Known as one of the greatest vocalists in hard rock, Bon Scott of AC/DC passed away at the age of 33 on Feb. 19, 1980. His death was a huge loss for the band and the rock music scene. However, this date has seen many other significant events in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
On Feb. 19, several important moments in rock music changed the genre forever:
1972: Paul McCartney released “Give Ireland Back to the Irish,” written shortly after the tragic Bloody Sunday event in Northern Ireland.
1972: Harry Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s “Without You” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for six weeks. The song has been covered by over 180 artists, with Nilsson’s and Mariah Carey’s versions being the most popular.
1977: Bruce Springsteen wrote “Blinded by the Light,” but it became a hit when covered by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
Cultural Milestones
Without the cultural milestones on Feb. 19, rock music would be different:
1940: Smokey Robinson was born in Detroit. He led the Motown group the Miracles and later had a successful solo career.
1948: Toni Iommi, guitarist of Black Sabbath, was born in Birmingham, England. He adapted his playing style after losing part of his fingers in an accident.
1974: The American Music Awards debuted in Hollywood, created by Dick Clark to rival the GRAMMYs.
1995: Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe married Pamela Anderson on a beach in Cancun.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some key recordings and performances on Feb. 19 include:
1965: The Beatles recorded “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” at Abbey Road.
1985: Mick Jagger released his solo album “She’s the Boss,” which created tension within The Rolling Stones.
1992: Guns N’ Roses kicked off three shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
