Christmas Eve is a time to unwind, but it has also been a big day in rock music history. On this day, Nirvana started recording their debut album, and the New York Dolls played live for the first time. Let’s dive into some key events that happened on December 24 over the years.
1988: Nirvana kicked off the recording of their first album, Bleach, at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle. This album, released on June 15 the following year, was the band’s first step toward fame.
1988: While grunge was just beginning, glam metal was still popular. The No. 1 song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 was Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” This power ballad was part of their album Open Up And Say…Ahh! and marked a shift from their usual high-energy sound.
1994: Fast forward six years, and grunge was now mainstream. Pearl Jam’s third album, Vitalogy, hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.
December 24 is also known for some notable debuts and a famous birthday:
1906: The first music broadcast over the radio happened on Christmas Eve when Canadian Reginald Fessenden played “O Holy Night” on his violin.
1945: Lemmy Kilmister, founder of Motörhead, was born in England. He gained fame with Hawkwind before forming Motörhead in 1975.
1971: The New York Dolls made their live debut at a Christmas party in New York City. They released their first album nearly two years later.
December 24 is a memorable day in rock history. Check back tomorrow for more major events in rock music!
