September 17 is a big day for rock fans. It marks the U.S. debut of The Who and the release of one of the most successful albums that isn’t a double album (we’ll explain later). Here are some key events in rock history that happened on this day.
Cultural Milestones
Great music is at the heart of rock, but there’s more to the story. Here are some important cultural moments from September 17:
1931: The first 33 1/3 rpm long-playing (LP) record was shown at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York. It wasn’t popular at first due to its high cost and limited quality. However, Columbia Records revived the LP in 1948, leading to the music formats we still use today.
1967: The Who made their U.S. TV debut on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. They kicked off their American career with a bang when drummer Keith Moon overloaded his drum set, causing a dramatic explosion that left him with permanent hearing damage.
Notable Recordings and Performances
September 17 is also known for some major album releases and performances:
1964: The Beatles played an impromptu show in Kansas City, earning $150,000, a huge amount for a one-off concert. To thank the crowd, they included a cover of Little Richard’s “Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!” in their set.
1991: Guns N’ Roses released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II at midnight. Instead of a typical double album, they released them as separate albums for easier access.
1991: On the same day, Ozzy Osbourne released his sixth studio album, No More Tears, which sold over four million copies in the U.S., thanks to hits like “No More Tears” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
From major album releases to historic TV debuts, September 17 has given rock fans many memorable moments. Check back tomorrow to see what else happened on this day in rock history.
