The Retroscope: 19 April

19 April 1980: REM played their first gig (as REM) at the 11:11 Koffee Club, Athens, Georgia to 150 people. Unfortunately, the show ended at 2 AM when police closed it down as the venue was unlicensed. 19 April 1985: Bryan Adams roamed the UK album chart with “Reckless”. Six singles were released from the album: “Run to You”, “Somebody”, “Heaven”, “Summer of ‘69”, “One Night Love Affair”, and “It’s Only Love”. Apparently all six singles breached the top 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, an impressive feat that had only been accomplished by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. 19 April 1986: George Michael’s “A Different Corner” became his second solo UK #1. He also became the first solo act in the history of the UK chart to reach #1 with his first two releases. It as also been the second #1 which was written, sung, played, arranged and produced by the same person – after “I Just Call To Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder. 19 April 1986: Prince occupied the top 2 spots on the US singles chart “Kiss” reached #1 while “Manic Monday” by The Bangles was written by him under the pseudonym “Christopher”. http://www.bubblews.com/news/413127-the-retroscope-19-april