Historic events this week from Nirvana, Modest Mouse, Bob Dylan, The Offspring, Third Eye Blind and Guns ‘N Roses
APRIL 5, 2005: ABERDEEN, WA ADOPTS NEW CITY MOTTO
After the original Welcome to Aberdeen sign had fallen into disrepair, the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee led a campaign, funded by fan donations, to replace the sign.
On the 11th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death, his hometown’s city unveiled the new sign. The sign included the new city motto honoring Nirvana’s frontman: Come As You Are
APRIL 6, 2004: MODEST MOUSE’S GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS
Modest Mouse reached new heights with Good News for People Who Love Bad News, an album that earned multi-Platinum status and became the definitive soundtrack of mid-2000s indie rock. The record’s massive popularity was driven by the existential wit of “Ocean Breathes Salty” and the chart-topping success of their signature anthem, “Float On.”
APRIL 7, 2008: BOB DYLAN WINS PULITZER PRIZE
Having won Grammys, a Golden Globe, an Oscar & a Dove award; Bob Dylan became the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2008.
FOR HIS PROFOUND IMPACT ON POPULAR MUSIC AND AMERICAN CULTURE, MARKED BY LYRICAL COMPOSITIONS OF EXTRAORDINARY POETIC POWER. – PULITZER.ORG
APRIL 8, 1994: THE OFFSPRING’S SMASH
The Offspring rocketed to global fame with Smash, an album that remains the best-selling independent label release of all time with over 11 million sold worldwide. This landmark record defined the 90s punk revival through the aggressive energy of “Self Esteem” and the infectious, Middle Eastern-inspired guitar riffs of “Come Out and Play.”
APRIL 8, 1997: THIRD EYE BLINDS’ EPONYMOUS DEBUT
Third Eye Blind’s self-titled debut served as a cornerstone of 90s alternative rock, going 6x Platinum through its massive radio presence. The album is anchored by the relentless energy of “Semi-Charmed Life” and the melodic melancholy of “Jumper” and “How’s It Going to Be,” which helped keep the band on the charts for over a year.
APRIL 8, 2016: GUNS ‘N ROSES’ REUNION TOUR BEGINS
After a warm-up gig at The Troubadour in West Hollywood for a sold out crowd of only 500 (!), Guns ‘N Roses‘ …Not In This Lifetime…Tour finally got underway with two shows in Las Vegas. However, at the Troubadour show, Axl Rose fell and broke his foot.
He had to resort to singing from Foo Fighters‘ “rock throne.” The very one Dave Grohl used in 2015 when he broke his leg.
APRIL 9, 2020: “MURDER MOST FOUL” BY BOB DYLAN
Remarkably, Bob Dylan had never had a #1 single in the US until 2020. “Murder Most Foul”, a 17-minute epic about John F. Kennedy’s assassination went to #1 on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart with over 10,000 sold in its first week.
