This week in 80’s music history – A hit intended for a vampire musical…and more
Happy Friday! We’re traveling back in time to take a look on some noteworthy moments in music that happened during this exact week back in the 80s!
March 12th 1983 (43 Years Ago This Week)
Bonnie Tyler had her only UK #1 single with a song written by Meat Loaf’s producer, Jim Steinman, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”.
The single sold over 5 million copies world wide. It also went to #1 in Canada, Australia and the US. Making Bonnie the only Welsh artist to ever score a US #1.
This track was initially titled ‘Vampires in Love” and was originally written as a vampire love song for an unproduced musical stage adaptation of the classic vampire film “Nosferatu”. Watch the video and listen to the lyrics, it TOTALLY fits!
March 14th 1983 (43 Years Ago This Week)
Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such formed “Bon Jovi”. Richie actually replaced Jon’s neighbor, Dave Sabo (who later formed Skid Row), as the permanent lead guitarist.
Initially, the group considered the name “Johnny Electric.”
Their fourth album, “New Jersey”, released in 1988, is notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date from a hard rock album.
That album produced a #1 Hit in “Bad Medicine”. Watch the video!
March 14th 1985 (41 Years Ago This Week)
Dead Or Alive were apparently kicked off the UK music television show “The Tube” after admitting that they were incapable of playing “live”. The group, fronted by Pete Burns, was known for their high energy on stage, but at the time, they often relied on backing tracks for TV performances.
Here’s a “live” performance from the group on “Top of the Pops” also from 1985. It seems SOOOO obvious that they are using a backing track. Pete might even be lip-syncing. Watch and judge for yourself.
March 9th 1987 (39 Years Ago This Week)
U2 released their fifth studio album “The Joshua Tree”. It became the fastest selling album in UK history and the first album to sell over a million CDs, spending over of 200 weeks on the UK chart. It topped the charts in over 20 countries and became U2’s first ever US #1 album.
The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year and has sold over 25 million copies.
The tree from the album’s photoshoot was located near Darwin, California—not in the national park. It fell in 2000, but the site remains a pilgrimage spot for fans.
The opening track is “Where The Streets Have No Name”. Check out the video!
