Music History

The Grateful Dead performed before an audience of 66,000 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

Frank Zappa, Scorpions, Brand X, John McLaughlin, Ten Years After, Joan Baez and Genesis appeared at Ludwigsparkstadion in Saarbrücken, Germany.

AC/DC performed at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Electric Light Orchestra performed at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Joe Negroni, a founding member and singer with Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, died in New York City from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 37, just four days before his 37th birthday. The group had a major 1956 hit with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” which reached number one in the UK and number six in the US.

American rapper Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, known by her stage name Foxy Brown, was born in Brooklyn, New York.

American record producer Thomas "Tom" Wilson died in Los Angeles at the age of 47 from a heart attack. He worked with Bob Dylan on the albums "The Times They Are a-Changin'", "Another Side of Bob Dylan" and "Bringing It All Back Home", with Frank Zappa on "Freak Out!", with Simon & Garfunkel on "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." and with The Velvet Underground on "White Light/White Heat". He also worked with The Mothers of Invention and other artists.

The Who drummer Keith Moon died in London on September 7, 1978, at the age of 32. He was born on August 23, 1946, at Central Middlesex Hospital in London. He died after overdosing on Heminevrin, a sedative prescribed to treat alcohol-related problems. Moon died in apartment No. 12 at 9 Curzon Place in London's Mayfair, which belonged to singer Harry Nilsson. Exactly four years earlier, Cass Elliot of The Mamas & The Papas had died in the same bedroom. The post-mortem found 32 tablets in his body, 26 of which remained undissolved. The previous evening, Moon had attended a party hosted by Paul McCartney to mark the release of The Buddy Holly Story. Moon played on all of The Who's albums from their 1965 debut My Generation through Who Are You in 1978, which was released two weeks before his death. After his death, he was replaced in The Who by Kenney Jones of Faces.

Yes performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Golden Earring released their thirteenth studio album, “Grab It for a Second”. After the previous tour with Ted Nugent, the band wanted to make a hard rock album, but the record label chose producer Jimmy Iovine. It was also the band’s last album with second guitarist Eelco Gelling.

Rory Gallagher released his seventh solo studio album, “Photo-Finish”. The band was reduced to a power trio with drummer Ted McKenna of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Notable tracks on the album included “Shin Kicker”, “Shadow Play”, and “Overnight Bag”.

Yes performed at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

AC/DC performed at the Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio.

Gene Simmons received a platinum award for his self-titled solo album, one of four solo albums released simultaneously by members of KISS. Simmons's album was the most successful of the four in the United States, reaching No. 22.

During an Aerosmith concert at the Fort Wayne Coliseum in Indiana, police arrested dozens of fans for possession or smoking of marijuana, underage drinking and other minor offenses. Among those arrested was reportedly Steven Tyler's seamstress, who was caught smoking an ordinary cigarette. Tyler strongly protested the police action from the stage, referring to the officers among other things as “Gestapo” and “scumbags.” After the concert, Aerosmith offered to pay bail for all the arrested fans. Estimates of the total number arrested vary considerably among sources, ranging from around 30 to more than 60; however, as many as 28 arrested fans accepted the band's offer. An Aerosmith accountant subsequently paid approximately $4,200 in bail and fines during separate court proceedings.

American singer, songwriter and musician Jake Shears, born Jason Sellards, and co-founder of Scissor Sisters, was born in Mesa, Arizona. The group's self-titled 2004 album reached No. 1 on the UK chart and became the best-selling album of 2004; all five singles from the album reached the UK Top 20. The group's second No. 1 album, Ta-Dah, produced their first UK chart-topping single, “I Don't Feel Like Dancin'.”

Tammy Wynette announced that she had been kidnapped from a shopping center in Nashville, beaten, and held in her car for two hours by a man wearing a ski mask. According to her account, the kidnapper threatened her with a gun and forced her to drive approximately 80 miles from Nashville before releasing her. After her death, her daughter Jackie Daly claimed that Wynette had fabricated the kidnapping to cover up domestic violence by George Richey.

Aerosmith performed at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dolly Parton became the first female country singer to pose for Playboy magazine.

Guitarist and singer James Valentine was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is known as a member of the pop rock band Maroon 5.

English musician Patrick Walden, known as the guitarist for Babyshambles, was born.

Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) of ABBA were married in a private ceremony in Lidingö, Sweden. Their marriage lasted approximately three years; they separated in 1981 and divorced the same year.

Australian “King of Rock'n'Roll” Johnny O'Keefe, considered the first major Australian rock'n'roll star, died at the age of 43 after an accidental overdose of prescribed medication caused a heart attack. He was the first Australian rock'n'roll performer to tour the United States and had 29 Australian Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1974. He was known for songs including “Wild One” and “Shout!”, while his 1958 hit “Real Wild Child” was later recorded by Iggy Pop in 1986.

Mick Jagger apologized to Reverend Jesse Jackson over the controversial lyrics of “Some Girls,” which Jackson described as racist and offensive toward Black people and women. Jagger nevertheless refused to change the lyrics and explained that the song was parodying real racial stereotypes rather than endorsing them. Atlantic Records, represented by Ahmet Ertegun, also met with Jackson about the song.

English singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and television personality Alesha Dixon was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. She became famous as a member of the R&B and garage group Mis-Teeq.

Boston's album “Don't Look Back” returned to No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 after a two-week break.

Dire Straits released their self-titled debut album. It was initially more successful in the UK and Australia, later gaining ground in the US, where the single “Sultans of Swing” reached the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The soundtrack to the film musical Grease began a 13-week run at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart on October 7, 1978. The album remained at the top of the UK chart for a total of 13 weeks.

Billboard reported that Marvin Gaye had filed for personal bankruptcy and bankruptcy protection for his company Right On Productions twice during the year. His financial problems were connected to heavy debts, tax liabilities, and his divorce settlement with Anna Gordy.

Merle Haggard married his third wife, Leona Williams, a country singer and member of his backing band. The marriage lasted until 1983.

The Rolling Stones were both hosts and musical guests on the premiere episode of Season 4 of Saturday Night Live on NBC, where they performed “Beast of Burden.” A month later, the song reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Toto released their first single, “Hold The Line,” which became a hit.

Yes performed at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California.

Bob Dylan appeared at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.

Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan married his longtime girlfriend, former model Kim Kerrigan, who was the first wife of The Who drummer Keith Moon.

Belgian singer-songwriter and actor Jacques Brel died at the age of 49. His songs were recorded or performed in translation by artists including Ray Charles, Scott Walker, Alex Harvey, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, John Denver, Nina Simone and Terry Jacks.

Judas Priest released their fifth album, "Hell Bent for Leather" in the United States and "Killing Machine" in most other territories.

Irish singer and songwriter Nicholas "Nicky" Byrne was born in Dublin, Ireland. He is best known as a member of the boy band Westlife, who scored 14 UK No. 1 singles and sold over 50 million records worldwide.

The Rolling Stones released "Beast of Burden" in the US, where it reached No. 8. Rolling Stone later ranked it No. 435 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

During an Aerosmith concert in Philadelphia, an object was thrown onto the stage, injuring Joe Perry and Steven Tyler. The band performed behind a security barrier for the rest of the tour.

The second UK tour by Stiff Records began, featuring Wreckless Eric, Jon Lewie, Rachel Sweet, Lene Lovich and Micky Jupp. They traveled around Britain by train and then continued to the U.S. without Jupp, who was afraid to fly.

Columbia Records released Billy Joel's sixth studio album, 52nd Street. The album spent eight non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard album chart and produced the hits "My Life," which reached No. 3 in the United States and No. 12 in the UK; "Big Shot," which reached No. 14 in the United States; and "Honesty," which reached No. 24. The album won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 1982, it was also among the first 50 albums released on compact disc.

Black Sabbath performed at the Stadthalle in Offenbach, West Germany.

Aerosmith perform at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Billy Joel releases 52nd Street, following the success of The Stranger and helping solidify his place in the music scene.

Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, is found dead with stab wounds in a room at New York’s Chelsea Hotel. Vicious calls the police and is arrested and charged with her murder. He is later released on bail but dies of a heroin overdose in February 1979 before the trial. New York police then close the case.

AC/DC released the live album "If You Want Blood You've Got It", the band's first live album and the only live album featuring Bon Scott as lead vocalist.

Bob Dylan performed at The Olympia in Detroit, Michigan.

Genesis performed at the Uptown Theater in Chicago.

Led Zeppelin began rehearsals for a new album that would later become their final studio album, In Through the Out Door.