Birthdays:

Billy Idol (born William Broad) and his bright white hair turn 57 today.

Today In:

1982 - Michael Jackson's Thriller album was released. It became the biggest selling pop album of all time, with sales of over 50 million copies.

1989 - The Happy Mondays and fellow Mancunians The Stone Roses both made their debut appearance on UK TV music show Top Of The Pops. The Mondays performed "Hellelujah" and the Roses did "Fools Gold."

2005 - Police were investigating claims that Michael Jackson was trafficking drugs to feed his 40 pills-a-day habit. The singer was suspected of flying antidepressants and painkillers from the US to his then home in Bahrain.

2006 - The sale of Syd Barrett's final belongings were sold by Cheffins auctioneers in Cambridge, England. The sale of the 77 items raised $233,786.

History Highlight:

Today in 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place. It is the block where Joey once lived with band mate Dee Dee Ramone, and is near the music club CBGB, where the Ramones played their first gigs.