1991 breakdown into major news, sports, and entertainment events; This is what happened…
Earlier in the year the ‘Gulf War’ began as a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, leading UK forces to fight Saddam Hussein’s army. The fighting lasted only a couple of months, but it is well remembered for being the first war to be televised on the news.
Little-loved media mogul Robert Maxwell puts on a mysterious end while vacationing on his ship off the coast of Tenerife. Struggling under financial pressure, with his corporation on the verge of collapse, he was thought to have overreached, although no one really knows what happened.
Another mystery that surfaced was an outbreak of ‘crop circles’. Some 600 new ones appeared (one in the Prime Minister’s garden!) in the UK during the summer of 1991, bringing Britain under the spotlight of the world’s media. Some experts pointed the finger at human hoaxers, some claimed freak weather conditions were the cause, while others were 100% sure it was messages from aliens.
In sporting terms, England hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup but, despite having home advantage, the Australians edged them out in the final. Soccer’s rising star Paul Gascoigne damaged his knee while playing for Tottenham in the FA Cup final, leading to him being sidelined for a year.
TV watched as a couple of newcomers made their mark and a veteran returned. Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer (better known simply as Vic & Bob) debuted on Channel 4 and their brand of bizarre humor quickly caught on, making their surreal show a 1991 hit. Back with more silly games, fewer than special guests and ‘trash’ was Noel Edmonds on his live show (broadcast from the fictional ‘Crinkley Bottom’) ‘Noel’s House Party’. Accompanying Edmonds was his pink and yellow friend Mr. Blobby, who amazingly scored a number one single despite being unable to speak.
The best film of 1991 was ‘The silence of the lambs’, with the main roles of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. As Hannibal Lecturer (a psychotic cannibal) and Clarice Sterling (a young FBI cadet) form an odd partnership of sorts to hunt down an even stranger serial killer named “Buffalo Bill.” That year also came out one of the few sequels that improved on the original; he said “I’ll be back” and Arnold Schwarzenegger was in ‘Terminator 2’. This time playing one of the good guys who tries to protect the boy destined to save the human race.
On the UK music front in ’91, the year belonged to Bryan Adams and his HUGE hit ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’. The title track from ‘Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves’ topped the charts for a record 16 weeks and was in the Top 40 for a total of 6 months. As for the best-selling album of 1991, it went to Simply Red and their ‘Stars’ album. The Christmas number one was a reissue; Queen have re-released ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to commemorate the death of singer Freddie Mercury earlier in the year.