Feb. 14, 1981
Funky 4 + 1
Invited by the host and “Rapture” hitmaker Debbie Harry of Blondie, the Funky 4 + 1 became the first hip-hop group to perform on national network TV, rapping their giddy funk bomb “That’s the Joint.”
Oct. 3, 1981
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart brought out a surprise guest, Tina Turner, to duet on a high-octane, kick-filled “Hot Legs,” an early step in her fabled comeback.
Oct. 31, 1981
Fear
At the behest of John Belushi, “S.N.L.” booked the caustic California hardcore provocateurs Fear. A gaggle of rambunctious punks — including members of Minor Threat and Cro-Mags — turned 30 Rock into their personal CBGB, slam-dancing, stage-diving, screaming a four-letter word into the microphone and essentially introducing the concept of “moshing” to middle America. “The real audience at ‘Saturday Night Live’ was scared to death,” remembered the frontman Lee Ving.
Sept. 25, 1982
Queen
Even though the Queen frontman Freddie Mercury had strained his Earth-shattering voice earlier that day, the band managed to churn through naturally triumphant versions of “Under Pressure” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” The band retired from touring and Mercury died in 1991, making this the classic quartet’s final performance in America.
Jan. 18, 1986
The Replacements
The Minneapolis college rock icons the Replacements got drunk, secretly cranked their amps, played sloppily, swore and — in the case of the bassist Bob Stinson — mooned the crowd. “Rock ’n’ roll doesn’t always make for great television,” the frontman Paul Westerberg said in the band biography “Trouble Boys.” “But we were trying to do whatever possible to make sure that was a memorable evening.”
March 22, 1986
Philip Glass
During his tenure with CBS Records, the Minimalist composer Philip Glass had a brief crossover moment into the pop consciousness with albums of short, glistening pieces like “Glassworks” and “Songs From Liquid Days.” He became the only contemporary classical composer to serve as musical guest.
Sept. 30, 1989
Neil Young
After a turbulent decade experimenting with rockabilly, electro-pop, country, synth-rock and blues, Neil Young rejuvenated his career with a muscular, explosive performance of “Rockin’ in the Free World” from his upcoming 19th album, “Freedom.”
