Today in Music History

Singer-songwriter George Ezra reached number one on the UK singles chart with the song “Shotgun”. The song was an international hit and also reached number one in Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Mark David Chapman, who murdered John Lennon in December 1980, was denied parole for the tenth time. He was held at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden near Buffalo, New York.

Taylor Swift released her seventh studio album “Lover” through Republic Records, her first album after ending her partnership with her former label Big Machine Records. The optimistic-sounding record contrasted with her previous album “Reputation”. All 18 tracks entered the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for the number of songs by a female artist simultaneously on the chart. The album reached number one in 20 countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and the UK, and became her sixth US number-one album on the Billboard chart.

NASA's Mars InSight mission named a small rock on Mars after The Rolling Stones. The golf-ball-sized rock rolled approximately three feet during the probe's landing in November 2018 as a result of the force of its thrusters. Mick Jagger was delighted and joked that he would like to bring it back and display it on the band's mantelpiece.

Travis Scott released the song “The Plan”.

“WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion reached number one on the US chart, where it remained for two weeks.

Fritz McIntyre, keyboardist in the original lineup of Simply Red and one of the band's founding members, died at the age of 62. He was with the group from its 1985 debut album „Picture Book“ through the 1995 album „Life“.

John Lydon lost a High Court case aimed at preventing the use of Sex Pistols music in a new television drama. Former drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones sued Lydon after he attempted to veto the use of the band's songs in a series directed by Danny Boyle. The series “Pistol” was based on Jones's 2016 memoir “Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol”.

American songwriter and producer Bob Feldman died at the age of 83. Together with Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer, he wrote several hits including “My Boyfriend's Back” by The Angels in 1963. In 1964, the three founded The Strangeloves, who had the hit “I Want Candy”. The trio also wrote the song “Sorrow”, later successful in versions by The Merseys and David Bowie, and produced The McCoys' hit “Hang On Sloopy”.

The Republican presidential debate opened with a sample of Oliver Anthony's song “Rich Men North Of Richmond”, which criticizes corrupt and incompetent politicians in Washington. The candidates were asked why the song had generated such a strong response across the country.

Foo Fighters announced that they had not given Donald Trump permission to use the song “My Hero” at his campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona, where he brought Robert F. Kennedy Jr. onto the stage. The band said that they had not been asked for permission and that, had they been asked, they would not have allowed the use of the song. A Foo Fighters representative said that any royalties from the use of the song would be donated to Kamala Harris's campaign.

Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth album “Short n' Sweet”. With hits including “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”, the album represented her major breakthrough and placed her among successful singers who first became famous as actresses.