On October 31, 1989, MTV aired the first episode of its long-running concert series, Unplugged, with a stripped-down performance by Squeeze. Encouraging guests to play an acoustic set of hits and covers, the show has propelled countless artists to greater levels of fame, while many acts, including Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, and 10,000 Maniacs, found phenomenal success by releasing their sessions as live albums. Clapton’s MTV Unplugged album, for instance, sold 26 million copies worldwide and eventually became the best-selling live album ever. Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York, meanwhile, has long been considered to be one of the greatest live albums of all time.
In 2015, One Direction played the final show of their nearly year-long world tour before their self-proclaimed extended hiatus. While the “On the Road Again Tour” was the second-highest grossing concert tour of the year, it also marked the beginning of the end for the teen group. Two months into the run of dates, Zayn Malik departed the group, while the remaining members of One Direction went their separate ways in the months following the tour.
In 1996, Slash announced his departure from Guns N’ Roses. While he returned to his post exactly two decades later, the legendary guitarist stayed busy during his hiatus, co-founding the supergroup Velvet Revolver (with Scott Weiland, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, and Dave Kushner) and releasing several solo albums.
In 1970, Led Zeppelin began a four-week run at the top of the US album chart with Led Zeppelin III. The album, which features such favorites as “Immigrant Song” and “Celebration Day,” found the band incorporating folk-rock and acoustic elements into many of their songs.
In 1964, The Supremes began a four-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Baby Love,” the group’s second of a remarkable five consecutive No.1s.
In 1992, Boyz II Men landed at the top of the UK singles chart with “End Of The Road,” their only chart-topper in the country. In the US, the track spent a record-breaking 13 weeks at No.1.
BORN ON OCTOBER 31
1961: Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)
1963: Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
1964: Colm O’Ciosoig (My Bloody Valentine)
1966: Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys)
1967: Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne)
1970: Rogers Stevens (Blind Melon)
1980: Isabella Summers (Florence + The Machine)
1981: Frank Anthony Iero (My Chemical Romance)
The Litchfield High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on November 7th with a reception at 6 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School Commons. One of this year’s inductees is the late Mark Wood from the class of 1971.
Mark’s wife, Lynn, says Mark was surrounded by women his whole life – growing up with 3 sisters and then having 3 daughters and they will all be at the ceremony with her on November 7th. She says Mark was dedicated to public service with his role as city attorney for Litchfield and memberships in numerous organizations over the years including the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce and that’s a trait he inherited from his parents.
Lynn says Mark was proud to move back and settle in Litchfield as he truly appreciated the community where he had grown up and attended school. She says he so enjoyed visiting with people in the community when they were out and about, and he was very excited about the Litchfield Area Community Foundation popcorn stand coming to Central Park, but didn’t get to see it as he passed away last year.
Mark’s daughter, Emily, who worked with him in his law practice for 5 years before he passed away and is now in the role he had as city attorney, says that Mark attended Willmar Junior College for 2 years – where he played baseball, and then transferred to Mankato State, and received his law degree at William Mitchell College of Law in the Twin Cities. She says one of his passions was history.
Emily says Mark was very involved in the Litchfield community and remembers him as a founding member of Litchfield Industries, but he was also involved in numerous other organizations and served on several boards of directors.
Meeker County has announced that the Justice and Government Centers will be illuminated green as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. From November 4th through the 11th, the Meeker County Justice and Government Centers will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
Now in its fifth year, Operation Green Light is expected to draw hundreds of counties to participate. The
county role in administering services for veterans includes County Veterans Service Officers helping
fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and compensation benefits each year, as well as other services supporting the approximately 200,000 service members who transition into civilian communities annually.
In addition to lighting the Justice and Government Centers, residents, businesses and other
organizations are encouraged to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their home to a green
bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks a
conversation with friends. By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen,
appreciated, and supported.
The Meeker County Veterans Service Office is dedicated to advocating for the county’s Veterans and
their families by providing guidance and assistance in applying for benefits from the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. They provide information regarding
numerous programs and expert assistance in the development and follow-through of all claims for
entitlement. Residents who are veterans or who know veterans who have not connected with the
Meeker County Veterans Service Office are encouraged to do so and can schedule an appointment by
calling the office at 320-693-5445.
On October 30, 1968, Marvin Gaye scored his first No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” Though the Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong song is now a soul classic affiliated with Gaye, that wasn’t always the case. Gaye’s rendition was actually the third to be released, following versions by The Miracles (1966), as well as by Gladys Knight & the Pips, who also scored a major hit with the song in 1967. Gaye’s recording first caught the attention of DJs in 1968, as a track on his album, In the Groove. Thanks to their warm reception of the song, it was eventually released as a single.
In 2002, 37-year-old producer and DJ Jam Master Jay, of the pioneering hip-hop group, Run-DMC, was fatally shot at his New York City recording studio. The talented turntablist joined Run-DMC in 1982, providing beats for Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels shortly after they all graduated from high school. As a trio, they changed the course of rap music by incorporating rock samples into their unique tunes.
In 2015, Adele went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her record-smashing hit, “Hello.” The blockbuster track topped the charts in 36 countries, including the US, where it reigned at No.1 for ten consecutive weeks. Today, the BRIT and Grammy-winning song remains one of the best-selling digital singles of all time.
In 1971, John Lennon’s sophomore solo album, Imagine, topped the UK charts. Co-produced by Lennon, Phil Spector, and Yoko Ono, the broadly acclaimed album also went to No.1 in Japan, the US, and Australia, among other territories. Today, Imagine is considered to be among Lennon’s best solo works (and one of the greatest albums of all time), with such enduring songs as “Jealous Guy,” “Oh Yoko!,” and the iconic title track.
In 1982, Australian band Men At Work scored their first No.1 hit in the US with “Who Can It Be Now.”
In 1998, all four original members of Black Sabbath reunited to play “Paranoid” on the David Letterman Show.
BORN ON OCTOBER 30
1939: Otis Williams (The Temptations)
1939: Eddie Holland
1939: Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
1947: Timothy B Schmit, (Eagles, Poco)
1960: Joey Belladonna (Anthrax)
1967: Gavin Rossdale (Bush)
