This Week in Music History

July 11th, 1971 - Bruce Springsteen's band opens for Peter Frampton's band Humble Pie at the Sunshine Inn, Asbury Park. Afterward Frampton, impressed with Bruce offers to have them open for him on a national tour and audition for his record label, A & M records. Tinker West, Springsteen's manager declines both offers on the spot for what appeares to be no good reason.

July 12th, 1988 - Michael Jackson arrives in the UK for a stretch of performances. It's his first time as solo act and will play eight nights to a total of 794,000 people.

July 13th, 1985 - Duran Duran has a No. 1 hit on the singles chart with 'A View To A Kill'. It is the first time a James Bond theme song has gone all the way to the top of the charts.

July 14th, 1982 - Van Halen kicks off their 105-date North American 'Hide Your Sheep Tour' at Richmond County Civic Center in Augusta, Georgia.

July 15th, 1998 - Aerosmith cancels a forthcoming US tour after drummer Joey Kramer is involved in a freak accident. Kramer's car caught on fire and was completely destroyed as he was filling it up at a gas station. He was sustained second-degree burns and was admitted to a nearby hospital.

July 16th, 2009 - Madonna is devastated when she receives news that a stage being built in France for a future performance has collapsed. Workers had been setting up the stage at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille when the partially-built roof caved in bringing down a crane, killing two workers and injuring six others.

July 17th, 1978 - Simple Minds makes their live debut at The Satellite Club in Glasgow, Scotland.