SEPTEMBER 26 | TODAY IN ROCK HISTORY: Nirvana, Paul McCartney, Meat Loaf
Paul McCartney Cleared in Paternity Suit
On September 26, 1984, Paul McCartney was cleared by a West German appeals court in a highly publicized paternity case. The court dismissed an $825,000 claim involving 21-year-old hairdresser Bettina Huebers, upholding an earlier Berlin family-court ruling that scientific testing had established McCartney could not have been the child’s father. The appeals court ruling was final.
The case had attracted international attention, another example of the extraordinary level of public scrutiny surrounding the former Beatle. McCartney’s legal victory came as he continued one of the busiest creative periods of his post-Beatles career, with the film and soundtrack project Give My Regards to Broad Street approaching its October release.
While the paternity claim was ultimately dismissed, the episode demonstrated how even the most private aspects of McCartney’s life could become international news. By September 26, the legal question had been settled—and the scientific evidence had decisively cleared him.
Meat Loaf Tops the British Charts with Bat Out of Hell II
On September 26, 1994, Meat Loaf reached the pinnacle of the British charts with Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, a follow-up to his iconic 1977 album Bat Out of Hell. The album, written and produced by Jim Steinman, rekindled the partnership that had made the first record a classic of theatrical rock.
The centerpiece of the album was the epic ballad “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. At over 12 minutes long in its album version, the song blended grandiose production, operatic drama and Meat Loaf’s powerhouse vocals. It became a global hit, reaching No. 1 in 28 countries, including both the UK and the U.S.
The success of Bat Out of Hell II proved that lightning could strike twice. While many sequels in rock history fall short, Meat Loaf and Steinman managed to capture the same over-the-top energy and emotional punch of the original. The album reintroduced Meat Loaf to a new generation of fans,
Nirvana’s Final Studio Album Was Nearly Too Raw for the Label
On September 26, 1993, Nirvana were preparing their final studio album, In Utero, for release. The band had deliberately worked with producer Steve Albini to create a harsher, more stripped-down sound after the enormous success of Nevermind, but the resulting mixes proved so abrasive that their label and the band ultimately brought in Scott Litt to remix several tracks.
The compromise produced one of the defining albums of 1990s alternative rock. In Utero retained much of Albini’s raw character while giving songs such as “Heart-Shaped Box” and “All Apologies” a more polished final presentation, making the record both a reaction against Nevermind and Nirvana’s last major statement before Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994.
Three Weird September 26 Rock Factoids
The Who Fired Roger Daltrey—and Then Took Him Back
On September 26, 1965, The Who were touring in Denmark when Roger Daltrey and drummer Keith Moon got into a physical confrontation. Daltrey reportedly knocked Moon unconscious, prompting Pete Townshend and John Entwistle to demand that their singer be fired. Daltrey was back in the band the following day.
U2’s First Record Was Pressed in an Edition of Just 1,000
On September 26, 1979, U2 released Three, a three-song EP issued only in Ireland. The first pressing consisted of just 1,000 individually numbered copies, an astonishingly small beginning for a band that would eventually become one of the biggest acts in the world.
A Rock Star’s Drugs Were Hidden in a Smarties Tube
On September 26, 1996, police searching the London home of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates reportedly found drugs concealed inside a Smarties candy tube. Hutchence and Yates were in Australia at the time, making the bizarre hiding place one of the stranger details surrounding the couple’s turbulent celebrity life.
final note
September 26 is a day that reflects rock’s multifaceted legacy—creative triumphs, personal struggles, and triumphant comebacks. John Lennon’s Walls and Bridges showed that even in turmoil, genius could thrive. Paul McCartney’s cleared paternity suit revealed the unique pressures of fame, reminding us how celebrities often live under a microscope. Meat Loaf’s chart-topping success with Bat Out of Hell II was a testament to persistence, creative partnerships, and the enduring appeal of theatrical rock.
Together, these moments illustrate the resilience and diversity of rock music, proving that behind every headline—whether artistic, personal, or commercial—there’s a story that continues to shape the genre’s history.
