1986 in music

See also: 1985 in music, other events of 1986, 1987 in music, 1980s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits
4 Published popular music
5 Musical theater
6 Musical films
7 Musical television
8 Births
9 Deaths
10 Awards

10.1 Grammy Awards
10.2 Country Music Association Awards
10.3 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 23 - The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley)
February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team
February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Monkees premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
March 26 - Guns N' Roses signs a contract with Geffen Records
March 27 - Sammy Hagar performs his first concert as the lead singer of Van Halen
April 12 - The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle marries actor Morgan Mason
May 5 - In New York, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Chairman Ahmet Ertegen announces that Cleveland, Ohio has been chosen as the city where the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be built
May 10 - Tommy Lee of M�tley Cr�e marries actress Heather Locklear.
May 19 - Peter Gabriel releases So, his first album in over 4 years. The album reached number 2 on the charts and sold more than 3 million copies in the U.S. So contains the chart-topping songs Sledgehammer (#1), Big Time (top 10), and In Your Eyes (top 40). The music video for Sledgehammer won 9 MTV music awards, more than any video in history, and was ranked the #1 video of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. This album also marks Peter Gabriel's introduction into the mainstream of world music artists such as Youssou N'dour (who lent his vocals on In Your Eyes). It is interesting to note that Genesis released their hit album Invisible Touch in 1986, with Phil Collins on vocals.
May 21 - Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Mask of Orpheus is premiered in London
Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys taken to court by the PMRC for content in their album Frankenchrist; Biafra wins
Cacophony forms
The Escape Club signs a contract to EMI Records
Public Enemy signs a contract to Def Jam Records
Black Flag breaks up
White Zombie begin performing
Pixies begin performing
Poison begins their recording career
Dick Dale mounts a comeback effort
Pixies forms
Skid Row forms
Slayer releases Reign in Blood, their breakthrough album, and the one that set the stage for many extreme metal bands to come.