It’s 2026 y’all. May it be a kinder, better year for all of us. January is a busy month for music birthdays.
- Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born 70 years ago on January 1
- The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 68th birthday on January 1
- French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 51st birthday on January 3
- The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrated his 81st birthday on January 3
- Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th — birthday on January 3
Denise Katrina Matthews, best known as Vanity was born on this day 67 years ago. Matthews was a singer, model and actor, who was best known for her work with Vanity 6, a side project (of sorts) created by the legendary Prince, who wrote and produced the material on their first album, including their biggest hit “Nasty Girl.”
If you’re a child of the 80s, as I am, “Nasty Girl” is one of your jams — and it brings back memories of some party or some mixtape you made.
We lost her a decade ago. But, man, some of those tunes were fucking great. Happy birthday! Happy birthday, wherever you are!
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