History Highlights:

Today in:

1965 - The Kinks kicked off their first headlining tour of the British Isles. The Yardbirds opened.

1983 - Michael Jackson started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "Beat It," his fifth solo US No.1.

1983 - One of the greatest and most influential of all Chicago blues men, Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), died of a heart attack at age 68.

1990 - Prince played a concert at Rupert's Night-club, Minneapolis. The $100 a head ticket proceeds all went to the family of his former bodyguard Charles 'Big Chick' Huntsberry, who had died from a heart attack.

1991 - Nirvana signed a recording contract with Geffen's DGC label for $290,000.

Birthdays:

Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver, is 33 today.

Wayne Kramer, of MC5 and Mudhoney, is 66.