April 5
TODAY IN 1980, R.E.M. PLAY THEIR FIRST-EVER GIG, A FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY PARTY AT ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN ATHENS, GEORGIA. THE BAND HAD NO NAME AT THIS POINT BUT THEY SETTLED ON “R.E.M.” AFTER LEAD SINGER MICHAEL STIPE SELECTED IT AT RANDOM FROM A DICTIONARY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF PEARL JAM, GUITARIST MIKE MCCREADY, WHO’S 58 TODAY.
AND SADLY, WE LOST TWO GRUNGE ROCK PIONEERS TODAY; NIRVANA CO-FOUNDER KURT COBAIN IN 1994 AT AGE 27 AND IN 2002 LAYNE STALEY, LEAD SINGER OF ALICE IN CHAINS AT AGE 34.
