Music History

Rick Astley began a five-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with his debut hit "Never Gonna Give You Up". The song became the best-selling single of 1987, reached No. 1 in sixteen countries, and won the Brit Award for Best British Single in 1988.

Michael Jackson released “Bad”.

Fleetwood Mac released "Little Lies" from their fourteenth studio album, "Tango in the Night". The song was written by group member Christine McVie with her then-husband Eddy Quintela. The single reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 in the United Kingdom, becoming the group's last U.S. Top 10 hit.

Michael Jackson's album "Bad" reached No. 1 on the British albums chart and began a five-week run at the top.

CBS Records recorded the largest advance order of albums in its history when it shipped 2.25 million copies of Michael Jackson's "Bad" to stores in the United States. The album followed "Thriller", Jackson's best-selling album, and later sold more than 13 million copies.

Michael Jackson's "Bad" music video was broadcast for the first time on CBS-TV.

MTV launched "Club MTV", its contemporary and considerably more provocative version of "American Bandstand".

Mick Jagger released the single “Let's Work.”

Sonny Bono announced his candidacy for mayor of Palm Springs, California, after encountering problems while attempting to open a restaurant there.

Mike Joyce, drummer of The Smiths, left the band, stating that his role in the group had been fulfilled. In 1996, he sued former Smiths members Johnny Marr and Morrissey over an equal share of songwriting and recording income. He won the case and received approximately £1 million in damages.

American Bandstand aired its final episode on ABC-TV after 30 years on the air. However, the show was not permanently canceled and continued in syndication.

Ian Astbury of The Cult was arrested after a concert in Vancouver following disturbances at the show, with security staff alleging that he had assaulted them.

Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who survived the 1977 plane crash reunited at the Starwood Amphitheater in Nashville and performed for the first time under the name "Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band" as part of a series of concerts marking the 10th anniversary of the crash, which killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines. The enthusiastic response from fans led to the band's permanent reunion and the recording of new material.

Michael Jackson released the single “Bad”, the title track of his first album after “Thriller”. It was originally intended to be a duet with Prince, who turned down the offer. The song became a major hit, reaching No. 1 in the charts in the US, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. The album Bad was also released in the UK.

Pink Floyd released “A Momentary Lapse of Reason”, their thirteenth studio album and the band's first without founding member Roger Waters. Following the legal dispute, David Gilmour led the group. The album helped restore the band's prominent position, was followed by an extensive world tour and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It reached No. 3 in the US and UK and No. 1 in New Zealand.

Pink Floyd began the A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Ottawa, Canada, despite threats from former member Roger Waters to sue the promoters. Waters later withdrew his objection to the use of the Pink Floyd name in an out-of-court settlement in December 1987 in exchange for exclusive legal control over the concept, design and stage elements of The Wall. The agreement allowed the group to continue using the Pink Floyd name.

Def Leppard began the North American leg of their world tour for the album “Hysteria” with a concert at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York.

Soundgarden released their debut EP, “Screaming Life”, on Sub Pop Records.

The city of Lithonia, Georgia, proclaimed “Brenda Lee Day” in honor of its native daughter Brenda Lee, born Brenda Mae Tarpley, and named a local street Brenda Lee Lane after her. Between 1960 and 1967, Brenda Lee had a total of 29 songs in the Billboard Top 40, including “Sweet Nothin’s,” “I’m Sorry,” “Fool #1” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

“Lost In Emotion” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.

M/A/R/S reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with the double-sided single “Pump Up the Volume” / “Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance).” “Pump Up the Volume” became a major UK house hit and made extensive use of samples from other recordings, which subsequently led to legal disputes.

Smokey Robinson was at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “One Heartbeat,” while ABC's song “When Smokey Sings,” about him, was at No. 8.

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr began rehearsing with The Pretenders in preparation for their North American tour, on which the group was to support U2.

American songwriter Steph Jones was born. She has written songs for artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, Florence + The Machine, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Shania Twain and Teddy Swims.

Exodus released their second studio album Pleasures of the Flesh.

Chuck Berry received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1777 N. Vine Street. His film biography Hail, Hail Rock & Roll premiered in Los Angeles that same evening.

The film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll about Chuck Berry premiered in U.S. cinemas.

ZZ Top members Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard reserved seats in advance through Pan American World Airways for the supposedly first commercial flight to the Moon. It was a publicity stunt promoting their space-themed album Afterburner. The flight never took place, and Pan Am went bankrupt in 1991.

Columbia Records released Bruce Springsteen's eighth studio album, "Tunnel of Love". Although members of The E Street Band performed on some of the tracks, Springsteen recorded most of the parts himself, often using drum machines and synthesizers. The album topped the charts in both the US and UK and reached the Top Ten in fourteen other countries. It became one of Springsteen's major studio releases.

Michael Jackson's "Bad" remained at No. 1 on the US album chart for the third consecutive week.

Def Leppard's album Hysteria began gaining momentum on the U.S. album chart.

The soundtrack to the film Dirty Dancing rose from number 12 to number seven on the U.S. album chart.

Heart's album Bad Animals fell to number ten on the U.S. album chart.

John Cougar Mellencamp's album The Lonesome Jubilee reached the U.S. album Top 10.

“ La Bamba” by Los Lobos remained at number four on the U.S. chart.

Michael Jackson's album Bad remained at number one on the U.S. album chart for a third week. It stayed ahead of Whitesnake and Whitney Houston at the top.

Pink Floyd's album A Momentary Lapse of Reason entered the U.S. album Top 10.

U2's album The Joshua Tree reached number nine on the U.S. album chart.

Wanda Nicholls filed an official complaint accusing David Bowie of rape and biting her legs and back. Bowie denied the allegations and, according to the source, claimed that Nicholls was seeking publicity.

Whitesnake reached number one on the U.S. singles chart with “Here I Go Again.” The song also topped the Canadian chart and reached number nine in the UK.

Whitney Houston's album Whitney reached the U.S. album chart behind Michael Jackson's Bad.

The charity compilation A Very Special Christmas is released, featuring modern interpretations of Christmas songs. It includes Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear?”, Madonna’s “Santa Baby,” and Run-D.M.C.’s original song “Christmas in Hollis.” Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.

Australian rock band INXS releases its sixth studio album, Kick, which becomes its most successful and best-selling studio album. It includes the hits “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” “New Sensation,” and “Never Tear Us Apart.” The album reaches No. 1 in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and enters the top ten in both the UK and U.S. charts.

Sting released his second solo album, ...Nothing Like the Sun.