It was Marshall Checker, of the legendary Checker brothers, who first discovered them in the gritty blues clubs of Chicago’s South Side in 1969 and handed them their big break nine years later—actually that's not true, but it’s the story that Saturday Night Live‘s Paul Shaffer told on April 22, 1978

The Winterland Ballroom venue in San Francisco closes with a New Year's Eve performance by the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Blues Brothers.

Dire Straits begin their first U.S. tour in Boston.

AC/DC release Back in Black which later becomes the highest selling album by any band to date.

Rush release the highly regarded album Moving Pictures which eventually becomes the band's sixth platinum album.

While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner."

Iron Maiden release "The Number of the Beast," the critically acclaimed yet controversial album often hailed as Iron Maiden's greatest.

Michael Jackson's Thriller album hits #1 on the US charts, the first of thirty-seven (non-consecutive) weeks it would spend there on its way to becoming the biggest-selling album of all time.

The Smiths play Brixton Academy, their last ever gig before their dissolution.

U2's Rattle and Hum hits the Number One spot on the U.S. charts, the first double album to do so since Bruce Springsteen's The River in 1980.

Madonna's "Like a Prayer" music video, taped in late December 1988, attracts criticism for its use of Catholic Church iconography and for the use of cross burning imagery, but also garners praise for its interpretation of discrimination, rape, and faith.

"November Rain" by Guns N' Roses enters the world record books when it becomes the longest single, at 8 minutes, 57 seconds, to reach the US Top 20. The single's video has a budget of over US$1.5 million, becoming the most expensive at the time.

Radiohead album The Bends is released.

Blink-182 release their fourth studio album Take Off Your Pants And Jacket which would later sell 14 million copies worldwide. This was the band's second successful album.

Robert Trujillo joins Metallica as bassist. The rest of the band now consists of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Lars Ulrich.

Modest Mouse, an American indie rock band releases Good News for People Who Love Bad News. "Float On" appears on the album and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2005.

The Glastonbury Festival has a critically significant year over four days featuring Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, The Who and Shirley Bassey.

Lil Wayne's sixth album Tha Carter III sells 1 million copies in its first week of release.

Lady Gaga sweeps the Video Music Awards, winning 8 awards, 7 for her "Bad Romance" video, and Best Collaboration for her song "Telephone" with Beyoncé. Gaga also gave an acceptance speech for Video of the Year in a dress made entirely of meat

Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell keep "Blurred Lines" in the Billboard Hot 100 for twelve weeks.

Taylor Swift releases her fifth studio album, 1989, which debuts at number one with 1.287,000 copies sold in its first week.

Adele's comeback single "Hello" became the first song with over a million digital sales in a week.

David Bowie released his final album, Blackstar, just two days before his death.

Earlier in the year, Kanye West releases The Life of Pablo. The Life of Pablo became the first streaming only album to go platinum, becoming West's eighth platinum album.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill released their first collaborative album, The Rest of Our Life. The album is Hill's first studio release in twelve years.

P!nk performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and Timberlake performed at halftime at Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.