September 14, 1984 – MTV debuts its first ever video awards show, hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler in New York at Radio City Music Hall. The Cars win Video of the Year for “You Might Think”. Among the Video of the Year nominees were Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and The Police “Every Breath You Take”. David Bowie wins Best Male Video for “China Girl,” a song co-written with his friend, Iggy Pop.
10 Best Songs from The Cars to Play in Your Car
September 14, 1979 – The film Quadrophenia, based loosely on The Who‘s 1973 rock opera, is released. Sting makes his acting debut as “Ace Face,” and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols loses the lead role of “Jimmy” because the distributors of the film refuse to insure him.
September 14, 1981 – Genesis release their 11th studio album, Abacab, which becomes their first top ten album in the U.S. and goes on to sell over 2 million copies.
September 14, 1968 – Roy Orbison‘s home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, burns down while he is touring Europe. Sadly, he loses his two eldest sons in the blaze – Roy Jr. (age 10) and Tony (age 6). The two children had been playing with an aerosol can in the basement of the house when their grandfather, Orbie Orbison, warned them it was dangerous, and to demonstrate the danger, touched his cigarette lighter to the spray, igniting the fire. Just about a year earlier, Orbison’s wife (their mother) had been killed in a motorcycle accident.
Classic Rock Birthdays
September 14, 1949 – Steve Gaines, guitar, vocals (Lynyrd Skynyrd) (d. 1977)
September 14, 1947 – Pete Agnew, bass, vocals (Nazareth)
September 14, 1950 – Paul Kossoff, guitar, Free, (d. 1976)
September 14, 1955 – Steve Berlin, saxophone, keyboards (Los Lobos)
September 14, 1949 – Fred “Sonic” Smith, guitarist (MC5) (d. 1994)
