The database currently contains 4349 historical events.
No events found for this day.
Unable to load events from the database.
Events for this day
- English poet and composer Ivor Gurney was born in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England.
- American swing and jazz musician Ernie Fields was born in Nacogdoches, Texas. He grew up in Oklahoma and became known as the bandleader of the Royal Entertainers of Tulsa.
- Folk music documentarian Roger Tory Peterson was born.
- American actress Nancy Kulp, who also had experience in musical theater, was born.
- American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist Billy Grammer was born in Benton, Illinois. He became particularly known for his million-selling 1959 hit “Gotta Travel On”.
- Singer, dancer, and actor Donald O'Connor was born in Chicago, Illinois. He became famous for his role in the film “Singin' in the Rain” alongside Gene Kelly.
- Bassist and session musician Joe Osborn was born in Mound, Louisiana. As a member of The Wrecking Crew, he played on recordings by The Mamas & the Papas, The Carpenters, The Association, and The 5th Dimension. He also played on “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by The 5th Dimension and was also known for his work with the studio musicians’ group known as the A-Team.
- Singer John Perkins of The Crew-Cuts was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The group was known for their 1954 hit “Sh-Boom”, a cover of the song by The Chords.
- American songwriter, music producer, and singer Ivy Jo Hunter, whose real name was George Ivy Hunter, was born in Detroit, Michigan. Together with Marvin Gaye and William “Mickey” Stevenson, he wrote the hit “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas and also contributed to songs for The Temptations, the Isley Brothers, and The Four Tops.
- English drummer John Marshall was born. He was a founding member of the jazz-rock group Nucleus and served as the drummer of Soft Machine from 1972 to 1978. He also worked with Allan Holdsworth, Alexis Korner, Jack Bruce, and John McLaughlin.
- Ken Andrew, the original drummer of the Scottish pop group Middle of the Road, was born in Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland. In 1971, the group had the UK No. 1 single “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep”; the song was among the few singles to sell more than 10 million physical copies.
- American guitarist Sterling Morrison, one of the founding members of the rock group Velvet Underground, was born. The group’s debut album “The Velvet Underground & Nico” was released in 1967.
- Ann “Honey” Lantree, drummer and singer of the English beat and pop group The Honeycombs, was born in Hayes, Middlesex, England. In 1964, the group had the UK No. 1 single “Have I the Right”, produced by Joe Meek.
- American-British actor and singer David Richard Solberg, known as David Soul, was born in Chicago, Illinois. He became famous for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the television series Starsky & Hutch from 1975 to 1979, and as a singer he had the UK No. 1 single “Silver Lady” in 1976 and “Don't Give Up On Us”, which reached No. 1 in both the UK and US in 1977.
- American musician Danny Seraphine was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, remaining with the group from its formation in 1967 until 1990.
- English musician, singer, and songwriter Hugh Cornwell, co-founder, singer, and guitarist of the punk rock and new wave group The Stranglers, was born in North London. He served as the group’s lead singer and guitarist from 1974 to 1990. The Stranglers had the No. 2 UK single “Golden Brown” in 1982 and more than 20 other Top 40 hits.
- English drummer Martin Lamble, a member of the folk-rock group Fairport Convention, was born in St John's Wood, London. He played on the group’s first three albums. In 1969, he died at the age of 19 in a van accident on the M1 motorway.
- American musician and songwriter David “Dave” Hlubek was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of the rock band Molly Hatchet.
- American drummer and session musician Dennis Davis was born. He became best known for his work with David Bowie, with whom he recorded ten albums, including seven consecutive studio albums from Bowie’s classic mid-to-late 1970s period, and contributed to a number of hit singles including “Fame”. He also recorded with Stevie Wonder and Iggy Pop.
- Wayne Osmond, singer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist, was born in Ogden, Utah. He became famous as a member of the American family music group The Osmonds, which had the US No. 1 single “One Bad Apple” in 1971, the 1974 hit “Crazy Horses”, and the UK No. 1 single “Love Me for a Reason” in the same year. The Osmonds sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
- Fourteen-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Money, Mississippi, by two white men because he spoke to a white woman. His story later inspired Bob Dylan’s song “The Death Of Emmett Till” and Emmylou Harris’s “My Name Is Emmett Till”.
