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1988 in music
See also:
1987 in music,
other events of 1988,
1989 in music and the
list of 'years in music'.
- February 13 - Michael Jackson purchases a ranch in Santa Ynez, California. He calls his new home "Neverland".
- February 16 - Billy Vera[?] receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame
- February 17 - A 12-year old Mötley Crüe fan in Florida is badly burned while trying to imitate a stunt in the band's "Live Wire" music video. The boy suffered burns over ten percent of his body. Mötley Crüe issued a statement saying the band's stunts should not be tried at home.
- February 24 - Alice Cooper announces that he is going to run for Governor of Arizona.
- March 10 - During a concert in Perth, Australia, George Michael thanks Tipper Gore[?], head of the Parents Music Resource Center, for helping the sales of his Faith album.
- March 12 - Record producer Jimmy Iovine[?] presents the Special Olympics with a donation of $5 million, which was raised with the release of the A Very Special Christmas album.
- April to July - Suicidal Tendencies records How Will I Laugh Tomorrow If I Can't Even Smile Today?, which will be a blockbuster album on September 13
- April 19 - Sonny Bono is inaugurated as the Mayor of Palm Springs, California
- May 1 - Citing the 1st Amendment, a judge drops all charges filed against singer Billy Joel. Joel was being sued by Jack Powers[?] for defamation following an interview with Playboy magazine in which he called Powers a "creep".
- November - The "Guess The Eddies" contest begins, inviting people to guess the identities of the six members of the rock band The Swirling Eddies.
- Compact discs outsell vinyl records for the first time.
- Former rock and roll singer Sonny Bono is elected as mayor of Palm Springs, California.
- "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" experiences a surge in popularity sparked by television commercials featuring claymation raisin figures dancing to the song. The California Raisins[?] version of the song peaks at No. 84 on Billboard's Hot 100.
- Nirvana's career begins
- Phish's career begins
- Morrissey begins solo career;
- The Offspring begins their recording career
- Baha Men forms
- After 7 forms
- Blues Traveler forms
- Cypress Hill forms
- Guttermouth forms
- Jesus Jones[?] forms
- No Doubt forms
- Warrior Soul forms
- The Cars break up
- March 10, Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees, disco musician
- April 9 - Brook Benton[?], complications of spinal meningitis.
- April 9 - Dave Prater[?], of Sam & Dave, car accident
- June 25, Hillel Slovak[?], Red Hot Chili Peppers, guitarist
- October 19, Son House, blues musician
- December 6, Roy Orbison, singer