Wham! bestride the Atlantic, Ozzy announces his retirement, Eurythmics join the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and more – it’s this week in rock.

#OnThisDay November 11, 1972
The wildly popular singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan tops the UK singles charts for the first time with his 12th single, ‘Clair’. It goes on to be a Top 3 hit in the US.

#OnThisDay November 12, 1947
Many happy returns to Blue Öyster Cult’s Buck Dharma who wrote the rock classic ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’. The band have sold a staggering 24m records worldwide.

#OnThisDay November 13, 1976
Billy Ocean releases his third single of the year in the shape of ‘Stop Me (If You’ve Heard It All Before)’. It goes on to peak at No. 12 in the UK singles charts.

#OnThisDay November 14, 1974
The incomparable David Essex scores his first UK No. 1 single with ‘Gonna Make You A Star’. Produced by Jeff Wayne, the single spends three weeks in pole position. The single also goes Top 5 in Australia.

#OnThisDay November 15, 1992
After playing a gig in California, Ozzy Osbourne announces his retirement from touring. “Who wants to be touring at 46?” he laments. Wonder how that turned out for him?

#OnThisDay November 16, 2005
Eurythmics are inducted into the UK Music Hall Of Fame. One of Britain’s most successful bands, they’ve sold 75m records and have been won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 1984, the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1987 and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999.

#OnThisDay November 17, 1984
Wham! bestride the Atlantic like a pop colossus when ‘Make It Big’ tops the UK album charts while ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ is the biggest-selling single in the US.