Video: 'Queen & George Michael - Somebody to Love'
(April 20, 1992, Easter Monday) — The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, a tribute to AIDS victim and Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury (who died Nov. 24, 1991), was held today at London’s Wembley Stadium. Metallica opened the show and was followed by artists George Michael and Elton John. Annie Lennox and David Bowie teamed up on the song Under Pressure.
Video: '100 Years Red Sox' (Fenway opens at 1:18)
(Saturday, April 20, 1912) — Boston’s Fenway Park hosted its first professional baseball game today with then-mayor John F. Fitzgerald, the grandfather of future U.S. President John F. Kennedy, throwing out the first pitch and Boston defeating future arch-rivals the New York Highlanders, renamed the Yankees the next year, 7-6 in 11 innings. Continue reading Boston’s Fenway Park, Detroit’s Tiger Stadium open 100 years ago today (1912)
Video: Apollo 16 burn into lunar orbit (at 3:18)
(Wednesday, April 19, 1972) — Apollo 16 astronauts rocketed into orbit of the Moon today and began a six-day scientific exploration. The spacemen and their craft were fit and ready for the challenge after a 240,000-mile voyage from Earth.
“Hello Houston. Sweet 16 has arrived,” commander John W. Young announced as the spacecraft emerged from behind the moon at 3:44 p.m. EST.
Video: 'The Making of Sgt. Pepper' (part 1)
(Sunday, April 19, 1992) — Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr was interviewed today in Aspen, Colorado, for the documentary about the making of The Beatles 1967 landmark rock music album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, titled The Making of Sgt. Pepper. Continue reading Ringo Starr interviewed for ‘Making of Sgt. Pepper’ documentary 20 years ago today (1992)
Video: McCartney interviewed Apr. 17, 1982 (part 1)
(Saturday, April 17, 1982) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was interviewed today by Bryant Gumbel at the RCA Building in New York for the Apr. 26-29 editions of NBC-TV’s Today show, promoting his new album Tug of War. Continue reading Paul McCartney tapes interview for ‘Today’ show 30 years ago today (1982)
Video: McCartney, Jackson in studio Apr. 14-16, 1982 (at 1:52-1:59)
(Friday, April 16, 1982) — Ex-Beatle Paul concluded three days of sessions today with Michael Jackson at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, where they recorded Jackson’s The Girl is Mine. Continue reading McCartney, Jackson record ‘The Girl is Mine’ in Los Angeles 30 years ago today (1982)
Video: April 16, 1862 (at 55:37)
(Wednesday, April 16, 1862, during the American Civil War) — President Jefferson Davis today signed into law a conscription act passed by the Confederate Congress the previous day. It mandated three years of service for all males between 18 and 35 years of age.
(Saturday, April 15, 1972) — U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau signed a joint agreement today in Ottawa to begin the large-scale job of cleaning up the Great Lakes, the world’s largest reservoir of fresh water.
Video: Leningrad trams resume operations (at 6:53)
(Wednesday, April 15, 1942, on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Leningrad tram system resumed operation today, the 248th day of the Siege of Leningrad, after several months of being down for lack of power.
(Friday, April 14, 1972, 3 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Richard M. Nixon assured Canada today that the United States wants its northern neighbor to build a national economy free of American domination.
Going before the Canadian Parliament after agreeing in private talks with Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau to seek a resumption of stalled trade talks, Nixon also aimed oblique criticism at the Soviet Union for supply arms to North Vietnam.
