Plenty of iconic names are linked to significant rock music events on December 20, including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Let’s take a look at what happened on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
December 20 was a big day for John Lennon and The Rolling Stones. Here are the milestones fans celebrate:
1969: The Rolling Stones released their eighth studio album, *Let It Bleed*, which hit number one on the U.K. albums chart. This album features classic tracks like “Gimme Shelter” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” It has been certified Platinum in both the U.S. and the U.K.
1980: John Lennon’s song “(Just Like) Starting Over” reached number one in the U.K., just two weeks after his tragic death. This was the last single he released during his lifetime, from the album *Double Fantasy*, and it also topped the charts in the U.S.
Cultural Milestones
Here are some notable cultural events that took place on December 20:
1945: Peter Criss, co-founder and original drummer of KISS, was born in New York City. He started the band by placing an ad in Rolling Stone, which was answered by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
1948: Alan Parsons was born in Willesden, England. He became a famous sound engineer, working on legendary albums like The Beatles’ *Abbey Road* and Pink Floyd’s *Dark Side of the Moon*. He also had success with his own band, The Alan Parsons Project.
1975: Guitarist Joe Walsh officially joined the Eagles, replacing Bernie Leadon. His first album with the band was *Hotel California*, shifting their sound from country rock to classic rock.
These memorable events in rock history highlight legends like The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, and the Eagles. Check back tomorrow for more major events from that day in rock history!
