1989 in music

January 14 - Paul McCartney releases Back in the U.S.S.R. exclusively in Russia. Bootleg copies sell for as much as $1,000 in the United States
January 14 - Genesis'88 and Sunrise/Back to the Future stage large-scale illegal Acid House party in London
January 23 - James Brown is sentenced in Georgia to 6 years in jail in connection with a police chase through two different states
January - Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill form the "Keaggy/Stonehill Band" for a one time tour that pays tribute to 1960s artists like The Beatles. Tim Chandler plays bass for the band and David Raven plays drums.
January 28- Genesis'88 stage large-scale illegal Acid House (from strength to strength) party in London
February 12 - Tiny Tim launches an unsuccessful campaign to be the mayor of New York City.
February - Roy Orbison joins Elvis Presley as the only singers to ever simultaneously have two Top 5 albums on the Billboard Charts
February 17 - Whitesnake's David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen
March 6 - Smokey Robinson's autobiography Inside My Life is published
April - Three young men attempt to mug record producer and author Reed Arvin. Reed, being a rather large man, was able to go home with his money. The three young men were forced to return to their homes empty handed and nursing a few bruises.
April 9 - The Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman announces that he's getting married to 19 year old Mandy Smith, whom he has dated for 6 years
April 28 - Jon Bon Jovi marries his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada
May 1 - California jewelry store employees call the police reporting a suspicious person hanging around their store. The person turned out to be Michael Jackson shopping in disguise
December 12 - Genesis'88 stage large-scale illegal Acid House (the fight goes on) party in London
December 24 - Genesis'88 and Biology parties stage illegal Acid House party in Slough UK
December 31 - Genesis'88 and Biology parties stage biggest Acid House (FREE) party (Future Power People) of the night in Slough Panasonic building (15,000 people) Which was later joined by Sunrise/Back to the Future after their event was stopped by police.
July onwards, UK - sampling/mix group Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers are the year's biggest chart phenomenon. Their montages of classic rock and roll records make them only the third act to top the charts with all of their first three singles.
Summer - L7 sign a contract with Sub Pop Records
LL Cool J is booed offstage at the Apollo Theater
Ned's Atomic Dustbin's musical carrer starts
Guttermouth forms
Marilyn Manson forms
The Chemical Brothers form
Firehouse forms
The Sweet Children change their name to Green Day, add drummer Al Sobrante and release the EP 1,000 Hours, their debut recording
The Jerky Boys forms by John G. Brennan
Leftover Salmon forms
Monster Magnet forms
The Plasmatics reunite
Toadies forms
Orbital releases their first recording, "Chime", which had premiered on Jackin' Zone the previous year