MUSIC
KNOW YOUR
JUNE
MUSIC HISTORY
NIRVANA RELEASE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM
On this day in music, 15 June 1989, Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach. Recorded at Seattle’ s Reciprocal Recording and produced by Jack Endino, whose credits include projects for Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Screaming Trees, the album marked the trio’ s only release on Sub Pop Records and their sole LP to feature drummer Chad Channing.
Despite critical acclaim, the album initially only sold about 40 000 copies in the US. After the breakout success of 1991’ s Nevermind, however, Bleach returned to the charts and was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA.
WEST SIDE STORY SOUNDTRACK TAKES OVER UK AND US CHARTS In June 1962, the film soundtrack to West Side Story topped the UK album chart, where it would remain for a total of 13 non-consecutive weeks. Featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the soundtrack also became a major success in the US, spending 54 weeks at No 1 – the longest stay of any album in history on Billboard’ s stereo album chart. One of the best-selling albums of the decade in the US, West Side Story later earned a Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album – Original Cast.
THE BEATLES ARRIVE IN JAPAN AMID CONTROVERSY
In June 1966, just two months before they ended their touring career, The Beatles made their long-awaited debut in Japan. But not everyone was happy about the Fab Four’ s five-night engagement at Tokyo’ s Nippon Budokan, then a recently-built martial arts venue and national shrine. The band’ s visit drew harsh criticism from public figures and highlighted a growing divide between conservative traditionalists and liberal youth culture. Despite threats and intense security concerns, the band played to tens of thousands of adoring fans, marking a tense yet important moment in Japanese pop culture history. The Nippon Budokan, meanwhile, would soon open its doors to many iconic rock shows.
90 INBOUND SA / JUNE 2026