- Jazz saxophonist Elton Dean, a member of Soft Machine, was born.
- Barry White was sentenced at the age of 16 to four months in prison for stealing tires worth $30,000. He was released on parole after three months. While in prison, he heard Elvis Presley singing “It’s Now or Never”, which inspired him to devote his life to music. He left his street gang, joined the group The Upfronts, and later became a singer and producer. He sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned numerous gold and platinum singles.
- Joe Dowell reached No. 1 on the US singles chart with his version of “Wooden Heart”. The song is best known for its use in Elvis Presley’s 1960 film “G.I. Blues”, which gave Elvis a UK No. 1 hit. Among those who contributed to Dowell’s recording were Floyd Cramer on piano, The Anita Kerr Singers, The Jordanaires, and Ray Stevens on organ. The song remained at the top of the US chart for one week.
- British singer and songwriter Kim Appleby, one half of the sibling pop duo Mel and Kim, was born in Hackney, London. Together with her sister Melanie Appleby, she had the UK No. 1 single “Respectable” in 1987 as Mel and Kim, as well as three other UK Top 10 hits: “Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)”, “F.L.M.”, and “That's the Way It Is”.
- Tamla Records released the Marvelettes’ first single, “Please Mr. Postman”. The song sold more than one million copies, became the group’s biggest hit, topped both the Billboard pop and R&B charts, and was Motown’s first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Peter, Paul and Mary performed “Blowin' in the Wind” for participants in the March on Washington for civil rights, who had gathered to hear Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Before his speech, they performed their hit version of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin' in the Wind”. The same program also featured Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson, and Odetta, who performed in support of equal rights.
- The Beatles appeared on the cover of LIFE magazine.
- After a concert in New York, The Beatles met Bob Dylan for the first time at the Delmonico Hotel in Manhattan, where Dylan offered them marijuana and The Beatles tried it for the first time. Their mutual friend and writer Al Aronowitz was also present. Dylan was surprised that The Beatles had never tried marijuana because he had mistakenly interpreted the line “I can't hide” from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as “I get high”. Paul McCartney later said that after the experience he felt as though he were “thinking for the first time”.
- Billy Joe Royal scored his biggest pop hit when “Down In The Boondocks” climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. He later reached the Top 40 three more times with “I Knew You When”, “I've Got To Be Somebody”, and “Cherry Hill Park”, before finding success on the country charts in the 1980s with twelve Top 40 hits.
- Bob Dylan performed the opening night of his 40-date North American tour at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. He performed the first set solo, while Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Harvey Brooks, and Al Kooper accompanied him in the second. Dylan performed an acoustic and an electric set, with the electric set also featuring the premiere of “Desolation Row”. Angry fans threw objects onto the stage, some rushed onto it and attempted to pull Al Kooper and Levon Helm from their stools. Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm appeared here for the first time as members of Dylan’s electric backing group. The hostile reaction continued the controversy that had begun at the Newport Folk Festival.
- “Papa's Got A Brand New Bag” became James Brown’s first song to break into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It initially reached No. 10 and climbed to No. 8 the following week. Brown’s “new style” emphasized the first beat, or “one”, creating an unusual and highly effective rhythm.
- Canadian singer Shania Twain, born Eilleen Regina Edwards, was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Her 1997 album “Come On Over” became the best-selling album by a female artist in history across all genres and the best-selling country album of all time, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide. She won five Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter Awards. She has sold more than 100 million recordings worldwide and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
- The Beach Boys’ album “Today!” was released in the United Kingdom.
- “California Girls” reached No. 3 on the US singles chart and later reached No. 26 in the UK. The music for the song was written during Brian Wilson’s first experience with LSD. Wilson recorded the vocals using Columbia’s new eight-track recorder, which allowed Mike Love’s lead vocal to be triple-tracked. “California Girls” was also the first Beach Boys recording to feature Bruce Johnston’s vocals.
