Category Archives: 1980s

‘Calling America’ by Electric Light Orchestra peaks at #18 in USA 40 years ago today (Apr 5 1986)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 5, 1986) — “Calling America” by Electric Light Orchestra peaked at #18 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Calling America’ by Electric Light Orchestra peaks at #18 in USA 40 years ago today (Apr 5 1986) →

3 killed, 229 injured in bomb explosion at club in Berlin 40 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1986)

1980s


Video: 'West Berlin La Belle Discoteque Bombing reports - ABC News April 5 & 7 1986'

(Saturday, April 5, 1986, 1:45 a.m. Central European Time) — A bomb ripped through a West Berlin discotheque popular with American troops early today, killing two American servicemen and a Turkish woman and injuring another 229 people, an incident which prompted a U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later. Continue reading 3 killed, 229 injured in bomb explosion at club in Berlin 40 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1986) →

Four killed as bomb rips TWA plane on way to Athens 40 years ago this hour (Apr 2 1986)

1980s


Video: 'T 780 NIghtline Bombing of TWA 840 TWA bombing April 2, 1986'

(Wednesday, April 2, 1986, 2:32 p.m. Eastern European Summer Time) — Four American passengers, including an 8-month-old girl, her mother and grandmother, were killed today when a terrorist bomb exploded aboard a TWA jetliner en route from Rome to Athens, Greece. Continue reading Four killed as bomb rips TWA plane on way to Athens 40 years ago this hour (Apr 2 1986) →

‘Rock Me Amadeus’ by Falco peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 29 1986)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, March 29, 1986) — “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks (Mar. 29, Apr. 5/12, 1986). Continue reading ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ by Falco peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 29 1986) →

‘Secret Lovers’ by Atlantic Starr peaks at #3 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 22 1986)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, March 22, 1986) — “Secret Lovers” by Atlantic Starr peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Secret Lovers’ by Atlantic Starr peaks at #3 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 22 1986) →

‘Nikita’ by Elton John peaks at #7 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 22 1986)

1980s, Cold War, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, March 22, 1986; during the Cold War) — “Nikita” by Elton John peaked at #7 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Nikita’ by Elton John peaks at #7 in USA 40 years ago today (Mar 22 1986) →

George Harrison performs at charity concert in Birmingham, UK 40 years ago tonight (Mar 15 1986)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Heart Beat '86 - Johnny B Goode (featuring George Harrison)'

(Saturday March 15, 1986) — Former Beatle George Harrison joined an all-star finale at Heartbeat ’86, a marathon charity rock concert tonight at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, England, performing Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Continue reading George Harrison performs at charity concert in Birmingham, UK 40 years ago tonight (Mar 15 1986) →

Georgia pardons Jewish businessman Leo Frank 40 years ago today (Mar 11 1986)

1980s


Video: 'The People Vs. Leo Frank'

(Tuesday, March 11, 1986) — The State of Georgia awarded a posthumous pardon today to Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman who was lynched in 1915 for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan. Continue reading Georgia pardons Jewish businessman Leo Frank 40 years ago today (Mar 11 1986) →