On August 12, 1968, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham came together for a rehearsal in London. Just a month later, they officially became Led Zeppelin. The band went on to release seven No. 1 albums.
August 12 has been a big day for boy bands over the years. In 1988, New Kids on the Block dropped their second album, “Hangin’ Tough,” featuring two No. 1 hits: “Hangin’ Tough” and “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever).” In 1997, the Backstreet Boys released their self-titled debut album in the U.S., which sold over 14 million copies. Then in 2008, the Jonas Brothers’ album “A Little Bit Longer” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, including hits like “Burnin’ Up” and “Lovebug.”
Music has a way of connecting us, as shown by these cultural milestones. In 1982, the Museum of Modern Art in New York opened an exhibition called Performance Video, focusing on music videos. In 1984, Lionel Richie performed a nine-minute version of “All Night Long” at the Los Angeles Olympics closing ceremony. In 1997, MTV aired Fleetwood Mac’s reunion special, “The Dance,” marking their first performance together since 1982. In 2015, Elvis Presley received a second U.S. postage stamp as part of the Music Icon series.
Notable performances also took place on this day. In 1985, Neil Young released his 14th album, “Old Ways.” In 1989, the Rolling Stones surprised 700 fans with a small concert at Toad’s Place in Connecticut. Woodstock ’94 kicked off in New York in 1994, with over 350,000 attendees. Most recently, in 2023, the Jonas Brothers launched their Five Albums, One Night tour at Yankee Stadium, performing 66 songs from their five albums. August 12 is a day packed with music history and exciting moments!