- The Rolling Stones announced that Allen Klein, whom they had met three days earlier, would become their manager alongside Andrew Loog Oldham. At the same time, The Rolling Stones signed a five-year recording contract with Decca Records.
- The Rolling Stones performed at Balboa Stadium in San Diego during their US tour before more than 15,000 fans.
- The Beatles performed a concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on August 28, 1966, before 45,000 spectators, as part of their final US tour. After the concert, they attempted to leave the stadium in an armored vehicle, but the main gate was locked, forcing them to wait inside the vehicle for two hours before they could leave. On the same day, they performed their final official live concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
- The Grateful Dead and Big Brother and the Holding Company performed at a memorial service for Hell's Angels member Charles “Chocolate George” Hendricks, who died in an accident in San Francisco. Hendricks served as a peacemaker between the bikers and the Haight-Ashbury hippie community. Both bands volunteered to perform in his honor.
- Big Brother and the Holding Company released the album “Cheap Thrills”.
- Simon and Garfunkel began a five-week run at No. 1 on the UK album chart with “Bookends”. The duo’s fourth studio album included the songs “America”, “Mrs. Robinson”, and “A Hazy Shade of Winter”. “Bookends” is a concept album tracing the journey of life from childhood to old age.
- During a recording session for her fifth album at CBS Studios in Nashville on August 28, 1968, Tammy Wynette recorded the song “Stand By Your Man”. Producer Billy Sherrill suggested during the session that she finish a song he had started working on, and they completed it together in just 15 minutes. The song became Wynette’s signature hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 after its release on September 20, 1968, and selling more than two million copies.
- The Beach Boys scored their second No. 1 single in the UK with “Do It Again”, which became their second and final UK chart-topper. In the US, the song reached No. 20.
- At Trident Studios in London, The Beatles began recording a new John Lennon song, “Dear Prudence”. They built the song instrument by instrument using the studio’s eight-track equipment. John Lennon and George Harrison played guitars, while Paul McCartney played drums because Ringo Starr had left The Beatles on August 22.
- The Doors received a gold record for “Hello, I Love You”, which reached No. 1 in the US and No. 15 in the UK. The band and many fans disliked its lighter sound. Ray Davies of The Kinks pointed out the strong similarity between the main guitar riff and the song “All Day and All of the Night”, leading to an out-of-court settlement under which the UK royalties were paid directly to Davies.
- During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, police in riot gear violently confronted protesters demonstrating against the Vietnam War. The Doors, Graham Nash, and Chicago wrote songs about these events.
- Jack Black, American actor, musician, comedian, and songwriter, was born in Santa Monica, California. He is the lead singer and guitarist of the comedy rock and hard rock duo Tenacious D, which he formed with Kyle Gass.
- Paul and Linda McCartney became parents to a daughter named Mary. Mary was named after Paul’s mother, whom Paul also mentioned in the song “Let It Be”. She later became a photographer, documentary filmmaker, and cookbook author.
- The Grateful Dead performed at the Family Dog at the Great Highway club in San Francisco. The venue was housed in the former Edgewater Ballroom, which was part of the Playland At The Beach complex. Family Dog moved there after being forced to leave the Avalon Ballroom.
- The Rolling Stones’ single “Honky Tonk Women” was released in the United Kingdom.
- During a four-week engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, a security employee received a threatening phone call saying that Elvis Presley would be shot during his final performance. The caller demanded $50,000 in exchange for the name of the potential assassin. Later, a meal card with a damaged image of Elvis’s face and a drawn gun pointing at his heart was found in Elvis’s hotel mail. Elvis performed his final show without incident.
- On the third day of the Isle of Wight Festival at Afton Down, performers included Procol Harum, Rory Gallagher's Taste, Chicago, Family, Cactus, and Tony Joe White. Mungo Jerry were listed in the program and on the posters but refused to perform because of the major delay in the schedule, which meant they would not go on until the early hours of the morning. A ticket for the main days of the festival cost £3.
