Today marks the 25th anniversary of Live Aid, the Bob Geldof-organized African famine relief concert that remains one of the cultural signposts of the ’80s. For readers of this site, the event is perhaps best remembered as the tipping point in U2’s ascent from college-rock upstarts to global superstars.

With BP’s disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil leak now surpassing the Exxon Valdez as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, it’s only fitting that we mark Sunday’s 20th anniversary of the Midnight Oil ‘guerrilla action’ in front of the Exxon building in New York City.

Today we observe another dark-hued milestone, as goth queen Siouxsie Sioux — aka Susan Janet Ballion, erstwhile leader of The Banshees and The Creatures — turns 53.

Morrissey turns 51 today, and in honor of that milestone, we present, in its entirety, his 1992 concert film ‘Live in Dallas,’ which, while still not available on DVD in the U.S., is floating around on YouTube.

We mark today’s 30th anniversary of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis’ death by posting this clip of what’s arguably his most transcendent moment: ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart,’ appearing here in a version recorded Nov. 26, 1979, for a Peel session — the first time the song ever was recorded.

Former Talking Heads leader David Byrne turns 58 today, and we mark his birthday with one of his quirkier solo projects: ‘Music for the Knee Plays,’ a 1985 brass-band-and-vocals album Byrne composed for Robert Wilson’s opera ‘the CIVIL warS.’