APRIL 19
ON THIS DAY IN 1980, ‘R.E.M.’ PLAYED THEIR FIRST GIG AS ‘R.E.M.’ AT THE 11:11 KOFFEE CLUB, IN ATHENS, GEORGIA TO 150 PEOPLE.
32-YEAR-OLD ENGLISH SINGER BRIAN JOHNSON OFFICIALLY JOINED AUSTRALIAN GROUP ‘AC/DC’ TODAY IN 1980, FOLLOWING BON SCOTT’S DEATH EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
AND IN 1974, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND APPEARED AT THE STATE THEATRE IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY. THE GIG WAS UNADVERTISED BY ITS PROMOTER, WHO GAMBLED THAT WORD-OF-MOUTH WOULD BE ENOUGH TO FILL THE 550-SEAT VENUE, BUT ONLY 250 PEOPLE ATTENDED.