This is the place to discover the hit songs, band milestones, cultural events, and challenges that shook things up in rock ‘n’ roll over the years on May 21. These are the interesting details every rock fan should know from this date over the years.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These rock ‘n’ roll hit songs and milestones from May 21 have affected the genre:
- 1971: Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On,” one of the most important and influential albums in music history, was released. This was the artist’s 11th studio album and focused on songs about war, inequality, and social injustice.
- 1983: David Bowie was at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the second time with his song “Let’s Dance.” The song would also top the U.K. charts.
- 2011: For seven weeks, Adele’s song “Rolling in the Deep” sat at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the artist’s first chart-topping song and reached No. 2 in the U.K.
Cultural Milestones
Several cultural happenings on May 21 made waves in the rock scene, such as:
- 1979: Elton John made history as the first solo rock artist to perform in Russia when he played the first of four shows in Leningrad. John would also perform four shows in Moscow during his tour of the country.
- 2008: Record producer Lou Pearlman was sentenced to 25 years in prison for various crimes related to defrauding his clients, including Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. He is said to have swindled millions from bands, investors, and shareholders.
- 2015: Black Sabbath was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novello Awards. Band member Tony Iommi accepted the award on behalf of the group.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Memorable rock concerts and albums from May 21 include:
- 1955: Chuck Berry recorded “Maybellene,” an influential hit song that crossed genre boundaries. Berry’s first hit song is often credited as the very first rock ‘n’ roll song thanks to its guitar riffs and lyrics.
- 1976: The Rolling Stones opened their first of six shows at the Earl’s Court Theatre in London. This was the only night they played “Sympathy For The Devil” for their audience.
The rock ‘n’ roll world would not be the same if it weren’t for these events, songs, and albums from May 21. Be thankful for them, and keep “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
