Nov. 21 has been a significant day in rock history, especially for fans of Queen and Jimi Hendrix. Let’s take a look at some memorable events that happened on this day.
1970: The Jimi Hendrix Experience song “Voodoo Chile” hit No. 1 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart, just two months after Hendrix’s death. This track, from the album Electric Ladyland, was his only U.K. No. 1 and stayed at the top for one week.
1981: “Under Pressure,” a collaboration between Queen and David Bowie, topped the U.K. Official Singles Chart. The song was released on Nov. 2 and recorded in Montreux, Switzerland. This marked Queen’s second No. 1 in the U.K. and Bowie’s third.
1987: Billy Idol’s cover of “Mony Mony,” originally by Tommy James & The Shondells, reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It replaced another cover of a Tommy James song, Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
This year, Nov. 21 also marks the 50th anniversary of a classic album:
1975: Queen released their fourth studio album, A Night at the Opera. The album was a huge success, thanks to its lead single, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is still one of the most iconic songs in music.
1980: Steely Dan released their seventh studio album, Gaucho. This album featured a more complex style and involved over 42 session musicians, earning them a GRAMMY for Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical.
2011: Nickelback released their seventh studio album, Here and Now. It debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
From major hits to legendary albums, Nov. 21 has seen its share of important rock moments. Check back tomorrow for more rock history!
