Non-musical history for today: 1980 – Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage. I can’t say for sure, but I think this was the first natural disaster that I ever heard of or, at least, paid attention to. I was nine at the time. 200 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles of railways, and 185 miles of highway were destroyed. It remains the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.
Music history, album anniversaries, birthdays, and deaths for May 18.