August 31 has been a significant date in Top 40 music history, with major milestones involving The Ronettes, John Lennon, Nicki Minaj, Aaliyah, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Prince and many other influential artists.
Looking back at August 31 music history shows how quickly popular music can change. From landmark chart successes and classic albums to groundbreaking performances and heartbreaking losses, this date has been connected to some of the most memorable moments in music.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Several important songs and albums made their mark on August 31.
1963: The Angels Reach No. 1
The Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” reached No. 1 in the United States, becoming one of the defining pop hits of the early 1960s.
That same day, The Ronettes made their debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Be My Baby.” Produced by Phil Spector, the song became a top 10 hit and helped define the dramatic “Wall of Sound” production style of the era.
1973: The Rolling Stones Release Goats Head Soup
The Rolling Stones released their eleventh studio album, Goats Head Soup, on August 31, 1973.
The album produced the classic ballad “Angie,” which reached No. 1 in the United States. Goats Head Soup also became a major commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and No. 19 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It was later certified triple platinum in the United States.
1999: The Dixie Chicks Release Fly
The Dixie Chicks released Fly, their fifth overall album and second major-label album, in 1999.
The album produced eight singles, including “Ready to Run,” “Cowboy Take Me Away,” and “Goodbye Earl.” The three songs reached Nos. 39, 27 and 19, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fly was also a major commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones in Music History
August 31 has also been connected to the lives and careers of artists who helped shape popular music.
1945: Van Morrison Is Born
Van Morrison was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 31, 1945. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has placed numerous albums on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and U.K. charts. Morrison is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was knighted in 2016 for his services to music and tourism in Northern Ireland.
1948: Rudolf Schenker Is Born
Rudolf Schenker was born in Hildesheim, Germany, in 1948. He founded the German rock band Scorpions and has remained one of its key creative forces. The Scorpions became internationally known for songs such as “Wind of Change,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” and “Still Loving You.” The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
1957: Gina Schock Is Born
Gina Schock was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1957. She became the drummer for the all-female rock band the Go-Go’s.
The band scored major hits including “Turn to You” and “Head Over Heels,” which reached Nos. 32 and 11, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
Schock and her bandmates were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
1971: John Lennon Moves to New York
On August 31, 1971, John Lennon left Britain for New York City to begin a new chapter of his life with Yoko Ono. Lennon would eventually make New York his home and would never again return to live permanently in England.
1984: Purple Rain Premieres in the U.K.
Prince’s Purple Rain premiered in the United Kingdom on August 31, 1984.
The film, which starred Prince in his feature-film debut, became a major commercial success and eventually grossed more than $80 million worldwide. Its accompanying soundtrack became one of the most successful albums of Prince’s career.
1991: Metallica’s Black Album Debuts at No. 1
Metallica’s self-titled fifth album, commonly known as The Black Album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on August 31, 1991. The album remained at No. 1 for four consecutive weeks and became Metallica’s first U.S. No. 1 album.
It featured some of the band’s most recognizable songs, including “Enter Sandman,” “Sad but True,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” The album remains one of the best-selling heavy metal albums in history.
Notable Recordings and Performances
August 31 has also produced memorable performances, premieres and unexpected chart revivals.
1970: Isle of Wight Festival Concludes
The legendary Isle of Wight Festival concluded on August 31, 1970, following a landmark weekend of performances. The festival featured major artists including Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Bob Dylan and attracted an estimated 600,000 people.
1987: Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Premieres
Michael Jackson’s “Bad” music video premiered on CBS on August 31, 1987. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the video was presented as part of the television special Michael Jackson: The Magic Returns. It became another major visual milestone in Jackson’s career.
2003: Elton John’s “Are You Ready for Love” Reaches No. 1
Elton John’s 1979 recording “Are You Ready for Love” reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom in 2003.
A Sky Sports advertising campaign helped introduce the disco-influenced song to a new generation and gave the decades-old recording a remarkable second life.
2009: Nicki Minaj Signs With Young Money
Nicki Minaj signed with Young Money Entertainment, founded by Lil Wayne, on August 31, 2009. The move became an important step in Minaj’s rise to international stardom. She would soon become one of the most influential rappers of her generation, releasing major collaborations and her chart-topping debut album, Pink Friday.
2018: A Star Is Born Premieres in Venice
A Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2018.
Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images
The film went on to become a major critical and commercial success, while its soundtrack produced the global hit “Shallow.”
Industry Changes and Challenges
Some of the most difficult moments in August 31 music history involve artists whose lives and careers were cut short.
1994: Aaliyah’s Marriage
In 1994, R. Kelly married 15-year-old Aaliyah in a private ceremony at a hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. The marriage was later annulled. The circumstances surrounding the relationship remained largely out of public discussion for years and have since become an important part of the broader conversation about exploitation and the protection of young artists in the music industry.
2001: Aaliyah’s Funeral
Aaliyah’s funeral was held in New York City on August 31, 2001, just days after the singer died in a plane crash in the Bahamas.
Hundreds of grieving fans lined the streets as her casket was carried by a horse-drawn carriage to a private service. Her death at just 22 years old was a devastating loss for music fans and had a lasting impact on discussions about artist safety.
2004: Carl Wayne Dies
Carl Wayne died in 2004 at age 61, only weeks after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Wayne was the lead singer of the English rock band The Move and performed on several of the group’s best-known songs, including “I Can Hear the Grass Grow” and “Flowers in the Rain.”
2014: Jimi Jamison Dies
Jimi Jamison died in 2014 at age 63 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. Jamison became widely known as the frontman of Survivor, joining the band in the mid-1980s. His first album with the group, Vital Signs, reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. The album produced the hits “High on You” and “I Can’t Hold Back,” which reached Nos. 13 and 8, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
Why August 31 Matters in Music History
August 31 has an extraordinary amount of music history attached to it.
The Angels and The Ronettes helped shape early pop music. The Rolling Stones and Metallica delivered landmark albums. Prince and Michael Jackson demonstrated the growing power of music and film. John Lennon began a new chapter in New York, while Nicki Minaj took an important step toward becoming a global superstar.
At the same time, the stories of Aaliyah, Carl Wayne and Jimi Jamison remind us that music history is not only about chart positions and successful albums. It is also about the people behind the music, the challenges they faced and the legacies they left behind.
Looking back at August 31 music history gives us a snapshot of how popular music has continually evolved—and how the songs, albums, performances and artists of the past continue to influence music today.