Dec. 22 is a bittersweet day for rock music fans. It marks the end of an era with Pink Floyd’s last major performance featuring Syd Barrett, while Elton John celebrated a chart-topping album. Let’s dive into the key events that happened on this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
A couple of major milestones took place on Dec. 22:
1967: Pink Floyd played their final big show with founding member Syd Barrett at the Christmas on Earth Continued festival in London.
1973: Elton John’s seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, hit No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart. It stayed there for two weeks and also topped the U.S. Billboard 200 for eight weeks.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Here are some important changes and challenges from Dec. 22:
1948: Rick Nielsen, guitarist and songwriter for Cheap Trick, was born in Elmhurst, Illinois. Known for his unique guitars and stage presence, he formed the band in 1973. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
2002: Joe Strummer, co-founder and lead vocalist of The Clash, passed away from a heart attack at age 50. He helped form the band in 1976, and they found global success with their album London Calling, which went Platinum in the U.S.
2014: Joe Cocker died at age 70 from lung cancer. His career began in the early 1960s, and he was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
Dec. 22 is a day to remember, filled with chart-topping albums and the legacies of rock legends. Check back tomorrow for more important events in rock history!
