On August 8, 2004, a tour bus owned by Dave Matthews dumped about 800 pounds of sewage onto a sightseeing boat carrying Chicago tourists under the Kinzie Street Bridge. Nearly 20 years later, the Riot Fest Historical Society placed a plaque on the bridge to remember this infamous event.
August 8 has seen many significant moments in music history. In 1969, The Beatles posed for the iconic Abbey Road album cover outside EMI Studios in London. In 1987, U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, with the music video filmed in Las Vegas. The following year, N.W.A released Straight Outta Compton, a groundbreaking rap album that brought West Coast hip-hop into the spotlight.
In 1992, Madonna’s “This Used To Be My Playground” topped the Billboard Hot 100 as the theme song for A League of Their Own. Fast forward to 2020, Taylor Swift made history by debuting her album folklore and its single “cardigan” at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the same week. In 2022, Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” became her first No. 1 hit in 14 years.
Live performances also marked this date. In 1981, MTV aired its first stereo concert featuring REO Speedwagon. However, challenges persist in the industry. In 1966, South Africa banned Beatles music due to John Lennon’s controversial comments. In 2007, Amy Winehouse suffered a drug overdose, leading to the cancellation of her U.S. tour.
Lastly, August 8 is also Shawn Mendes’s birthday. He has had 18 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Señorita” reaching No. 1.
