This Day in Music History: March 31

March 31, 2017

We cover all sorts of news, facts and historical and interesting facts that happened on this day in music history.

 

Today: March 31.

 

1958: 'Johnny B. Goode' by Chuck Berry was released. It entered the US charts 6 weeks after it was released and reached the No.8 spot on the chart. The original lyrics of the song referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but Chuck Berry later acknowledged that he decided to change it to "country boy", in order to ensure that the song will be played on the radio.

 

1960: Lonnie Donegan topped the UK singles chart with 'My Old Man's A Dustman', his third No.1 hit. Donegan became the first British artist that entered the UK chart at No.1. The only other artist that achieved this feat at this time was Elvis Presley.

 

1967: Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar during a live concert on stage for the first time when he appeared at The Astoria in London, England. It was the first night of a 24-date tour with Cat Stevens, The Walker Brothers and Engelbert Humperdink. The guitar (Fender Stratocaster) burned on stage by Hendrix was sold in an auction of rock memorabilia that was held in London in 2008, for the amount of £280,000.

 

1976: Led Zeppelin released Presence, their seventh studio album, on their own Swan Song Records in the UK. The album has now been certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 3 million copies.

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1984: Kenny Loggins started a three week run at the top of the US singles chart with 'Footloose', the theme song from the movie with the same name. The song also reached the No.6 spot in the UK.

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1990: Snap! had their first UK No.1 hit with 'The Power.' The song has been featured in many films including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Coyote Ugly, Bruce Almighty soundtrack and The Fisher King.

 

1992: Def Leppard released Adrenalize, their fifth studio album. It was also the first album by the band following the death of guitarist Steve Clark in 1991. Guitarist Vivian Campbell, former Dio and Whitesnake band member was brought in as the newest member in April 1992. He appears in all promotional videos for the album's singles (except 'Let's Get Rocked'), even though he did not play on the album.

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Think we left some interesting fact out? You have anything to add? Is there anything else worth mentioning that happened on this day in music history? Write us in the comments below.

 

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