Music History Today: October 12, 2020

October 12, 1978: Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.  

On 12 October 1978, Sid Vicious, born John Simon Ritchie, woke up from a drug binge at New York's Chelsea Hotel.  

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His lover, Nancy Spungen, was in the bathroom, dead from a stab wound. Despite being arrested and charged with her murder, he always denied the crime. Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose on 1 February 1979. He was 21. 

Read more: The Guardian

October 12, 1968: Big Brother & the Holding Company's LP Cheap Thrills hits Number 1 on the album charts.

When you’re a brand new artist, you know you’ve made it when your performance wows another artist of your caliber. 

Big Brother Janis Joplin 1968 
Fresno California Concert Poster

In Janis Joplin’s case, it was her rendition of Big Mama Thornton’s ‘Ball and Chain’ that shook concertgoer and singer Cass Elliott, better known as Mama Cass of The Mamas and The Papas. At the time, Janis was relatively unknown, taking the stage with Big Brother and The Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festiva in 1968..

Read more: Society of Rock

October 12, 1974: "Earache My Eye" by Cheech & Chong peaked at Number 9 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

"Earache My Eye" is a comedy routine and song by Cheech and Chong from their 1974 album Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album. It's about a teenager who wakes up and listens to a song by "Alice Bowie" while his father yells at him to get ready for school. 

Read more: Wikipedia

October 12, 1985: Ricky Wilson, guitarist and founding member of the B-52s, dies of AIDS in New York City at age 32.

With an aesthetic borrowed from thrift stores and mid-century American fashions, coupled with a musical sound that was part punk, part party, the B-52s quickly became one of the most unique band’s in American popular music history.

Ricky Wilson B-52s

Shortly after the band has begun to experience success with the release of their first three albums, tragedy struck. One of the band’s founding members, guitarist Ricky Wilson died Oct. 12, 1985 from complications of AIDS. 

Read more: Lemon Wire

October 12, 1987: INXS release their breakthrough album Kick. 

It yielded four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Need You Tonight," "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation," on its way to being certified six times ­platinum by the RIAA.  

Read more: Billboard

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Sid Vicious