Today in Music History

Keith Richards appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, where he performed his first solo song, “Take It So Hard.”

Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon finally left the Billboard album chart after a record 741 weeks. Following a later rule change that allowed catalog albums to return to the main chart, the album returned repeatedly and reached a record 996 weeks on the chart at the beginning of 2026. It has sold approximately 50 million copies worldwide.

U2 achieved their first No. 1 on the UK singles chart with their twelfth single, “Desire.” The song came from the album Rattle and Hum, also reached No. 1 in Australia and five other countries, and peaked at No. 3 in the US.

Pete Townshend responded to claims by The Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood that The Who were touring for their 25th anniversary solely for the money. He pointed to Mick Jagger's financial needs and the failure of his latest album Dirty Work.

The Grateful Dead performed at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

British rock drummer Barrie “B.J.” Wilson of Procol Harum died at the age of 43 after spending three years in a coma caused by a severe drug and alcohol overdose. He joined the band in 1967, shortly after the recording of “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” on which session drummer Bill Eyden had played.

Eddie Vedder flew from his home in San Diego to Seattle, where he first met his future Pearl Jam bandmates and began a week of recording that became the foundation of their debut album Ten. He was selected based on vocals he had added to the band's three-song instrumental demo.

Ringo Starr released his first live album, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. His All-Starr Band featured Joe Walsh, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Rick Danko and Levon Helm of The Band, Clarence Clemons and Nils Lofgren of the E Street Band. Bruce Springsteen also appeared as a guest during the tour.

The Go-Go's posed for the first PETA “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign poster.

Soundgarden released their second album for A&M Records, “Badmotorfinger.” Its release coincided with the rise of grunge; Nirvana's “Nevermind” had been released two weeks earlier, and Pearl Jam released “Ten” on August 27. “Badmotorfinger” became the band's commercial breakthrough and sold more than three million copies.

The US Postal Service issued a series of commemorative stamps honoring legends of popular music. The stamps featured Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Clyde McPhatter, and Dinah Washington.

Elvis Aaron Presley: The Tribute was broadcast live in the U.S. via pay television from the Pyramid Arena in Memphis. Tony Bennett, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chris Isaak performed Elvis Presley songs, while Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson watched the show from a private box.

American rapper G Herbo, formerly known as Lil Herb, was born.

Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne performed at a benefit concert for environmental organizations at the Britt Pavilion in Jacksonville, Oregon. Their performance was accompanied by the noise of chainsaws from loggers who opposed their efforts to restrict their livelihoods.

Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer for The Smashing Pumpkins, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct in connection with heroin use with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, who subsequently died of an overdose. Chamberlin was fired from the band but returned in 1999.

Jonas “Jo” Bruce, keyboardist with Afro Celt Sound System, died suddenly at the age of 27 from an asthma attack. He was the son of Cream bassist Jack Bruce.

Bruce Springsteen testified at London's High Court in a dispute with Masquerade Music over its attempt to release some of his early-1970s recordings in the UK. He said that when the songs were created, he was living from paycheck to paycheck and relying on financial assistance from his then co-manager Mike Appel.

Michael Jackson's wife, Deborah Rowe, filed for divorce after three years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in April 2000, and Rowe gave Jackson full custody of their two children, Prince and Paris.

Radiohead began a two-week run at No. 1 on the UK album chart with their fourth studio album, “Kid A.” The album was also the band's first release to debut at No. 1 in the US, and it also topped the charts in New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and France.

Liza Minnelli performed at the White House during the Columbus Day celebrations.

Bon Jovi released their eighth studio album, “Bounce,” through Island Records. The album reached the Top 10 in ten countries, peaked at No. 2 in both the UK and U.S., and sold more than two million copies.

Jennifer Love Hewitt released her fourth studio album BareNaked.

The CD Story was released.

Tom Petty released the album The Last DJ, a concept inspired by legendary Los Angeles radio DJ Jim Ladd. He worked on the album with The Heartbreakers, and Lindsey Buckingham appeared as a backing vocalist on one track.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin asked Australian police to drop charges of intentional property damage after he was accused of smashing a photographer's car windshield with a rock. The photographer had previously been taking pictures of him surfing.

Beanie Sigel was sentenced to one year in federal prison for weapons possession in a case that arose from a traffic stop in 2002.

Britney Spears ended her professional relationship with manager Larry Rudolph, who had managed her career since she was 13. Rudolph said that he and the singer had mutually agreed not to renew their management relationship after nine years.

