On this day in rock history, Billy Joel reached No. 1, The Rolling Stones made a historic move, and AC/DC, Metallica, and U2 all dropped iconic albums. Let’s dive into the key rock events that took place on November 18.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some of the biggest names in music celebrated major moments today. Here are a few highlights:
1978: Billy Joel’s sixth studio album, 52nd Street, hit the top of the Billboard 200 chart, where it stayed for eight weeks. Named after a street in Midtown Manhattan known for jazz, the album achieved seven-times Platinum status in the U.S.
1994: The Rolling Stones became the first major band to stream a concert live on the internet during a show in Dallas, Texas. They invited Severe Tire Damage, the first band to do this a year earlier, to open the show.
Notable Recordings and Performances
November 18 also marks the release of some special albums and performances:
1991: U2 released their seventh studio album, Achtung Baby, through Island Records. It sold over 18 million copies worldwide and featured hits like “One” and “Mysterious Ways.”
1993: Nirvana recorded their MTV Unplugged performance in New York City. The album won a GRAMMY Award and has been certified 7x Platinum.
1997: Metallica released their seventh album, Reload, which followed the previous year’s Load and included hits like “The Memory Remains.”
1997: On the same day, AC/DC released a five-disc box set with live recordings and a remastered version of Back in Black, honoring what would have been Bon Scott’s 50th birthday.
With a groundbreaking performance by The Rolling Stones and several major album releases, November 18 is a standout day in rock history. Join us tomorrow for more important events in rock!
