history

28 July 1979 – The BOOMTOWN RATS Topped The UK Singles Charts With Their Dramatic Story ‘I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS’

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28 July 2025

Irish rockers THE BOOMTOWN RATS led by charismatic frontman and Live Aid
organiser Bob Geldof hit the top spot of the UK Singles Chart with their classic
cracker I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS on this Monday 46 years ago.

It was their second UK No.1 single. Geldof wrote the song after reading a report on
the shooting spree of a 16-year-old girl named Brenda Ann Spencer, who fired at children playing in a school playground across the street from her home in San Diego, California.

She killed two adults and injured eight children and one police officer. Spencer showed no remorse for her crime, and her full explanation for her actions was “I don’t like Mondays, this livens up the day.”

Discography

26 July 2006 – Final TOP OF THE POPS Edition Taped

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26 July 2025

The final edition of legendary British record chart TV programme TOP OF THE POPS
was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London on 26 July 2006, today 29 years ago.
It was broadcasted on July 30th.

Just under 200 members of the public were in the audience for the show. Former classic performances from the Spice Girls, Wham!, Madonna, Beyoncé and Robbie Williams featured in the show alongside The Rolling Stones who were the very first band to appear on Top of the Pops on New Year’s Day in 1964.

TUTV‘s 3 picks of historic TOTP performances.

1972

1991

2007

18 July 2001 – KISS KASKET Launched

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This day, 24 years ago, on 18 July 2001, bombastic and
theatrical hard rock buffoons KISS launched an new wacko
merch product.

The Kiss Kasket

The coffin featured the faces of the four members, the iconic
Kiss logo and the words Kiss Forever. Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell
was buried in one after he was shot and killed on-stage in Dec 2004.

I guess you meant HELL‘s on fire, boys.

16 July 2007 – THE WHITE STRIPES Play World’s Shortest-Ever Gig

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16 July 2025

On 16 July 2007, today 28 years ago THE WHITE STRIPES played the shortest gig ever with a single C# note accompanied by a bass drum/crash cymbal hit by Meg, clocking in at just 50 seconds, before exiting the stage in Newfoundland, Canada.

It was at one of their pop-up shows on a Canadian tour. .

Jack White said: “We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada“,

It was recognized by the Guinness Book Of Records in 2009 but the book’s compilers
dropped the category a year later after being swamped by applications for similar
record-breaking attempts.

They should have record that concert.

15 July 1973 – No Sunny Afternoon For RAY DAVIES At THE GREAT WESTERN EXPRESS FESTIVAL In London

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15 July 2025

On 15 July 1973, today 52 years ago THE KINKS were part of a stars-studded
bill at The Great Western Express Festival at White City in London.

So far, so good.

But The Kinks mastermind RAY DAVIES was dealing with private problems.
His wife had left him recently, taking their children with her. Davies told the
crowd from the stage that he was sick of the whole thing and would retire.
He then walked into a local hospital and collapsed from an overdose of
tranquilizers.

Not a sunny afternoon for Ray.

13 July 1985 – This Day 40 Years Ago The ‘LIVE AID’ Concert Marathon Was Held

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13 July 2025

On 13th July 1985, 40 years ago today, the massive concert marathon LIVE AID
was held, organized by artists/musicians Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) and Midge
Ure (Ultravox) to raise funds for the devastating Ethiopian famine.

Announced as the ‘global jukebox’, the event was held simultaneously
at Wembley Stadium in London for 72,000 people, and at John F.
Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia with a crowd of 89,500. And an
audience of 1.9 billion TV viewers across 150 nations, that’s nearly
40% of the world population.

3 of the many highlights.

U2

QUEEN

SIMPLE MINDS

12 July 2000 – Remarkable Statue In Memory Of JOHN LENNON Was Unveiled In London 25 Years Ago Today

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12 July 2025

A statue in the memory of JOHN LENNON was unveiled in London’s Trafalgar Square.
The sculpture featured a revolver with a knotted barrel created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward.

Listen up, Putin, Netanyahu and all you disgusting war pigs in the world.

6 July 1973 – QUEEN Release Their Debut Single ‘KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE’

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6 July 2025

Iconic bombast champions QUEEN, led by the greatest rock entertainer in
music history with the late theatrical Freddie Mercury, released their debut
single KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE 52 years ago today, on 6 July 1973.

It was written by guitarist Brian May and was
the opener of their self-titled debut LP.

It didn’t chart until it was re-released in 1975.

In 2008, Rolling Stone Magazine rated the song 31st
on its list of ‘The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time‘.

Keep yourself alive, Freddy.

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2 July 1956 – ELVIS Records Millionseller Hit ‘HOUND DOG’

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2 July 2025

ELVIS PRESLEY (1935-1977) recorded his twelve-bar blues single HOUND DOG,
written by Leiber and Stoller, at RCA Studios in New York, this day in 1956, yes,
69 years ago. Take 31 was the version that was released.

This was the first time the King worked with The Jordanaires. The single sold over
10 million copies globally, became his best-selling song and topped the US chart for
11 weeks, a record that stood for 36 years.

Discography

24 June 1969 – LED ZEPPELIN Recorded 24 Carat Single ‘WHOLE LOTTA LOVE’ With Its Timeless Monster Riff

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24 June 2025

LED ZEPPELIN‘s red-hot smoking stonker single WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
(from their 1969 Led Zep II album) was voted the song with the greatest
guitar riff ever in rock history in 2014 by listeners of BBC Radio in the UK.
It topped a list of 100 classic ones.

Other riffs in the list included ‘Layla’ by Derek And The Dominoes, ‘Sweet Child
Of Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses, ‘Pretty Vacant’ by the Sex Pistols and Metallica‘s ‘Enter
Sandman’.

The song was recorded this day in 1969

STUDIO

LIVE

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