Historic events this week from Stevie Nicks, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tom Petty and Alice In Chains
JULY 27, 1981: BELLA DONNA BY STEVIE NICKS
Stevie Nicks‘ solo debut, Bella Donna, became her biggest album outside of Fleetwood Mac, achieving a #1 spot on the charts and selling over 4 million copies.
This multi-platinum success was driven by hit singles such as “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” featuring Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Edge of Seventeen,” and “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley.
JULY 27, 1993: THE SMASHING PUMPKINS RELEASE SIAMESE DREAM
The Smashing Pumpkins‘ Siamese Dream is celebrated for its incredibly dense and layered guitar sound, with frontman Billy Corgan reportedly overdubbing dozens of guitar tracks on some songs to achieve its signature expansive sonic landscape.
Despite the album’s polished sound, its creation was fraught with internal band tension, including drug addiction and Corgan’s intense perfectionism, which led to him playing nearly all guitar and bass parts.
JULY 29, 2014: TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS’ FINAL ALBUM
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers‘ Hypnotic Eye marked a career high by becoming their first and only album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This Grammy-nominated album, celebrated for its return to a more raw, rock sound, achieved its chart-topping success 38 years into their recording career.
Hypnotic Eye holds the bittersweet distinction of being the final studio album released by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers before Petty’s passing in 2017, serving as a poignant capstone to their prolific discography.
JULY 30, 1996: ALICE IN CHAINS RELASE UNPLUGGED
Alice In Chains‘ platinum-certified Unplugged album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. This impactful live acoustic session, one of the band’s last major appearances with Layne Staley, was famously attended by members of Metallica.
Bassist Mike Inez humorously decorated his instrument with “Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Friends Haircuts…” a jab at Metallica‘s recent decision to cut their famously long hair.
