8/18 KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons is awarded a “Key To The City” of Niagara Falls, NY, along with a downtown street temporarily named in his honor to acknowledge his investment in the local business community.
8/19 People Serving People, a Minnesota organization that provides services to people and families experiencing homelessness, announce that Metallica has donated $40,000 to the charity through the band’s All Within My Hands foundation.
8/21 AC/DC’s ’80 breakthrough set “Back In Black” is certified for U.S. shipments of 27 million copies by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) making it the third highest-certified album in U.S. history.
At #1 is the Eagles compilation, “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975),” which has moved 38 million units with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” certified at 34 million units.
8/21 Vice-Presidential nominee Tim Walz concludes his Democratic Convention speech by walking off the stage to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World.” Walz sought and received Young’s approval to use the song — one of the Minnesota governor’s favorites.
8/21 Also at the convention… Stevie Wonder delivers a speech and performance of “Higher Ground” in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ run for the White House.
8/23 Simone Simons, singer for the symphonic Metal band Epica, releases her debut solo effort, “Vermillion.“ It includes the tracks “Aeterna,” “In Love We Rust” and “R.E.D.”
8/23 BBC 2″ broadcasts “Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers And Me.” The program follows the Queen guitarist on his decade-long opposition to the controversial badger cull, implemented to curb the spread of the disease in cattle. May and his team have organized marches, protests, and a petition to end the practice.
8/24 Wage War’s “Magnetic” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. It’s the lead track from “Stigma,” the Metalcore band’s fifth studio effort.
8/24 Jelly Roll’s “Get By” is used to open ESPN’s college football schedule.
