This Day in Music History: May 18

May 18, 2017

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

 

Today: May 18.

 

1967: The Beatles were selected to represent the UK for the first-ever global-wide satellite broadcast. The band members agreed to be shown in the studio, recording a song that was written especially for the event, scheduled for June 25. John Lennon wrote ‘All You Need is Love’ which was thought to sum up the 1967 'summer of love' and The Beatles' sympathies. The satellite broadcast was broadcast to non-English-speaking countries as well, so the BBC asked The Beatles to 'keep it simple'.

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1967: Pink Floyd started recording their single 'See Emily Play' at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London. The inspiration to write the song came to Syd Barrett by the ‘looning about’ of the early Pink Floyd fan Emily Young, (a renowned sculptor these days). David Gilmour was playing shows in France with his own band during this period, but he did visit Pink Floyd in the studio during a trip to London.

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1974: Ray Stevens started a three week run at the top of the US singles chart with the novelty song 'The Streak' which capitalized on the popular craze of streaking those days. The song also topped the UK chart.

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1980: Ian Curtis, singer and guitarist with Joy Division, hanged himself in the kitchen of his house in Macclesfield, England. He was 23 years old. The album 'The Idiot' by Iggy Pop was playing on his stereo and he also left a note that said that at that very moment, he wished he was dead, since he can't cope anymore. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up 'Closer' in 1980.

 

1985: Simple Minds topped the US singles chart with the song 'Don't You Forget About Me', which reached the No. 7 spot in the UK. The song was written by Keith Forsey (who won an Oscar for "Flashdance... What a Feeling") and Steve Schiff (guitarist and songwriter from the Nina Hagen band. The song also features in the movie The Breakfast Club, an American teen drama from 1985.

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2008: Ting Tings scored their first UK No.1 hit with the single 'That's Not My Name'. The song is taken from the duo's debut studio album 'We Started Nothing'.

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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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