On the last day of the year, several legendary rock bands made their live debuts, and the most successful band of all time officially broke up. Here are some key rock history events tied to Dec. 31.
Notable Recordings and Performances
A surprising number of famous bands took the stage for the first time on Dec. 31.
1961: The Beach Boys made their live debut at the “Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance” in Long Beach, California. They played three songs, marking their first paid gig.
1969: Jimi Hendrix performed with his new group, Band of Gypsys, for the first time at New York City’s Fillmore East. This show introduced R&B and funk elements to Hendrix’s classic sound.
1973: AC/DC played their first-ever live show at Chequers in Sydney, Australia. The band, formed just a month earlier, mostly covered songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Chuck Berry.
1973: On the same day, Journey performed live for the first time at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. They were a progressive instrumental rock band then and would adopt their classic sound in 1977 when Steve Perry joined.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Dec. 31 also marks the birth of a famous musician and the breakup of a legendary group.
1963: Scott Ian, co-founder and rhythm guitarist of Anthrax, was born in New York City. He formed the band in 1981, and they have sold over 10 million records worldwide.
1970: Paul McCartney officially filed to dissolve The Beatles, ending the most successful band in music history. The breakup began over a year earlier, with Lennon leaving in September 1969 and McCartney announcing his departure in April 1970.
These are the most noteworthy rock music events that happened on the final day of the year. Check back tomorrow to see what took place on that day in rock history.