- Magic Juan of Projecto Uno was born.
- The Allman Brothers Band performed in Pensacola, Florida.
- The Velvet Underground’s album “Loaded” was released.
- Elvis Presley became the youngest artist and the first rock musician to receive the prestigious Bing Crosby Award from NARAS for outstanding artistic contribution to recorded music. Because he disliked award ceremonies, the lifetime achievement plaque was presented to him privately in his dressing room at the Las Vegas Hilton.
- John Denver’s first major hit, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”. Denver and co-writers Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert had never visited West Virginia when they wrote the song. The lyrics were inspired by postcards from West Virginia that Bill Danoff received from a friend living in the state. The song later became one of West Virginia’s state anthems.
- Mott the Hoople opened the performances at the Weeley Festival in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England. The lineup also included Rory Gallagher, Caravan, Lindisfarne, The Faces with Rod Stewart, and Van Der Graaf Generator, who performed at 11:30 p.m.
- David Bowie, as Ziggy Stardust, appeared on the American television show The Midnight Special, marking his US television debut.
- The Moody Blues’ album “Seventh Sojourn” was released in the United States.
- Deep Purple received a gold record for “Smoke On the Water”, which reached No. 4 in the US and sold more than two million copies. The award was presented by the Recording Industry Association of America.
- Guitarist Andrew White of the English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs was born. In 2005, the band reached No. 3 in the UK with the album “Employment”, which sold more than three million copies and won three Brit Awards, including Best British Group.
- Hawkwind performed at Home Park in Windsor, England.
- Peter Turner, founding member and bassist of the rock band Elbow, was born in Manchester, England. Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their 2008 album “The Seldom Seen Kid” and the Brit Award for Best British Group in 2009.
- Aerosmith performed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.
- “Walk This Way” was released as the second single from Aerosmith’s album “Toys in the Attic”. The song originated during a soundcheck in Honolulu, where Steven Tyler, Joey Kramer, and Joe Perry worked on a groove influenced by funk and James Brown. It initially failed to make an impact on the charts, but after being reissued the following year it reached No. 10 and became one of Aerosmith’s most important songs.
- Peter Frampton spent his third week at No. 1 on the US chart with the album “Frampton Comes Alive!”. The album was later briefly replaced at the top by Fleetwood Mac’s album “Fleetwood Mac” before returning to No. 1 on September 11. The live version of “Baby, I Love Your Way” from the album reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2017, Frampton told US lawmakers that 55 million streams of the song had earned him only $1,700.
- Donna Summer released “I Feel Love” in the United States.
- Yes performed at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, near Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is held.
- Boston’s album “Don’t Look Back” was released.
- Devo released the album “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo”.
- Genesis performed at the Stadthalle concert hall in Vienna, Austria.
- The Allman Brothers Band performed at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- Foreigner’s album “4” was released in the United Kingdom.
- Guy Stevens, British musician, producer, and manager, died at the age of 38 after overdosing on prescription medication he was taking to reduce his dependence on alcohol. He worked with Mott The Hoople, Free, and The Clash and produced The Clash’s third album “London Calling”. He was president of the Chuck Berry Appreciation Society and brought Chuck Berry to the UK for his first tour. Procol Harum and Mott The Hoople also owed their distinctive names to Stevens.
- George Strait scored his first No. 1 country hit with “Fool Hearted Memory” from his second album “Strait From The Heart”, which also contained his famous cover of “Amarillo By Morning”. He quickly became one of country music’s most successful hitmakers and had 17 No. 1 hits by the end of the decade.
- Country singer LeAnn Rimes, whose full name is Margaret LeAnn Rimes, was born in Jackson, Mississippi. At the age of eight, she became known as the winner of the original version of “Star Search” with Ed McMahon, followed at age 13 by the release of Bill Mack’s song “Blue”. She later recorded the single “How Do I Live”, which reached No. 3 in the US in 1997 and No. 7 in the UK in 1998.