It was announced that all legal documents concerning Britney Spears's marriage to dancer Kevin Federline had been filed. The marriage took place on September 18, 2004.

Melissa Etheridge announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She shortened her tour to undergo treatment and later made a full recovery. In February 2005, she performed at the Grammy Awards while still bald from chemotherapy.

Ray Charles, who died in June of the same year, earned his first platinum album. “Genius Loves Company,” released in September, sold more than one million copies.

Stevie Wonder, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Reba McEntire performed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at a memorial concert dedicated to the late Ray Charles.

Blondie, Sonic Youth, Joan Jett, The Strokes, and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age performed at a charity concert honoring The Ramones. Proceeds went toward cancer research and lymphoma treatment.

Disturbed's album “Ten Thousand Fists” reached No. 1 on the U.S. album chart.

The Killers reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with their second studio album, “Sam's Town,” beginning a three-week run at the top. In the US, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than five million copies worldwide.

Arctic Monkeys were named the world's best band at the Q Awards in London. The best album award went to Amy Winehouse for Back to Black, Muse won Best Live Act, and Paul McCartney received the Icon of the Year award. Damon Albarn received the Inspiration award, Billy Bragg the Classic Songwriter award, and Johnny Marr the Lifetime Achievement award. Tony Wilson was posthumously named a Q Hero.

Dave Grohl criticized Republican presidential candidate John McCain after his campaign used the Foo Fighters song “My Hero” without permission. Grohl said the song was written as a celebration of an ordinary person and his extraordinary potential.

Neil Sedaka received the Silver Heart Award from Britain's Variety Club in Manchester for his outstanding contribution to the music industry.

American musician Michael “Mikey” Welsh died at the age of 40 in a Chicago hotel from a heart attack caused by a drug overdose. He was best known as the bassist for Weezer.

American pianist Roger Williams died in Encino, California, at the age of 87 from pancreatic cancer. During his career, he released 116 albums and performed for nine US presidents. He was also known for his instrumental version of “Autumn Leaves,” which reached No. 1 on the chart in 1955.

Tony Bennett was 85 years old when his album “Duets II” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He thus became the oldest living musician to reach the top of the chart.

Green Day were forced to cancel their appearance at the Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans because of Billie Joe Armstrong's substance abuse problems and subsequent treatment. Armstrong had suffered an emotional outburst during a concert in Las Vegas several weeks earlier.

EMI withdrew the anniversary vinyl edition of The Beatles' single “Love Me Do” from sale because it had mistakenly been pressed with the version featuring session drummer Andy White instead of Ringo Starr. Apple Corps ordered the withdrawn copies to be destroyed, but some copies had already been sold by retailers and the surviving copies became highly valuable collectors' items; the incorrect version subsequently sold for high prices online.

Larry Verne, a novelty song performer whose song “Mr. Custer” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, died at the age of 77 from heart failure. After leaving the music industry, he spent 35 years building film sets in Hollywood.

Michael Jackson's estate sued three companies in Japan over the alleged unauthorized use of his name and likeness on pendants, pots, towels, postcards, and other products.

Philip Chevron, guitarist for the Irish folk-punk group The Pogues, died at the age of 56 from cancer. In 1976, he founded the punk band The Radiators From Space and later joined The Pogues, who became known in part for the 1987 Christmas hit “Fairytale of New York” with Kirsty MacColl.

Scottish singer and songwriter Jim Diamond died at the age of 64. His first hit was the 1982 song “I Won't Let You Down” as the singer of the trio PhD, and in 1984 he had the solo hit “I Should Have Known Better,” which reached No. 1 on the British chart.

Don Ciccone, guitarist for The Critters on their hit “Mr. Dieingly Sad,” which reached No. 17 on the Billboard chart in 1966, died at the age of 70. After leaving the group, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam. From 1973 to 1981, he was a member of The Four Seasons and sang falsetto parts on their 1975 hit “December 1963 (Oh What A Night).”

Robert Plant and St. Vincent performed at the Festival of Disruption in Los Angeles, organized by director David Lynch and featuring film screenings and meditation.

Taylor Swift publicly expressed her political views for the first time by endorsing two Democratic candidates in Tennessee and urging her 112 million Instagram followers to vote. Vote.org subsequently recorded a significant increase in voter registrations.

Malcolm “Molly” Duncan, a founding member and tenor saxophonist of The Average White Band, died at the age of 74. The group had a hit with “Pick Up the Pieces” in 1974.