October 18th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for October 18 throughout music history

Photo by Siegfried Pilz/United Archives via Getty Images

The Bee Gees Land Their First UK No.1 With ‘Massachusetts’

On October 18, 1967, the Bee Gees topped the UK singles chart with “Massachusetts,” the band’s first of five UK No.1s. Written by the Gibb brothers in New York City during a tour of the US, the ballad was initially intended for the Australian folk act, The Seekers. In a twist of fate, however, the Bee Gees were unable to reach the group, and instead recorded the song themselves. Famously, the Gibbs had never been to Massachusetts when they wrote the hit – they simply liked the way it sounded.

In 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first gig together, supporting French pop star Johnny Hallyday at the Paris Olympia in France. Later that month, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp (the famed managers of The Who) signed Hendrix and his band to the newly formed Track Records. Shortly after, the group recorded their hit, “Hey Joe.”

In 1957, Paul McCartney made his first live appearance with The Quarry Men at Liverpool’s New Clubmoor Hall, alongside his future Beatles bandmate John Lennon, plus Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton, and Len Garry. In early 1958, George Harrison joined the band at McCartney’s urging, though Lennon was hesitant at first because he thought the guitarist was too young.

In 1967, Bobbie Gentry’s debut album, Ode to Billie Joe, took the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200. It was the only album to displace The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band from its 15-week reign at the top of the chart.

In 1979, one-hit-wonders the Buggles topped the UK pop chart with “Video Killed The Radio Star.” Famously, it would air as the very first music video on MTV.

In 2008, Adele performed “Chasing Pavements” and “Cold Shoulder” (both from her debut album) on Saturday Night Live. The following day, the artist topped the iTunes charts, while her album, 19, jumped from No. 46 to No.11 within a week on the Billboard 200.

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BORN ON OCTOBER 18:

1926: Chuck Berry
1947: Laura Nyro
1949: Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon)
1952: Keith Knudson (Doobie Brothers)
1982: Ne-Yo

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Keep scrolling for all of our October 18 birthdays.

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October 18th

On this day in music

18 Oct 2019 Elbow went to No.1 on the UK chart with their eighth studio album Giants of All Sizes, becoming the band's third consecutive chart-topping studio album.
18 Oct 2013 Paul McCartney gave an impromptu gig in Covent Garden, London to a crowd of more than 2,000 fans during the lunchtime rush. McCartney's latest solo album 'New' was released in the same week.
18 Oct 2009 The Editors went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'In This Light and On This Evening', the bands third studio album.
18 Oct 2008 Adele appeared on Saturday Night Live along with then US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The show earned its highest ratings in 14 years with a total of 17 million viewers. Adele who performed 'Chasing Pavements' and 'Cold Shoulder', topped the iTunes charts the following day and the singer's debut album jumped thirty-five places to No.11 on the US chart the following week.
18 Oct 2007 South African reggae star, Lucky Dube was shot dead by car thieves when he was dropping his teenage son and daughter off in a Johannesburg suburb. Police said Dube's son and daughter were already out of the car when three shots were fired through the car window, witnesses said the wounded singer tried to drive away, but lost control of his car and hit a tree.
18 Oct 2007 Amy Winehouse and her husband Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested in Bergen, Norway and held overnight for possession of cannabis. The singer was released the following morning after paying a fine of 500 euros (£350; $714).
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18 Oct 2007 The Spice Girls US record label announced that their forthcoming greatest hits album would be made available exclusively at the lingerie chain Victoria's Secret shops in the US two months ahead of other outlets.
18 Oct 2005 An image of a naked John Lennon taken on the last day of his life, was named the top US magazine cover of the past 40 years. The Rolling Stone front cover, taken by Annie Leibovitz and showing Lennon curled around Yoko Ono, was picked by editors, artists and designers.
18 Oct 2005 Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure collected his OBE from the Queen for his music and charity work. The 52 year-old ex-Ultravox singer wore a kilt for the occasion at Buckingham Palace, London.
18 Oct 2005 Madonna admitted that she wrote a grovelling letter to Abba asking if she could sample their music on her latest single ‘Hung Up.’ The singer had to seek permission to sample ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ and became only the second act that Abba has allowed to sample their work. The Fugees used part of ‘The Name Of The Game’ on their 1996 track ‘Rumble In The Jungle.’
18 Oct 2002 After a 15 year court battle, New York State's highest court ruled that the Ronettes, did not have the right to share the money earned by their producer Phil Spector through the use of the group's songs in movies, television and advertising. Citing a 1963 contract signed by the group, the court also substantially reduced the amount they stood to gain from royalties on sales of records and compact discs.
18 Oct 2000 American singer and actress Julie London died after suffering a stroke. Scored the 1956 US No.9 & UK No.22 single 'Cry Me A River', which was also featured in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It. She recorded 32 albums during her career, played the role of nurse Dixie McCall, in the television series Emergency! (1972 - 1979).
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18 Oct 1996 Joni Mitchell was interviewed by Morrissey for the promotional CD 'Words and Music' by Reprise Records to promote her new releases Hits and Misses.
18 Oct 1989 During a gig at The Los Angeles Coliseum, California, (opening for The Rolling Stones,) Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose announced that this would be the last Guns N' Roses concert unless the band members "got their shit together." He was referring to their use of heroin.
18 Oct 1986 Former Eastenders TV actor Nick Berry was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Every Loser Wins.' Berry had played barman Simon Wickes in the TV show. It also gave BBC records its first ever UK No.1 single.
18 Oct 1981 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Quincy Jones produced 1963 Lesley Gore hit 'It's My Party.'
18 Oct 1979 Buggles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Video Killed The Radio Star.' A studio band featuring producer Trevor Horn. Famously, it was the first ever music video shown on MTV in North America.
18 Oct 1974 TV talent contest winners Sweet Sensation were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sad Sweet Dreamer', their only UK No.1.
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18 Oct 1974 Al Green was taking a shower at his Memphis home when his ex-girlfriend Mary Woodson burst in and poured boiling hot grit over him. She then shot herself dead. Green suffered second degree burns.
18 Oct 1969 The Temptations scored their second US No.1 single with 'Can't Get Next To You'. A No.13 hit in the UK.
18 Oct 1968 John and Yoko were taken to Paddington Green police station and charged with obstruction, after cannabis was discovered at the apartment they were staying in. Lennon pleaded guilty the following month and was fined £150.
18 Oct 1967 Ode to Billie Joe the debut album by Bobbie Gentry was at No.1 on the US chart. It was the only album to displace The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from its 15-week reign at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart. The recording of the title track 'Ode to Billie Joe' generated eight Grammy nominations, resulting in three wins for Gentry and one win for arranger Jimmie Haskell.
18 Oct 1967 The Bee Gees were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Massachusetts', the group's first of five UK No.1's. Engelbert Humperdink was at No.2 with ‘The Last Waltz’ and Traffic were at No.3 with ‘Hole In My Shoe.’
18 Oct 1966 The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first gig as a band supporting French pop star Johnny Hallyday at the Paris Olympia in France.
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18 Oct 1964 Taking a day off from their British tour The Beatles went into the studio and completed the recording of six album tracks and the A-side of their next single: ‘I Feel Fine’. They also completed ‘Eight Days a Week’, ‘Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey’, ‘Mr. Moonlight’, ‘I'll Follow the Sun’, ‘Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby’. ‘Rock and Roll Music’ and ‘Words of Love.’
18 Oct 1957 Paul McCartney made his first appearance with The Quarry Men at New Clubmoor Hall, Norris Green, Liverpool. The line-up for The Quarry Men was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton, and Len Garry. Paul played John some songs that he had composed which Lennon contributes, marking the birth of the Lennon and McCartney songwriting partnership.
18 Oct 1956 21-year-old Elvis Presley pulled into a Memphis gas station where he started to attract a small crowd of autograph seekers. After repeatedly asking Elvis to move on so he could resume normal business, station manager Ed Hopper slapped Presley on the head and found himself on the receiving end of a punch in the face from Elvis. Station employee Aubrey Brown tried to help his boss, but was no match for Presley. After police are called, Hopper and Brown were charged with assault and were fined $25 and $15 respectively.

