This Day in Music History: Nirvana releases In Utero, R.E.M. call it quits

1962 – The Springfields’ “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” becomes the first British song to reach the top 20 on the US charts. Dusty Springfield goes on to have several more solo hits on her own.

1966 – Jimmy Hendrix changes his name to Jimi at the urging of his manager, Chas Chandler.

1968 – Janis Joplin announces her upcoming departure from Big Brother & the Holding Company.

1978 – “Do you remember the 21st night of September?” The first line of Earth, Wind & Fire’s song wasn’t written for any particular reason – it just sounded good.

1980 – Elton John leaves longtime label MCA and signs with David Geffen’s new label for a six-year contract.

1980 – During a North American tour, Bob Marley collapses while jogging in New York’s Central Park. He is hospitalized and diagnosed with cancer.

1989 – The Bangles break up.

1991 – Status Quo put themselves in the Guinness Book Of Records by performing at four venues (in Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham and London) in one 12-hour period.

1992 – Parlophone Records release “Creep” as Radiohead’s debut single.

1993 – Nirvana release In Utero and “All Apologies.” It’s the last single released while Kurt Cobain was still alive.

1996 – The audience at the Grand Ole Opry witnesses a historic moment when 23-year-old Hank Williams III, son of Hank Williams Jr. and grandson of country music legend Hank Williams, makes his live debut. Hank III wears a black western shirt trimmed with green fringe that belonged to his grandfather. His set includes “Moanin’ the Blues,” a 1950 chart-topper for Hank Sr., and “Lovesick Blues,” the same song his granddad performed for his Opry debut in June 1949.

1999 – Nine Inch Nails earns their first #1 album with The Fragile.

2011 – R.E.M. announce that they’re calling it quits after more than 30 years. In a post on their website, the band members write, “To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.”

Information for this post was gathered from This Day in Music, The Music History Calendar, On This Day, and Wikipedia.