay.
In 1969, The Who gave a press preview of their new rock opera, Tommy, at London’s Ronnie Scott club. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
BORN ON MAY 2
1929: Link Wray
1936: Engelbert Humperdinck
1946: Lesley Gore
1950: Lou Gramm (Foreigner)
1985: Lily Allen
1987: Justin Hayward-Young (The Vaccines)
