This week in 80’s music history – A record company held hostage… and more
To celebrate Friday! Let’s take a trip in the way back machine to highlight some interesting headlines from the world of music from this exact week back in the 80s!
March 20th 1980 (46 Years Ago This Week)
A man named Joseph Riviera held up the Asylum Records office in New York.
He demanded to see either The Eagles or Jackson Browne, because he wanted to talk to them to see if they would finance his trucking operation.
He eventually gave himself up when he told that neither act was in town at the time.
The Eagles biggest hit from the 80’s was “I Can’t Tell You Why” from 1980.
Jackson Brown’s biggest hit of the 80’s was “Somebody’s Baby” from 1982.
March 20th 1982 (44 Years Ago This Week)
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts started a seven-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
The song had originally been a B-side from the British 70s band “The Arrows”. Joan apparently saw perform the song on TV when she was on tour in the U and she was inspired to cover it.
Here’s that version…
March 21st 1984 (42 Years Ago This Week)
An area of Central Park in New York City, that was bought by Yoko Ono, in memory of her late husband John Lennon, was officially opened to the public. She named it “Strawberry Fields”.
Since this article is all about the 80’s here’s “Woman” it was released posthumously in January of 1981 about a month after John’s death.
March 22nd 1984 (42 Years Ago This Week)
Queen filmed the video for “I Want To Break Free” at Limehouse Studio in London, England.
It was a parody of the British soap opera “Coronation Street” with the band members dressed in drag.
Guitarist Brian May later said the video ruined the band in America. It was initially banned by MTV in the US.
