World Events
- United States invasion of Panama: General Manuel Noriega, the deposed "strongman of Panama", surrenders to American forces
- Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison, near Cape Town, South Africa, after 27 years behind bars.
- The Community Charge (poll tax) takes effect in England and Wales amid widespread protests
- Gulf War: Iraq invades Kuwait, eventually leading to the Gulf War.
- In Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council orders the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and five other political dissidents.
- Cold War: East Germany and West Germany reunify into a single Germany.
- Cold War: Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and reform his nation.
- Margaret Thatcher announces she will not contest the second ballot of the leadership election for the Conservative Party (UK).
- J.K. Rowling begins writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in summer 1990, which would be completed in 1995 and published in 1997.
Events In Rock
- Flea and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers are arrested and charged for an incident two days earlier at a performance in Daytona Beach during MTV's spring break coverage, in which they allegedly sexually assaulted and verbally abused a female audience member after jumping from the stage. They are released on $2,000 bail.
- Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee is arrested for allegedly exposing his backside during a performance in Augusta, Georgia.
- Axl Rose (Guns 'N' Roses) marries model Erin Everly, daughter of singer Don Everly, in a Las Vegas ceremony. Divorce papers are filed on May 24, then withdrawn, then filed again in October.
- A judge rules that heavy metal band Judas Priest is not responsible for the actions of two Nevada youths who shot themselves, one fatally, after listening to the band's music in December 1985.
- Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan is killed in a helicopter crash following a concert at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. He was 35.
- Roger Waters and numerous guest stars stage a performance of Pink Floyd's The Wall in Berlin, Germany to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall eight months earlier. Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Dolby, Sinéad O'Connor, The Band and Bryan Adams are among the performers.
Major Rock Releases
- Anthrax - Persistence of Time
- Black Sabbath - Tyr
- Bruce Dickinson - Tattooed Millionaire
- Cinderella - Heartbreak Station
- Danzig - Danzig II: Lucifuge
- Extreme - Pornograffitti
- Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
- Judas Priest - Painkiller
- Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory
- Living Colour - Time's Up
- Megadeth - Rust in Peace
- Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
- Poison - Flesh & Blood
- Queensrÿche - Empire
- Scorpions - Crazy World
- Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
- Warrant - Cherry Pie
List Of FRS Dates
January |
February |
March |
April |
| 05 January 1990 12 January 1990 19 January 1990 26 January 1990 |
02 February 1990 09 February 1990 16 February 1990 23 February 1990 |
02 March 1990 09 March 1990 16 March 1990 23 March 1990 30 March 1990 |
06 April 1990 13 April 1990 20 April 1990 27 April 1990 |
May |
June |
July |
August |
| 04 May 1990 11 May 1990 18 May 1990 25 May 1990 |
01 June 1990 08 June 1990 15 June 1990 22 June 1990 29 June 1990 |
06 July 1990 13 July 1990 20 July 1990 27 July 1990 |
03 August 1990 10 August 1990 17 August 1990 24 August 1990 31 August 1990 |
September |
October |
November |
December |
| 07 September 1990 14 September 1990 21 September 1990 28 September 1990 |
05 October 1990 12 October 1990 19 October 1990 26 October 1990 |
02 November 1990 09 November 1990 16 November 1990 23 November 1990 30 November 1990 |
07 December 1990 14 December 1990 21 December 1990 28 December 1990 |