- Thin Lizzy performed at the Reading Festival alongside Climax Blues Band, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, Opposition, Sad Café, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Ten Years After, and The Enid. For bassist and singer Phil Lynott, it was his final performance in the United Kingdom.
- Egyptian poet Abdul Rahim Mansour died.
- During the Victory Tour, The Jacksons surpassed 1.1 million ticket sales in just two months, breaking the record for concert ticket sales. The tour consisted of 55 shows and featured all six Jackson brothers; according to the individual sources, it attracted approximately 2 to 2.5 million spectators at 22 venues and grossed approximately $75 million. By the end of the tour in December 1984, they had surpassed the previous overall attendance record held by The Rolling Stones’ 1981 tour. Paula Abdul created the tour choreography.
- Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was released in the United States and reached No. 1 on the US chart.
- English musician, singer, and songwriter Florence Welch, co-founder and frontwoman of Florence and the Machine, was born in London. In 2009, the band released the album “Lungs”, which reached No. 1 in the UK and won a Brit Award for Best British Album. The 2015 album “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” reached No. 1 in both the UK and US and received five Grammy nominations.
- The “Get Tough On Toxics” benefit concert against pollution and corporate pollution was held in Long Beach, California. Performers included Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and Neil Young, as well as Joni Mitchell, Lindsey Buckingham, Warren Zevon, and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. Members of the Eagles also attended, with the exception of Glenn Frey, who was hospitalized with an intestinal illness.
- Tina Turner was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Kylie Minogue set a new British record when her debut album “Kylie” became the best-selling album by a female artist in Britain, with sales of almost two million copies. The album was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, who also wrote nine of its ten tracks. Six singles were released from the album, including “I Should Be So Lucky”, which reached No. 1 in both Australia and the UK.
- Metallica released the single “Harvester of Sorrow”.
- Alice in Chains released their debut studio album “Facelift” in the United States through Columbia Records. The album subsequently sold more than three million copies and became the first grunge album to receive an RIAA gold certification.
- The Black Crowes’ album “Shake Your Money Maker” was released in the United Kingdom.
- Metallica’s album, commonly known as The Black Album, was released in the United Kingdom.
- Billy Joel began a three-week run at No. 1 on the US album chart with his twelfth studio album “River of Dreams”. Joel said that most of the music for the album came to him in his sleep, inspiring its title. The album eventually sold more than four million copies in the United States. The album cover was painted by his second wife, former model Christie Brinkley, and was later voted the worst album cover of the year.
- Bruce Dickinson gave his final performance with Iron Maiden at Pinewood Studios in London before leaving the band for six years. The concert was filmed by the BBC and broadcast on MTV and pay-per-view in the UK; it was later released as “Raising Hell”. The show included magician Simon Drake performing elaborate staged “deaths”, including an iron maiden stunt in which Dickinson apparently died onstage.
- German multinational dance group Culture Beat began a four-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Mr Vain”. It was the first UK No. 1 single that was not available in a 7-inch format. “Mr Vain” became a worldwide success and reached No. 1 in at least 19 countries.
- At a benefit concert at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, Natalie Merchant performed her first concert after leaving the group 10,000 Maniacs.
- Peter Daltry, keyboardist for the band Family, died at the age of 45.
- Oasis released the single “Roll With It”.
- Oingo Boingo announced that they would break up after a series of Halloween concerts in California.
- Sterling Morrison, guitarist for The Velvet Underground, died at the age of 53.
- Isaac Hayes, co-writer of Sam & Dave’s classic song “Soul Man”, protested against its use in the campaign of Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole. Dole supporters altered the lyrics to “I'm A Dole Man”. Hayes demanded that Dole stop using the song, and publisher Rondor Music subsequently issued a formal legal warning threatening a $10,000 fine for each further unauthorized use.
- Genesis’s first album in six years was presented live in a special edition of the radio program Album Network and simultaneously broadcast via webcasting on www.atlantic-records.com.
- During U2’s PopMart Tour in Leeds, Bono responded to George Harrison’s comment that Bono and his band were “so egotistical” by raising his middle finger and saying, “This is for you, George!”
