History Highlight:

William Michael Albert Broad — better known as Billy Idol — was born on this day in 1955, making him 70 today. First achieving fame in the ‘70s London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X, he really made it big when he kicked off his solo career which led to international recognition and becoming a key player in the "Second British Invasion" in the United States. Legend has it that his stage name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a teacher's description of him as "idle". But that’s hardly the life he’s lived across his many decades of performing. Still going strong, he released his ninth studio album, Dream Into It, in April of 2025.

Also, in:

1969 - The Monkees made what would be their last live appearance for 15 years when they played at The Oakland Coliseum in California.

1969 - Simon & Garfunkel hosted their first television special, Songs of America, which caused controversy when it showed footage of Robert Kennedy's funeral and the Vietnam War, which led to their original sponsor to disassociate itself from the special.

1971 - Sly and the Family Stone were at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Family Affair", their fourth and final No. 1. Rolling Stone magazine later ranked the song #138 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

1972 - Wings released the single "Hi, Hi, Hi" which was banned by the BBC due to having lyrics "unsuitable" for broadcast. The song would later reach number five in the U.K. & number ten in the U.S.

1974 - Elton John's Greatest Hits album hit No. 1 in America, where it stayed for the last five weeks of 1974 and first five of 1975.

1977 - Bing Crosby's last Christmas special aired. The program was recorded in September, and Crosby died that October. The show is remembered for Crosby's unusual duet with David Bowie, where they sang a modified version of "Little Drummer Boy," with Bowie singing the new "Peace On Earth" lyrics composed by the show's writers.

1979 - Pink Floyd released The Wall, which has sold over 30 million copies. The powerful concept album's themes of isolation and despair resonated with legions of fans, and it even spawned a No. 1 single, "Another Brick In The Wall (part II).”

1979 - Adam and the Ants released their debut studio album, Dirk Wears White Sox.

1986 - The Jets released their second studio album, Christmas with The Jets. It features the songs "Christmas in My Heart," "Somewhere Out There," "You Make It Christmas," and "This Christmas, This Year."

1994 - The Beatles released the live compilation album Live at the BBC. It features the single "Baby It's You."

1994 - Tupac Shakur was shot five times during a robbery outside a New York City recording studio.

1996 - Ice Cube obtained a restraining order to keep an obsessed fan away from him and his family. Cynthia Renee Collins was told to stop harassing the 26-year-old rapper, and stay at least 100 feet away from him.

1997 - Chumbawamba's Danbert Nobacon was arrested by Italian police for wearing a skirt and was detained in police cells overnight.

1997 - Metallica were at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Reload, the band's third U.S. No.1 album.

1999 - Q-Tip released his debut solo studio album, Amplified. It features the singles "Vivrant Thing," "Breathe and Stop," and "Let's Ride."

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. In 2010, it was reported that "Joey Ramone Place," was New York City's most stolen sign. The sign has since been moved to 20 feet above ground level.

2004 - Kelly Clarkson released her second studio album, Breakaway. It features the singles "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Because of You," "Walk Away," and "Breakaway."

2004 - Jay-Z and Linkin Park released their collaborative mash-up EP, Collision Course. It features the single "Numb/Encore."

2010 - Seven months after being released from jail after serving three years for tax evasion, Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers releases the album Mr. I, with contributions from Lauryn Hill and T.I.

2012 - Glen Campbell played the very last live performance of his lifetime when he appeared at Uptown Theatre in Napa, California. Campbell revealed his Alzheimer's diagnosis to the public in 2011, and had set out on his Goodbye Tour as a way to say farewell to his fans. He passed away August 8, 2017.

2018 - The 1975 released their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. It features the singles "Give Yourself a Try," "Love It If We Made It," "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime," "Sincerity Is Scary," and "It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)."

2018 - Alessia Cara released her second studio album, The Pains of Growing. It features the singles "Growing Pains," "Trust My Lonely," and "Out of Love."

2019 - Celebrated portrait photographer Raeanne Rubenstein died at age 74. She began her career in New York City in the 1960s, where she worked primarily at the Fillmore East, documenting such icons as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Lou Reed, Pink Floyd and Joe Cocker. Rubenstein visited Nashville in 1975, where she became a fan of the personalities of country music, eventually photographing artists including Dolly Parton, Lynn Anderson, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Gram Parsons, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

2022 - Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac died at the age of 79 in London, England.

2023 - Shane MacGowan of the Pogues died at the age of 65 in Dublin, Ireland.

Birthdays:

Dick Clark was born in 1929.

Bob Moore of the Nashville A-Team was born today in 1932.

Jimmy Bowen — recording star (“I’m Stickin’ With You”) and record producer credited with teaming up Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood — is 88.

Luther Ingram — “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” — was born today in 1937.

Deep Purple and Rainbow bassist Roger Glover is 80.

Shuggie Otis is 72.

June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters was born today in 1953.

David Sancious, regular Bruce Springsteen collaborator, is 72.

John Ashton, guitar player for the Psychedelic Furs, is 68.

Richard Barbieri of Japan and Porcupine Tree is 68.

Stacey Q is 67.

Cherie Currie, solo artist and former lead vocalist of the Runaways, is 65.

Des'ree is 57.

Mindy McCready was born today in 1975.

Steve Aoki is 48.

Clay Aiken is 47.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.