April 12 has seen many exciting moments in rock history. One of the most famous rock songs was released, David Bowie announced his retirement but quickly changed his mind, and R.E.M. launched their debut album. These events mark significant milestones in the world of rock.
In 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the legendary “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” in New York City. This song became the first major rock ‘n’ roll hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Fast forward to 1975, when Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. This song was a tribute to tennis star Billie Jean King and marked Elton’s fourth US No. 1 single.
On the cultural side, 1975 was also the year David Bowie announced his retirement during a Playboy interview, claiming he was done with rock music. However, he returned to the scene by September. In 2025, we lost legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker at 78. He worked with big names like Queen, Alice Cooper, and Guns N’ Roses.
Several notable albums were released on April 12. In 1983, R.E.M. debuted with “Murmur,” which received critical acclaim and peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200. In 2011, Foo Fighters released “Wasting Light,” recorded in frontman Dave Grohl’s garage using only analog equipment.
A significant legal case occurred on April 12, 2016, when a judge ruled that Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page must face trial over copyright claims related to “Stairway to Heaven.” The case involved a claim that the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe deserved credit for the song.
