This Day in History
Today is June 18.
Today was Napoleon's "Waterloo," so to speak. On this date in 1815, the forces of England's Duke of Wellington and Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard von Blucher defeated Napoleon and his troops near Waterloo in central Belgium. Napoleon later surrendered to British authorities and was exiled to St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic, where he would die in May 1821.
The War of 1812 began on this date in 1812 -- duh! -- when Congress issued a declaration of war against Britain. The action was prompted by Britain's violation of American rights on the high seas and also its incitement of Indian warfare on the U.S frontier.
Equal rights finally reached the U.S. space program on this date in 1983 with the launch of the shuttle Challenger and its crew of four men and one WOMAN. Sally Ride, 32, was the first American woman in space. The shuttle mission lasted six days.
And Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski, on this date in 1996, was charged with two murders in California. He pleaded innocent. The former college professor had been arrested April 3 at his Montana cabin in connection with the string of bombings that'd killed three people over a 20-year period. Kaczynski would later change his plea to guilty as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty.
Today's musical birthdays include Don "Sugarcane" Harris, who was born in 1938 (age 64); Paul McCartney in 1942 (age 60); KC and the Sunshine Band guitarist Jerome Smith in 1953 (age 49); Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins in 1957 (age 45); and Alison Moyet in 1961 (age 41).
On this day in musical history:
In 1968, "In His Own Write" -- a play adapted by Adrienne Kennedy from John Lennon's two books -- opened at the National Theater in London.
In 1976, Phil May -- the only remaining original member of the Pretty Things -- left the band. When the band first formed in 1965, it was promoted as a "dirtier" version of the Rolling Stones.
In 1977, the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten was attacked in London by razor-wielding protesters offended by the band's song "God Save the Queen."
In 1984, Dolly Parton's third major movie "Rhinestone" opened.
Also in 1984, country's Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley released their Culture Club satire, titled "Where's the Dress?"
And in 1984, fans at a Judas Priest concert at New York's Madison Square Garden went wild, tearing up hundreds of seats.
In 1987, Willie Nelson announced that arrangements were almost complete for Farm Aid III, to be held in Lincoln, Neb.
In 1992, concertgoers rampaged through downtown Boston after officials cancelled a free rap concert. About 24 people were injured, and 24 arrested.
In 1996, Sting -- in Warsaw for a concert -- met with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
In 1997, Lollapalooza '97 kicked off in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Also in 1997, Jon Bon Jovi made his New York solo club debut in support of his new CD "Destination Anywhere."
In 1998, Yes resumed its "Open Your Eyes World Tour," celebrating 30 years of the Yes experience, in Toronto.
Today's musical quiz:
In 1991, Paul McCartney topped the classical charts. What was the name of the record?
Answer: "Liverpool Oratorio."
We now return you to the present, already in progress.
Today was Napoleon's "Waterloo," so to speak. On this date in 1815, the forces of England's Duke of Wellington and Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard von Blucher defeated Napoleon and his troops near Waterloo in central Belgium. Napoleon later surrendered to British authorities and was exiled to St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic, where he would die in May 1821.
The War of 1812 began on this date in 1812 -- duh! -- when Congress issued a declaration of war against Britain. The action was prompted by Britain's violation of American rights on the high seas and also its incitement of Indian warfare on the U.S frontier.
Equal rights finally reached the U.S. space program on this date in 1983 with the launch of the shuttle Challenger and its crew of four men and one WOMAN. Sally Ride, 32, was the first American woman in space. The shuttle mission lasted six days.
And Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski, on this date in 1996, was charged with two murders in California. He pleaded innocent. The former college professor had been arrested April 3 at his Montana cabin in connection with the string of bombings that'd killed three people over a 20-year period. Kaczynski would later change his plea to guilty as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty.
Today's musical birthdays include Don "Sugarcane" Harris, who was born in 1938 (age 64); Paul McCartney in 1942 (age 60); KC and the Sunshine Band guitarist Jerome Smith in 1953 (age 49); Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins in 1957 (age 45); and Alison Moyet in 1961 (age 41).
On this day in musical history:
In 1968, "In His Own Write" -- a play adapted by Adrienne Kennedy from John Lennon's two books -- opened at the National Theater in London.
In 1976, Phil May -- the only remaining original member of the Pretty Things -- left the band. When the band first formed in 1965, it was promoted as a "dirtier" version of the Rolling Stones.
In 1977, the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten was attacked in London by razor-wielding protesters offended by the band's song "God Save the Queen."
In 1984, Dolly Parton's third major movie "Rhinestone" opened.
Also in 1984, country's Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley released their Culture Club satire, titled "Where's the Dress?"
And in 1984, fans at a Judas Priest concert at New York's Madison Square Garden went wild, tearing up hundreds of seats.
In 1987, Willie Nelson announced that arrangements were almost complete for Farm Aid III, to be held in Lincoln, Neb.
In 1992, concertgoers rampaged through downtown Boston after officials cancelled a free rap concert. About 24 people were injured, and 24 arrested.
In 1996, Sting -- in Warsaw for a concert -- met with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
In 1997, Lollapalooza '97 kicked off in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Also in 1997, Jon Bon Jovi made his New York solo club debut in support of his new CD "Destination Anywhere."
In 1998, Yes resumed its "Open Your Eyes World Tour," celebrating 30 years of the Yes experience, in Toronto.
Today's musical quiz:
In 1991, Paul McCartney topped the classical charts. What was the name of the record?
Answer: "Liverpool Oratorio."
We now return you to the present, already in progress.