Born on this day in music

18 Oct 1987 Zachary Efron, American actor and singer from High School Musical. As part of the cast had the 2006 US No.1 ‘High School Musical’ album and 2007, US No.1 ‘High School Musical 2’ album. Over 17 million viewers in the United States watched the TV premier of High School Musical; making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history.
18 Oct 1982 Ne-Yo, (born Shaffer Chimere Smith), American R&B singer-songwriter, (2006 US No.1 & UK No.4 album ‘In My Own Words’, 2006 US & UK No.1 single ‘So Sick’).
18 Oct 1977 Simon Rix, bass, Kaiser Chiefs, (2005 UK No.3 album ‘Employment’, 2005 UK No.6 single 'Oh My God', 2007 UK No.1 single 'Ruby').
18 Oct 1974 Peter Svensson, guitarist with Swedish rock band The Cardigans who had the 1997 UK No.2 single 'Lovefool' which was included in the soundtrack to the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet.
18 Oct 1971 Mark Morriss, singer, songwriter, guitarist, The Bluetones, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Slight Return') and solo 2008 album 'Memory Muscle.'.
18 Oct 1956 Dick Crippen, Tenpole Tudor, (1981 UK No.6 single 'Swords Of A Thousand Men').
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18 Oct 1952 American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Knudson from with The Doobie Brothers who scored the 1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes' and the 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin.' He founded the band Southern Pacific with fellow Doobie Brother John McFee. He died of pneumonia on 8 Feb 2005 aged 56.
18 Oct 1949 Gary Richrath, from American rock band REO Speedwagon, who had the 1981 US No.1's 'Keep On Loving You' and 'Can't Fight This Feeling'. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck. He died on September 13, 2015.
18 Oct 1949 Joe Egan, Stealers Wheel, (1973 UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You'). The song was used in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous "ear" scene.
18 Oct 1947 Laura Nyro, singer songwriter. Her songs have been recorded by Suzanne Vega, Phoebe Snow, Roseane Cash, Frank Sinatra and Linda Ronstadt. She wrote 'And When I Die' a hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears and 'Stoney End' covered by Barbra Streisand. She died of ovarian cancer on 8th April 1997.
18 Oct 1938 Ronnie Bright from The Coasters. The American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group scored the 1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', the 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single 'Charlie Brown', as well as 'Young Blood' and 'Poison Ivy'. He did session work for artists such as Barry Mann, Jackie Wilson and Peter Gabriel. He died on 26 November 2015 age 77.
18 Oct 1926 Chuck Berry singer, songwriter and guitarist. Berry was one of the pioneers of rock and roll music, who helped developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive; his lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism plus his own brand of showmanship became a major influence on subsequent rock music. He also had surprise hit in 1972 with the UK and US No.1 single 'My Ding A Ling'. A major influence on The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' was one of the examples of music from Earth sent out to space. Berry died on 18 March 2017 aged 90.
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