- Geri Halliwell announced that she would sell some of the Spice Girls’ clothing in a charity auction. Her PVC jumpsuit was offered for £5,000, knee-high boots for £1,200, and the Union Jack dress she wore at the Brit Awards for £8,000.
- The film “Studio 54” about the legendary New York nightclub premiered. Ryan Phillippe and Mike Myers, who portrayed one of the club’s owners, starred in the film.
- The film “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” about singer Frankie Lymon, frontman of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, was released in theaters. Named after his famous song, the film was a biographical musical drama starring Larenz Tate, Halle Berry, and Vivica A. Fox.
- Geri Halliwell, also known as Ginger Spice, achieved her first solo No. 1 single in the UK with the Latin-pop song “Mi Chico Latino”.
- Scottish rock band Travis reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with their second studio album “The Man Who”.
- Radiohead announced that their new album “Kid A” would be released exclusively online before its physical distribution.
- Alicia Keys’ album “Songs in A Minor” was released in the United Kingdom.
- Mary J. Blige released her fifth studio album “No More Drama” through MCA Records. The album debuted and peaked at No. 2 in the US and received two Grammy nominations.
- Puddle Of Mudd released their debut album “Come Clean”. The album sold more than three million copies, driven by the hits “Blurry”, “Control”, and “She Hates Me”.
- Weezer released “Island in the Sun”, the second single from the album “Weezer”, also known as “The Green Album”. It was a very laid-back song for the band, markedly different from their first single, “Hash Pipe”. The song became the most frequently licensed track in the band’s catalog and appeared, for example, in the TV series The Simpsons and The Sopranos and in the film Trolls Band Together.
- Britney Spears and Madonna kissed during the opening performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna then kissed Christina Aguilera, but the director switched the shot to Justin Timberlake in the audience.
- OutKast released the single “Hey Ya!”.
- Ohio’s Wilberforce University awarded Lou Rawls an honorary doctorate in recognition of his charitable work for the United Negro College Fund and his lifelong service to the education of historically disadvantaged groups.
- Maroon 5 reached No. 1 on the UK chart with their debut studio album “Songs About Jane”. Over the years, the album also reached No. 1 in France, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
- Natasha Bedingfield began a two-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “These Words (I Love You, I Love You)”.
- A woman claimed that she suffered serious injuries after Rick Springfield went into the audience during a concert in Syracuse, New York, and struck her with his buttocks. Her lawsuit became the subject of many jokes, but it represented a genuine legal dispute. The case was not decided until 2015, when a jury ruled in Springfield’s favor.
- The Gap company hired seven artists to sing their favorite songs in an advertisement for its new fall denim collection. The commercial aired during the MTV Video Music Awards. Alanis Morissette sang Seal’s “Crazy”, while Keith Urban, Joss Stone, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Jason Mraz, John Legend, and Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd also took part.
- Art Garfunkel, who had admitted to possessing marijuana in upstate New York the previous year, was charged again after a marijuana cigarette was allegedly found in the ashtray of his car. In September 2005, a judge ordered him to give two motivational speeches to local high school students.
- Green Day won seven awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in Miami, including Video of the Year for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and the Viewer’s Choice Award. Gwen Stefani won Best Choreography for “Hollaback Girl”, while Gorillaz won Breakthrough Video for “Feel Good Inc.” Kanye West won Best Male Video for “Jesus Walks”. The ceremony took place despite concerns about Hurricane Katrina and a shooting at a pre-awards party.
- Oasis reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “The Importance Of Being Idle”. It was their eighth No. 1 single and the song came from their sixth album “Don’t Believe the Truth”.
- Rap producer Marion “Suge” Knight was hospitalized after being shot in the leg. The incident occurred at a party at a club in Miami, Florida, held in connection with that year’s MTV Video Music Awards and also as a party for Kanye West.
- Barry Manilow underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in both hips and faced a six- to eight-week recovery. He spent the first few days using a wheelchair before getting back on his feet and making a full return to the stage later that October.
- Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein died at the age of 36 from an accidental overdose in his New York apartment. It happened almost a year after Goldstein and his friend Travis Barker survived a plane crash that killed four other people.
- Hit songwriter Ellie Greenwich, known for songs including “Be My Baby” and “Leader of the Pack”, died at the age of 68.
- Three days before the release of their second studio album “The First Days of Spring”, Doug Fink, brother of lead singer Charlie Fink, announced that he would leave Noah and the Whale to pursue a career in medicine. In a 2011 interview, Charlie said that Doug was still the person he consulted first about matters concerning the band.
- Noel Gallagher left Oasis after a series of conflicts with his brother Liam and announced that he could no longer work with him. As the band’s lead guitarist and main songwriter, he had recently been involved in a number of arguments with Liam; he said that the brothers barely spoke, did not travel together, and only saw each other onstage. Oasis were due to perform at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris, but their appearance was canceled at the last minute following an internal conflict within the band. Their departure brought the band’s existence to an end.
- Iron Maiden reached No. 1 on the UK chart with their fifteenth studio album “The Final Frontier”. The album was a major international success and topped the charts in 28 countries worldwide.
- “Green Light” by Roll Deep reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart.
- According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ringo Starr was the world’s richest drummer in 2012, with an estimated fortune of $300 million. He was followed by Phil Collins with $250 million, Dave Grohl with $225 million, Don Henley with $200 million, and Lars Ulrich with $175 million. The top ten also included Larry Mullen of U2 and Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones.
- “ We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift reached its international chart peak.
- Glenn Cornick, the original bassist and a founding member of Jethro Tull, died at the age of 67 from heart failure. He was with the group from its formation in late 1967 until 1970.
- Dr. Dre’s album “Compton” was released internationally.
- Ultimate Classic Rock published the feature “This Day in Rock History: August 28”, which recalled Bob Dylan’s meeting with The Beatles in 1964, Dylan’s first performance with Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm in 1965, Bruce Dickinson’s final concert with Iron Maiden in 1993, and the release of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” in 1975.
- Beyoncé won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards for “Formation”. In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, she brought four mothers of shooting victims onto the red carpet. During the evening, she and her production designer, choreographer, director, cinematographer, and editor won a total of eight awards, which according to the source represented a record number of wins in a single evening.
- Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel died of a heart attack at the age of 66. He sold more than 200 million recordings worldwide and was one of the best-selling Latin American singers and songwriters. His nineteenth studio album “Recuerdos, Vol. II” was reportedly the best-selling album of all time in Mexico, with more than eight million copies sold.
- Mark David Chapman, who killed John Lennon, was denied parole for the ninth time. According to media reports, the parole board received five letters recommending his release, while Yoko Ono wrote a letter to the three-member board opposing his release. Another hearing was scheduled for 2018.
- Katy Perry released her sixth studio album “Smile” through Capitol Records. The album was linked to the video game Katy's Quest, which the singer plays in the music video for the title track.
- Billie Eilish reached No. 1 on the US album chart with her second album “Happier Than Ever”. It became her second US No. 1 album and also topped album charts in 27 other countries. At the 64th Grammy Awards, the album and its title track received a total of seven nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
- ABBA and their record label Universal Music protested against the use of the song “The Winner Takes It All” at a campaign rally for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign without permission. They joined artists including Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, Adele, R.E.M., and The Rolling Stones in protesting the unauthorized use of their music at campaign rallies.
- Ray Mayhew, drummer of the British new wave band Sigue Sigue Sputnik, died at the age of 60. The band had three UK Top 40 singles, including “Love Missile F1-11”, produced by Giorgio Moroder, which reached No. 3 on the UK chart in 1986. The band’s popularity was also boosted by the inclusion of the song in John Hughes’s film “Ferris Bueller's Day Off”.
- Dolly Parton was buried during a private family ceremony at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee. She was laid to rest beside her husband Carl Dean, with whom she had been married for almost 60 years. Several US cities, including New Orleans, Lexington, and New York, proclaimed September 25 “Dolly Parton Day” in honor of her 1981 hit “9 to 5”.