This Day in Music
In 2018, a new digital milestone occurred when Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” became the first video released before the advent of YouTube to surpass one billion views on the platform. One of the most expensive music videos of its time, the 1992 visual was directed by Andy Morahan and featured supermodel Stephanie Seymour, the then-girlfriend of frontman Axl Rose. The power ballad, which peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100, also marked the longest song to enter the US Top Ten at the time.
In 1972, Elton John earned his first No.1 album in the US with his fifth studio effort, Honkey Chateau. Named for the 18th-century French chateau in which it was recorded (Château d’Hérouville), the album featured the Top 10 singles “Rocket Man” and “Honkey Cat.”
In 1978, The Rolling Stones began a two-week run at the top of the US album chart with Some Girls. Despite the popularity of the album (which marked their 16th LP in the US), the Peter Corriston-designed jacket cover caused a stir among some of the era’s biggest celebrities. The image, which featured the likenesses of Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett, Judy Garland, Raquel Welch, and Marilyn Monroe, was instantly challenged by the women and/or their estates. Corston redesigned the cover, without the starlets’ faces, and the album was promptly reissued.
In 1958, John Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, was hit and killed by a car driven by an off-duty policeman. While John, who was 17 at the time of the tragedy, lived with his aunt Mimi, he was very close with his mother. Julia, in turn, was one of his biggest supporters at Quarrymen shows. The loss inspired several of the artist’s songs, including 1968’s “Julia” (with The Beatles) and his 1970 solo track, “Mother.” John’s first son, Julian, was named for Julia.
In 1956, 13-year-old Frankie Lymon (with The Teenagers) became the youngest artist to hit the top spot on the UK pop charts with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
In 1989, Pink Floyd performed on a floating barge in Venice’s Grand Canal, during the Italian city’s annual Festa del Redentore. More than 200,000 fans attended the show (double what authorities had planned for), taking over buildings and bridges along the San Marco Basin. Following the concert, which was broadcast to global audiences, the Italian Army was called in to help clean up the trash and damage that resulted from the overflow of onlookers.
BORN ON JULY 15
1946: Linda Ronstadt
1947: Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators)
1949: Trevor Horn (Buggles)
1952: Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls)
1956: Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
1956: Joe Satriani
1966: Jason Bonham
1973: John Dolmayan (System of a Down)
1977: Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
1990: Olly Alexander (Years & Years)
