Category: Milestones

Milestones: House of Love's Terry Bickers is 45 today; watch 'Destroy the Heart' from 1989

Milestones: House of Love’s Terry Bickers is 45 today; watch ‘Destroy the Heart’ from 1989

In honor of House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers’ 45th birthday today, we share this ‘Snub TV’ clip from 1989 that features a ripping take on fourth single ‘Destroy the Heart’ and a gentle ‘Man to Child,’ off the band’s 1988 self-titled debut, with an interview with frontman Guy Chadwick sandwiched in between.

Milestones: US Festival kicked off 28 years ago today; watch Ramones’ full set — and more

Twenty eight years ago today, the first of what would turn out to be two multi-day US Festivals — envisioned by their organizer, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, as ‘Woodstock West’ — opened in blistering 110-degree heat at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernadino County, Calif.

Milestones: Robert Smith's 'Cure FM' pirate radio broadcast was 20 years ago tonight

Milestones: Robert Smith’s ‘Cure FM’ pirate radio broadcast was 20 years ago tonight

Twenty years ago tonight, Robert Smith and the rest of The Cure — aided by a pair of American DJs and shadowed by MTV and the music press — set up a pirate radio station at the headquarters of Fiction Records with plans to illicitly premiere their soon-to-released remix album ‘Mixed Up’ over the London airwaves.

Milestones: Elizabeth Fraser is 47 today; see 1985 TV report on 'Cocteau Twins fever'

Milestones: Elizabeth Fraser is 47 today; see 1985 TV report on ‘Cocteau Twins fever’

Elizabeth Fraser — the incomparable voice of the Cocteau Twins — turns 47 today, and to mark the occasion, we present what has to be one of the odder moments in the dreampop group’s history: a pair of TV news reports from WBNS in Columbus, Ohio, about the so-called ‘Cocteau Fever’ surrounding the band’s Sept. 19, 1985, concert in that city.

Milestones: Elvis Costello is 56 today; watch BBC special about ‘Spike’ from 1989

That once-angry young man, Elvis Costello, turns 59 today, and to commemorate the occasion, we cast our spotlight not on the rocker’s brilliantly prolific early period, but, rather, his late-’80s, post-Attractions comeback following a nearly three-year break: the 1989 album ‘Spike,’ a personal favorite.

Milestones: R.E.M.'s 'Chronic Town' released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

College-rock fixture-to-be R.E.M. released its landmark debut EP, ‘Chronic Town,’ 28 years ago today, and to commemorate the anniversary, we present alternate versions of three of the record’s five songs: a faster version of ‘Wolves, Lower’; ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ with different vocals and no fadeout; and ‘Shaking Through,’ featuring an organ in the mix.