1978

XTC play at The Bataclan, Paris, France, Europe.

Ozzy Osbourne’s father dies.

Dire Straits play at The Hop And Grape, University Of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

With a tour of the Far East in prospect, Bob Dylan holds two press conferences in Rundown Studios, Santa Monica, California, USA, one for Australian journalists and one for Japanese.

Bat Out Of Hell, the second studio album by Meat Loaf is released in the UK, going on to remain in the charts until the release of its 1981 follow-up Deadringer.

At the start of a major tour of the Far East, Bob Dylan plays the last of three nights at The Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, Asia.

Wuthering Heights, the debut single by Kate Bush, inspired by the Emily Bronte novel of the same name, begins a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart.

Bob Dylan begins a tour of Australia with the first of three nights at the Festival Hall, Brisbane.

Internationally acclaimed San Francisco-born folk singer and songwriter Malvina Reynolds dies aged 77. Her best-known songs are Little Boxes, What Have They Done To The Rain? and Morningtown Ride.

Bob Dylan plays the first of three nights at The Meyer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Australia.

Squeeze play at the Oasis, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK.

Because of background vocalist Debbie Dye leaving Bob Dylan's band after the recent tour of the Far East, two singers audition unsuccessfully in Santa Monica, California.

Bob Dylan is working on No Time To Think, Where Are You Tonight - (Journey Through Dark Heat), True Love Tends To Forget and Changing Of The Guards at Rundown Studios, Santa Monica, California.

Pere Ubu play at Eric's, Liverpool, UK, supported by The Pop Group.

Bob Dylan oversees vocal overdubs by Carolyn Dennis, Jo Ann Harris and Helena Springs on the song Baby, Stop Crying, at Rundown Studios, Santa Monica, California, USA.

Queen play at The Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany, Europe.

Luke Laird is born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, USA. He will become a successful songwriter, composing hits including Pontoon by Little Big Town, Talladega by Eric Church, American Kids by Kenny Chesney, Baggage Claim by Miranda Lambert and Last Name by Carrie Underwood.

Campus policeman Terry Marker at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA, is injured when he opens a suspicious package addressed to materials engineering professor Buckley Crist. This will prove to be the first of many bombs sent by Ted Kaczynski, later known as The Unabomber. Over the next 17 years, Kaczynski will mail or hand-deliver a series of increasingly sophisticated explosive devices that will kill three people and injure 23 more. Kaczynski's bombings will provide inspiration for songs including I Wanna Be A Unabomber by The Donnas, Unabomber by The Acacia Strain and Killer Kaczynski by Mando Diao.

Squeeze play at Toad's, Long Island, New York State, USA.

Meat Loaf is seen performing Bat Out Of Hell on UK tv series The Old Grey Whistle Test. Also appearing in this edition of the show is UFO.

Bob Dylan plays the second of six nights live at Earl's Court, London, UK.

Touring in support of his album Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf plays at The Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia.

Squeeze play at Randy's Rodeo, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

The Boomtown Rats play at The City Hall, Newcastle, UK, supported by The Young Ones. The support band will not last long, but one member, Paul 'Wix' Wickens, will go on to a lengthy career as MD in Paul McCartney's band.

Bob Dylan plays the fourth of five nights at the Pavilion De Paris, Paris, France.

Squeeze play at The Starwood, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Bob Dylan plays the first of two nights at the Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Bob Dylan goes to see the stage musical, Evita, in London, UK.

Aerosmith, Foreigner, Pat Travers, Van Halen and AC/DC play in the year's third Day On The Green festival at Oakland Coliseum Stadium, Oakland, California, USA.

Tom Waits begins recording sessions for his fifth album, Blue Valentine, at Filmways/Heider Recording in San Francisco, California, USA.

Bob Dylan's latest single, Baby Stop Crying, enters the UK pop singles chart where it will peak at No13 during an eleven-week run.

Bob Dylan plays at the Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. @BobDylan

After The Fire play at The Brunel Rooms, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, UK, Europe.

Gruppo Sportivo come to the end of a British tour with a show at The Marquee Club, Soho, London, England, UK, Europe.

On a tour in support of his album 52nd Street, Billy Joel plays at The Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Bob Dylan plays the second of two nights at The Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois.

Nick Gilder reaches No1 in the Billboard Top 40 singles chart in the USA with Hot Child In The City.

Bob Dylan plays at the Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USA. When an audience member throws a small silver cross onto the stage, Dylan picks it up and pockets it.

Zoo Records release the EP, From Y To Z And Never Again by Big In Japan, a Liverpool, UK. group which recently split up. Among its members were Ian Broudie (future Lightning Seed), Dave Balfe (future Teardrop Explodes), Bill Drummond (future KLF), Budgie [future Banshee] and Holly Johnson (future Frankie Goes To Hollywood).

Pere Ubu play in Liverpool, UK, supported by The Soft Boys and Red Krayola.

Bob Dylan plays at The Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.